122 THE BRUISED REED now satisfied by Christ, it will prevail over all other opposition whatsoever. We are to encounter with accursed evil spirits, therefore if they begin to fall before the spirit in us, they shaJl fall; if they rise up again, it is to have the greater fall. The Spirit of truth, to whose tuition Christ bath committed his Church ; and the truth of the Spirit, which is the sceptre of Christ, abide for ever. Therefore the soul begotten by the immortal seed of this Spirit and this truth, must not only live for ever, but likewise prevail over all that oppose it, for both the word and the Spirit are mighty in operation. And if the evil spirit be never idle in those whom God delivereth up to him, we cannot think that the Holy Spirit will be idle in those whose leading and government is committed to him. No! as he dwelleth in them, so he will drive out all that rise up against him, until he be all in all. What is spiritual, is eternal. Truth is · a beam of Christ's Spirit both in itself, and as it is ingrafted into the soul. Therefore it and the grace wrought by it, though
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