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

3. It is an Evidence that his Work proceedeth from, and is wholly managed in Love, in that we are cautioned not to grieve him, Eph. 4. 30. And a double Evidence of the Greatness of his Love herein is tendered unto us in that Caution. ⟨p. 34⟩(1.) In that those alone are subject to be grieved by us, who act in Love towards us. If we comply not with the Will and Rule of others, they may be provoked, vexed, instigated unto Wrath against us. But those alone who love us, are grieved at our miscarriages. A severe Schoolmaster may be more provoked with the fault of his Scholar, than the Father is; but the Father is grieved with it, when the other is not. Whereas therefore the Holy Spirit is not subject or liable unto the Affection of Grief as it is a Passion in us, we are cautioned not to grieve him, namely to teach us with what Love and Compassion, with what tenderness and holy Delight he performs his Work in us and towards us. (2.) It is so in that he hath undertaken the Work of Comforting them who are so apt and prone to grieve him, as for the most part we are. The great Work of the Lord Christ was to dye for us. But that which puts an Eminence on his Love, is that he dyed for us whilst we were yet his Enemies, Sinners and Ungodly, Rom. 5. 6, 7, 8. And as the Work of the Holy Ghost is to comfort us, so a Lustre is put upon it by this, that he comforts those who are very prone to grieve himself. For although it may be we will not through a peculiar Affection, hurt, molest or grieve them again by whom we are grieved, yet who is it that will set himself to comfort those that grieve him, and that when so they do. But even herein the Holy Ghost commendeth his Love unto us, that even whilst we grieve him, by his Consolations he recovers us from those ways wherewith he is grieved.

3. It is an Evidence that his Work proceedeth from, and is wholly managed in Love, in that we are cautioned not to grieve him, Eph. 4. 30. And a double Evidence of the Greatness of his Love herein is tendred unto us in that Caution. ⟨p. 34⟩