HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS WORK.. 17 Sect. 26. -I say, it is so come to pass amongst many who profess they believe the gospel to be true, that the name or naming of the Spirit of God is become a re- proach. So also is his whole work. And the promise of him made by Jesus Christ unto his church, is ren- dered useless and frustrated. It was the main, and up- on the matter, the only supportment which he left un- to it in his bodily absence, the only means of rendering the work of his mediation effectual in them, and among them. I'or, without him,, all others, as the word, mi- nistry, and ordinances of worship, are lifeless and use- less. God is not glorified by them, nor the souls of men advantaged. But it is now uncertain with someof what use he is unto the church, yea as far as I can dis- cern, whether he be of any or no. Some have not trembled to say and contend, that some things as plain- ly ascribed unto him in the scripture, as words can make an assignation of any thing, are the cause of all the troubles and confusions in the world. Let them bave the word or tradition outwardly revealing the will of God, and what it is that he would have them do, (as the Jews have both to this day) these being made use of by their own reason, and improved by their natural abilities, they make up the whole of man, all that is re- quired to render the persons or duties of any accepted with God. Of what use then is the Spirit of God in these things? Of none at all, it may be, nor the doc- trine concerning him, but only to fill the world with a buz and noise, and to trouble the minds of men with unintelligible notions. Had not these things been spo- ken they should not hove been repeated; for death lieth at the door in them. So then, men may pray without him, and preach without him, and turn to God with- out him, and perform all their duties without himwell enough. For ifany one shall plead the necessity of his assistance for the due performance of these things, and ascribe unto him all that is good and well done in them, he shall hardly escape from being notably derided. Yet all this while we would be esteemed Christians. And what do such persons think of the prayers of the ancient se Adesto Sanete Spiritus, et paractesin team expectentibus giber° Calicos, Sacrifice temptum carports nostri et consecra in habitaculum taunt; Desiderantes to animas tua presentia testifies dignam to habita_ tore domum campane; adorns thalamum tuum, et quietis tria reclinato- dam, circumda varietatibus Virtutnm; sternepavhranta pigmentis; n teat mansio tua carbuncutis flammeis, et Gemmarum splendoribus; et emntem Chrismatum intinsecus spirent'Odoramenta; effatim balsami church and Christians unto him, for the working of all good in them, and their ascriptions of every good thing unto him? And wherein have we any advantage of the Jews? or wherein consists the pre-eminence of the gos- pel? They have the word of God, ,that part of it which was committed unto their church, and which in its kind is sufficient to direct their faith and obedience; for so is the sure word of prophesy if diligently attended unto, 2 Pet. i. 19. And if traditions be of any use, they can outvy all the world. Neither doth this sort ofmen want their wits, and the exercise of them. Those who converse with them in the things of this world, do: not use to say they are all fools. And, for their diligence in the consideration of the letter of the scripture, and inquiring into it according to the best of their under- standing, none will question it, but those unto whom they and their concernments are unknown. And yet, after all this, they are Jews still. If we have the New Testament, no otherwise than they have the Old, we have only the letter of it to philosophize upon, according to the best of our reasons and understandings, without any dispensation of the Spirit of God accompanying it to give its a saving light into the ministry of it, and to make it effectual unto our souls; I shall not fear to say, but that as they call themselves Jetes, and arenot, but are the synagogue of Satan, Revel. ii. 9. So we who pretend ourselves to be Christians, as to all the sav- ing ends of the gospel, shall not be found in a better condition. And yet it were to be wished that even here bounds might be fixed unto the fierceness ofsome men's spirits. But they will not suffer themselves to be so confined. In many places they are transportedwith rage and fury, so as to stir up persecution against such as are really anointed with the Spiritof Christ, and that for no other reason, but because they are so, Gal. iv. 29. Other things indeed are pretended by them, but all the world may see that they are not of such importance, as to give countenance unto their wrath. This is the latent cause which stirs it up, and is oftentimes openly expressed. Sect. 27.These things at present are charged only as the miscarriagesof private persons. When they are liquor flagrantie sue cubicutum slum imbuat; et ebigens inde quicquid tatridum est, quicquid coes'nptela seminarium; stabileet perpetuam toe facia, gaudium nostrum, et creations tune renovationem in decors bin. merracessibili solides in eeternám. Cyprian, de. Sp. Ss.
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