each PERSON diffincily. L387] And it may be confidered how it may be faid to be an earneft on the part of God,.who gives him, and on the part of believers who receive him. (t. He is an earneft on the part ofGod, In that Godgives him asachoice part of the inheritance itfelf; and of the faine kind with the whole, as an earneft ought to be The full inheritance promifedis thefulnefs of the Spi- rit in the enjoyment of God. When that Spirit which is given us in this world !hall have perfectly taken away all finand forrow, and !hall have made us able to enjoy the gloryofGod in his prefence, that is, the full inheritance promifed. So that the Spirit given us for thefitting of us for enjoyment of God in fome meafure, whilft we are here, is theearneft of the whole. God cloth itto this purpofe, to allure us and fecure us of the inheritance ï Having given us fo many fecurities without us, his word, promifes, cove- nant, Oath, the revelation and difcoveryof his faithfulnefs and immutabili- ty in them all : he is pleafed ilfo gracioufly to give us one within us, Ha. lix. 21. that we may have all the fecuritywe are capable óf: What Lin more be done? He hath given us of the HolySpirit; in him the firft fruits of glory, the utmoft pledge of his love, the earneft of all. (2. On the part of believers ; he is an Barnett, in that he gives them an acquaintance with, a.] The loveof God; their acceptation with him makes known to them their favour in his fight; that he is their father, and will deal with them aswith children, and confequently that the inheritance Rail be theirs. He fendsbis Spirit into our hearts, crying Abba, Father, Gal. iv. 6. And what is the inference of believers from hence? v. 7. Then we are not fervants, but fops, and iffons, then heirs of God: the faine apofile again, Rom. viii. 17. If children, then heirs of God, and joint heirs with Chrifl. On that perfuafion of the Spirit, that we are children, the inference is, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Glorifl e we have then a right toan'inhe ritance, and an evi£tionof it. This is theufe then we have of it ; eventhe Spirit perfuading us of our fonihip and acceptation with God our Father. And what is this inheritance of glory.? ifwe fuller with him, wefliall- be glorified together. And that the Spirit is given for this end is attelted, 1 John iii. 24.Hereby we know that he abideth in ses, by the Spirit which he bath givenus. The apoftle is fpeakinp of our union withGod, which he exprelfeth in the words foregoing. He that keepeth his commandments dwelletb in bim, and bean him. Of that union elfewhere. Now this'we know from hence, , even bythe Spirit which he bath given "us. The Spi- rit acquaints us with it; not that we have fuch an acquaintance, but that the argument isgood and conclufive in itfelf. We have of the Spirit,there- fore he dwells in us, and we in blin; becaufe indeed his dwelling in us, is by that Spirit, and our intereft in him is from thence ; a fenfe of this he giveth as he pleafeth. 2.] The Spirit being given as an Barnett, acquaints believers with their inheritance, I Car. ii. g, in. As an earn& being part of the whole, gives . knowledge of it, fo doth the Spirit, as in fundry particulars might be de- monftrated. So is he in all tefpefts compleatlyancornett : given of God, received by us, as the beginning of our inheritance, and the affurance of it. So much as we have of the Spirit, fo much we have of heaven in perfeft enjoyment, and fo much evidence of its future fulnefs. Underthis apprehenfion of hito in the difpenfation of grace do believers receive him, and rejoice in him : every gracious felf-evidencing aft of his in their,hearts they'rejoyce in, as a drop from heaven, and long for the ocean Of it. Not to drive e- very
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