The third Means to gain assurance,1 is, To be kind to the Spirit, hear his voice, follow his counsel, live up to his Laws: The Spirit is the great Revealer of the Fathers secrets; he lies in the bosom of the Father; he knows every name that is written in the Book of Life; he is best acquainted with the inward workings of the heart of God, towards poor sinners;2 he is the great Comforter, and the only Sealer up of souls to the day of Redemption. If you set him a mourning3 by your wilful sinnings, that alone can glad you, by whom will you be gladded. Verily, Christians, when you turn your back upon the Spirit, ⟨p. 278⟩he will not turn his face upon your souls; your vexing of the Spirit will4 be but the disquieting of your selves. Look as all lights cannot make up the want of the light of the Sun, so all Creatures cannot make up the want of the testimony of the Spirit. Let me speak to you, as God once spake to his people in that of Exod. 23. 20, 21,5 22, 23. Behold, (says God) I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in thy way, and to bring thee into the place, which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will 6not pardon your transgressions; for my name is in him, &•. So I say, Behold, the Spirit of the Lord, that is, your guide and guard, he also is only able to make a soul satisfying report of the love and favour of the Father to you; therefore as ever you would have assurance, beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for if you do by wilful transgressions, he will neither comfort you, nor counsel you; he will neither be a sealing, nor a witnessing spirit unto you; nay, he will raise storms and tempests in your souls; he will present to you the Father ⟨p. 279⟩frowning, and your Saviour bleeding, and himself as grieving; and these sights will certainly rack and torture your doubting souls. The Spirit of the Lord is a delicate thing, a holy thing, a blessed guest, that makes every soul happy where he lodges. Therefore 7grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of Redemption. You will not grieve your guests, your friends, but courteously and friendly entertain them; Why then do you make so little conscience of grieving that holy Spirit, that alone can stamp the Image of the Father upon you, and seal you up to life and glory.
The third Means to gain assurance,1 is, To be kinde to the Spirit, hear his voice, follow his counsel, live up to his Laws: The Spirit is the great Revealer of the Fathers secrets; he lies in the bosom of the Father; he knows every name that is written in the Book of Life; he is best acquainted with the inward workings of the heart of God, towards poor sinners;2 he is the great Comforter, and the onely Sealer up of souls to the day of Redemption. If you set him a mourning3 by your wilful sinnings, that alone can glad you, by whom will you be gladed. Verily, Christians, when you turn your back upon the Spirit, ⟨p. 278⟩he will not turn his face upon your souls; your vexing of the Spirit will4 be but the disquieting of your selves. Look as all lights cannot make up the want of the light of the Sun, so all Creatures cannot make up the want of the testimony of the Spirit. Let me speak to you, as God once spake to his people in that of Exod. 23. 20, 21,5 22, 23. Behold, (sayes God) I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in thy way, and to bring thee into the place, which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will 6not pardon your transgressions; for my name is in him, &•. So I say, Behold, the Spirit of the Lord, that is, your guide and guard, he also is onely able to make a soul satisfying report of the love and favor of the Father to you; therefore as ever you would have assurance, beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for if you do by wilful transgressions, he will neither comfort you, nor counsel you; he will neither be a sealing, nor a witnessing spirit unto you; nay, he will raise storms and tempests in your souls; he will present to you the Father ⟨p. 279⟩frowning, and your Saviour bleeding, and himself as grieving; and these sights will certainly rack and torture your doubting souls. The Spirit of the Lord is a delicate thing, a holy thing, a blessed guest, that makes every soul happy where he lodges. Therefore
- 1Means 3.
- 2Rom. 8. John 14.
- 3Eph. 1. 13.
- 4Isai. 63. 10.
- 5This Angel is the Lord Jesus, as Expositors do generally agree. [Greek or Hebrew]This Angel is the Lord Jesus, as Expositors do generally agree. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉
- 6Malachi, which Hebrew word is here rendered Angel, is by transposition of letters Michael, as some of the Rabbins have observed.
- 7Ephes. 4. 30. This phrase is Tropically to be understood. The Greek cannot be fully expressed in our tongue. [Greek or Hebrew]. i. e. The Spirit, the holy, of that God. To show the transcendent excellency and glory of the Holy▪ Spirit.Ep•es. 4. 30. This phrase is Tropically to be understood. The Greek cannot be fully exprest in our tongue. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. i. e. The Spirit, the holy, of that God. To shew the transcendent excellency and glory of the Holy▪ Spirit.
