ie ú' 242 BELTEVEAS THE ONLY OBS generation is election. The rule and measure of the communication of the Spirit for sanctification is regene- ration. And the rule and measure of his communica- tion, as a Spirit of consolation, is sanctification, with -: the afflictions, temptations, and troubles of them that are sanctified. What then is the rule and measure of his communication as a Spirit of edification? I answer, profession of the truth of the gospel, and its worship, with a call unto the benefitingof others, 1 Cor. xii. 7. And here two rules must be observed-: (t.) That he carries not his gifts for edification out of the pale of the church, or profession of the truth and worship of the gospel. (2.) That he useth n sovereign and not a cer- tain rule in this communication, 1 Cor. xii. il, 13. so as thathe is not wanting unto any true professors in proportion to their calls and opportunities. :Sect. 4,-2dly, Whereas the Spirit ofsanctification is promised onlyunto them that are regenerate, and do :believe, may we, in our prayers and supplications for him, plead those qualifications as arguments and mo- tives for the further communications of him unto us? tins. 1. We cannot properly plead any qualification in ourselves, as though God were obliged, with respect unto them, to give a man increase of grace, ex congruo, much less, ex condigno. When we have done all, we are unprofitable servants. As we begin, so we must proceed with God, merely on the account of sovereign grace. 2. We may plead the faithfulness and righte- ousness of God as engaged in his promises. We ought to pray that he would not forsake the work of his own ;hands; that he who hath, begun the good work in us, would perfect it unto the day of Jesus Christ; that with respect unto his covenant and promises, he would pre- serve that new creature, that divine nature which he bath formed and implanted in us. 3. Upon a sense of the weakness of any grace, we may humbly profess our sincerity therein, and pray for its increase. So cried the poor man, with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief, Matth. ix. 24. And the apostles, in their prayer, Lord increase our faith, Luke xvii. 5. owned the faith they had, and prayed for its increase, by fresh supplies of the Holy Spirit. Again, idly, May believers, in trouble, pray for the Spirit of consolation with respect unto their troubles, it being unto such that he is promised? Ans. (I.) They may do so directly, and ought so to do; yea, when they ECT Of SANCTIFICATION, do it not, it is a sign they turn aside unto hròken cisterns that will yield them no relief. (2.) Troubles are of two sorts, spiritual and temporal. Spiritual troubles are so either subjectively, such as areall inward darknesses and distresses on the account of sin. Or 2dly, Objectively, such are all persecutions for the name of Christ and the gospel. It is principally with respect unto these that the Spirit is promised as a Comforter; and with regard unto them are we principally to pray for hint as so pro- mised. (3.) In those outward troubles which are com- mon ante believers with other men, as the deathof rela- tions, losses of estateor liberty, they may and ought to pray for the Spirit as a comforter, that the consolations of God administered by him, may outbalancetheir out- ward troubles, and keep up their hearts unto other du- ties. 4thly, May not all sincere professorsofthe gospel pray for the Spirit, with respect unto his gifts, for the edifi- cation of others, seeing unto such he is promised for that end? Answ. I. They may do so, but with the en- suing limitations: (1.) They most do it with express submission to the sovereignty of the Spirit himself, who divideth to every one as he will. (2.) With respectun- to that station and condition wherein they are placed in the church by the providenceandcall of God. Private persons have no warrant to pray for ministerial gifts, such as should carry them out oftheir stations without a divine direction going before them. (8.) That their end be good and right to use them in their respective places unto edification. So ought parents and masters of families, and all members of 'churches, to pray for those gifts of the Spirit, whereby they may fill up the duties of their places and relations. From the consideration of this order of the dispensa- tion of the.Spirit, we may be directed how to pray for him, which we are both commanded and encouraged to do, Luke xi. 18. For we are to pray for him with re- spect unto those ends and effects for which he is promi- sed: and these are those which are before expressed, with all those particular instances which may be reduced unto them. We might therefore hence give direction in some inquiries, which indeed deserve a larger discus- sion, if our present design would admit of it; one only I shall instance in: May a person, who is yet unregenerate, pray for the Spirit of regeneration to effect that work in him? For
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