3. Do not grieve the Spirit : Eph. iv. 30, ' Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.' How is the Spirit grieved ? By some one heinous provoking transgression, or
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by living in a course of known sin, pride, worldliness, or sensuality. If we wound conscience, and be secretly false to the religion which we do profess, or have pleasure in unrighteousness, we lie open to temp- tations, to error and falsehood, provoke Grod to withhold discerning light, and cannot know whether we have the Spirit of God or no. Loose and careless christians are always weak in the knowledge of the truth.
4. Let us improve our anointing, and discover it in all companies, temptations, exercises, businesses. Wherever you come, show forth the fragrancy of your good ointments. In your converse with God, pray in the Holy Ghost, Jude 20 ; that is, pray as one that hath an unction, with a savoury spirit, and enlarged affections. In thy converse with men, all thy words and actions must savour of this ointment : Prov. xxvii. 9, ' Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart ; so doth the sweet- ness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.' In your temptations to sluggish negligence in the spiritual life : Heb. ii. 3, ' How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ? ' If to downright unbelief, there is somewhat written upon his heart that is contrary, a sense of God and heaven there that cannot be blotted out. If by a seducer without, it is not the regenerate, well-grounded, and experienced chris- tians, but the loose and superficial sort, that are in most danger, like light chaff. They that know the truth, and are made free by the truth, the word of God will abide in them. Disciples indeed will not start from Christ, though those in name and title often did : John viii. 31, 32, ' If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed ; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'
5. Do not abuse or make an ill use of this teaching which you have by the anointing.
[1.] Not to rashness and self-confidence. We may be apt to do so. Though the anointing teacheth us all things, yet three things are still necessary — (1.) Scripture, or an outward word ; for that is still God's instrument to beget and increase faith and obedience : John xvii. 20, ' Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.' There is but one gospel, and no other to be expected : Gal. i. 7, 8, ' Which is not another ; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ : but though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.' The Spirit is never given to detract anytliing from the authority of the word. (2.) Ministers and teachers: Eph. iv. 11, ' And he gave some apostles, and some pastors and teachers.' These are instituted by Christ, so appointed by the Spirit : Acts xx. 28, ' Take heed to yourselves, and to the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers.' The Spirit would never contradict himself (3.) The Spirit himself : 1 Cor. iii. 7, ' So neither is he that planteth anything, nor he that watereth,' &c. The spirit must breathe on his own graces, and assist the soul in the exercise of them. It is our advantage that he is at hand to excite our faith, that there is a preparation already.
[2.] Do not abuse it to pride and boasting that we have the Spirit, and contemning those who excel us in useful knowledge : Jude 19, 'These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the
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Spirit.' Those men have not most of the Spirit who boast most of it : 1 Cor. viii. 2, ' If a man think he knowetli anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.' This anointing is given us to see our sinful- ness, and need of Christ and his grace, and the excellency of the life to come. There are several ages : 1 John ii. 13, 14, ' I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one,' &c., Heb. xii. 13, 14. Some have senses exercised more than others ; all have not a full measure of knowledge at first. Babes, young men, fathers ; some truths harder, some easier.
[3.] Not to security, as if infallible. Though he that hath this anoint- ing be not so easily carried into error, and do not so obstinately continue in it, for it is impossible for him to live in a gross error as well as in a gross sin, yet they may err in lesser things, which may occasion much trouble to the church. Yea, they may be led into some dangerous error for a while, especially when they have grieved the Spirit, and blotted that character of gospel-truth wliich was impressed upon their souls ; therefore must live in a constant dependence, and holy jealousy of themselves : 1 Cor. x. 12, * Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.'