2. The action on the other side is, to be ' filled with the Spirit ; ' where we see that we should not content ourselves with a small measure of the gifts and graces of the Spirit, but endeavour to be filled with them, ever getting the habits increased : 2 Peter iii. 18, ' But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;' and actuated: Cant. iv. 16, 'Awake, 0 north wind, and come thou south ; blow upon my gai'den, that the spices thereof may flow out ; ' that is, that we may have lively thoughts of God's love, and keep up a holy joy,
Ve«. 18.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 395
zeal, and fervency in his service. A little grace seemeth enough to a lazy he;irt ; if they be but a little tinctured with religion, they think it a great matter ; few are deeply baptized into the spirit of it. Men have quickly done in religion, and think everything enough in grace. We love perfection and excellency in all other things, but in Christianity we regard it not. But alas ! —
[1.] A little grace is as none as to comfort, for small things cannot be discerned. We love God so little, that we cannot tell whether we love him at all : John xv. 11, * These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might reniiun in you, and that your joy might be full.' There is Christ's joy, and their joy ; they are delightful objects to Christ, and Christ to them ; he may still rejoice in them as his disciples and people, and they may rejoice in him as their Saviour. There is no way to get this joy but by being tilled witii the S{>irit.
[2.] A little grace is as none in a temptation : Mark iv. 40, 'Why are you so fearful ? how is it that you have no faith ? ' compared with Mat. viii. 26, ' Why are ye fearful, 0 ye of little faith ? ' It could not do its office, and support them in the storm. And therefore it is a shame to us that we have so little love to God, or fear of his name, or trust in his mercy, or earnest expectation and hope of eternal life.
[3 ] A little grace will not break the force of the sensual inclination, so that our minds will haidcer after our carnal delights. The duty, being ' filled with the Spirit,' is a cure of the distemper, being ' drunk with wine, wherein is excess.' ' We will remember thy love more than wine,' Cant. i. 4. So much as our hearts feel of the one, so far are they weaned from the other. These better things put us out of relish with those base dreggy delights. It is but a taste of the Spirit that is lost : Heb. vi. 4-6, ' For it is impossible for tiiose that were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted of the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come ; if they fall away,' &c. The apostle speaketh of ' tasting.' A large draught of experience would confirm the- soul : Luke viii. 14, ' And that which fell among thorns are they which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares, and riches, and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.' Though men have good sentiments of religion, yet through the cares and pleasures of the world they could bring nothing to perfection. The carnal gust is too strong for the spiritual, and therefore it choked it, and kept it under. But what is it to be filled with the Spirit ? The phrase is taken two ways — (1.) Either to be filled with the gifts of the Spirit ; or (2 ) With the gi'aces of the Spirit.
(1.) The gifts of the Spirit : Acts ii. 4, 'And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance;' Acts iv. 31, 'And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.' There was something of an extraordinary gift in that. And this is not excluded here ; for in those days they could on a sudden utter a psalm or hymn of {)raise to God, ver. 19.
(2) To be filled with the graces of the Spirit. And here we must consider his three offices — as he is our guide, sanctifier, and comforter.
(Is/.) As our guide, he leadeth us into all truth, that is, into the know-
396 SERMONS UrON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXII.
ledge and belief of the gospel. So they that understand and believe these mysteries are said to be full of the Holy Ghost ; as, for instance^ Stephen, Acts vi. 5, is said to be ' a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost ; ' And Paul: Acts ix. 17, The Lord (even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest) hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost ; ' meaning, be endowed with the knowledge of the gospel, as their ^cortcr/io?, their illumination, was at their baptism. Christ had revealed himself to him from heaven, which begat great consternation ; and Ananias cometh as a means to enlighten him with the light of the Holy Ghost, that he might be more fully acquainted with the mysteries of the gospel.