Serrì. CXLVÏI. on the Minds ofGhriflians. 307 call. That is, this promife of the Spirit extends to all thofe who (hall hereafter embrace the Chriftian profeffion. And in this fenfe, our Saviour makes good that promife Which he Made to the Apoftles, to be with them always in the work of making Difciples, and baptizing them to the endof the world; that is, he would accompany the labours of the Pa- ftors and Teachers of his Church in all Ages, with fuch a pretence and influence of his Spirit upon thofe that were taught and baptized, as fhould be fuitable to the occaflons and neceflities of the Church, both the Paftors and the Members of it, unto the endof the world. In a word, this Gift of God's Holy Spirit is be flowed upon all thofe who by Baptifm are admitted into Chrift's Religion, and if it be cherifa'd and complied with, and the bleffed motions of it be not refitted and quenched by us, it will abide and continue with us, and produce thofe bleffed Fruits and Effecaswhich I have before mentioned. Having thus explain'd the feveral particulars contain'd in the Text, all that now remains, is to make fome ufeful Inferences from the whole; and they (hall be thefe following, and, I (hall be very brief in them. I. What an encouragement is here to our Duty, that we have filch a mighty Aid andAffiftance promifed and afforded tous in the Gofpel ? So that the Apoftle doth with great reafon exhort, 2 Car. 7. t. Having therefore thefe promifes, diary beloved, let us cleanfe our fakes from all filthinefs of the flefh and fpirit, perfeßing holinefs in thefear of God. And we are utterly inexcufable, if we do not make life of that grace which is promifed,and readytobe afforded to us to this end; it is our own fault iffin ftill have dominion over us, andreign in our mortal bodies, that we should obey it in the lufls of it. Il. What great caufe have we thankfully to acknowledge the wonderful good- nefs of God tous, in beftowing fuch an invaluable gift upon us, as this of the Holy Spirit, by whofe Grace andAffiftarice alone we are made partakers ofall the other Bleffings and Benefitsof theGofpel ? Hadwe been ftill left without ftrength, that great Salvation which Chrift bath purchafed for us, and which the Gofpel- offers, would have ftgnified nothing tous, for want of Power to have performed the Conditions which the Gofpel requires of all that hope for eternal Life and Salvation. III. Let usalway bé ready to comply with the motions and fuggeftions Of the bleffed Spirit, and fincerely make ufe of thofe aids and affiftances which he is al- ways ready to afford to us ; and let us take great heed, that we do not by any difo- bedience of ours to his bleffed motions, or by any wilful prefumptuous fins, reffi, and quench; and grieve this Holy Spirit ofGod, whereby we are fealed unto the day of redemption. If the Spirit of God vouchfafe to dwell in us, and to make his abode in our finful Souls and Bodies; let us do nothing that is unworthy of fo divine and hea- venly a Gueft; let his Pretence with us fill' our Hearts with a continual awe and reverence ofhim, and engage us effeftuaily to cleanfeourfelva from all filthinefsof fefh and fpirit; let nothing be afed by us, or proceed from us, whichmay defile this Temple of the Holy Ghoft. Te are theTemple of the livingGod, fays St. Pail, 2 Cor. 6. 16. And in the firft of the Corinthians, 3. r6, 17. Knowye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you ? If any man de- file theTemple of God, him 'ball God delimy : for the Temple of Gäd is holy, which Templeye are. More particularly the Apoftleufeth it as an Argument to flee from Fornication, becaufe our Bodies alto are the Temples of the Holy Ghofl, a Cor. 6, 18, ig. Flee fornication: for every fin that a man doth, that is, other fins which Men commit, are without the body; but he that committeth fornication, fannetb a- gainf his own body; that is, pollutes and defiles it. And then it follows,What, know ye not that your body is theTemple of the Holy Gho i which is in you, which ye haveof God, andye arenotyour own? For ye arebought with a price : therefore glorify God inyour body, and inyour fpirit, which are God's. IV. Let us earneflly beg of God hisHoly Spirit, and continually depend upon himfor his Grace andaffiftance, in an humble fenfe oí-our ot'n impotency and weaknefs, of the frailty and treachery of ourown Spirits, ofthe ficklenefs and in- R r z conftancy
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