3 08 Ofthe ordinary influenceoftheHolyGbofl, Vol.II. conftancy of our belt purpofes and refolutions, always remembring that faying of our Saviour's; John 15. 5. Without me ye can do nothing. And that of St. Paul, Ephef. 2. 8. For by grace are ye Paved through faith: And that not ofyour Pelves it is thegift of God. And that of St.Peter, sPet. i. q. fpeaking in general of all true Chriltians, Who, fays he, are kept by thepower of God throughfaith unto fai vation. This power of God is the Spirit which they that believe receive, and by the bleffed guidance and influence whereof they are kept unto Salvation. V. This thews us what an advantage we have by the Chriftian Religion, which makes us partakers of the Holy Ghoft, whereby is afforded to us all neceffary di- re&ion and affiftance, and comfort in our Chriftian courfe. OurSaviour tells his Difciples, that the prefence and influence of this Comforter and Advocate, whom he would fend to abide with them for ever, would be more to them, than even his own perfonal prefence among them, which furely we fhould look upon as an un- fpeakable privilegeand happinefs; and et the inward pretence of the divine Spirit is more for our fecurity and comfort, than thebelt teacher and example; becaufe it is inward, andconveys a real ftrength to us; and it is univerfal, dif£u- fing it felf at once into the hearts and minds of all good Men, and is always pre- fent to them, which Chrift's perfonal and vifible prefence was not, nor could be; fo that to all purpofes of direction and affiílance, of fecurity and comfort, we are in a better condition under the continual influence and conduit of God's Holy Spirit, than they who had the advantage and happinefs of converting perfonally with our Saviour here upon earth, And therefore he tells his Difciples, that it was really for their benefit and advantage, that he fhould leave the World, to make way for the coming of this Comforter and Advocate, John 16. 7. Neverthelefs 1 tellyou the truth ; It is expedient for you that Igo away. For if Igonot away, the Comforter will not come unto you: But if Idepart, Iwill fend him unto you. So that they were gainers by their lofs, and Ins departure from them upon thefe terms was really to their advantage. VI. This (hews the great fault ofthe contempt and negle& of the Sacrament of Baptifm, which was inftituted by our Saviour as the folemn Rite and Ceremony of admitting Perfons into the Chriftian Religion, and themeans ofmaking us par- takers of this gift of the Spirit, and of all the bleffed fruits and effeas of it; fo that this. Sacrament cannot be negle&ed or flighted, without great affront to the Chriftian Religion, and contempt ofone of the greateft bleffings pronged in the Gofpel. They that were admitted to the folemn Profeffion of Chriftianity by Baptifm, were made partakers ofthe Holy Gbofi ; and thisnot only in the Apoftles times, but in all after Ages ; for this promife of the Holy Ghofl was to them and their Children, and to all that were afar off, even to as many as the Lord their God fl,¿ould call ; that is, to all that fhould embrace the Chriftian Religion, and make a folemn profeffion of it in Baptifm, in all fucceeding Ages to the endof the World. VII. What hash been difcourfed upon this Argument, difcovers the vanity of many Mens pretenfions to the Spirit. Some pretend to Infallibility, all pretence whereto is vain, without miracles to juftifie and make good this pre- tence; and yet upon this prefumption of Infallibility, without any proof of it, but only that it is convenient for them to have it, whichwill as well prove all others to be infallible, becaufe it is, every whit as convenient for them : I fay, upon this prefumption and pretence, they affüme to themfelves to di&ate to all theWorld, what they fhall believe, and to cenfure and condemn all thofe who will not, fub- mit to their diaates, as miferably miftaken, and out of the way of Salvation; whereas the infallibility ofthe Apoftles was a fupernatural gift, not evident of it felf, but evidenced to theWorldby the miracles whichwerewrought, to confirm the truth of their Teftimony and Dofrine; and without this evidence of Infallibili- ty, no Man's, no Churches pretences to it.oughtto be regarded, but ought to be look'd upon as fanatical Enthufiafm. Betdes, the prodigious uncharitablenefs of this Spirit, as direly contrary as can be to the firft and chieffruit of the Spirit mention'd by the Apoftle, which is Loveor Charity. Others
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=