9. And then again, the Spirit stirs np ' sighs and groans that cannot be expressed,' Kom. viii. 20, when we are not of ourselves able to pray. This is an evidence of Iho ' earnest' of the Spirit, when we can send our sighs and gi'oans to God. I say, God will hear the groans, the voice of his own Spirit. For whence come those sighs and groans to God ? Why 1 should we not rather sink in despair in troubles, but because the Spirit is in us ? Those therefore that in extremity, having nothing to comfort them, and yot are able to send forth sighs and gi'oans to God, they may certainly know that they have the Spirit.
10. And, likewise, the Spirit makes us mourn and wait for the adoption of the ' sous of God.' Those that moum and wait, have the evidence of the Spirit ; for a worldling doth not mourn for his imperfections, for his corruptions : he doth not mourn that he is absent from his Saviour, neither doth he wait for the accomplishment of that that shall be bestowed on saints, because he hath his portion here. Therefore, those that can moum for their corruptions, for those things which the world is not able to tax them for, because they cannot serve God with enlargement of the Spirit as they would ; and they wait also without despair, or without discouragement, till God have finished their course, they are led with a better Spirit than the world.
Though I should name no more, what a many sweet evidences are here to manifest a soul truly acted, and guided, and led by the Spirit. But these shall be sufficient for this time.
Well then, if the Spirit doth all, if the Spirit anoint and seal, and give * earnest' of grace, and comfort, and all, till he bring us to heaven, being Christ's Yicar (for Christ hath no other vicar on earth but his Spirit) ; il' the Spirit doth all, as indeed he doth all for God to us, and from us to God (whatsoever God doth to us it is by the Spirit ; he anoints, and seals, and sanctifieth by the Spirit ; and whatsoever we do to God, it is by the Spirit, or else it is not acceptable ; we sigh and groan in the Spirit, we pray in the Holy Ghost, saith Jude, ver. 20, and that God doth to us im- mediately from the Spirit, and all that we do to God, is in the Spirit). la this so, then is it an undoubted truth, oh then ! we should labour by aU means for this Spirit of God. To give some directions in a word, and so to end.
1. Labour, I say, to have the Spirit, and to groan in the Spirit ; and to this end, because the word is the chariot of the Spirit, in which the Spirit is carried, attend ttpon the ordiiia)ices of God, and use all ki)id of spiritual means, wherein the Spirit is usually eflectual ; for the Spirit will only work with his own means. All those bastard inventions and devices fetched from the Church of Eome, human devices in God's service, they are naught. God's Spirit will not be eflectual with popish devices ; and, therefore, Rome is ' the habitation of devils,' Rev. xviii. 2. God's Spirit hath nothing to do there, because they have set up a worship contrar}- to God's worship, they have set up a covenant contrary to Christ's covenant, they have set up the covenant of works, and deny, in a manner, a covenant of grace. Christ is not taught as he should be there.
Now, wheresoever the Spirit is, it is with the clear teaching of the gospel. ' Received you the Spirit by hearing of the law, or of faith preached ? '
2 COBINTHIANS CHAP. I, VER. 22. 481
Gal. iii. 2. Therefore, let us attend upon the unfolding of Christ Jesus in the gospel ; for the Spirit is given with a clear and true unfolding of Christ; and omit no spiritual means, wherein the Spirit is eii'ectual, as meditation, reading, &c.
For as a man woi'king in a garden, though he think not of it, perhaps he draws a sweet scent of the flowers, there is a tincture li'om the air that is round about him.
So the word of God being indited by the Spirit of God, we being in holy company, being led by the same Spirit, a man shall either by reading of the word, or in holy company, or conversing in good books, he shall draw a spiritual sweetness from the word, or fi'om those that he hath to deal with.
The spirit of a man is like water that runs from minerals. As we see baths have their warmth from minerals that they run through, they have a tincture from them to be hot in this or that degree, in this or that quality; so it is with the soul, when it runs through holy things, when it hath to deal wdth good books, and good company, &c., it draweth a spiritual tinc- ture. And, therefore, if we would have the Spirit of God to guide us, let us be much in those things that the Holy Ghost hath sanctified us for that end, at all times, when we have liberty fi'om our callings.