3o4 Of the ordinary influence of theHoly Ghofl, Vo1.11. 'Tis this gracious influence, and continual afhllance of God's Holy Spirit refl.- ding anddwelling in us, which fecures all the other bleffings and benefits of the Gofpel to us, and condufts us fafely through all the temptations of thisWorld, and the difficulties of a Chriftian courfe, to the end of our Faith, the eternal falvation ofour Souls. For which reafon, the Spirit of God dwellingin goodMen, and evidencing it felf by its genuine fruits and effefls, the graces and virtues of a good life, is faid tobe thePledge and Earnefl ofourfuture Inheritance, and ofa bleffed refurreflion to eternal life, and tofeal us up to the day ofredemption, Rom. 8. r r. But if the fpirit ofhim that raifedup 7efus from the dead, dwell in you; he that raifed up Clorift from the dead, (hall alfo quicken your mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. For the faine reafon the Apoflle makes the Spirit of God, by which Chriftians are governed and led, 'to be the mark of their adoption, and being the children of God, and heirs of eternal life. Verfe 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, are the Sons of God. And ver. 16, 17. The Spirit it felf beareth witnefs with our Spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs,heirs ofGod, and joint heirs with Chr f. And elfewhere the Apoftle ufeth it for an Argument, why we fhould be careful not to refill, or quench the mo- tions of God's bleffed Spirit ; becaufe by this mark we are fealed to eternal life. And quench not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye arefealed untothe day ofredem- ption. I fhould now have proceeded in the Third place, To thew the bleffed effefls of the influence of the Holy Spirit dwelling and refiding in us: but that, together with the extent of this gift of the Holy Ghoft, as to Perfons and Times, I ]hall refer to another opportunity. SERMON CXL.VIIa Of the ordinary influence of the Holy Ghoft, on the Minds of Christians. J b x x VII. 39. But this fpake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him, fhoulcl receive. For the Holy Ghoft was not yet given, becaufe that7efirs was not yet glorified. The pond INmy former Difcourfe from thefe Words I obferv'd that the Gift of the Spirit, Sermon on or the Holy Ghofl, comprehends under it two things. rh , Text. Firfl, Thofe extraordinary and miraculous Gifts, ' hich were bellowed upon the Apoflles and Primitive Chriftians, in order to the planting and propagating of the Chriflian Religion in, theWorld ; together with that extraordinary Influence of God's Spirit upon the Minds of Believers, which accompanied the firfl preaching of the Gofpel. Secondly, The more ordinary and gentle Influence of the Spirit of God, upon the Minds of all thofe who believe and embrace the Gofpel. The latter of thefeI propofed to fpeak to more particularly and fully, and that under thefe four Heads. Fir/I, To open the nature of this Influence. Secondly, To flaew the neceflity of it, to enable us to perform the Condition of the Gofpel Covenant. Thirdly, To confider the bleffed Effefisof it. Fourthly, Toconfider the Extent of it, as to Perfons and Times, 4 The
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