136 WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT have none of the effectsmentioned wrought upon them, its actual resistenty unto the work of the Spirit, God when others, their associates in hearing, are really of is pleased in some to take away; it is therefore of sove- fected, convinced, and converted. It is therefore the reign grace when, and where, it is removed; but the . ministration of the Spirit, in and by the word, which sin of men, and their guilt is in it, where it is continu produceth all or any of these effects on the minds of ed: for no more is required hereunto, but that it be men. He is the fountain of all illumination. Hence voluntary; it is will, and not power, that gives reeti- they that are enlightened are said to be made partakers tude or obliquity unto moral actions. (3.) As we ob- of the Holy Spirit, Heb. vi. 4. And he is promised served before, the Holy Spirit, in his whole work, is a by our Saviour to convince the world of sin, John xvi. voluntary agent. He worketh what, when, and how 8. which, although in that place it respects only one he pleaseth. No more is required unto his operations, kind of sin, yet it is sufficient to establish a general that they may be such as become him but these two rule, that all conviction of sin is from and by him. things: 1st, That in themselves they be good and holy. And no wonder if men live securely in their sins, to 2dly, That they be effectual as unto the ends whereun- whom the light which he givesl,'and the convictions to by him they are designed. That he should always which he worker:, are a scorn and reproach. design them to the utmost length of what they have a Sect. 12. There is indeed an objection of some mo- moral tendency towards, though no real efficiency for, ment, against the ascription of this work unto the ener- is not required. And these things are found in these gy of the Holy Spirit: For, whereas it is granted, that operations of the Holy Spirit. They are, in their own all these things may be wrought in the minds and souls nature, good and holy; illumination is so, so is convic- of men, and yet they may come short of the saving tion, and sorrow for sin, with a subsequent change of grace of God; how can he be thought to be the author affections and amendment of life. of such a work? Shall we say that he designs only a Sect. I4.Again, what he worketh in any of these, weak and imperfect work upon the hearts of men? Or effectually and infallibly accomplisheth the end aimedat; that he deserts and gives over the work of grace which which is no more, but that men be enlightened, con- he bath undertaken towards them as not able to-accom- vinced, humbled, and reformed, wherein he faileth not. plish it? In these things he is pleased to take on him the man- Sect. 13.Ans. (I.) In many persons, it may be in agement of the law, so to bring the soul into bondage the most who are that affected, real conversion unto thereby, that it may be stirred up to seek after deliver - God loth ensue; the Holy Spirit, by these preparatory ante: and he is thence actively called the spirit of bon - actings, making way for the introduction of the new dage unto fear, Rom. viii. 15. And this work is that spiritual life into the soul. So they belong unto a work which constitutes the third ground in our Saviour's par- that is perfect in its kind. (2.) Wherever they fail and able of the sower. it receives the seed, and springs up come short of what, in their own nature, they have a hopefully, until by cares of the world, temptations, tendency unto; it is not from any weakness and imper- and occasions of life, it is choked and lost, Matth. fection in themselves, but from thesins of them in whom xiii. 22. Now, because it oftentimes maketh a great they are wrought: for instanceeven common illumina- appearance and resemblance of regeneration itself, or tion arid conviction of sin, have, in their own nature, ofreal conversion to God, so that neither the world a tendency unto sincereconversion. They have so in nor the church are able to distinguish between them, it the same kind, as the law bath to bring us unto Christ. is of great concernment unto all professors of the gos- Where this enti is not attained, it is always from the pet, to inquire diligently whether they have in their interposition df an act of wilfulness and stubbornness in own souls been made partakers of any other work of those enlightened and convicted. They do not sincere- the Spirit of God or not: for, although this be a good Iy improve what theyhave received, and faint not mere. work, and do lie in a good subserviency unto regenera- ly for want of strength to proceed; but, by a free act tion, yet if men attain no more, if they proceed no of their own wills, they refuse the grace which is fur- farther, they will perish, and that eternally. And ther tendered unto them in the gospel. This will, and multitudes do herein actually deceivethenselves, speak-
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