muster. Truly, thus the Holy Spirit is often moving in the consciences and afl'ections of carnal creatures, counselling, rehuking, and exciting them ; so that, upon his suggestions, some warm affections are raised in them to that which is good, but presently all is quashed and comes to nothing, and the Spirit driven away by the entertainment he finds. Again, you cannot know by the common gifts of the Spirit, — illumination, conviction, restraining grace, and assistance to perform the external part of religious duties ; these are gifts of the Spirit, but such as do not prove he hath the Spirit that hath them : these gifts are beamed from the Spirit of God, and shew that the kingdom of God is come nigh such an one ; but they do not demonstrate that God is come into that soul, and hath taken possession of it for his temple ; they are like the presents which a suitor sends to a person whom he is wooing to be his wife, but the match breaking off, all are required again. Many have these gifts sent them by the Spirit of God, with whom the match between Christ and them was never made up ; and if they be not called for back in this life, they shall be accountable for them at the great day.
Section III. — Secondly, Affirmatively; by what thou mayest conclude that thou liast the Spii'it of God, and that in two particulars. First, If thou art regenerated by the Spirit. The Spirit of (Jod dwells only in a new creature. So long as a man continues in his natural state, he is ' sensual, having not the Spirit,' Jude 19 : this text refers to such as have no more than a reason- able soul, without a higher principle of life than nature gives to all men. St. Paul useth the word to set out a man in his natm-al state, as opposed to another that hath a principle of supernatural life from the Spirit of God ; ' The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit,' 1 Cor. ii. 14. But here the ques- tion will be. How shall I know I am regenerated ? To this I shall answer. Every regenerate soul hath a Divine nature and disposition ; ' That which is born of the Spirit is spirit,' John iii. 6 ; namely, is spiritual. He hath a soul raised as far above natural men, as they are above the nature of a beast. When Nebuchadnezzar had the understanding of a man given him, he grazed ncf longer among the beasts of the field, but returned to his princely throne and life. Thus the regenerate soul returns to that high and heavenly disposition which man in his primitive, holy state had : now God, and the things of God, take up his thoughts ; he hath a new eye to see vanity, where before he placed felicity ; a new taste, which makes him spit out those sinful pleasures as poison, that once were his pleasant morsels ; and he counts all earthly enjoyments but filth and dross in comparison of Christ and his grace ; ' They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.' Find, therefore, what thy appetite is, and thou may est know what thy life is, whether spiritual or natural. Secondly, If thou art led by the Spirit. The Spirit is the saint's guide: 'As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God,' Rom. viii. 14. As the soul is in the body to direct and move it, so the Spirit is in their soul i— ' Thou hast holden me by my right hand; thou shalt guide me with thy counsel,' Psa. Ixxiii. 23, 24. To be led by the Spirit of God, imports, first, a sense of oin- own weak- ness and ignorance. He that thinks he knows his way, or is able to direct his own steps, will not accept of a guide ; it is the weak child, or the blind man, that calls to be led. Saul was struck blind, and then he was led by the hand into Damascus, Acts ix. 8. Inquire, therefore, whether God hath made thee sensible of thy own ignorance and impotcncy. Man by nature is proud and Rclf-conceited ; he leans much to his own understanding, and stands upon his own strength, and is very loth to be thought out of the way, or unable to go of himself in it : 'A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil ; but the fool rageth, and is confident,' Prov. xiv. 16. Tell a soul spiritually wise he is out of the way, he fears himself, hearkens to the counsel, and turns back ; but a fool falls out with him that counsels or reproves him, and is confident he is right, as if the wav to heaven was as easy as the way to market. The first thing that the Spirit doth, is to dismount the soul from this high opinion he hath of himself. ' Men and brethren,' say those converts, when God had, with one prick in their hearts, let out this wind of pride, ' what shall we do?' Acts ii. 37. Their ■spirit now comes down, they are willing to be directed, and are so meek and humble, that a child may lead them. He that is led by another, is ruled by
IN THE SPIRIT. '759