VeR. 38.] SERMONS UPOX ACTS II. 37, 38. 291
apostles, conversed togetlier in a wonderful, charitable manner, owned Christ boldly and comfortably in the midst of affiictions. The sum is this, that though all had not miraculous gifts, yet they had better, being enabled to believe on Christ unto righteousness, and make a bold pro- fession of his name with their mouths, and live with his followers in a high pitch of charity.
Doct. Those that repent, and believe on Jesus Christ for the remis- sion of sins, shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
I shall handle this point in this method —
1. Show you in what sense we are said to receive the Spirit after repenting and believing.
2. The use and office of the Spirit so received.
3. The peculiar property and right of those that repent and believe to this gift.
I. In what sense we are said to receive the Spirit after repenting and believing ; for this doubt doth presently arise in our minds, Can we repent and believe before we receive the Spirit ? or can a man convert himself to God without the Holy Ghost? So much seemeth to be intimated by the apostle's method, ' Eepent, and be baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.' I answer —
1. We must distinguish between the spirit of regeneration and the spirit of adoption and perseverance ; for though the spirit of regenera- tion be tied to no condition, but is dispensed according to the good pleasure of God, yet the spirit of adoption and perseverance in holi- ness is tied to conditions, and is promised to all those that, with true faith and repentance, do seek after the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Therefore this receiving of the Spirit is meant of the increase of his grace in us ; namely, that the spirit of regeneration is followed with a great increase of light, comfort, and virtue. First the Holy Ghost is given to us to unite us to Christ, and afterwards to take up his abode in us as in his temples, and to dwell in us for our comfort and support. First as a Spirit of regeneration he buildeth an house for himself, then as a Spirit of adoption and perseverance he cometli to dwell in the house so built and furnished ; as bees first make their cells, and then dwell in them. By repentance and faith there is a fit mansion and resting- place prepared for him, and then he resteth upon us : 1 Peter iv. 14, ' The Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.' He taketh up his residence in us : not, comes upon tiiera, but resteth on them. These two things must be carefully distinguished, the Spirit of regeneration and the Spirit of adoption, or God's converting and confirming grace. The first is given us that we may believe, the second upon believing. The first is spoken of Titus iii. 5, 6, ' Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he hath shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Tlie Lord out of his good pleasure, not excited by any works of ours, but merely by his grace, shed abroad the Holy Ghost in our hearts, to renew and sanctify us, that we may repent and believe, and return and obey him. This his pievailing^ grace also is spoken of Zech. xii. 10, ' I will pour upon them the spirit of grace and supplication.' This ' Qu. ' prevening ' ? — Ed.
292 SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 38. [SeR, VII,
goetli before faith and repentance, and is the cause of it, as is there expressed.
2. There is the Spirit of adoption and perseverance, that is, after believing : Gal. iv. 6, ' And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crjnng, Abba, Father.' First we are sons, and then we have the spirit of sons. Wlien we are entered as heirs to the promises, the Spirit of God doth more manifest his presence in our hearts, and put forth his gracious operations there : Eph. i. 13, ' After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.' Though none can actually believe before the Spirit of God works in them, yet upon believing, he cometh to dwell in the heart, and doth manifest that he hath taken up his abode there.
II. The use and office of the Spirit so received. It may be referred to two things — (1.) Sanctification ; (2.) Consolation.
First, Sanctification. The great work of the Spirit is to be the fountain and principle of the new life of grace within us, or to maintain and keep afoot the interest of Christ in our souls: Gal. v. 25, ' If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.' He doth not only begin life, but continueth it, and still actuateth it, enabling us to all the duties thereof. There is having and walking ; thence he is com- pared to a spring or well of living water, that is always springing forth : John iv. 14, ' The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.' Not only a draught, but a well. They that have any measure of true grace have the Spirit as a fountain to make this grace endure in itself and in its efiects. Some have only a draught, a vanishing taste, others a cistern or a pond, that may be dried up ; but they that have the Spirit have a well, and a well that is always fresh and springing up and flowing forth till this stream become an ocean, and mortality be swallowed up of life. It is a spring that sendeth fortli streams to water the ground about it. As the heart of man sendeth forth life to every faculty and member, and a general relief to all his parts, so doth the Spirit influence all our actions. Now both parts of sanctification are promoted by the Spirit, mortification and vivification, subduing of sin and quickening us to holiness. Mor- tification is seen in two things — purging out the lusts, or suppressing the acts of sin.