2. There are the Inward strivings of Gods Spirit. All those common operations of the Spirit, which sinners, yea, Reprobate sinners may be subject unto, are the secret blessed strivings of the holy Ghost, with the ⟨p. 120⟩Souls of men. There is indeed an inward, powerful, effectual, saving Operations of the Spirit upon the hearts of the Elect. I am not speaking of that, but of common works of the Spirit which sinners may partake of. To instance a little: 1. There are some sinners, that the holy Spirit doth greatly enlighten their minds. They have much knowledge in the things of God, they are made to understand what their duty is, even what they must do, that so they may please God, and be made happy for ever, Mich. 6.8. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. They could not plead ignorance of the mind of God, the Lord had taken care that they should be instructed, both in duties of the first and second Table. Now all Conviction of duty is from the Spirit, yea, all Illumination in Divine things is from him; therefore the holy Ghost is called, the Spirit of Truth, because all truth and all discovery of truth is from him. If a man be but enlightened, so as to understand the Fundamental points in Religion, this is a great work of Gods Spirit. Hence the Apostle saith, No man speaking by the Spirit of God, calls Jesus accursed; and […] no man can say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 12.3. ⟨p. 121⟩Because if a man be but convinced, that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah, even the Son of God, and Lord of all, this Conviction is however a common work of the holy Ghost upon the mind. 2. The holy Ghost may cause terror to be in the Conscience of a sinner: That then is a second way how the Spirit doth strive inwardly, it is he that doth convince the world of sin, Joh. 16.8. All Conviction of sin and misery, is from the Spirit. Sometimes the holy Spirit cometh and reasons the case with a poor sinner, till at last he is silenced by the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit; from the which Convincements, secret, awful terrors do arise. Hence the Scripture speaks of the Spirit of Bondage unto fear, Rom. 8.15. The holy Spirit convinceth a sinner that his present condition is miserable; so as that if he doth not get out of it, he must perish to all eternity.
2. There are the Inward strivings of Gods Spirit. All those common operations of the Spirit, which sinners, yea, Reprobate sinners may be subject unto, are the secret blessed strivings of the holy Ghost, with the ⟨p. 120⟩Souls of men. There is indeed an inward, powerful, effectual, saving Operations of the Spirit upon the hearts of the Elect. I am not speaking of that, but of common works of the Spirit which sinners may partake of. To instance a little: 1. There are some sinners, that the holy Spirit doth greatly enlighten their minds. They have much knowledge in the things of God, they are made to understand what their duty is, even what they must do, that so they may please God, and be made happy for ever, Mich. 6.8. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. They could not plead ignorance of the mind of God, the Lord had taken care that they should be instructed, both in duties of the first and second Table. Now all Conviction of duty is from the Spirit, yea, all Illumination in Divine things is from him; therefore the holy Ghost is called, the Spirit of Truth, because all truth and all discovery of truth is from him. If a man be but enlightned, so as to understand the Fundamental points in Religion, this is a great work of Gods Spirit. Hence the Apostle saith, No man speaking by the Spirit of God, calls Jesus accursed; and 〈…〉 no man can say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 12.3. ⟨p. 121⟩Because if a man be but convinced, that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah, even the Son of God, and Lord of all, this Conviction is however a common work of the holy Ghost upon the mind. 2. The holy Ghost may cause terror to be in the Conscience of a sinner: That then is a second way how the Spirit doth strive inwardly, it is he that doth convince the world of sin, Joh. 16.8. All Conviction of sin and misery, is from the Spirit. Sometimes the holy Spirit cometh and reasons the case with a poor sinner, till at last he is silenced by the Evidence and Demonstration of the Spirit; from the which Convincements, secret, awful terrors do arise. Hence the Scripture speaks of the Spirit of Bondage unto fear, Rom. 8.15. The holy Spirit convinceth a sinner that his present condition is miserable; so as that if he doth not get out of it, he must perish to all eernity.
