Page images
PDF
EPUB

the fpirit upon their hearts-but to fhew them the gloгу of Christ, so as to be taken up with him, that when they are asked, what is the reafon of their hope, instead of gratifying their pride in telling their experiences, and the operations of the fpirit upon their own hearts, whereby they are diftinguished from others, they are led to fpeak of what they find in the word as evidenc, ing the allfufficiency of the work of Christ, as the only hope for the guilty, as this is evidenced by his refurrection from the dead. So the apoftle Peter gives thanks in behalf of himself and the firft difciples ift epif.

chap. 3d verfe. " bleffed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the refurrection of Jefus Chrift from the dead." It is by this they have the answer of a good confcience towards God, chap. iii. 21. By this it is, he is declared the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holinéfs, Romans i. 4. So that their hope appears agreeable to that in Romans viii. 33, 34. it is God that juftifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea, rather, that is rifen again. Here is that grace which when understood is allfufficient to anfwer any accufation that can be brought from without or from within, and is a foundation of everlasting confolation and good hope not like thofe pretended experiences, operations or motions of the spirit, upon which thofe that build, do often recur, as the only or chief comfort to which they can refort when they find they are not fo lively and active as once they were in religion; but find themfelves disappointed, as when a hungry or thirfty man dreameth that he eateth or drinketh, but he awaketh, and his foul is faint, and empty, and hath appetite; as is evident by their being full of doubts and uncertainties. Yet as without thefe pretended experiences (or refuges of lies) they can take no comfort from the bare work of Chrift, they will still like a drowning man catch at them as fomething to which

H 2

[ocr errors]

they

they have continual reference to keep them from finking, although they leave them perplexed almost to de- '. fpair. But the allfufficient foundation of hope held forth in the gospel, being ever the fame, is allfufficient at all times; fo that the difciples of Chrift may boldly fay, the Lord is my helper, while they follow the faith of the apoftles, Jefus Chrift the fame yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

66

Thus the teaching of the Spirit leads to the beholding the glory of Chrift, according to John i. 14. “And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Just as when a guide would fhew another the way, he points him forward, and draws his attention to the way he is to go

thine ear fhall hear a word behind thee, faying, this is the way, walk ye in it.?? Saith Simeon (when he took up the child Jefus in his arms) "mine eyes have feen thy falvation, which thou haft prepared before the face of all people." John looking on Jefus as he walked, faid, "behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the fin of the world." The brazen ferpent was fet up upon a pole, to be feen before the face of thofe that were to be benefited thereby. And as Mofes lift up the ferpent in the wilderness, even fo muft the Son of man be lifted up, &c." Agreeable to this the apostle John fays (ft epift. i. 1, 2.)" that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life. For the life was manifefted, and we have feen, and bear witness, and fhew unto you that eternal life that was with the Father, and was manifefted unto us. That which we have feen and heard, declare we. unto you, alfo may have fellowship with us." Thus the difciples were brought into fellowship with the apoftles (whofe fellowfhip was with the Father, and with his Son Jefus Christ) by the belief of their declaration concerning what they had seen and heard of Jefus Chrift. Similar to this is

Thus the

that ye

the

[ocr errors]

the work and office of the Spirit, fhewing the evidence of the truth, and certainty of what the word holds forth concerning Jefus Chrift; which being believed, produces Joy-believing ye rejoice. Thus the defign of the work and office of the Spirit in teftifying of Chrift, and the defign of the apoftles teftimony, are one; as we fee in the above declaration, verfe 4. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” So joy in believing is the fame with joy of the Holy Ghoft. ift of Thef. i. 6. "Having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost."'

The apostle Paul speaking concerning the unbelieving Jews, fays, "the vail (upon their heart) remains untaken away in reading the Old-Teftament. Neverthelefs, when it fhall turn unto the Lord, the vail fhall be taken away: Now the Lord is that Spirit." 2d of Cor. iii. 14-17: Whatever vail then be on the minds of any with refpect to the fcriptures, the knowledge of Chrift takes it away; for he is the great fubject of the fcriptures, the fpirit of them.And the Holy Spirit that indited the fcriptures, takes of the things of Christ, and fhews them as they are teftified of him in the fcriptures. And it cannot be kown that any perfon has the Spirit, but by his being led to the knowledge of Chrift, led to fee the evidence of the truth reported in the Gospel concerning the dignity of the perfon, obedience and facrifice of Chrift, fo as to be fully fatisfied therein-while others evidence they do not behold his glory, because they cannot find enough in him to fatisfy their confciences, unless they have fome work of the spirit (as they call it) on their hearts, are born again, changed, fanctified, &c. Then they think they fhould be encouraged to believe, &c. Whereas the teaching of the Spirit fhews a completeness in Christ in all these respects agreeable to the word*.

