362 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE. [CHAP.
nestly that the Spirit might not depart from him, being conscious to himself that he had exceedingly defiled his dwelling-place, Ps. li, 11. And were this consideration always fresli upon the spirits of the saints, were it more constant in their thoughts, it would keep them more upon their guard that nothing might break in to disquiet their gracious Indweller.
Secondly, Because by the Spirit we have guidance and direction, there is vnsdom given unto us, and we are called to a holy discerning between the directions of the Spirit of grace and the delusions of the spirit of the world and the seduction of our own hearts. Christ gives this character of his sheep, that they " hear him, know his voice, and follow him," but " a stranger they will not follow," John X, 3-5. Christ speaks by his Spirit ; in his guidance and direction is the voice of the Lord Jesus: " He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," Rev. ii. 29. What Christ saith as to the fountain of revelation, he being the great prophet of the church, that the Spirit saith as to the efficacy of the revelation unto the hearts of the saints; and as "the unction teacheth them," so do they " abide in Christ," 1 John ii. 27. The seducements of the spirit of the world, either immediately by himself or mediately by others, are the voice of strangers. Between these and the voice of the Spirit of Christ that dwells in them, tlie saints have a spirit of discerning. This the apostle affirms, 1 Cor. ii. 15, " He that is spi- ritual judgeth all things." He discerneth between things, and judg- eth aright of them. He "judgeth all things;" that is, all things of that nature whereof he speaks ; that is, " the things which are freely given to us of God," verse 12, for the discerning and knowledge whereof the Spirit is given them: for "the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God," verse 11. They know also the sug- gestions of the spirit of the world, and judge them: 2 Cor. ii. 11, "We are not ignorant of his devices." There is a twofold knowledge of the depths and devices of Satan: — one with approbation, to the embracing and practice of them; the other with condemnation, to their hatred and rejection. The first ye have mentioned Eev. ii. 24, "As many as have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak," — their "doctrinal depths," so they call them ; of them our Saviour there speaks. New doctrines were broached by Satan, — unintelligible no- tions. Some pretended to attain an acquaintance with them ; and boasted, it seems, in them as very gi'eat and high attainments. They called them "depths," such as poor ordinary believers, that contented themselves with their low forms, could not reach unto. Saith Christ, "They are depths, as they speak;" — indeed, in themselves nothing at all, things of no solidity, weight, nor wisdom ; but, as managed by- Satan, they are depths indeed, such as whereby he destroys their souls. And as some approve his doctrinal depths, so some close with
VIIT.] THE INDWELLING OF THE SPIRIT, 363
his practical depths and embrace them, men that study his ways and paths, becoming desperately wicked, maliciously scoffing at re- ligion, and despising the profession of it. But there is a knowledge also of the depths and devices of Satan leading to judging, condemn- ing, rejecting, and watching against them. The suggestions of Satan, in their infinite variety, their rise, progress, efficacy, and advantages, their various aims and tendencies unto sin against grace, I do not now consider. But this I say, those who are " led by the Spirit of God," who have directions and guidance from him, they discern be- tween the voice of the Spirit which dwells in them and the voice of the spirit which dwells in the world.
Now, because this is not always to be done from the manner of their speaking, the serpent counterfeiting the voice of the dove, and coming on, not only with earnestness and continuance of impulse, but with many fair and specious pretences, making good his impres- sions, labouring to win the understanding over to that wherewith he enticeth the affections and passions of men, they use the help of such considerations as these ensuing, to give them direction in attending to the voice of that Guide which leads them into the paths of truth, and to stop their ears to the songs of Satan, which would transform them into monsters of disobedience. Thus they know, —
1. That all the motions of the Holy Spirit, whereby they are and ought to be led, are regular; that he moves them to nothing but what is according to the mind of Christ, delivered in the word which he hath appointed for their rule to walk by, to no duty but what is acceptable to him, and what he hath revealed so to be. So that as believers are to try the spirits of others by that standard, whether they are of God or no, because of the subtlety of Satan, transform- ing himself into an angel of hght, yea, into a spirit of duty, what- ever immediate motions and impressions fall upon their spirits, they try them by the rule, 1 John iv. 1. It is no dishonour to the Holy Spirit, yea, it is a great honour, to have his motions within us tried by the word that he hath given for a rule without us; yea, when any preached by immediate inspiration, he commends those who ex- amined what they delivered by that which he had given out before, Acts xvii. 11. He doth not now move in us to give a new ride, but 2i new light and power, as was said before. The motions of the spirit of the world are for the most part unto things wherein, though the persons with whom he deals may be in the dark, or blind, and darkened by him, yet themselves are against the rule, or beside it, in the whole or in part, in respect of some such circumstances as vitiate the whole performance.