(2.) Where the Spirit of Christ is likewise, it conrincclh, as it is John xvi. 8, seq. ; that is, it brings a clear evident conviction with it, that the truth of God is the truth of God. It is no doubtful thing. Therefore when a man staggers in the truth, in this and that course, whether he should do this or that, it is a sign he hath not the Spirit, or that he hath it in a very little measure, because the Spirit is a convincing thing, as light it convinceth a man. He doth not doubt of that that he seeth at noon-day. So that that a man seeth by the Spirit, he is convinced of. When a man doubts and wavers, whether he should take a good course or a bad, and wavers, it is a sign he is carnal, and hath not the Spirit of God ; for if he had not the Spirit* it would convince him, and set him down, You must take this course if you will be saved. That is said to convince, that saith more for a thing than anything can say against it. Now when a man hath the Spirit of God, he can say more for God and for good things and good ways, than all the devils in hell by discouragement can say against them. Therefore, when a man cannot say anything for God, and for good caiises to purpose, he hath not the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God would so convince him, that he should answer all cavils and objections. The argu- ment is wondrous large. I give you but a taste, to know whether the Spirit of Christ be in you or no.
(3.) In a word, if Christ be that Spirit, and have infused the Spirit into us, it will make us like him ; it will transform us into his likeness, it will make us holy and humble and obedient as he was, even to the death. These things might be largely followed, but we have occasion to speak of these in other portions of Scripture. Therefore, that ye may get the Spirit of God, take these directions.
[1.] We mmt f/o to Christ, study Christ. If we will have the Spirit, study the gospel of Christ. What is the reason that before Christ there was so little Spirit in comparison ? There was but a little measure of the know- ledge of Christ. The more Christ is discovered, the more is the Spirit given ; and according to the manifestation of Christ what he hath done for us, and what he hath, the more the riches of Christ is unfolded in the church, the more the Spirit goes along with them. The more the free grace and love of God in Christ alone is made known to the church, the * Qu. ' had the Spirit ?'— Ed.
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more Spirit there is ; and again back again, the more Spirit the more knowledge of Christ ; for there is a reciprocal going of these two, the knowledge of Christ and the Spirit. What is the reason, that in popery the schoolmen that were witty to distinguish, that there was little Spirit in them ? Thoj savoured not the gospel. They were wondrous quick in distinctions, but they savoured not the matters of grace, and of Christ. It was not fully discovered to them, but they attributed it to satisfaction, and to merits, and to the pope, the head of the church, &c. They divided Christ, they knew him not ; and dividing Christ, they wanted the Spirit of Christ ; and wanting that Spirit, they taught not Christ as they should. They were dark times, as themselves confessed, especially about nine hun- dred and a thousand years after Christ, because Christ was veiled then in a world of idle ceremonies— to darken the gospel and the victory of Christ — that the pope made, who was the vicar of Satan. These were the doctors of the church then, and Christ was hid and wrapped in a company of idle traditions and ceremonies of men ; and that was the reason that things were obscure.
[2.] Now ichen Clirist, and all good things hg Christ, and hg Christ only, are discovered, the veil is taken off. Now of late for these hundred years, in the time of reformation, there hath been more spirit and more lightsome- ness and comfort. Christians have lived and died more comfortably. Why ? Because Christ hath been more known. And as it is with the church, so it is with particular Christians, the more they study Christ, and the fulness that is in Christ, and all comfort in him alone to be had — ' wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,' 1 Cor. i. 30 — the more men grow up in the knowledge of Christ, the more they grow spiritually ; and the more spiritually they grow, the more they grow in the knowledge of Christ. Therefore, if we would have the Spirit, let us come near to Christ, and labour to know him more, who is the fountain of all that is spiritual.
[3.] Then again, if we would be spiritual, let us take heed ire trust not too much to dead things, without Christ ; to have a kind of popery in the work done ; to think that reading, and hearing, and receiving the sacrament, and that the government of the chui'ch will do it, as if it were as man would have it. Put case there were all these, which are excellent good things ; but what are all these without the Spirit of Christ ! A man may be dead with all these. Though he hear never so much, and receive the sacrament never so often, if a man go not to Christ the quickening Spirit in this manner : Lord, these, and my soul too, are dead things without thy Spirit, therefore quicken me. Join Christ with all our performances, without which all is nothing, and then he will be spiritual to us.