The Godly Man's Picture

Object. But we are bid not to quench the spirit, 1 Thes. 5. 19. which implies, that the grace of the Spirit may be lost, and the smoking flax quenched.

Object. But we are bid not to quench the spirit, 1 Thes. 5. 19. which implies, that the grace of the Spirit may be lost, and the smoaking flax quenched.

Answ. We must distinguish between the common work of the spirit, and the sanctifying work, the one may be quenched, but not the other: The common work of the spirit, is like a picture drawn upon the ice, which is soon defaced: The sanctifying work is like a Statute carved in gold, which endures: The gifts of the spirit may be quenched, but not the grace; there is the enlightening of the spirit, and the anointing; the enlightening of the spirit may fail, but the anointing of the spirit abides, 1 Joh. 2. 27. The anointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you. The hypocrites blaze goes out, the true believers spark lives and flourisheth, th•• one is the light of a Comet which wastes and^* evaporates, the other is the light of a star which retains its lustre.

Answ. We must distinguish between the common work of the spirit, and the sanctifying work, the one may be quenched, but not the other: The common work of the spirit, is like a picture drawn upon the yce, which is soon defaced: The sanctifying work is like a Statute carved in gold, which endures: The gifts of the spirit may be quenched, but not the grace; there is the enlightning of the spirit, and the anointing; the enlightning of the spirit may fail, but the anointing of the spirit abides,