2. There are who say, Job 21. 14. to God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways; and who Prov. 1. 29.1 hate knowledge. Now the spirit of the Lord is a spirit of knowledge, and needs none to counsel him and teach him knowledge, Isa. 40. 13, 40. And to one is given by the same spirit (saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 12. 8.) the word of wisdom, to another a word of knowledge by the same spirit; and he is, Ephes. 1. 17. the spirit of wisdom and revelation, who gives the knowledge of Christ; the Spirit then will not be a teacher to such as hate the master teacher and all his instructions. Will a man be an instructor to a Disciple or Apprentice, who (to his knowledge) hates and flies from him, and abhors him? who abhors, mocks, and does despite to the Spirit? and will the Spirits going forth be as the pleasant morning in such a man? sure the Spirit teacheth not, convinceth not, guideth not in all truth any, John 14. 26. John 16. 7, 13. but such only as Christ sendeth him unto, John 14. 16, 17. & 16. 7. I will send him unto you, v. 13. He shall guide you—He shall show you things to come, John 15. 26. And therefore he comes to this, Psalm 73. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and (there is) none upon earth that I desire besides thee. What is such a man? how is he known by another? There be three notes by which he is known, v. 23. 1. Nevertheless (though I be a beast and a tempted fool doubting of a providence) I am continually with thee. O blessed company! Then follow two observable actings and influences of the Spirit. 1. The confirming and upholding influence, the supernatural manutenentia, upholding of the Spirit, Thou wilt hold me fast by my right hand. 2. There is the guiding, John 16. 13. and leading of the Spirit, Psal. 143. 10. Psal. 73. 14. Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel. So every element acts and moves most connaturally in its own place;2 the river moves most connaturally within its own channel; it's violent in its motion when it runs above and without its own banks: the wind moves naturally in the air, but most violently and unkindly in the ⟨p. 416⟩bowels of the earth, for there it causes earthquakes, and swallows up houses and Cities. The Spirit of the Lord acts and breaths sweetly in a believer;
2. There are who say, Job 21. 14. to God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways; and who Prov. 1. 29.1 hate knowledge. Now the spirit of the Lord is a spirit of knowledge, and needs none to counsel him and teach him knowledge, Isa. 40. 13, 40. And to one is given by the same spirit (saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 12. 8.) the word of wisedom, to another a word of knowledge by the same spirit; and he is, Ephes. 1. 17. the spirit of wisedom and revelation, who gives the knowledge of Christ; the Spirit then will not be a teacher to such as hate the master teacher and all his instructions. Wil a man be an instructer to a Disciple or Apprentice, who (to his knowledge) hates and flies from him, and abhors him? who abhors, mocks, and does despite to the Spirit? and will the Spirits going forth be as the pleasant morning in such a man? sure the Spirit teacheth not, convinceth not, guideth not in all truth any, John 14. 26. John 16. 7, 13. but such only as Christ sendeth him unto, John 14. 16, 17. & 16. 7. I will send him unto you, v. 13. He shall guide you—He shall shew you things to come, John 15. 26. And therefore he comes to this, Psalm 73. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and (there is) none upon earth that I desire besides thee. What is such a man? how is he known by another? There be three notes by which he is known, v. 23. 1. Nevertheless (though I be a beast and a tempted fool doubting of a providence) I am continually with thee. O blessed company! Then follow two observable actings and influences of the Spirit. 1. The confirming and upholding influence, the supernatural manutenentia, upholding of the Spirit, Thou wilt hold me fast by my right hand. 2. There is the guiding,
- 1The Spirit gives influences where there is no knowledge.
- 2Influences of the spirit are connatural to the spiritual man.
