3. On the Spirit's part, there is a continued influence, so as to main- tain the essence and seed of grace. The Father's love is continued by the merit of Christ, that he will not depart from us, and we are pre- served by the Spirit of Christ, that we may not depart from him. He doth not only put into our hearts faith and fear, and other graces at first, but he maintaineth and keepeth them, that the fire may never go out. Our hearts are his temples, and he will, not leave his dwelling- place. There is a continued influence. Now this he doth to preserve the honour of Christ and the comfort of believers ; he glorifieth Christ, and is our comforter. It is to preserve the glory of Christ. Christ hath received a charge from the Father: John vi. 39, 'This is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me
1 should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day ; ' nothing, neither body nor soul. In point of honour, and that he may be true to his trust, he sendeth his Spirit as his deputy or executor, that his merit may be fully applied ; therefore, for the honour of Christ, wherever the work is begun it is continued, Christ is called, Heb. xii. 2, ' The author and finisher of our faith.' Wherever the Spirit is an author he is also a finisher ; when the good work is begun, he will also perfect it, and continue his grace to the end. It was said of the foolish builder, ' He began, and was not able to make an end.' This dishonour cannot be cast upon Christ, because of the power and faithfulness of the Spirit ; he doth Karepya^eaduL, go through with the work which he hath begim : Phil. i. 6, ' Being confident of this, that he that hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Christ.' The Spirit is to fit vessels for glory ; he doth not use to leave them half carved, but finish them for the honour of Christ. The Spirit is faithful to Christ, as Christ is to the Father. The Father chooseth the vessels, Christ buyeth them, and the Spirit carveth and fitteth them, that they may be vessels of praise and honour. He is our comforter ; working grace, he puts us into an expectation of com- fort and glory ; and therefore, to make it good, he carrieth on the work without failing : Rom. viii. 23, ' And not only they, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit ; even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body ;'
2 Cor. i. 22, ' Who hath sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.' We have the taste and the pledge of it ; it is good, it is sure. The first degree of grace is conferred as a pledge of eternal life ; he giveth it as an earnest or pledge, assuring us of a more perfect enjoyment of him. It is a pledge of the whole crop ; as an earnest, hereby God assureth us that he will pay the whole sum. An earnest is a pledge whereby we confirm a bargain ; it is a piece of money
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306 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII, [SeR. XVII.
whereby we are assured he will paj' the whole, Grace, it is the livery and seisin of glory ; as soon as a real change is wrought in us, we have a right that is indefeasible ; it is engaged by promise. Therefore, that the Spirit may be faithful, when he hath given us the first-fruits, the earnest, shall he not give us the inheritance ?
Ufie 1. It exhorteth us to persevere with the more care : 1 John ii. 26-28, ' These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which j'ou have received of him abidetli in you, and ye need not that any man teach you ; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, you shall abidg in him. And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, ye may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.' Since we have so many advantages of standing, let us not fall from him. Oh ! how great will your sin be if you should fall and dishonour God ! We pity a child that falleth when it is not looked after ; but when a fro- ward child wresteth and forceth itself out of the arms of the nurse, we are angry with it. You have more ground to stand than others, being brought into an unchangeable estate of grace, being held in the arms of Christ ; so that God will be very angry with your slips and fallings. Mercy holdeth you fast, and you seek to wrest yourselves out of mercy's arms. Never any can sin as you do ; there is much frowardness in your sins. You disparage the Spirit's custody, the merit of Christ, and the mercy of the Father : Heb. iv. 1, ' Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.' Some seem to stand, and do not ; and some seem to fall utterly, and do not. A child of God indeed cannot come short, but he should not seem, nor give any appearance of coming short. Our course in religion is often interrupted, though it be not broken off; this is a seeming to come short of it. Hereby you bring a scandal upon the love of Christ, as if it were changeable ; upon the merit of Christ, as if it were not a perfect merit. Though we do not fall so as to break our necks, yet we may fall so as to break our bones.