Ver. I 2, the Epif1le to the Romans. d 7 Spiric,and therefore we are all bound to pay this debt, by living after the Spirit? T t st. What are we to learn generally front this exhortation? Si t. Two things;Firft,that in good order ofteaching,exhortation rnu(tfol- low docrine; the reafon is; Fitt!, be- caufe exhortation pierceth deeper, and flicketh longer when it is built firmely upon the ground of Come dotirine, even as dotìrine becomes more lively, when there is an edge let upon it, by exhorta- tion. Secondly, from hence we are ge- nerally taught, that it isa point of ho- nety and juftice, to anfwer and fatisfie our debts, as it is written, Rom. 03. 8 are nothing to any man. Whereunto add the example of the widdow, mentioned in 2 Kings 4.7. who being charged with many children, yet (old her ftib- ftance to pay her debt. See more touching this,upon the Dialogue,Rom. 13.8. T i se. What tefe it to be made of this point? S 1 t. It reproves fundry forts of people : Firft,firch as borrow and ne- ver mean to pay, taking all tobetheir own, that once comes in their park. Secondly, filch as are of opinion, that whatfoever is lent them, is their own if they need it, neither are they bound to reftore. Thirdly, fuch as will pay their debts, but they do it of a love not to ho- nefty, but to their own reputation. Fourthly, filch as wickeJly defer pay- ment to the hurt of their creditors, or wholly defraud their creditors by un- juft tricks. Filtly,fuch as difcharge their debts,but doing it with an ill wil,loving them the worfe which have tufted them with their money : that proverb being often fulfilled in this cafe : When I lent I was a friend, but when I asked I was unkinde. Sixrly, it rebukes Minìfters which pay not the debt of teaching to their people,and the people that pay not their due debt of maintenance to Tea- chers, Rom. 1.14. I am a debter :o theGre- eian. r Cor.9.14. The Lord hath fo or. dained it, That they which preach the Gof- pell,fiolI live by the Gofpel. T t M. In what rOetJ:, or by what I maps do the faithfnll becomedebtert tt the Spirit? S.1 a. The godly are debters to the ISpirit three manner of wayes; in refpetl; of his benefits towards them pall, pre- fent,and to comes the benefits pall, are there fix. Firft,the benefit of their crea- tion, for in that all men at the firft crea- tion were made in the image ofGod,this muff be a(cribecr to the work of the Spirit, Gen. I. 26. This place proves ' that our creation is the worke of the whole Trinity, therefore of the Spirit. P(al.33,6. Secondly,cheirregeneration, in that of the children of wrath, they are become the children of God by faith. Joh.i.iz,13.and3.5,6. Thirdty, jultification,in that rheyare fee free from fin and eternal! death, and accepted as fully righteous, by the imputation of Chriffs righteoufnefs to them. Fourth- ly, calling, whetlby they have beene . drawn unto the faith in Quilt. Fiftly, fanetification, whereby fin is mortified that they may live in newne6 of life. r Cor.6.i 1. Sixtly, all the graces and fruits of the Spirit, Ga1.5.22. Second- ly, the benefit prefent, is the fpirituall confolation in all afiliEtions, together with the government and regiment of theSpirit, Joh.r6.7. Rom. 8.9. Third- ly, the benefits which we hereafter look for from the Spirit, is : Firlt, daily en- creak of knowledge and all other gifts of the Spirit. Secondly, corroboration ingrace unto death, i Pet.5.1 o.Thirdly, quickening of their fouls at their death with eternal! life. Rom.8. i o.Fourthly, ghickning of their dead bodies at the re- furreti'ion. Rom. 6.i i.Fiftly,the glori- fication both of body and foule eternal- ly in heaven. Thefe many andgreatbe- nefits of the Spirit, do therefore oblige and binde the faithful moft firaightly unto this debt, not to live after the flefh, but after the fpirit, which dothfo ma- ny and great things for us. T I M. What i1 it, not to live after the fiefb? Sit. blotto live after the flefh, fig - nifies not to live after the motions of our corrupt nature, but to fludy to mortifie them. A a TIM.
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