Who can mortify those strong corruptions that would hinder us in the way to heaven, but the Spirit clothing our spirit with power from above ? Who purifieth the conscience, but he that is above conscience ? Who can raise our spirits above all temptations and troubles, but that Spirit of power that is above all ?
The strength and vigour of any creature is from the spirits ; and the strength of the spirits of all flesh is from this Spirit, whose oflice is to put spirit into our spirit.
As God redeemed us with his blood, so God must apply this blood, that conscience may be quieted. He only can subdue the rebellion of our spirits, and soften our hearts, and make them fit for sealing. The Spirit ooily can so report the mercy of God to our souls, as to persuade and work
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our hearts to this assurance, otherwise wo would never yield. For partly the greatness of the state is such that none but God can assure ; and partly the misgiving and unbelief of our heart is such that none but God can subdue it. The thing being so great, and our deservings so little, being unworthy of the things of this life, much more of that eternal happiness, this cannot be done without the high and glorious Spirit of God.
How earnest and desirous then is both the Father and the Son to save us, that pleased to send such an orator and ambassador as is equal with themselves to persuade us, to assure us, to fit us for salvation ! And how gracious is the Spirit that wall vouchsafe to have such communion with such poor sinful spirits as ours ! And should not this work upon our hearts a care not to grieve the Holy Spirit ? And so we come to the fourth conclusion.
4. The fourth conclusion is, that the seaJinfj of the Spirit unto salvatioii should he a stron;/ prevailiiir/ aniiunent not to grieve the Spirit ; that is, not to pin, for sin only grieves the Spirit. ' The grace of God,' saith Paul to Titus, 'that bringeth salvation,' Tit. ii. 11, 12. Christ appeared; and what is Christ but grace ? Christ appeared, and the free favour of God in Christ, whereby we are assured of salvation, ' which teacheth us'^ — what to do? — ' to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, right- eously, and godly in this present world.' Even the consideration of the benefits of Christ that are past, such as came with Christ's first coming ; but that is not all : ver. 13, ' Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.' The second coming of Christ enforceth likewise the same care of holiness : ' Our con- versation is in heaven,' Philip, iii. 20, and not as theirs, spoken of in the former verse, whose end is damnation, whose belly is their god, who mind earthly things. No. We mind heavenly things. And these heavenly desires, from whence sprung they but from the certain ' expectation of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile bodies?' &c., Philip, iii. 21 ; that is, shall redeem us fully, even our bodies as well as our souls.
1. It is an argument of force whether we he not yet sealed, or he sealed^ If not sealed, then grieve not him whose only office is to seal, entertain liis motions, give way to him, that he may have scope and liberty of working. Set no reasons against his reasons. Hearken to no counsel against his counsel. Stand not out his persuasions any longer, but yield up your spirits to him, lest he put a period to his patience. He is long-suffering, but not always-suftering. If he give us up to our own spirits, we shall only be witty* to work out our own damnation. We are not given up to our own spirits but after many repulses of this Holy Spirit ; and at length, what now will not serve for an argument to persuade us shall be used hereafter as an argument to torment us. The Spirit will help our spirits to repeat and recall all the motions to our own good that we formerly put back. We should think, when conscience speaks in us, God speaks ; and when the Spirit moves us, it is God that moves us ; and that all excuse will be cut oft' : answer will be, Did not I tell you of this by conscience, my deputy ? Did not I move you to this good by mine own Spirit ? Take heed of keeping out any light ; for light, where it doth not come in and Boften, hardens ; none so hard-hearted as those upon whom the light hath shined. There is more to be hoped from a man that hath only a natural conscience, than fi'om him whoso heart and spirit hath been long beaten * That is, ' skilful or ingenious.' — G.
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on ; there is more to be hoped from a heathen Pilate than a proud Pharisee. Those that will not be scaled to their salvation, it is just with God that they should be sealed up to their destruction. The soul without the Spirit is darkness and confusion, full of self-accusing and self-tormenting thoughts. If we let the Spirit come in, it will scatter all and settle the soul in a sweet quiet.