3. The mighty and all-conquering spirit that proceedeth both from the Father and the Son. Of this Spirit of God I shall say two things — (1.) That he is invincible and almighty, and therefore his operations are suitable to the agent. Oh ! what mighty things hath this Spirit done as to the demolishing strongholds ! Heretofore by this Spirit the apostles and messengers of Christ wrought miracles, cured diseases, cast out devils, conveyed gifts by laying on of hands, silenced oracles, and so everywhere destroyed the kingdom and power of Satan, and con- vinced the world of the truth of this despised religion. And still his mighty force is seen in enlightening and convincing men's minds of the truth of the christian religion, and furnishing his people with gifts, and converting others, and chano;in<i: them from sinners to saints : 1 Cor. vi. 11, ' Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sancti- fied, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.' (2.) This' Spirit is promised to be with us in the faithful dispensing of Christ's ordinances : Mat. xxviii. 20, ' Lo, I will be with you always to the end of the world.' In the whole flux and course of the gospel kingdom he is with us. Now Christ is with us by his Spirit ; for when he departed, the Comforter came to supply his absence : therefore, if he be with us, it is by his Spirit. Therefore, upon all these grounds, how mean and despicable soever the means appear, let us believe the Lord our God, who hath set his King on his holy hill, established him by his decree, which is backed by a mighty power, and the Lord Jesus represents his merit, and we have the pre- sence and promise of a mighty conquering Spirit : 2 Chrou. xx. 20, ' Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established ; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.'
Sixthly, If our whole dependence be upon God, we must be sure to keep God's direction, and use only regular and holy means, such as he hath prescribed as our duly to observe. Here the Israelites every day
26 SERMONS UPON HEBREWS XL [SeR. LXIV.
were to make the procession about the city, and the seventh day seven times, and all in silence ; nnless it were with blowing the rams' horns, they were not to raise a shout till the signal was given. We cannot expect success in what is not of faith. By carnal and unlawful means we forfeit God's protection, and lose his blessing, for he is not bound to maintain us in our sin. Our dependence supposes obedience ; if we trust in God we must be true to him : Ps. xxxvii. 34, ' Wait on the Lord, and keep his way;' 1 Peter iv. 19, 'Commit the keeping of your souls to him in well-doing.'
Seventhly, Keeping to God s direction, you must wait his leisure, or tarry for the time and season which God hath appointed. Six days the wall stands fast, not a stone stirred, and for a good part of the seventh, but upon the evening of the seventh day all comes tumbling down : Hab. ii. 3, ' The vision is j'et for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie ; though it tarry, wait for it ; l^ecause it will surely come, it will not tarry.' Every dispensation of God hath its prefixed period ; as the mercy, so the timing of the mercy is merely in God's hand. It is not always ready at our beck and call, but we must wait God's time, who hath his seasons of afflicting and trial as well as of delivering. We must not miscarry through weakness or haste, either give over as discouraged, or break out into any unlawful action to help ourselves : Isa. xxviii. 16, ' He that belie veth will not make haste.' It is in vain to hope, but while we are waiting and acting in our place and calling. For the promoting of God's kingdom in the world we must tarry God's leisure. We can neither prevent nor put off God's time.
Use 1. The use is to encourage all those who wish well to the pro- pagation of Christ's kingdom, and are trouWedat the stumbling-blocks that are in the way. Consider what maybe done, and what hath been done, and both will encourage you to wait upon God.
1. Consider what may be done.
[1.] Christ is the governor of the world ; all power is put into his hands, to be employed for the good of his people : John v. 22, ' The Father hath committed all judgment to the Son.' He hath the govern- ment of angels, devils, men, and of all events in the world. Things are not left to their own arbitrament and uncertain contingency, but they are administered by our wise and powerful Eedeemer. It is not Satan which governs the world, but Christ ; therefore all that are of Christ's confederacy are of the surer side, for they are with the gover- nor of the world, and then what may not be done ?
[2.] He is the head of the church as well as governor of the world : Eph. V. 22, ' And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church.' He is more concerned than we can be. The church is not ours, but his ; and he is fitter to be trusted with the concernments of it than we, and more tender of its welfare than we are or can be ; therefore by the prayer of faith let us recommend his own affairs to him.