Indeed, 'waiting' is a diflicult duty, both in regard of the long day which God usually takes before he performs his promise, as also by rea- son of the untowardness of our natures, being ready to be put off by the least frown, did not God by a Spirit of constancy preserve the soul im- moveable in all conditions, whether present or to come, so as it fails not before him : and why ? Because it knows full well that God, in whom it rests, is unchangeably good.
Alas ! we are at the best but light and vain creatures, till the divine Spirit fix and settle us. The firmer our union is here, the surer will be our standing in all danger ; for what can daunt that soul, which in the greatest troubles hath made the great good to be his own ? Such a per- son dares cheerfully encounter any opposition, as having a Spirit higher, than the world about him ; and seeing all but God far beneath him. Though I might name more, what a many sweet evidences are here to manifest a soul truly acted and led by the Spirit of God !
Quest. How may a man obtain this blessed guest, to lodge in his soul and rule over him ?
Ans. First, Attend upon the teaching of the gospel. ' Keceived ye the Spirit by the hearing of the law, or of faith preached ?' saith the apostle. Gal. iii. 2. The Spirit is usually given with a clear unfolding of Christ.
Secondly, Omit likeirise no means xcherein the Spirit is effectual ; for as a man walking in a garden, though he think not of it, draws a sweet scent of the flowers, so the word of God, being dictated by the Spirit, leaves a * Qu. 'his spirit'?— Ed.
PRECIOUS PROMISES. 1-17
heavenly savour in such as converse with it. The spirit of a man is hke water that runs through minerals. We see baths have their warmth from minerals that they run through. So it is with the soul in its holy employments. When it hath to deal with good hooks and good company, it draweth a spiritual tincture from these things, and is bettered by them.
Thirdli/, Withal, take heed that thou ' grieve not the Holy Ghost,' for that will cause an estrangement of his presence in thy soul.
Quest. How is that done ?
Ans. By cherishing contrary affections and lusts to his blessed motions, as when we hear the word, but resolve never to obey it. When God knocks at our hearts for entrance, oh how readily should we set open these everlasting doors to receive him ! If Christ be willing to give us his Spirit, it must needs be our own fault if we remain carnal ; there being nothing in a manner required to be spiritual, but not to resist the Spirit. What greater indignity can we ofler to the blessed Comforter, than to pre- fer our base lusts before his motions, leading to happiness ? What greater unkindness can a man do his friend, than to slight his loving direction, and embrace the counsel of a professed enemy ? The Holy Ghost presses such forcible reasons upon us of heavenly-mindedness and despising earthly things, that it is more than evident none are damned in the bosom of the church but those that set a bar against the Spirit of God in their hearts. Such are damned because they will be damned, that, say the preacher whatever he will, think it better to be as they are, than to entertain such a guest as will mar and alter all that was there before.
Take heed, therefore, of resisting the Spirit in the least kind ; sad'"' not his blessed motions, but make much of the same by yielding subjection thereunto. Lay thy soul often before the Spirit ; sutler thyself to be moulded and fashioned by his gracious working. Oh consider how high the slighting of a gracious motion reaches, even to the contemning of God himself. Certainly as we use these, so would we use the Spirit himself, ■were he [not] invisible to us.
And converse not with carnal company ; for what wilt thou gain there but sorrow to thine heart, if thou belongest to God ; and as holy Lot, vex thy righteous soul with the unclean conversation of these Sodomites ? It is an undoubted sign of a man destitute of grace, not to care at all what company he frequents.
Fourthly, Seeing the Holy Ghost is promised to them that ask it, her/ ear- nestly, for it is at God's hands. This is the ' good thing' that God gives. Christ seems to insinuate as much, saying, "What can I give you better than the Holy Ghost ? Yet this ' will I bestow on them that ask it,' Mat. vii. 7, seq. ; for indeed that is the seed of all grace and comfort. A world of promises is included in the promise of giving the Spirit.
Labour therefore, above all gettings, to obtain this high prerogative. The comforts of the Spirit are above all earthly comfort, and the graces of the Spirit enable to encounter the greatest temptations whatsoever. A man that hath this stands impregnable. God may withdraw his favour for a time, to humble us ; but to quench the work of the Spirit, once wrought in the soul, all the power of all the devils in hell cannot stir it. This will carry us through all oppositions and difficulties in our Christian race. Let a man never baulk or decline a good cause for anything that he shall sujQfer ; for the seal and earnest of the Spirit is never more strong than when we are deprived of all other comforts save that alone.