Ans. 2. Secondly, All spiritual graces are rcith conflict ; for that which is true is with a great deal of resistance of that which is counterfeit. ' The flesh still lusts against the Spirit,' Gal. v. 17, and Satan cannot endure to Bee any man walk comfortably to heaven. What, thinks he, such a base creature as this is to have the earnest of salvation, to live here as if he were in heaven already ; and to defy all opposite powers ! Sure he shall have little peace this way. I will disquiet and vex his spirit. If he will go to heaven he shall go mourning thither.
This is the reasoning of the cm-sed spirit, whereupon he labours to shake our assurance and follow us with perplexities. The grace and comfort of a Christian is with much conflict and temptations, not only with Satan, but with his own heart ; which, so long as guilt remains, will ever be misgiving and casting of doubts. There must, therefore, be a higher power than the soul of man to quiet and allay its own troubles.
Ans. 3. Thirdly, The Spirit enables us to the ijractice of those duties which hj nature we are averse unto, as to love an enemy, to overcome our revenge, to be humble in prosperity, and contented with any estate. It draws our affection heavenward, and makes us delight in God above all as our best portion. He that hath the Spirit joys in spiritual company and employ- ment ; he hates sin, as being contrary to that blessed ' earnest ' which he hath received. He looks on things as God doth, and approves of the same, as he is made more or less spiritual thereby, and so is brought nearer to that fountain of goodness — God himself. By them he esteems his best being to be in Christ, and therefore labours more and more to be trans- formed into his likeness. He values nothing in the world further than it conduceth to his spiritual welfare. If all be well for tlud, he accounts him- self happy, whatsoever else befalls him. Indeed, where the Spirit hath taken up his firm abode, that soul will little set by any outward change. Nothing can be very ill with a man that hath all well within him.
But that I may not distract your thoughts, you shall find divers properties of the Spirit of God in Kom. viii. 1, scq., which I will briefly touch. First, it is said that the Spirit where it is ' dxrells ' in that heart, as in a house ; it ' rules ' wherever it comes. The Holy Ghost will not be an underling to our lusts. It repairs and makes up all our inward breaches. The Spirit prepares his own dwelling, he begets knowledge and acquaintance of God within us. He is not in us as he is in the wicked ; he only knocks at their hearts, but hath not his abode there.
Secondly, When the Spirit comes into a man, he subdues xchatsoever is con- trary to it, a)id makes way for itself by jndling down all stronyholds tvhich oppose it. Therefore we are said ' to mortify the deeds of the flesh ' by the Spirit, ver. 13. Those that by help of the Spirit have got the victory of sin, can in no wise be led as slaves by the flesh ; as, on the contrary, he that cherishes corruption and crucifies it not (by spiritual reasons, but out of civil respects to be freed from aspersions, and to uphold his reputation or the like) is a mere * stranger to the Holy Ghost's working.
Thirdly, As many as are ' led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.' As the angel went before the Israelites from Egypt into Canaan, so the * That is, ' altogctlier.'— G. VOL. IV. K
146 YEA AND AMEN ; OR,
Spirit of God goes along with his in all their ways, removing all lets and strengthening against all impediments in their Christian race. It conducts us swectl}', not violently, as the devil doth those that are possessed with the Spirit.- We arc led strongly indeed, because it is against corruption within us, and opposition from without us ; but yet sweetly, to preserve the liberty and freedom of the soul still. We are all by nature like children or -blind men. We cannot lead ourselves. The Spirit must be our conductCorJ, or we shall wander and go aside presently. Those therefore that enjoy the same, submit themselves to its guidance and direction in all things.
Fourth, Again, The Spirit stirs up sighs and groans, that cannot be expressed. When we arc not able to pray, or lay open the griefs of our souls, if we can but send our sighs and groans to heaven, they shall be accepted ; for God will hear the voice of his own Spirit, from whence these sobs and complaints come. How should we be overwhelmed with despair, did not the Spirit support us ? Those, therefore, that in extremity have nothing to comfort them, jai are able to send forth holy desires to the Lord, may certainly conclude that the Spirit is in them.
Fifth, Again, The Spirit makes us mourn and wait for the adoption of sons. The same Spirit that sanctifies a sinner, witnesses to his soul that God is his. Worldlings grieve not for their absence from Christ, neither at all long they for his blessed appearing, because their heaven is here. They mourn not for the hidden distempers and secret imperfections of their souls ; whereas the godly are much in condemning themselves for that which no creature can tax them of. Want of communion with their Maker, strait- ness of spirit, distraction in duty, that they cannot obey as they would — these exceedingly deject them, yet wait they will without despair till God have finished their course. There is such a divine power in faith, as a very little beam of it, having no other help than a naked promise, will uphold the soul against the greatest discouragements, and keep it from utter sinking.