216 An Expofitjon of the Epijlle ~ MyBrethren,(toendthis) thereforeallthofeComforts, (mark what I fay, Ser. XVI. try your [elves, and try others by it,) all thofe Revelations and Comforts that ~ make men loofe and unholy, unclean and carnal, they are not thefe Comforts of the Holy GhoO:. I confefs, a Holy man may, when they are gone, abufe the remembrance of them; but while they are upon the heart, they do carry a man's Soul in all up to God. The ApoO:!e Jude cloth not know how to fpeak words bitter enough againO: thofe men, that turn the Grace·of God into wan– tonnefs; They arr ordainedof old(faith he) to thi; co11dem11ation. Read how bitterly he f11eaks of fuch men from the third Verfe to the end of his Epi!\le : Efpecially whenas men !hall be loofe in their Opinions, as he faith, corrupt them. Jelves in what they know naturally to be fin. My Brethren, he is a holy Spirit, nothing is more opp·ofite to this holy Spirit, than loojiujS, than ttnclemmtfs, and fuch fins, arc, If we fay (faith he) that we have je/lowfbip with Go4, mtd walk in dark11e[s, we lie, What doth he mean by Fe/lowfhip here l He meaneth .Affi<ranceplainly. Thefe thi11gs we write toyot<, that yott may k11ow ye believe i11the Soil of God; (it is the fcope of that Epif\le,) He that faith he bathfe!– lowfhip with God, tJnd walketh m darbufs, he lieth, let him be what he will. The Apof\les they are vehement, their Spirits are up againO: no men more. He is aholy Spirit of Promi(e that fealeth men to falvation. Let this therefore be,.made a Motive to fcek it at God's h:j.nds; urge him with this, befides his Promi!e, tell him it will make you holy : I~ is a great Motive to feek it, it is a motive to you to feek it, and it is a motive to you to urge God to obtain it. I conclude with this; ASeal hath two ends and ufes, the firO: is to a/Jure and certifie, and the other is to O:amp an Image; for fo always a Seal doth, Now they are both here; He is called the Spirit of Promife, becaufe he bringeth home the Promife to a man's heart, and a!Tureth him of an intereO:. He is called the holy Spirit of Promijt in fealing, becaufe he fiampeth the Image of Holi1u[s upon you, and makes you more holy than before. So you have the meaning of thefe words, !11 whom ye were jtaled with that holy Spirit of Promife, with all thofe concurring Scriptures that were nece!fa– rily to be brought for the opening of them. SER. ,;
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