DISCOURSES ON THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND HIS WORK. giddiness, and madness in their ways of sin, which sometimes shall produce most doleful effects in them- selves and others. (3.) He will east them out of his territories ; if they have been members of churches, he will order that they shall be cut off and cast out of them. (4.) He frequently gives them in this world a foretaste of that everlasting vengeance which is prepar- ed for them. ,Such are thore horrors of conscience, and other terrible effects of an utter desperation, which he justly, righteously, and holily sends upon the minds and souls of some of them. And these things will he do, as to demonstrate the greatness and holiness of his nature; so also that all may know what it is to despise his good- ness, kindness, and love. And the consideration ofthese things belongs unto us. It is our wisdom and duty to consider as well the ways and degrees of the Spirit's departure from provoking sinners, as those of his approach unto us, with love and grace. These latter have been much considered by many as to all his great works towards us, and that unto the great advantage and edification of those concerned in them. For thence have they learned both their own state and condition, as also what particular duties they were on all occasions to apply themselves unto, as in part we have manifested before, in ourdiscourses about regene- ration and sanctification. And it is of no less concernment unto us to consider aright the ways and degrees of his departure, which are expressed to give as that godly fear and reverencewhere- with we ought to consider and observe him. David, on his sin, feared nothing more than that God would take his Holy Spirit from him, Psal. li. 11. And the fear here- of should influence us into the utmost care and diligence against sin : for, although he should not utterly forsake us, which, as to those who are true believers, is contrary to the tenor, promise, and grace of the new covenant, yet he may so withdraw his presence from us; as that we may spend the remainder of our days in trouble, and our years in darkness and sorrow. Let him therefore that thinketh he standeth, on this account, also, take heed lest he fall. And as for them with whom he is, as it were, but in the entrance of his work, producing such effects in their minds, asbeing followed and attended un- to, might have a saving event, he may, upon their pro- vocations, utterly forsakethem in the way and by the de- with us no more for our recovery: and wo unto us when he shall depart from us f So, when the old world would not be brought to repentance by the dispensation of the Spirit of Christ in the preaching of Noah, 1 Pet. hi. 19, 20. God said thereon, that his Spirit should give over, and not always contendwith man, Gen. vi. 3. Now, the cessation ofthe operations ofthe Spirit towards men, obstinate in ways of sin, after he 'lath been long grieved and vexed, compriseth three things: (1.) A subduction from them of the means of grace, either to- tally, by the removal of their light and candlestick, all ways of the revelation of the mind andwill of God unto them, Rev. ii. 5. or, as unto the efficacy of the word towards them, where the outward dispensation of it is continued, so that hearing they shall hear, but not under- stand, Isa. vi. 9. John xii .40. For by the word it is that he strives with the souls and mindsof men. (2.) A gra- cious forbearance of all chastisement, out of a gracious design to heal and recover them, Isa. i. 6. (3.) A giv- ing of them up unto themselves, or leaving them unto their own ways; which, although it seems only a conse- quent of the two former, and to be included in them, yet is there indeed in it a positive act of the anger and displeasure of God, which directly influenceth the event of things ; for they shall be so given up unto their own hearts lusts, as to be bound in them as in chains ofdark- ness unto f silowing vengeance, Rom. i. 26, 28. But this is not all ; he becomes at length a professed enemy unto such obstinate sinners, Isa. Ixiii. lo. They rebel- led and vexed his Holy Spirit, thereforehe was turned to be their enemy, andhefought against them. This is the length of his proceeding against obstinate sinners in this world. And herein also three things are included: (t.) He comes upon them, as an enemy, to spoil them, This is the first thing that an enemy Both, when he comes to fight against any; he spoils themof what they bave. Have such persons had any light, or conviction, any gift, or spiritual abilities, the Holy Spirit, being now become their professed enemy, he spoils them of it all: From him that hath not shall be taken away, even that which he seemeth to have. Seeing he neither had nor used his gifts or talent unto any saving end, being now at an open enmity with him who lent it him, it shall be taken away. (2.) He will come upon them with spiritual judgments, smiting 'them with blindness of mind, and obstinacy ofwill, filling them with folly,
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