2. They know that the commands and motions of the Spirit which dwells in them are not grievous, 1 John v. 3. The commands of Christ, for the matter of them, are not grievous; " his yoke is easy, his
S(J4 DOCTRINE OF THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE. [CHAP.
burden is light," Matt. xi. 80. And the manner whereby we are car- ried out to the performance of them is not grievous: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Hberty," 2 Cor. iii. 17. It carries out the soul to duty in a free, sweet, calm, ingenuous manner. The motions of the spirit of the world, even unto good things and duties (for so, for farther ends of his, it often falls out that they are), are trouble- some, vexatious, perplexing, grievous, and tumultuating. Satan falls like lightning upon the soul, and comes upon the powers of it as a tempest. Hence acting in any thing upon his closing with and pro- voking our convictions, is called a being under the " spirit of bond- age," Rom. viii. 15 ; which is opposed to the "Spirit of God, the Spirit of adoption, of liberty, boldness, power, and a sound mind."
8. They know that all motions of the Spirit whereby they are led are orderly. As is God's covenant with us, "ordered in all things," so the Spirit of God carries us out unto every duty in its own order and season; whereas we see some poor souls to be in such bondage as to be hurried up and down, in the matter of duties, at the pleasure of Satan. They must run from one to another, and commonly neglect that which they should do. When they are at prayer, then they should be at the work of their calling; and when they are at their calling, they are tempted for not laying all aside and running to prayer. Believers know that this is not from the Spirit of God, which makes " every thing beautiful in its season,"
4. They know that all the workings of the Spirit of God, as they are good, so also they tend unto a good end. Doth that stir them up to close walking with God ? — it is that God may be glorified, his graces exercised in them, their souls strengthened in obedience, and their progress in sanctification furthered. Doth it assure them of the love of God ? — it is that they may be more humble, thankful, and watchful. Whereas all the compliances and combinations of Satan, and men's corrupt hearts, even when they comj)el to good duties, are for false, evil, and corrupt ends. Duty is pressed to pacify conscience, peace is given to make men secure, gifts are stirred up to tempt to pride; and, indeed, it may easily be observed that the devil never doth any work but he will quickly come for his wages.
By the help, I say, of these and such like considerations, the saints of God, in whom this Spirit doth dwell, are enabled to discern and know the voice of their leader and guide from the nearest resem- blance of it that the spirit which is in the Avorld doth or at any time can make show of And this indwelling of the Spirit yields a con- siderable contribution of strength towards the confirmation of the main theses undertaken to be proved. Our adversaries dispute about the removal of acquired habits; but how infused habits may be cast out or expelled they have not [in] any tolerable measure been able to declare. If, moreover, it shall be evinced, as it hath been by
IX.] THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. S65
plentiful testimonies of Scripture, that the Holy Ghost himself dwells in believers, what way can be fixed on for his expulsion? That he cannot be removed but by his own will, the ivill of him that sends him, I suppose will easily be granted. Whilst he abides with them, they are accepted with God, and in covenant with him. That God, whilst his children are in such a state and condition, doth take away his Spirit from them, and give them up to the power of the devil, is incumbent on our adversaries to prove.
But to return at length from this digression. Thus far have we proceeded in manifesting, upholding, and vindicating, that influence which the oblation of Christ hath into the preservation of the saints in the love and favour of God unto the end. His intercession, being eminently effectual also to the same end and purpose, comes in the next place to be considered.
CHAPTER IX.
THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST.
The nature of it — Its aim, not only that believers continuing so may be saved, but that they may be preserved in believing — This farther proved from the typical intercession of the Judaical high priest — The tenor of Christ's intercession, as manifested John xvii. 11, opened, and verses 12-15 — The result of the argu- ment from thence — The saints' perseverance fully confirmed — Rom. viii. 33, 34 at large explained — Mr G.'s interpretation of the place in all the parts of it confuted — Vain supposals groundlessly interserted into the apostle's discourse — What Christ intercedes for for believers farther manifested — The sum of what is assigned to the intercession of Christ by Mr G. — How far it is all from yielding the least consolation to the saints manifested — The reasons of the foregoing interpretation proposed and answered — The end assigned of