As it is in a river, it is impossible that the stream should run higher than
THE church's echo. 545
the spring-head from whence it comes, so it is impossible that our desires should rise higher than the spring from whence they come. The desires of nature cannot go higher than nature. The desires of the flesh are fleshly, but spiritual desires, as they spring from heaven, they have a noble original and head, so they carry to heaven again. Therefore, as the Spii'it comes from God the Father and the Son, so it carries us back again to the Father and the Son ; as it comes from heaven, so it carries to heaven back again. That is one way to know whether our desires be spiritual or no. Our desire of death and of the coming of Christ, if it be from wearisomcness of life, and from afflictions in the world, so nature may desire. I were better be dead than to be thus, as Jonas wished death, and the children of Israel, and Elias in a passion, Oh that I were dead, &c. But if those desires spring from the Spirit, then they come from heaven, from the consideration of the excellency of the state we shall have there, that it shall be better with us, and that death is but a dark passage to a glorious condition. We may know our desires are spiritual from the rise of them, if they come from spiritual and holy and heavenly considerations. The Spirit doth all in the spouse that is holy and spiritual.
Therefore let us give entertainment to the Spirit of God, and be where we may have further and further communion 'wdth the Spirit in spiritual ordi- nances. The preaching of God's holy word, though it be meanly esteemed by the world, it is the ministry of the Spirit. In the hearing of it the Spirit is given. If we would have the Spirit, let us attend upon the ministry of the Spii'it. And let us study Christ, and make him all in all. Saint Paul questions with the Galatiaus ; saith he, ' I would know of you, how came ye by the Spirit ? by hearing of Christ's gospel or of the law preached ? ' No ; it was by the gospel. Gal. iii. 2. So that not only the ministry in general, but the evangelical ministry that unfolds Christ, and the infinite love of God in Christ, the excellent condition we have in this world and look for in the world to come ; the Spirit is effectual with these thoughts to make us holy and heavenly. The law beats down, but the gospel, espe- cially these evangelical truths, make us spiritual. Therefore we should be willing to hear spiritual points. There are a company of men that love to hear curious * and nice points, and if a minister be quaint, and satirical, and unfold points suitable to their apprehension, they can digest this ; but come to speak of things about nature, of Christ, and the benefits by him, they are spii'itual, they are remote and transcendent about their nature, that they cannot reUsh them. But he that hath the Spirit of Christ, of all points, there are none to those that unfold Christ and the benefits by him, the glory that we hope for by him in another world.
And let us not grieve the Spirit, but give way to his motions. The Spirit is now among us in his ordinance, knocking at our hearts, and desir- ing entertainment. Let us give way, and not quench the good motions that he stirs up ; and the Spirit shall be given more and more to us : ' The Holy Ghost is given to them that obey him,' Acts v. 32. And let us beg the Spirit. God ^ will give his Holy Spirit to those that ask him,' Luke xi. 18. As if he should say, the Spirit is the best thing God can give. You that are evil can give ' good things to your children ; ' but your heavenly Father hath one good thing instead of all ; he will give his Spirit. Therefore, when we find our hearts dead, and dull, and earthly, and base-minded, think thus, Alas, I am a lump of flesh now. Where is the Spirit of God '? Certainly if I had the Spirit in me, I could not be as I am. If we love our * That is ' or«r-curiouB.' — G.
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546 THE church's echo.
souls, we will take this course ; wc trifle with religion else. God doth all by the Spirit. The Spirit is Christ's vicar. Here is no need of a minis- terial head between the spouse and Christ, the Spirit and the spouse are so near together. There is such a conjunction between Christ and his church, that where the Spirit is, he stirs up desires of his coming. Only let us attend upon the means and ordinances that he hath left in his church, and let us consider we are are not for this life ; we are not to live here alway. The child in the womb is not for that life, and when it is in the world, it is not for this life. There is a third life that we are for. An imperfect state rests not till it come to perfection. Our best is behind. Let those that are naught* fear the second coming of Christ. Let Herod, and Judas, and the beast of Rome fear, that shall be cast into the burning lake. Let Felix tremble, the corrupt judge, and all that live in corrupt courses. But we that profess ourselves to be Christians, and hope for better things in another world, let us labour to banish base fears : and to this end let us labour to be spiritual, and not to be led by the flesh. Whosoever is Christ's, hath the Spirit of Christ, or else he is none of his, as it is sweetly, and largely, and heavenly proved, Rom. viii. 14, seq. We have nothing to do with Christ, unless we have his Spirit, to stir up motions and desires of better things than this world can afford.