Enlarging on this promise, our Lord shews his Disciples,
II. What a distinguished blessing they are privileged to enjoy—
This divine Comforter is known to none but Christ's obedient followers —
[" The world knows him not, nor can, in fact, receive him." As " the Spirit of truth" he spake in all the prophets : but the ungodly world cast his word behind their backs. In the days of our Lord they did the same. The same also they did when he spake by the Apostles. And the same they do at this day. For want of a spiritual discernment, " they see him not:" for want of an enlightened understanding, "they know him not :" and for want of holy dispositions, they neither do, " nor can receive him." Their hearts are closed against him : and are so full of corrupt affections, that he could not endure to make his abode with them. If for a moment he enter as a Spirit of conviction, he cannot possibly abide there as a Spirit of consolation. But to the obedient followers of Christ he comes with all his glorious manifestations and endear- ments. In their hearts he " sheds abroad the love of God :" to them he " witnesses their adoption into God's family :" and he is in them " an earnest of their eternal inheritance."]
In all this the distinction between them and the ungodly world is incalculably great —
[Mark the contrast as it is here drawn by our Lord him- self, between the obedient and the disobedient Christian. The
1687.] GItT OF THE SPIRIT ENCOURAGES OBEDIENCE. 41
one is benefited by the Saviour's intercession ; the other not. The one has received the Holy Ghost; the other not. The one has an experimental acquaintance with the Spirit of truth ; the other scarcely " knows whether there be any Holy Ghost," or, if he do, he has no delight in any thing that he knows respecting him. The one has the Spirit dwelling in him as a Comforter ; the other, instead of experiencing the Spirit's consolations, cannot so much as know or receive them. The one has all the persons of the ever-blessed Trinity interesting themselves in his behalf; the other has God, even the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, for his enemy. The world may ridicule these things as enthusiasm, if they will : but they are the true sayings of God. And I pray God, that these thoughts may be laid to heart by every one here present: for, as God is true, no man shall dwell with God in heaven, who has not first had the Spirit of God dwelling in him on earth b.]
See then here,
1. The importance of consistency —
[A man professes to love the Saviour, and rests his pre- tensions on some internal feelings and conceits of his own, whilst by his life and conversation he dishonours and denies his Lord. But to every such person our Lord will say, " Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say ?" Beloved brethren, whatever ye may profess, as to Christian principles, or pretend, as to Christian experience, you shall find that saying verified at the last, " Without holiness no
man shall see the Lord" Look into the text, I pray
you, and see, that our Lord gave these promises on purpose to encourage your obedience. If then you would be partakers of them, treasure them up in your minds, and say, ' How highly are we privileged ! How wonderfully are we made to differ from the world around us ! Is there no less than a divine Person sent down to dwell in us as our Comforter? Have we a Comforter, whom none but a chosen few are qualified to receive ? And is this marvellous gift bestowed upon us in answer to our Saviour's intercessions ? Shall we not then testify in every possible way our love to him? Has he done such things for us, unasked, and shall we not do for him the things which he commands ?' This is the consistency that he requires : and this alone will be accepted as any proof of your love to him.]