VkR. 2.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 407
here: Eph. ii. 8, and the full fruition of him hereafter: 2 Cor. v. 1. The last property is heavenliness : Phil. iii. 20, but ' Our conversations are in heaven, from whence we look for a Saviour.' This the Spirit worketh in us by hope, which fortifieth us against all the terrors and delights of sense : 1 John iv. 4-6, ' Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world ; they ai-e of the world, tlierefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God ; he that knoweth God, heareth us ; he that is not of God, heareth not us : hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.' The apostle is speaking there of the trial of spirits, and lie puts the difference upon the issue — the Spirit of God, and the spirit of the world, and showeth the one must needs be more powerful than the other ; so in that other text : 1 Cor. ii. 12, ' For we have not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God.' A spirit raised to God, and seeking the happiness to come, weaneth us and draweth us off the world, and so giveth us power to overcome not the world only, but the flesh and the devil also.
(2.) Consider this spirit, as it fitteth us and frameth us for our duty to man. That the apostle showeth : Eph. v. 9. ' For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth ; ' that is, the spirit that God hath sent among us by the preaching of the gospel doth bring forth and produce in us all kindness, justice and fidelity. There is not a more benign, affable thing than the gospel spirit, nor anything that doth more fit us to live peaceably and usefully in human society. The first property is all goodness, for God is good to all, and his spirit is called a good spirit : Ps. cxUii, 10. It causeth us to love all man- kind with a love of benevolence ; and those that are holy and partakers with us in the same grace, with a special love of complacency. This not only keepeth us from doing those things which would hinder their good, but also inclineth us to seek their good, by all means possible, especially the best good for them, and if others do injuries to us, to for- give them, as ' God, for Christ's sake hath forgiven us.' The second operation wiiich the Holy Ghost produceth in us is righteousness, or justice in all our dealings, giving every one his due, honour to whom honour, tribute to tribute, and praise to whom praise belongeth, not bor- rowing without a mind or ability to pay, which is but a specious robbery ; and it is a shame so many christians are guilty of it ; I am sure 'tis contrary to the Spirit of God, for when God hath done so much to manifest his justice to the world, all that have the Spirit of God should be very righteous, far from oppression, fraud, or detention of what is another man's. The third thing is truth, or fidelity ; whereby we carry our- selves sincerely, and free from hypocrisy and dissimulation, or lying, cozenage and deceit. God is a God of truth, and the holiness he worketh in us is true holiness ; the apostle groundeth his exhortation upon that, ' Wherefore put away lying : ' Eph. iv. 24, 25, * and speak truth every man to his neighbour.' 'Tis a sin inconsistent with sin- cerity more than any other. Well, then, this is the gospel spirit ; now the Holy Ghost doth not only plant these graces in us at first, but doth continually increase them, and assist us in the exercise of them. He doth plant them in us at first. Faith is his gift, and it is he doth change our heaits, and kindle an holy love in us to God, and raiseth
408 SERMONS UPON KOMANS VIII. [SeH. II.
the heart to the hope of salvation : 1 Pet. i. 9, ' Begotten to a lively hope.' This is his first work, for men must be good before their actions can be good ; then he doth increase grace, making all outward means effectual to this end and purpose ; this is called ' the supply of the Spirit of Christ Jesus : ' Pliil. i. 19, meaning thereby a further addition of grace wrought in us by the Spirit, whereby we grow and advance in the way to heaven. These impressions are weak in us at first, but they are increased by the same author or agent in the use of the same means. Lastly, he doth assist us in the exercise of the same grace, still working in us what is pleasing in the sight of God : Heb. xiii. 21. He con- curreth to every action, and we do not only ' live in the spirit, but walk in the spirit : ' Gal. v. 25. All along we are quickened by his influence. 2. Let us in the next place consider from whom we receive it . It is said here the spirit of life ' which is in Christ Jesus,' it belongeth to Christ to give the spirit.