[1.] From the institution of God. God delighteth to bless his own means ; and the great institution of God for the benefit of mankind is the gospel, which being a supernatural doctrine, needed to be attested from heaven, that the truth of it might be known by the mighty power that doth accompany it. Therefore this new covenant is the law of the spirit ; the powerful influence of the Spirit of God on all those that submit to it, is the seal and confirmation of it. No other doctrine can 80 change the soul, and convert it to God : John xvii. 17, ' Sanctify them through the truth, tliy word is truth.' John viii. 31, 32, 'And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' That is to say, then we know it to be the truth, a doctrine of God, sanctifying us, and making us conquerors over sin and Satan.
[2.] From the nature of the gospel. For God Avill work agreeably by suitable means, not only agreeable to the subject upon which he worketh, the souls of men, but agreeably to the object by which he worketh.
(1.) In the general. It is a spiritual doctrine. By a spiritual doctrine he will jjour out more of the Spirit, which was but s{)ariiigly dispensed when the ordinances which he instituted were carnal and bodily; more fully, when he had given a law that suited more with
410 SERMONS UPON EOMANS VIII. [SeR. IT.
his own spiritual nature, and came closer to the soul of man, than the law of a carnal commandment. This law was the law of the spirit ; when he would break the obstinacy of the Jews he tried them by many positive laws and external observances ; but when he would reduce the world into a state of liberty, his laws were spiritual and rational, and with them he poureth out a mighty spirit ; therefore the apostle inti- mateth that they served God 'in the oldness of the letter, but we serve him in the newness of the spirit:' Rom. vii. 6, that is, in that true holiness whereunto we are renewed by the Holy Ghost, through the preaching of the gospel, which is called the ' ministry of the spirit : ' 2 Cor. iii. 8. There was more letter then, but more spirit now : Phil, iii. 3. A believer hath ' no confidence in the flesh ; ' doth not place his hope in the observances of 'carnal ordinances,' but 'rejoiceth in Christ Jesus,' serving God in the spirit.
(2.) More particularly, the gospel is suited to the operation of the Spirit ; it being a doctrine of profound wisdom, great power and rich goodness, in comparison of which all other knowledge is but cold and dry. The spirit we are possessed withal is but a transcript of the word : Heb. viii. 10 : 2 Cor. iii. 3, ' Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.' There is the prescript, there the transcript ; as suppose a man would stamp his coat of arms upon wax, there needeth wax, a seal graven with it, and a hand to apply it ; this is the case here. God would stamp his image upon our souls, but first the characters of it are upon the word. By this word of wisdom, he will give us the spirit of a sound mind, that we may know God and ourselves, and the difference between good and evil ; by this word of grace, or account of his love to us in Christ, he gives us the spirit of love ; by this word of power, wherein there are such rich and great promises, he will raise a noble spirit in us to carry us above the world. The stamp is prepared only to make an impression ; there is required a strong hand to apply it to the heart of man ; for though the gospel doth powerfully excite our dead and drowsy hearts to spiritual and heavenly things, yet it is not enough that the doctrine be opened, but it must be applied to the soul by the Spirit, or else it is not healed and changed. The word is the means, but the Spirit renewethus as the principal cause ; for the word doth not work upon all, nor upon all those alike on whom it worketh. The gospel is a fit instrument for it. Everything communicate th its own nature ; fire turneth all about it into fire ; an holy and heavenly doctrine is fit to beget an holy and heavenly spirit.
(3.) For the honour of our Redeemer ; in his lordship or kingly office ; who as he requireth new duties of man fallen and disabled, so he giveth strength proportionably. The difficulty of our recovery lay not only in our reconciliation with God, but in the renovation of our nature, and subduing our obstinacy, or changing our hearts. Of his prophetical office ; that we might have the effect and comfort of it, external doctrine is not only necessary, but the illumination of the Spirit ; who ' leadeth us into all truth.' His priestly office ; that his merit may be known to be full, his intercession powerful, it is needful that such a gift should be given to his people as the visible pouring out of the Spirit : Acts ii. 30.