490 THE HOLYSPIRIT THE EARNEST oF THE SAINTS, &c. Book U. MET AP H 0 R. him that receives it, of the lnheri:"– tance or Purchafe of whatfoever it is the Earneil:. VIII. An Earnell though it may be in itfelf, fomcthing of confide– rable Value; yet it is always far fhort in worth to that which it is the Earneil: of: ' PAR ALL EL. furance of eternal Life and Glory to come; hence it is called, 'Ihe Earneft of the Saint'J Inheritance until the Redemption of the purchaJed PoffejJion: Eph.1. 14. VIII. The Gifts, Influences and Graces of the Holy Spirit, though they are in themfelves of gr~at Worth and Value, and accordingly greatly pnzed by the Godly ; yet not to be compared to the full Fruition of God and the glorious Inheri– tance which the Spirit is given as the Earnefi of. IX. AnEarneil: as it is fomething IX. The Spirit which is the Earneil: of Glory, given of a valuable Confideration, is given to Believers for their prefent Profit; to confirm a Bargain; fo the Perfon God's infinite Favor bellows Grace, Peace, Joy, that receives it, immediately enjoys and the like, whilil: Saints are in this World: And it, he hath it in hand for his prefent indeed it is upon this Earnefi.money they live, Profit and Advantzge; and many and it is fo much as is fufficient to bear all their Times a Man hath nothing elfe to Charges, and defra~ all their Expences till they hve upon ull he receive the whole rece1ve the everlaihng K1ngdom, 1 Cor. xii. 7· Sum, but the Earnell·money. ' Gal. v. 22, 25. X. There is always fame DifX. There is alfo a Dillance of Time between ranee of Time between the laying the Saints receiving the Spirit, which is the Earn– down of the Earnell of an lnheriell of that glorious Inheritance, and the full Pof– tance, and full Enjoyment of it, or feffion of it. They receive 1he Spirit as the Earn– entering into thePoffeffion thereof. ell when, or foon after they believe, the Time when they receive the Inheritance is not to till they die, and not the full Fruition or perfeCt Enjoyment of it till the RefurreClion: Hence– forth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteoufnefs, which God, the righteous Judge, will give me at that Da)', &c. 2 'Iim. iv. 8. METAPHOR. I. ANEarnellamongMen isufually a certain Sum, either more or lefs, of Gold or Silver, which are but corruptible and earthly Things. II. The beil: and greateil: Pur– chafe an Earne£1: among Men is uiven for, confills of temporal Things, that pafs away and periG1, as all fublunary Tlungs do. Ill. Sometimes among Men, a Perfon who h., given Earnell for fuch or fuch a Commodity, does afterwards recant his Bargain. D IS PAR IT Y. I. THE Earnell of the Saints Inheritance is of an inellimable Value, being of an hea– venly and fublime Nature, the holy, bleJfed and eternal Spirit of God, in the Operations, Gifts, and Graces thereof. !I. The Holy Spirit is the Earneil: of an In– heritance, incorruptible, and undejiled, and that Jadeth not away, referved in Heaven for us, I Pet. i. 5· . Be thou faithful unto Death, and I will give thee a Crown of Life, Rev. ii. 10. Ill. There never will be any Recanting about giving or receiving this fpiritual Earndt; God will never repent that he gave his Spirit to his faithful Children, it being beil:owed upon them as the Refult of his eternal Purpofe in J efus Chri£1:. And Believers have no caufe to recant their Bargain, in yielding themfelves up to God, both Body and Soul, all they are, and are capable to do, for the Glory of Fr<e·Grace; for their Gain will be unfpeakable thereby: Godlinefs is profitable to all ~hings, having the Promifeofthe Life that now is, and that which is to come; it isgreat Gain, I 'Iim. iv. 8. . IV. Sometimes the Purchafer IV. God will never, can never lofe thofe Souls, Jofes his Earncil:, by flying from for whom he gave his Son, as the Price of their the Bargain, and fo never has the Redemption, and his Spirit as an Earnell to make Inheritance. fure of them : .ilfy Father which gave them me is greater thmt all, rmd none is able to pluck them out V. Amongil: Men, the Earncil: of an Inheritance is given by the Pur– chafer to the Seller, and he expcc1s of my Father's Hands, John x. 28. V. The fpiritual Earnell is given by the Fa– ther, upon the Account of Chrill's Purchafe, un– to Believers. The Lord Jefus bought the Inhe– ritance,
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