(2.) If any be degenerated, it is because they are not filled with the Spirit. It is a lamentable thing that badness, and folly, and feebleness of mind should be so common among those that profess and call themselves christians. (1.) Instead of a spirit of power, how unwilling are they to strive against sin ! how unable to resist temptations ! The devil doth to them what he listeth : 'They are taken captive by him at his will and pleasure,' 2 Tim. ii. 26. (2.) As to the spirit of love, some are so corrupted with self-love and the love of the world, that they scarce know what it is; they are cold, dull, and sleepy in all divine matters, because they have so cold a sense of the love of God in Christ. (3.) For the spirit of a sound mind, how injudicious are most
406 SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [SeR. XXIII.
christians ! The unction should preserve them, 1 John ii. 20 ; but they are pliable to every fancy. Surely these have received little of the impress of this true and good religion,
III, The means how we come to be filled with the Spirit, Certainly —
1. It is from God, who is the author of all grace : 2 Cor. v. 18, ' And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.' He meaneth all things which belong to the new creature. None could give us these things but God himself, as appeareth by their nature and use ; the subduing our corruptions, the sanctifying our natures, and the conforming us to his holy image ; otherwise we should be equally, and as much or more indebted to another agent for our reparation as we are to God for our creation, which is not con- venient and agreeable to God's honour. Besides, what needed there so much ado to bring it about ? Why should Christ come out of God's bosom if we could renew ourselves ?
2. That God doth it through Christ the scripture also witnesseth : Titus iii. 6, ' Which he hath shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.' Whatever the Spirit doth, it is in his name.
3. That this frame of heart is wrought in us by the Spirit or Holy Ghost that came down from heaven, is evident also in scripture. None but this Spirit can give us such holy inclinations to obey God with love and delight. None but this all-conquering Spirit can renew the souls of men, so depraved and enslaved by sensuality.
4. It is given us by the gospel, for that is called * the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus,' Eom. viii, 2. That is Christ's law, and is stamped upon the heart by the Spirit of God : 2 Cor. iii. 3, ' Foras- much as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ, mini- stered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God ; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart.'
5. The gospel worketh two ways — (1.) Morally ; (2.) Powerfully, [1.] Morally, and in a way of wisdom, as it containeth such precepts
and promises, together with the doctrine and example of Jesus Christ, as may quicken us to a holy heavenly life, so that it is a fit means to breed this spirit in us. Everything communicateth its own nature to us ; a holy doctrine is most fit to sanctify the heart, and a heavenly doc- trine to breed a heavenly mind, a spiritual doctrine and institution to convey more of the Spirit to us : John xvii, 17, ' Sanctify them through thy truth ; thy word is truth ; ' 2 Peter i, 4, 'Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be par- takers of the divine nature.'
[2.] Powerfully and effectually, as it is accompanied with the in- ward operations of the Holy Ghost : 2 Cor. iii. 18, ' But we all with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.' The gospel doth wonderfully excite the dead and drowsy heart to spiritual and heavenly things, as it worketh ministerially ; but the success is of the Spirit, and therein the gospel is made to differ from the law, as it is * the ministration of the Spirit,' 1 Cor. iii. 8.
6. If any have this power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus, it is the mere favour of God ; if any want it, it is long of themselves. If they have it, it is God's favour : James i. 18, ' Of his own will begat he us
VeR. 18.] SERMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. 407
with the word of truth.' If they want it, it is long of themselves, because of their neglect of the means, and abuse of common grace. Though we cannot bind God to give it us : ' It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy,' Bom. ix. 16, yet we are to use the means, or else we shut the door upon ourselves, and show that we have no esteem of this blessed gift if we do not seek after it. The husbandman, when he plougheth and oleareth his ground from thorns and stones, doth no way oblige God to send his rain and sunshine upon it ; we do not oblige God to give us his Spirit to renew us, yet it is our duty to use the means. But will God then give me his Spirit ? The question concerning man's duty is easily answered ; but if the question be of God's acceptance, it is needless to be answered ; for this reason, — the use of means is under a command, and I must do my duty whatever cometh of it. God chal- lengeth his people for neglect : Hosea v. 4, ' They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God ; ' when they will not so much as think of endeavouring or using the means, or doing all they can ; they will have God to sanctify them, but they will not stir a foot to help them- selves.