[2.] For the way and manner of bringing it about. ' By his Spirit that dwelleth in us.' Where take notice, first, of the relation of the Holy Spirit to God ; secondly, his interest in, and nearness to us.
(1.) His relation to God. He is called his Spirit, and the Spirit of him that raised Jesus from the dead, that is, of God the Father.
The Holy Spirit is sometimes called the Father's Spirit, and some- times Christ's Spirit, because he proceedeth both from the Father and the Son ; the Father's Spirit, John xv. 26, ' When the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father ; even the Spirit of truth.' He is also called. Acts xi. 4, ' The promise of the Father ;' and. Christ's Spirit, Eom. viii. 9, ' If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his ; ' and Gal. iv. 6, ' God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts.' Now the Spirit being one in essence, and undivided in will and essence with the Father and the Son, surely the Father will by, or because of the Spirit dwelling in us, raise us again ; for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one and the same God.
(2.) His interest in, and nearness to us ; ' He dwelleth in us.' All dependeth upon that mark ; he doth not say he worketh in us ^er modum actionis transeuntis ; so he worketh in those that resist his work, and shall perish for ever ; but per modum habitus permanentis, as we are regenerated and sanctified. And the efl^ects of his powerful resurrec- tion reuiain in those habits which contribute the new nature ; so the Spirit is said to dwell in us ; and in the former verse, Christ to be in us: 'If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin,' verse 10.
Doct. That the bodies of believers shall be raised at the last day by the Sjiirit of holiness which now dwelleth in them.
1. I shall a little open this inhabitation of the Spirit.
2. Show you why it is the ground and cause of our happy resurrection. 1. For the first. The inhabitation of the Spirit. Dwelling may relate
to a double metaphor, either to the dwelling of a man in his house, or of God in his temple. Of a man in his house: 1 John iii. 24, 'And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him ; ' so it noteth his constant familiar presence. Or of God in his temple : 1 Cor. vi. 16, ' Know ye not that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you ? ' Which noteth a sacred presence, that pre- sence as a God to bless and sanctify ; the Spirit buildeth us up for so holy a use, and then dwelleth in us as our sanctifier, guide, and com- forter. The one maketh way for the other ; first a sanctifier, and then
20 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XIV.
a guide ; as a ship is first well rigged, and thea a pilot ; and by both he comforts us. He liath regenerated and guided us in the way of holiness. First, he sanctifieth and reneweth us : Tit. iii. 5, ' But according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renew- ing of the Holy Gliost;' and John iii. 6, ' That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' First he buiUleth his house or temple, and then cometli and dwelleth in it. Secondly, he guideth and leadeth us in the ways of holiness: Eom. xv. 1-t, 'And myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge;' ' If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit : Gal. v. 25. Before, we were influenced by Satan : Eph. ii. 2. ' Wherein in times past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, that now worketh iu the children of disobedience.' He put us upon anger, malice, envy, unclean lusts, and noisome and filthy ways, and we readily obeyed. 2 Tim. ii. 28. ' And that they may recover themselves out of the snares of the devil, who are taken captive at his will.' But the old inmate is cast out, and now we are guided and influenced by another lord. Thirdly, He comforts us with the sense of God's fatherly love, and our eternal inheritance : Eom. viii. 16. ' The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.' 2 Cor. ii. 22, 'Who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit into our hearts.' By both he leaveth upon the soul a sweet taste and relish of spiritual and heavenly things.
2. Why this inhabitation is the giound of a blessed resurrection.
[1.] To preserve the order of the personal operations. To make this evident, consider —
(1.) That rising from the dead is a work of divine power ; for to him it belongeth to restore life, who gave life at flrst : 2 Cor. i. 10. ' Who hath delivered us from so great a death,' etc., and is verified in plain experience.