[pthly.'] I deny that ever the Holy Spirit doth absolutely and uni- versally leave a believing soul without consolation. A man may be darkened, clouded, refuse comfort, — actually find none, feel none; but radically he hath a foundation of consolation, which in due time will be drawn forth: and therefore, when God promises that he will heal sinners, and restore comfort to them, as Isa. Ivii. 18, it is not that they were without any, but that they had not so much as they needed, that that promise is made. To insist on the several ways whereby men refuse comfort, and come short of the strong consolation which God is wilhng that we should receive, is not my purpose at present. Thus, then, the Spirit being sent and given, abideth with the souls of believers, — leaves them not, though he variously manifest himself in his operations : of which in the next place.
23 t OF COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY GHOST.
CHAPTER 11.
Of the actings of the Holy Ghost in us, being bestowed on us — Up workcth effectually, distributeth, giveth.
Having thus declared from whence and how the Holy Ghost is given unto us as a Spnit of consolation, I come, in the next place, —
bihly. To declare what are his actings in us and towards us, being so bestowed on us and received by us. Now, here are two general heads to be considered: — (Isi.) The manner and kind of his actings in us, which are variously expressed ; and, {2dly.) The particular pro- ducts of his actings in our souls, wherein we have communion with him. The first is variously expressed; I shall pass through them briefly : —
(1st.) He is said (Jvipyuv) " to work effectually," 1 Cor. xii. 11, " All these worketh" (or effecteth) " that one and the self-same Spirit."' It is spoken there, indeed, in respect of his distribution of gifts ; but the way is the same for the communication of gi'aces and privileges. He doth it by working: which, as it evinces Lis personality, especially as considered with the words following, " Dividing to every man ac- cording to his will " (for to work according to will is the inseparable property of a person, and is spoken expressly of God, Eph. i. 11) ; so in relation to verse 6, foregoing, it makes no less evident his Deity. What he is here said to do as the Spirit bestowed on us and given unto us, there is he said as God himself to do: " There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all ; " 's\ hich here, in other words, is, " All these worketh that one and the self- same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." What we have, then, from him, we have by the way of his energetical working. It is not by proposing this or that argument to us, persuading us by these or those moral motives or inducements alone, leaving us to make use of them as we can; but he works effectually himself, what he communicates of gi'ace or consolation to us.
\^dly.'\ In the same verse, as to the manner of his operation, he is said hiaipiTv,—\\e divideth or distributeth to every one as he ivill. This of distribution adds to that of operation, choice, judgment, and free- dom. He that distributes variously, doth it with choice, and judgment, and freedom of will. Such are the proceedings of the Spirit in his dispensations: to one, he giveth one thing eminently; to another, another ; — to one, in one degree ; to another, in another. Thus are the saints, in his sovereignty, kept in a constant dependence on him. He distributes as ho will; — who should not be content with his portion?
OF COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY GHOST. 2So
Avhat claim can any lay to that which he distiibuteth as he will? which is farther manifested, —
[3cZ^?/.] By his being said to give when and what he bestows. They " spake with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance," Acts ii. 4. He gave them to them ; that is, freely : whatever he bestows upon us, is of his gift. And hence it is to be observed, that in the economy of our salvation, the acting of no one person doth prejudice the free- dom and liberty of any other: so the love of the Father in sending the Son is free, and his sending doth no ways prejudice the liberty and love of the Son, but that he lays down his life freely also ; so the satisfaction and purchase made by the Son doth no way prejudice the freedom of the Father's grace in pardoning and accepting us thereupon ; so the Father's and Son's sending of the Spuit doth not derogate from his freedom in his workings, but he gives freely what he gives. And the reason of this is, because the will of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is essentially the same ; so that in the acting of one there is the counsel of all and each freely therein.
Thus, in general, is the manner and kind of his working in us and towards us, being bestowed upon us, described. Power, choice, free- dom, are evidently denoted in the expressions insisted on. It is not any peculiar work of his towards us that is hereby declared, but the manner how he doth produce the effects that shall be insisted on.