4.1 Much of self-denial speaks much of the spirit: he who will be least his own is most God's, and partakes most of the divine nature. The spirit loves the room of self; I live not, but Christ (by his Spirit) lives in me, Gal. 2. and the spirit, to speak so, is the full predominant element in the acting (not that nature sinless is wholly dead and passive, as Familists and others tea•h) and self appears to be sunk into nothing, and is denied: as Matth. 10. 20. It's not ye that speak, but the spirit of your Father that speaks in you. Though they be living persons in their nature and being, Peter and John speaks: and yet the spirit so discourses and lays aside the creature called self, and sets up God, that as if self were ⟨p. 179⟩annihilated and not there at all (I mind no Libertine annihilation) the spirit as the predominant speaks in the man and acts in him, rather then the man. And the Spirit of the Father, prayeth, preacheth, reigneth, acteth, disputeth, confesseth in the believer. 1 Cor. 15. 10. But I laboured more abundantly then they all; then must I in Paul be preferred and exalted above John the beloved Disciple, and all the eminent Apostles? O not; I laboured more abundantly; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Acts 6. 10. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which Steven spake. He saith not they were not able to resist and dispute against the sinful man Steven. Acts 4. 8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, & made answer to the persecuting Rulers; this is a far other thing then if he had said, then answered Peter the Apostle; for Peter was before this, filled with the Holy Ghost, but now the Holy Ghost in a new fullness and flowing of heavenly influences in the man Peter is Master-speaker. In the Prophets this is clear from 2 Pet. 1. 21. Prophecy came not of old by the will of man; (though the Prophet was not compelled to prophesy, nor his will Physically sunken down to nothing) but holy men of God spake as [Greek or Hebrew], acted by the Holy Ghost. 1 Pet. 1. 11. The Spirit of Christ spake in the Prophets before hand of the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow. Though there be a difference betwixt the speaking of a Prophet, and the acting of a believer; there is much of self in the Prophets, who bite with the teeth and cry peace. Micah sets himself against such, cap. 3. 8.
4.1 Much of self-denial speaks much of the spirit: he who will be least his own is most God's, and partakes most of the divine nature. The spirit loves the room of self; I live not, but Christ (by his Spirit) lives in me, Gal. 2. and the spirit, to speak so, is the full predominant element in the acting (not that nature sinless is wholly dead and passive, as Familists and others tea•h) and self appears to be sunk into nothing, and is denyed: as Matth. 10. 20. It's not ye that speak, but the spirit of your Father that speaks in you. Though they be living persons in their nature and being, Peter and John speaks: and yet the spirit so discourses and lays aside the creature called self, and sets up God, that as if self were ⟨p. 179⟩annihilated and not there at al (I mind no Libertine annihilation) the spirit as the predominant speaks in the man and acts in him, rather then the man. And the Spirit of the Father, prayeth, preacheth, reigneth, actech, disputeth, confesseth in the believer. 1 Cor. 15. 10. But I laboured more abundantly then they all; then must I in Paul be preferred and exalted above John the beloved Disciple, and all the eminent Apostles? O not; I laboured more abundantly; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Acts 6. 10. And they were not able to resist the wisedom and the spirit by which Steven spake. He saith not they were not able to resist and dispute against the sinful man Steven. Acts 4. 8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, & made answer to the persecuting Rulers; this is a far other thing then if he had said, then answered Peter the Apostle; for Peter was before this, filled with the Holy Ghost, but now the Holy Ghost in a new fulnesse and flowing of heavenly influences in the man Peter is Master-speaker. In the Prophets this is cleer from 2 Pet. 1. 21. Prophecie came not of old by the will of man; (though the Prophet was not compelled to prophecie, nor his will Physically sunken down to nothing) but holy men of God spake as 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, acted by the Holy Ghost.
- 1The spirit above self speaks a spiritual one; he who is least his own is most God's.
