In a natural man, all is dark. He sees nothing, because his heart is in a dungeon. ' His eye being dark, the whole man must needs be in blind- ness,' Mat. vi. 22, seq. All is alike to him ; he sees no difference between flesh and spirit, and therefore holds on in a doubting hope, in a confused disposition and temper of soul, to his dj'ing day.
But a Christian, that labours to walk in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, cannot rest in such an unsettled estate ; he dares not venture his eternal welfare upon such infirm grounds. What ! To depart this life, and be tossed in uncertainty, whether a man goes to heaven or to hell ! What a miserable perplexity must such a soul needs be in ! Therefore, he is still ' working out his salvation,' Phil. ii. 12, and storing up of grace against the evil day.
And well may this condition challenge all our diligence in labouring for it, because it is neither attained nor maintained without the strength and prime of our care. For the sense of God's favour will not be kept with- out keeping him iu our best affections, above all things else in the world
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besides ; ^vitbout keeping of our hearts constant!}' close and near to liim ; W'bich can never be done witbout keeping a most narrow watch over our loose spirits, which are ever ready to stray from him, and fall to the creature.
It cannot be kept without exact walking, and serious self-denial. But what of that ? Can we spend labours to better purpose ? One sweet beam of God's countenance will requite all abundantly. A Christian indeed undergoes more trouble and pains, especially with his own heart, than others do ; but what is that to his gains ? One day spent in com- munion with God is sweeter than a thousand without it. What comforts so great as those that are fetched from the fountain ! Oh, woe to him that savours not these heavenly, but lingers after carnal comforts. It cannot but grieve the Holy Spirit, when the 'consolations of the Almighty' are either forgotten, or seem ' nothing to us,' Job xv. 11.
Quest. But why doth the Spirit thus establish and seal us, and convey grace to our souls ? AYhy doth that do all ?
Ans. 1. Because since the fall we have no principles of supernatural good in us ; and there must be a prmciple above nature to work grace in our barren hearts.
Ans. 2. Again, there is still remaining in us an utter averseness to that which is spiritually good in the best. Therefore there must be somewhat to overpower their corrupt disposition.
Quest. But why the Spirit rather than the Father or the Son ? Ans. He comes from both, and therefore is fit to witness the love of both. The Holy Ghost is in the breast of the Father and the Son ; he knows their secret aifections towards us. A man's spirit is acquainted with his inmost thoughts. The blessed Spirit is privy to the hidden love of God, and of Jesus Christ to us poor creatures, which we are strangers unto. Therefore none so fit to cheer and revive us.
Indeed, the love original}}' is from, the Father ; but in regard of applica- tion of what is wrought by the Son, all proceeds from the Holy Ghost ; he receives grace from Christ for us. It must needs be so, because no less than the Spirit of God can quiet our perplexed spirits in time of tentation. For when the conscience of a guilty person is afiiighted, what man can allay its fears ? That which must settle a troubled spirit must be a spirit above our own ; it being no easy thing to bring the soul and God together after peace is broken. We have both wind and tide against us in this business, grace being but weak, and corruption strong in the best of us.
We should labour therefore for heavenly spirits, and get something more than a man in us. There can never be any true peace attained till the Spirit from above settle it in our souls. An unsanctified heart is an unpacified heart. If there be a neglect of holiness, the soul can never be soundly quiet. Where there is not a clear conscience, there cannot be a calm conscience. That is a general rule. Sin, like Jonah in the ship, will raise continual storms both within and without a man. Take away God once, and farewell all true tranquillity. Spiritual comforts flow imme- diately from the Spirit of comfort, who hath his office designed for that purpose.*
Quest. But how shall we know that we have the Spirit ? How may a man know that he hath a soul ?
Ans. 1. By living and moving, by actions vital, &c. Even so may a man know he hath the Spirit of God by its blessed effects and operations. * That is, ' The Comforter' (Ua^axXrjTog) — G.
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It is not idle in ns, but as the soul quickens tlio body, so doth the Spirit the soul. Every saving grace is a sign that the Spirit is in us. Where- soever the Spirit dwells, he transforms the soul, and changes the party, like himself, to be holy and gracious. This is an undoubted symptom of the Spirit's habitation.