those the Sons of God, who are actuated by the Spirit of God; but these will have the Children of God actuated by their own Spirits, without the Spirit of God. He will have us call God Father, the Spirit dictating that Term unto us, which only can witness to our Spirits, that we are the Sons of God. These, though they cease not to call upon God, do nevertheless dismiss the Spirit, by whose guiding he is rightly to be called upon. He denies them to be the Sons of God, or the Servants of Christ, who are not led by his Spirit; but these feign a Christianity that needs not the Spirit of Christ. He takes away the Hope of a blessed Resurrection, unless we feel the Spirit residing in us; but these feign a Hope without any such a Feeling; but perhaps they will answer, that they deny not but that it is necessary to have it, only of Modesty and Humility we ought to deny and not acknowledge it. What means he then, when he commands the Corinthians to Try themselves, if they be in the Faith; to Examine themselves, whether they have Christ, whom whosoever acknowledges not dwelling in him, is a Reprobate? By the Spirit which he hath given us, saith John, we know that he abideth in us. And what do we then else but call in question Christ’s Promise, while we would be esteemed the Servants of God, without his Spirit, which he declared he would pour out upon all his? Seeing these Things are the first Grounds of Piety, it is miserable Blindness to accuse Christians of Pride, because they dare glory of the Presence of the Spirit; without which glorying, Christianity itself could not be. Without the Spirit’s Presence Christianity must cease.But by their Example they declare, how truly Christ spake, saying, That his Spirit was unknown to the World, and that those only acknowledge it, with whom it remains.” Thus far Calvin.
If therefore it be so, Why should any be so foolish as to deny, or so unwise as not to seek after this Spirit, which Christ hath promised shall dwell in his Children? They then that do suppose the Indwelling and Leading of his Spirit to be ceased, must also suppose Christianity to be ceased, which cannot subsist without it.
Query III. What is the Work of the Spirit?Thirdly, What the Work of this Spirit is, is partly before shewn, which Christ compriseth in two or three Things, [42]He will guide you into all Truth; He will teach you all Things, and bring all Things to your Remembrance. Since Christ hath provided for us so good an Instructor, why need we then lean so much to those Traditions and Commandments of Men, wherewith so many Christians have burthened themselves? Why need we set up our own carnal and corrupt Reason for a Guide to us, in Matters spiritual, as some will needs do? The Spirit the Guide.May it not be complained of all such, as the Lord did of old, concerning Israel, by the Prophets, Jer. ii. 13. For my People have committed two Evils, they have forsaken me, the Fountain of Living Waters; and hewed them out Cisterns, broken Cisterns, that can hold no Water? Have not many forsaken, do not many deride and reject, this Inward and Immediate Guide, this Spirit, that leads into all Truth; and cast up to themselves other Ways, broken Ways indeed, which have not all this While brought them out of the Flesh, nor out of the World, nor from under the Dominion of their own Lusts and sinful Affections; whereby Truth, which is only rightly learned by this Spirit, is so much a Stranger in the Earth?
[42] John 16. 13. and 14. 26.
A perpetual Ordinance to God’s Church and People.From all then that hath been mentioned concerning this Promise, and these Words of Christ, it will follow, That Christians are always to be led inwardly and immediately by the Spirit of God dwelling in them; and that the same is a standing and perpetual Ordinance, as well to the Church in general in all Ages, as to every Individual Member in particular; as appears from this Argument:
The Promises of Christ to his Children are Yea and Amen, and cannot fail, but must of Necessity be fulfilled.
But Christ hath promised, That the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth, shall abide with his Children for ever, shall dwell with them, shall be in them, shall lead them into all Truth, shall teach them all Things, and bring all Things to their Remembrance:
Therefore, The Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth, his abiding with his Children, &c. is Yea and Amen, &c.
Again: No Man is redeemed from the Carnal Mind, which is at Enmity with God, which is not subject to the Law of God, neither can be; no Man is yet in the Spirit, but in the Flesh, and cannot please God; except he in whom the Spirit of God dwells.
But every true Christian is in measure redeemed from the Carnal Mind, is gathered out of the Enmity, and can be subject to the Law of God; is out of the Flesh, and in the Spirit, the Spirit of God dwelling in him:
Therefore every true Christian hath the Spirit of God dwelling in him.
Again: Whosoever hath not the Spirit of Christ, is none of his; that is, no Child, no Friend, no Disciple of Christ.
But every true Christian is a Child, a Friend, a Disciple of Christ:
Therefore every true Christian hath the Spirit of Christ.
Moreover: Whosoever is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, in him the Spirit of God dwelleth and abideth.
But every true Christian is the Temple of the Holy Ghost:
Therefore in every true Christian the Spirit of God dwelleth and abideth.
But to conclude: He in whom the Spirit of God dwelleth, it is not in him a lazy, dumb, useless Thing; but it moveth, actuateth, governeth, instructeth, and teacheth him all Things, whatsoever are needful for him to know; yea, bringeth all Things to his Remembrance.
But the Spirit of God dwelleth in every true Christian:
Therefore the Spirit of God leadeth, instructeth, and teacheth every true Christian whatsoever is needful for him to know.
§. XI.
Object.But there are some that will confess, That the Spirit doth now lead and influence the Saints, but that he doth it only Subjectively, or in a blind Manner, by enlightening their Understandings, to understand and believe the Truth delivered in the Scriptures; but not at all by presenting those Truths to the Mind, by Way of Object, and this they call, Medium incognitum Assentiendi, as that of whose working a Man is not sensible.
Answ.This Opinion, though somewhat more tolerable than the former, is nevertheless not altogether according to Truth, neither doth it reach the Fulness of it.
Arg 1.1. Because there be many Truths, which, as they are applicable to Particulars and Individuals, and most needful to be known by them, are in no-wise to be found in the Scripture, as in the following Proposition shall be shewn.
Besides, the Arguments already adduced do prove, that the Spirit doth not only Subjectively help us to discern Truths elsewhere delivered, but also Objectively present those Truths to our Minds. For that which teacheth me all Things, and is given me for that End, without doubt presents those Things to my Mind which it teacheth me. It is not said, It shall teach you how to understand those Things that are written; but, It shall teach you all Things. Again, that which brings all Things to my Remembrance, must needs present them by Way of Object; else it were improper to say, It brought them to my Remembrance; but only, that it helpeth to remember the Objects brought from elsewhere.
Arg. 2.My second Argument shall be drawn from the Nature of the New Covenant; by which, and those that follow, I shall prove that we are led by the Spirit, both Immediately and Objectively. The Nature of the New Covenant is expressed in divers Places: And
Proof 1.First, Isa. lix. 21. As for me, this is my Covenant with them, saith the Lord, My Spirit that is upon thee, and my Words which