Serm. CLXXIX. in.Oppofition to Error. 5 z dons and A&ions to the operation and influence of God's Grace and holy Spirit upon the Minds of Men; and the Sins of Men to the Temptation and Suggestion of the Devil ; and this is fo well known to any one converfantin the HolyScrip- tures, that Ì need not cite particular Texts for the proof of it. 'Tis true indeed, that the Motions of God's Holy Spirit, and the Suggeftiont of the Devil, are very leerer to us, and imperceptible by us, fo that no Man can' fay certainly, that this good Inclination or A&ion is an immediate Motion ofGod's holy Spirit in me, or that eTil Thought and Defign is an immediate Suggeftion of the Devil ; it is fufficient for us, that we are affured from Divine Revelation in ge- neral, that the Spirit of God very frequently does, and is always ready to affili good Men in the doing or fuffering of God's Will ; as the Evil Spirit, where God permits him, is always bufy to tempt and feduce Men to Evil. And this ought not to be uirange to us, becaufe our Saviour hath exprefly told us, that the Spirit of God works in Men after an imperceptible manner, john 3. 8. The Wind blow. eth where it lifieth, and thou hearef the found thereof, but canfl not tel whence it cometh, and whither it goeth : So is every one that is born of the Spirit. Tho' the do not know the manner of the Spirit's working, nor perceive the operations of it upon our Minds, yet we find the Effe&s of it in the renovation and fan&ification of our Hearts. Thus by undeniable Arguments, Men are affured of a Divine Próvidence governing the World, tho' men do not always fee, nor can makeout to others, the particular Interpofirionsof it. fo as to fay that this or that was an immediate Effe& of Divine Providence. To know certainly that a thing is, it is not neceflàry that we fhould be able to give a particular account of all its Opera - tions, and themanner of them ; thefe may be hidden from us, andyet we may be fufficiently affured by other Arguments that there is fuch a thing. Men are fore they have Souls, tho' theycan give no account how the A&ions of Underfland. ing, and Remembrance, and Senfation are produced by them : fo it is in the pre- lent Cafe, we are fufficiently affured from the Word of God, that good and bad Spirits have a greatInfluenceupon the Minds of Men, tho' we be not confcious to their Operations, and the manner of them. Il. The Spirit of God which is in good Men, is greater than he that' is in the World ; he is more able and ready to afïilt men to Good Purpofes, than the Devil is to tempt and help forward that which is Evil. And this will appear, if we con- fider thefe Three Things. r. The Spirit of God is more powerful than the Devil ; and this is fo evident of it felf, that it needs no Proof. a,. TheSpirit of God is as forward and willing to affìfi men toGood Porpofes, as the Devil is to the contrary. That extremity of Malice and Envy which is in Evil Spirits does no doubt make them very forward and a&ive todo all the Mischief they can toMankind, by tempting and feducing them to Sin : but on the other hand, the utmoft Perfe&ion of Goodnefs which in God is more and greater than the. Malice of the Devil, will incline more ftrongly the Holy Spirit of God to pity, and aid, and help good Men, than theMalice of the Devil can urge him to procure the Harmand Mifchiefof Mankind ; and if we could fuppofe their Will and Inclinations equal; yet our Comfort is their Power is not. 3. The Spirit of God bath a more free and immediate accefs to the Minds of good Men, and a more intimate conjun&ion with, and operation upon them, than the Devil. The Spirit of God is always prefent to us, and willing to dwell and abide in us, and ready to help and aft us, if we be ready to obey his Dislates, and comply with his Holy and Bleffed Motions; if we did not refift, and quench, and grieve him, he would always take up his Abode and Habitation in us, and would be continually exciting, and guiding, and afiìfling us to that which is good ; he knows our Hearts, and fees all the fecrets of our Souls ; knows all our Incli. nations, knows our Weaknefs and our Danger, what Afliflance we want, and when it will be molt feafonable ; and is as intimate to us, and as confcious to all the Motions of our Spirits, as we our felves are. But now the Devil is under great reftraint, and cannot make nearer Approaches to any Man than God permits him ; he does not know our Hearts, nor can pry X x x z, into
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