(1.) He doth it morally, by proposing their objects suitably and sea- sonably unto them. This he doth by his ordinances of worship, espe- cially the preaching of the word. God in Christ, the promises of the covenant, and other proper objects of our faith and love, being pro- jjosed unto us, these graces are drawn out unto their exercise. And this is one principal advantage which we have by attendance on the dispensation of the word in a due manner, — namely, that by pre- senting those spiritual truths which are the object of our faith unto our minds, and those spiritual good things which are the object of our love unto our affections, both these graces are drawn forth into fre- quent actual exercise. And we are greatly mistaken if we suppose we have no benefit by the word beyond what we retain in our memories, though we should labour for that also. Our ciiief advantage lies in the excitation which is thereby given unto our faith and love to their proper exercise ; and hereby are these graces kept alive, which with- out this would decay and wither. Herein doth the Holy Spirit " take the things of Christ, and show them unto us," John xvi. 14, 15. He represents them unto us in the preaching of the word as the proper objects of our faith and love, and so brings to remembrance the things spoken by Christ, chajx xiv. 26; that is, in the dispensation of the word, he minds us of the gracious words and truths of Christ, j)ro- posing them to our faith and love. And herein lies the secret pro- fiting and thriving of believers under the preaching of the gospel; which, it may be, they are not sensible of themselves. By this means are many thousands of acts of faith and love drawn forth, whereby these graces are exercised and strengthened; and consequently holi- ness is increased : and the word, by the actings of faith being mixed with it, as Heb. iv. 2, increaseth it by its incorporation.
(2.) The Spirit doth it really and internally. He dwelleth in believ- ers, preserving in them the root and principle of all their grace by his own immediate power. Hence all graces in their exercise are called " The fruits of the Spirit,'' Gal. v. 22, 23. He brings them forth from the stock that he hath planted in the heart. And we cannot act any
S90 SANCTIFICATION A PKOGRESSIVE WOEK. [BOOK IV.
one grace witlxout his effectual operation therein : " God worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure/' Phil. ii. 13; — that is, there is no part of our wills singly and separately from him in obedience but it is the operation of the Spirit of God in us, so far as it is spiritual and holy. He is the immediate author of every good or gracious acting in us; for " in us, that is, in our flesh" (and of our- selves w^e are but flesh), "there dwelleth no good." Wherefore, the Spirit of God dwelUng in believers doth effectually excite and stir up their graces unto frequent exercise and actings, whereby they are increased and strengthened. And there is nothing in the whole course of our w'alkiug before God that we ought to be more careful about than that ^ve grieve not, that we provoke not, this good and holy Spirit, whereon he should withhold his gracious aids and assist- ances from us. This, therefore, is the first way whereby the work of sanctification is gradually carried on, by the Holy Ghost exciting our graces unto frequent actings, whereby they are increased and strengthened.
/ Secondly, He doth it by supplying believers with experiences of ^the truth, and reality, and excellency, of the things that are believed. Experience is the food of all grace, which it grows and thrives upon. Every taste that faith obtains of divine love and grace, or how gra- cious the Lord is, adds to its measure and stature. Two things, therefore, must briefly be declared: — (1.) That the experience of the reality, excellency, power, and efficacy of the things that are believed, is an effectual means of increasing faith and love; (2.) That it is the v^Holy Ghost which gives us this experience. (1.) For the first, God himself expostulates with the church how its faith came to be so weak, when it had so great experience of him, or of his power and faithful- ness: Isa. xl. 27, 28, " Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard? How, then, say est thou that God hath forsaken thee?" And our apostle affirms that the consolatious which he had experimentally received from God enabled him unto the discharge of his duty to- wards others in trouble, 2 Cor. i. 4; for herein we prove, or do really approve of, as being satisfied in, " the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God," Rom. xii. 2. And this is that which the apostle prayeth for in the behalf of the Colossians, chap. ii. 2. I may say that he who knoweth not how faith is encouraged and strengthened by especial experiences of the reality, power, and spiritual efficacy on the soul of the things believed, never was made partaker of any of them. How often doth David encourage his own faith and [that of] others from his former experiences ! which were pleaded also by our Lord Jesus Christ to the same pui-pose, in his great distress, Ps. xxii. 9, 10. (2.) That it is the Holy Ghost who giveth us all our spiritual experiences needs no other consideration to evince but only this.