1. For the present, to witness to us our adoption and pardon of sins, and acceptance with God : Rom. v. 5, ' The love of God is shed ahroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto us.' The love of God is shed abroad in the scriptures: ' Thy name is pouied out as a precious ointment.' But it is shed abroad in our hearts, that is, by the Holy Ghost. How doth the Holy Ghost comfort ? Per modum argumenti, et per modum causce efficientis. Per modum argumenti, by way of argumentation. The Spirit is given as a pledge of God's love ; he is known by suitable gifts. Those whom God pardoneth he enricheth with grace. Some things are never given in judgment, as the Spirit. The comforts and honours of the world may be given us in wrath ; it is a plain evidence. So per modum causce efficientis, by way of an effi- cient cause. He maketh us to feel the love of God in our consciences, and to be sensible of the comfort of it : Rom. xv. 13, ' Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost ; ' Rom. viii. 16, ' The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.' A witness is one who giveth in a testimony against a man or for a man. Every matter of worth and weight is to be transacted before and proved by two sufficient witnesses. Now here are two wit- nesses, our spirit and God's Spirit. Our conscience doth accuse or excuse, but that is fallible ; but then there is the Spirit itself. A greater witness cannot be had than the Spirit of God, that knoweth all things, the deep things of God and our own hearts. When he assureth us that we have God's favour, and may go boldly to him as to a father, why should we doubt ?
2. To assure us of life and blessedness to come. The Holy Ghost is given for this end, that we may look and long for heaven. Our hearts of themselves are taken up with trifles and childish toys. Therefore, that we may more vehemently long after and desire the actual ]iosses- sion of this glory, and to sweeten the bitterness of the cross, the Spirit of God doth somewhat about our future hopes as well as our present interest. It is an earnest, and as the first-fruits. An eai'ne.st : 2 Coi". i. 22, ' Wiio also hath sealed us, and given us the earnest of the Spirit;' Eph. i. 14, ' Which is the earne.st of our inheritance.' It is not only donum, a gift, but 2^ignus, a pledge ; not only pignus, but arrha, an earnest. A pledge may be taken away, but God hath given us an earnest, that is, a part to assure us of the whole. Now it is not only an earnest to show how sure, but the first-fruits to show us how good : Rom. viii. 23, ' We ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit.' Some foresight and foretastes of glory to come, some prepara- tions. Increasing grace is begun glory : 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 gloiy to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord.'
Ill, Qiiest. How is this peculiar to them that believe, to have the gift
VeR. 38.] SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, 38. 295
of the Holy GJiost ? Acts v, 32, ' And so is also tlie Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him ; ' that is, that obey the gospel, that repent and believe : John xiv, 16, 17, ' And I v^rill pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him ; but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.' That place plainly showeth and proveth that he is peculiar to believers ; and that they are incapable of such a gift in the increase of it that have not any begun presence of the Spirit in their hearts. (1.) The world doth not receive him, because they value him not. Carnal men value nothing but the visible pomps and powers of the world ; they slight other things. It is so with all men in the state of nature and under the power of sin : 1 Cor. ii. 14, ' But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' They have no value for spiritual comforts and spiritual privileges. If religion would make them great in the world, they would embrace it ; but these things are so little desired, because so little known. (2.) The w^orld cannot receive them; they are not prepared. There is a capacity or receptivity necessary ; they neither see him nor know him. Tiiey took no notice of his visible operations, and did as little understand with their heart as see with their eyes ; but ye know him, and he dwelleth in you. His familiar presence shall be in them in a larger measure.