Book rr. THE HOLy SPIRIT THE EARNEST OF THE SAINTS, &c. 491 fomething of equal Worth for that he parts withal for it. VI. An Earnell among Men is given by the Purchafer, with an In– rent or Defign ro advantage him– felf thereby; it is .chiefly his own lnterell and Profit which he aims at in this AC\ion. ritance, and received the Earnell of it for us, as Mediator, who freely gives it to us; out of his own good Will he befiows it upon us, as an Af– furance of the full Poffeffion of eternal Life. VI. The Lord giving his Spirit as the Earnell of future Bleffings, defigns (it is acknowledged) his own Glory thereby; but chiefly the Profit will be ours: It was our Good, our Advantage Chrill defigned and oimed at, in dyitw for us, in giving his Spirit tO us. 0 N F E R E N C E ~ I. WHAT admirable Gcace and Favor is here! Did God give Chrift to die for us, to redeem us from Sin and Wrath to come? and did he receive the Holy Spi– rit, as Mediator, to give it unto us, the Earnefi of that purchafed Poffeffion? Let this be to the Praife of his Glory. Chrill purchafes that we might poffefs. Others purchafe that they may inherit themfelves, and give Earnell to make fure of the Eftatc to them– felves; Bur the Lord J efus needed not to do fo, he was Heir from everlalling, and all that he did as Mediaror·was for us, to enrich and make us happy and blefTed for ever. 11. If God hath given to Believers the Holy Spirit, as the Earnell of their Inheri– tance, let them take heed they do not go about to defraud him of his Bargain: They are not their own, they are bought with a Price, 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. and they have confented to this holy ContraCt, by taking an Earnell from his Hand. It is great In– jufrice to deprive or keep back any Part of a lawful Bargain from the Buyer, efpecially when he hath given Earnell for it. III. This fhews what certain Hopes and good Affurance a godly Man hath of eternal Life: It is bought or put-chafed for him, it was given by Promife to him, the Por– mife is fealed; nay, more than this, he hath received a Pledge or Earnell ofir. What little ground is there then for any Soul to defpond, or doubt of the eternal Inheritance I The holy Gocrl deals with us after the manner of Men, about the great Concerns of another World; the bare Promife of God would be Security enough, we need not re– quire a Seal of an Earnefr of him; 0 how doth Divine Goodnefs condefcend to poor 'Creatures, that the He~rs of Promife might have frrong Confolation! Heb. vi. IV. From hence Believers may learn to repel and withlland the Temptations ofSatan. Shilon, faith our Savior, Satan bath dejired to baveyou, &c. Luke xxii. 3r. but might not Simon (and fo confequently every true Chrillian) Jay, I am not mine own, thou comeil: too late, Satan, I have received Earnefr of a better Efrate, of a better Kingdom tha11 thou hall: I have given up myfelf ro J efus Chrill, and he hath taken polfeffion of me by his Spirit, that I might poffefs and enjoy him to Eternity. V. 1\nd let Sinners, who would have an lnterell: in God, and enjoy this eternal Inhe– ritance, learn from hence rhe ready Way to come to it. Firll, They mull believe: The Saints that are fealed with the Spirit, which is the Earnefr of the purchafed Inheritance, are faid to trufl in God, after they heard theWord of Truth, the Gofpe! of their Safvation: In whom (faith the Apollle) after that ye be– lieved, ye were fealed with that Holy Spirit of Promife; whioh is the Earnejl of our bt– heritance, until the Redemption of the purchafed Pojfejjion, to the Praife of his Glory, Eph. i. '3· Secondly, As they mull: hear, attend upon the \ii,Tord, go om of themfelves to Chrill, rely upon him, and truU: in him, believe and receive the Record God hath given of his Son; Jo they mull fubmit to his Ordinances. The Spirit i• promilcd to thofe that keep his Commandments, John xiv. 15, t6. If this be done in Truth and Sincerity, you fi1all certainly receive the Earnell of future Happinefs, as well as others. VI. Thofe that would have a Trial of their Eftates and Conditions, who delire to know whether they have received the Spirit of God or not, may read the Metapbor where the Holy Spirit is compared to a Seal. Nothing is more needful; all may fee from hence to make fure of the Sphit; take heed you be not rnifraken about it, &c. And let them that have received it, live upon it. Such need not fear wanting any good Thing; this ·Earnefr-Penny will, as hath been fhewn already, defray all their Charge whilll they are in this World. It is a great Sum; God gives like himfelf, and anfwerable to that Inheritance prepared and purchafed for Believers. VII. What
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