114 TIIE GENERAL WORK OF me, John xiv. 6: ' TThriough hint we believe in God, 1 Pet. i. 21. But petneither can we do so, unless we are enabled thereunto by the Spirit, the author in us, of faith, prayer, praise, obedience, and whatever our souls tend unto God by. As the descending of God towards us in love and grace, issues or ends in the work of the Spirit in us and on us; so all our ascending to- wards him begins herein. And as the first instance of the proceeding of grace and love towards us from the Father, is in and by the Son; so the first step that we take towards God, even the Father, is in and by the Son. And these thingsought to be explicitly attended unto by us, if we intend our faith, and love, and duties of obedience should be evangelical. Take an instance of the prayers of wicked men under their convictions, or their fears, troubles and dangers; and the prayers of believers. The former is merely, Vox natures Cla- mantis ad DoininumNatures; an out-cry that distressed nature makes to God; and as such alone it considers him. But the other is, Vox Spiritus A'doptionis eta- mantis per Christum, Abba Pater; it is the voice of the Spirit ofadoption addressing itself in the hearts of be- lievers unto God as a Father. And a due- attendance unto this order of things, gives life and spirit unto all that we have todo with God. Wo to professors of the gospel who shall be seduced, to believe that all they have to do with God, consists in their attendance unto moral virtue. It is fit for them so to do, who being weary of Christianity, have a mind to turn Pagans. But our fellowship is in the way described, with the Father and his Son Christ Jesus. It is therefore of the highest importance unto us, to inquire into, and secure unto ourselves the promised workings of the Holy Spirit. For by them alone are the love of the Father, and the Suits of the mediation of the Son, communicated unto us, without which we have no interest in them. And by them alone are we enabled to make any acceptable returns of obedience unto God. It is sottish ignorance and infidelity to suppose, that, under the gospel, there is no communication between God and us, but what is, on his part, in laws, commands, and promises; and on oars, by obedience performed in our own strength, and upon our convictions unto them. To excludehence the real internal operations of the Holy Ghost, is to de- stroy thegospel. And as- wo.shall see farther afterwards, this is the true ground and reason why there is a sin THE HOLY SPIRIT against the Holy Spirit, that is irremissible; for he corn- ing unto us to make application of the love of the Fa- ther, and grace of the Son unto our souls ;. in the con- tempt of him, there is a contempt of the whole actings of God towards us, in a way ofgrace, for which there can be no remedy. Sect. 7. Fifthly; Whereas the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of grace, and the immediate efficient cause of all, grace, and gracious effects in men; wherever there is mention made of them, or any fruits of them, it is to- be looked on as a part of his work, though he be not expressly named, or it be not particularly attributed un- to him. I know not well, or do not well understand what some men begin to talk about moral virtue; some- thing they seem toaim at, (if they would once leave the. old Pelagian ambiguous expressions, and learn to speak . clearly and intelligibly) that is in their own power, and so consequently of all other men; at least it is so with an ordinary blessing upon their own endeavours, which things we must afterwards inquire into. But for grace, 1 think all men will granf that as to our participation of it, it is of the Holy Spirit, and of him .alone.. Now, . grace is taken two ways in the scripture;. (1.) For the gracious free love and favour of. God towards us: And, (2.) For gracious free effectual operations in us, and upon us. In both senses the Holy Spirit is the au- thor of it, as unto us. In the firstás to its manifesta- tion and application; in the latter, as to the operation. itself: for, although he be not the principal cause nor procurer of grace, in the first sense, which is the free . act of the Father; yet the knowledge, sense, com- fort, and all the fruits of it, are by him alone commu- nicated unto us, as we shall see afterwards. And the latter is his proper and peculiar work. This therefore must be taken for granted, that wherever any-gra- cious actings of God in or towards men are mentioned,. it is the Holy Spirit who is peculiarly and principally intended. Sect. S. Sixthly; It must be duly considered, with reference unto the whole work of the Holy Spirit, that in whatever he doth, he acts, works, and distributes, according to his own will. This our apostle expressly affirmed:. And sundry things ofgreat moment dode- pend hereon in our walking before God. As: 1. That the will and pleasure of the Holy Spirit is in all the goodness, grace, love, and power, that he
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=