Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

2. THE manner of the Performance of this Work is so expressed, as to evince and expressly demonstrate that it is a Work of Love. So is it declared where he is promised unto the Church for this Work, Isa. 66. 13. As one whom his Mother comforteth, so will I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. He whom his Mother comforteth is supposed to be in some kind of Distress: Nor indeed is there any, of any kind that may befall a Child whose Mother is kind and tender, but she will be ready to administer unto him all the Consolation that she is able. And how or in what manner will such a Mother discharge this Duty, it is better conceived than it can be expressed. We are not in things natural able to take in a Conception of greater Love, Care and Tenderness than is in a tender Mother, who comforts her Children in Distress. And hereby doth the Prophet graphically represent unto our Minds the manner whereby the Holy Ghost dischargeth this ⟨p. 31⟩Office towards us. Neither can a Child contract greater Guilt, or manifest a more depraved Habit of Mind, than to be regardless of the Affections of a Mother endeavouring its Consolation. Such Children may indeed sometimes through the Bitterness of their Spirits by their Pains and Distempers be surprised into Frowardness, and a present Regardlessness of the Mothers Kindness and Compassion, which they know full well how to bear withal. But if they continue to have no Sense of it, if it make no Impression upon them, they are of a profligate Constitution. And so it may be sometimes with Believers; they may by Surprisals into Spiritual Frowardness, by Weakness, by unaccountable Despondencies, be regardless of Divine Influences of Consolation. But all these things the great Comforter will bear with and overcome. See Isa. 57. 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth Eternity, whose Name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place; with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit, to revive the Spirit of the humble, and to revive the Heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: For the Spirit should fail before me, and the Souls which I have made. For the Iniquity of his Covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his Heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him: