That the precious souls and hearts of all the faithful are vessels made chiefly and only to receive and preserve the Spirit and Grace of Christ,1 Or the gracious presence of the Spirit of Christ: That as it is with the souls of the wicked, they are made only to hold Satan, sin and wrath, and so fitted for destruction; so the souls of the Saints are made and fitted only to receive and nourish the Spirit, grace, and love of Christ. That as 'tis with Princes, the best rooms are reserved only for them; their Attendants may come in and out to serve them, but its their room, their lodging: So here, the hearts of the faithful, and the best rooms, best affections of it, are only to entertain the Lord, and his grace and Spirit; yet other things may come in and out as Attendants to him, to serve him, but the rooms themselves are only for his proper use, 2 Tim. 2. 20, 21. The Church is Gods House; now there are many Vessels (many souls) some baser of wood, and earth, some of honour; what are these? Answ. If a man purge himself from these; for no man is born with a next disposition to receive grace, as a Vessel full of puddle water that must first be cast out: Now when this is done, he is a Vessel meet for his Masters use, prepared, &c. The best Vessels abide in the house, not for their own or servants use, but for the Masters use only. And though the Spirit may withdraw for some time, and they be unable to do any good work, yet they are prepared for the Spirit, and so for every good work, and here is all the use of the vessel of honour. Hypocrites are vessels of Pomp, and State, and Ornament: Oh the brave Church of Sardis! the profound judgments, deep heads, eminent Christians, but not Vessels of honour, because not Vessels of use only for their Master, only to receive the eternal anointing of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus. If you would know the certainty of this more fully, 1. Go and ask themselves; Is it so or no? If they be of age, and know themselves they will say, I am the Lords only, Isa.44. 4, 5. When they spring up as willows by the water-courses: One shall say, I am the Lords. As that eminent Light said, when dying, Oh Lord, I will be thine: Ask the world whose they are? and to what use and purpose they serve? they will answer, they are none of ours; and therefore John 15. 19. The World hates them.
THat the precious souls and hearts of all the faithful are vessels made chiefly and onely to receive and preserve the Spirit and Grace of Christ,1 Or the gracious presence of the Spirit of Christ: That as it is with the souls of the wicked, they are made onely to hold Satan, sin and wrath, and so fitted for destruction; so the souls of the Saints are made and fitted onely to receive and nourish the Spirit, grace, and love of Christ. That as 'tis with Princes, the best rooms are reserved onely for them; their Attendants may come in and out to serve them, but its their room, their lodging: So here, the hearts of the faithful, and the best rooms, best affections of it, are onely to entertain the Lord, and his grace and Spirit; yet other things may come in and out as Attendants to him, to serve him, but the rooms themselves are onely for his proper use, 2 Tim. 2. 20, 21. The Church is Gods House; now there are many Vessels (many souls) some baser of wood, and earth, some of honour; what are these? Answ. If a man purge himself from these; for no man is born with a next disposition to receive grace, as a Vessel full of puddle water that must first be cast out: Now when this is done, he is a Vessel meet for his Masters use, prepared, &c. The best Vessels abide in the house, not for their own or servants use, but for the Masters use onely. And though the Spirit may withdraw for some time, and they be unable to do any good work, yet they are prepared for the Spirit, and so for every good work, and here is all the use of the vessel of honour. Hypocrites are vessels of Pompe, and State, and Ornament: Oh the brave Church of Sardis! the profound judgments, deep heads, eminent Christians, but not Vessels of honour, because not Vessels of use onely for their Master, onely to receive the eternal anointing of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus. If you would know the certainty of this more fully, 1. Go and ask themselves; Is it so or no? If they be of age, and know themselves they will say, I am the Lords onely, Isa.44. 4, 5. When they spring up as willows by the water-courses: One shall say, I am the Lords. As that eminent Light said, when dying, Oh Lord, I will be thine: Ask the world whose they are? and to what use and purpose they serve? they will answer, they are none of ours; and therefore Iohn 15. 19. The World hates them.
- 1Doct. 1.
