VeR. 2.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 405
the Spirit at first, wlien all is against it. Now tlie scripture is copious ia asserting the supply of the Spirit of Christ, as necessary to do and sufier the will of God : Eph. iii. 16, ' Strengthened with all might in the inner man, from the Spirit :' 1 Pet. iv. 14, ' The Spirit of God and of glory resteth upon you.' Surely he that must help us when we are living must quicken us when we are dead ; and he that is necessary to break the force of our carnal affections still after they have received their death wound, was absolutely necessary to overcome them at first, when in full strength. The necessity of strengthening grace doth much more show the necessity of renewing grace ; for there needs much more power to overcome the corruptions of nature, than to heal or prevent the infirmities of the saints.
[2.] The new nature is the product of the Holy Ghost : John iii. 6, * That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' Men become spiritual in their dispositions, inclinations, actions and aims, from the effects of the spirit of regeneration, which may be considered Avith respect to God or to man.
(1.) How the converted person or new creature standeth affected to God, seemeth to be set forth by the apostle in that place : 2 Tim. i, 7, ' For we have not received the spirit of fear, but of love and power, and a sound mind.' I shall explain it. Observe in the negative de- scription, but one part only of mortification is mentioned — deadness to the fears of the world. But that defect may be supplied from another scripture : ' The spirit lusteth against the flesh : ' Gal. v. 17, — he deadeneth us to the delights and hopes of the world, as well as the fears and sorrows ; but the one is understood in the other ; for this spirit causeth us to prepare for sufterings in the world, and to look for no great matters here, but to expect crosses, losses, wants, persecutions, injuries, painful sicknesses, and death ; and doth fortify us against all bodily distresses, that we are not greatly moved by them, considering our relation to God and interest in blessedness to come, which doth weigh down all so it is not a spirit of fear. But then you must enlarge it by considering the main work of the Spirit, which is to subdue the lusts of the flesh, that the government of God may be set up in our hearts; for the flesh is the great rebel against God and sanctified reason. Therefore we must obey the Spirit, and take part with it in these strivings ; yea, we must strive against the flesli, and overcome it, so as to prevent all wilful reigning sin ; for they that have the Spirit live in no sin, but only smaller human frailties. Surely where the spirit prevaileth it crucifieth the flesh, and causeth men to live above all the glory, riches, and pleasures of the world, and mortifietli our sensuality more and more, and doth conquer and cast down our strong- est, sweetest, dearest lusts, that they may not hinder our love and obedience to God in Jesus Christ. But then for the positive part of the description. It is a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind ; that is, the tliree effects of it are life, light, and love. . There is a new vital I)ower, called there the spirit of power; and then he possesseth our hearts witli predominant love to God, called there the spirit of a sound mind ; so tliat by these tln-ee eil'ects, doth the Spirit, renewing and sanctifying the souls of men, discover itself ; in enlightening their minds, and opening their hearts, and fortifying their resolutions for God and
406 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. II.
the world to come ; and these three effects do answer the nature of God, whom we apprehend under the notions of wisdom, goodness and power. To his wisdom there answereth the spirit of a sound mind ; to his goodness, the spirit of love ; and the spirit of power, to the power of God ; so that by these graces we are made ' partakers of the divine nature : ' 2 Pet. i. 4, and do in some sort resemble God. And these suit with the word of God, which is sometimes represented as light, because the wisdom of God shineth forth there, and is represented in the mysteries of the gospel, where the way of salvation is sufficiently taught : ' We speak wisdom among those that are perfect : ' 2 Cor. ii. 6, ' The holy scriptures are able to make us wise to salvation : ' 2 Tim. iii. 15. Sometimes the gospel is called the power of God : Tit. ii. ll,and Jude 4. Or the goodness of God, because it representeth the wonders of God's love in our redemption by Christ, and the rich preparations of grace he hath made for us. And these three effects of the spirit suit with the three fundamental graces, faith, love, and hope The spirit of a sound mind is elsewhere called the ' spirit of faith : ' 2 Cor. iv. 13, which is the eye of the new creature ; and the spirit of love is with a little variation called ' Love in the spirit :' Col. i. 8, and is the heart of the new creature ; and the spirit of power is hope, called elsewhere ' Abounding in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost : ' Rom. XV. 13, which is the strength of the new creature, whereby we overcome sins and temptations. And in all these effects doth the life and power of true godliness consist ; for surely, he is sufficiently furnished for the kingdom of heaven, and all the duties thereof, whose mind is enlightened to know God in Christ Jesus, and inclined to love God, and live to him, and who hath chosen the blessedness of the next world for his portion, and liveth in the joyful hopes and foresight of it ; this man hath the true spirit of the gospel, and his conversation will be answerable, for there are three words by which a good conversation is usually expressed — holiness, heavenliness, and godliness. Holiness is sometimes spoken of as distinct from godliness : 2 Pet. iii. 11 ; and so holiness noteth purity and hatred of sin, and abhorrence of sin ; this is the fruit of the sound mind, or the love and knowledge of God in Christ ; for he that sinneth hath not seen God : 3 John 11, that is, hath no true apprehension of him ; for if we rightly beheld ' the glory of the Lord ' in a glass of the gospel, ' We are changed into his likeness, ' 2 Cor. iii. 18. And faith, which is but the knowledge of the gospel with assent, doth purify the heart : Acts xv. 9. The next property is godli- ness, or an inclination and addictedness to God, and is the fruit of love which subjecteth all to God, and raiseth the heart, and resigneth it to him, and maketh it fit to serve, please, glorify and enjoy him: 2 Cor. V. 14, 15, ' For the love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all then were all dead : and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves, but unto him which died for them:' 1 Pet. iv. 6, 'For this cause was the gospel also preached unto them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit :' 1 Cor. vi. 20, for ' ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your spirits, which are God's.' Love is most seen in a thorough resigna- tion and obedience unto God, and a desire of communion with him