as

*Here it may be again objected, that no mention is made in this treatife of the work of the Spirit refpecting unbelievers. Doth not the Spirit ftrive

As for being born again, without which a man cannot fee the kingdom of God, neither can enter thereinto, he is inftructed ift John v. 1. "Whofoever be lieveth

with them? Is it not implied in Genefis vi. 3. " my fpirit fhall not always Brive with man?"

For anfwer.The Spirit may be faid to ftrive with unbelievers, when he takes the things of Chrift, and fhews them to his difciples, they beholding his glory, and being led to fatisfaction in him, and obedience to him, this being manifett, ftrikes the confciences of unbelievers, agreeable to Hebrews xi. 7. "by faith Noah being warned of God, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the faving of his hopfe; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteoufnefs of faith.' Thus the Spirit went and preached to thofe fpirits in prifon, who were difobedient, when the longfoffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, aft Peter iii. 19, 20.

This may be further illuftrated from the inftance of Cain and Abel. Cain New his brother, because his own works were evil, and his brother's righte ous, ft John iii. 12. But if we enquire, what works? we fhall find his facrificing to be all the works we have an account of (except the work of his calling, which had no evil in it.) In this work of facrificing, he is mentioned first, and his great wrath feems to be because his good works were not accepted; that the fruit of the ground (an acknowledgement that God was the landlord, and ought to be thanked for his favour) could not find ac ceptance. The most coftly facrifice would not be at all noticed or refpected, unless such as wherein there was a remembrance of fin, a confeffion of guilt, an eye to deliverance by facrifice. Upon which it pleafed God to condefcend to fay to him, "why art thou wroth, and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doft well, fhalt thou not be accepted? and if thou dost not. well, fin lieth at the door." (It is faid, that the word tranflated doing well in Genefis iv. 7. and Abel's offering in faith, Hebrews xi. 4. is the fame.) However it seems the answer of God to him, did not suit him, did not compofe the tumult of his fpirit. The next verfe informs us," he talked with Abel his brother, "---moft likely on the fame disagreeable fubject, which no doubt Abel stedfaftly adhered to, and perfifted in, till Cain could bear with him no longer, but rofe up against him, and flew him. Now Cain being an inftance of one with whom the fpirit did ftrive, it may be enquired, how did the fpirit ftrive with him? was it by any work in him, or upon him? or was it not in that God difcovered his unvariable mind and will to him, in the only way in which he would have any thing to do with mankind, in a way of acceptance and intercourfe, after the apoftacy? and in producing a living inftance of one who believed this revelation of God, and conformed to his will therein? Which light of the revelation of the mind of God, and life of Abel together, fhone fo bright that he could not bear it; but muft either fubmit to it, and walk in the light, and fo have fellowship with God in the very fame way (though but under a type) in which the blood of Chrift cleanfes from all fin; or elfe manifeft his oppofition against God in murdering the only one (that we have an account of) in that day who facrificed in faith, and obtained witnefs, that he was righteous. Thus Cain appears to be refifting the Holy Ghoft in the fame way that thofe did of whom Stephen takes notice in Acts vii. 51, 52.

1

lieveth that Jufus is the Chrift, is born of God." It is by the belief of the truth concerning him, that any åre brought to the knowledge of the King, or the na ture of his kingdom, or become the fubjects of it, which is to fee the kingdom of God, and enter there

into.

As for being fanctified, we are taught to look for it in Chrift. Hebrews xii. 12. "Jefus alfo that he might fanctify the people with his own blood, fuffered without the gate-agreeable to Hebrews x. 9, 10. "Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. By the which will we are fanctified through the offering of the body of Jefus Chrift once." And believers may be faid to be fanctified by the Spirit, both as the fanctification procured

Agreeable to the abovecited inftances, when Jefus Chrift fpeaks of the Spirit convincing the world of fin, &c. he doth not fay, he will fend the Spirit to the world for this purpofe; but to his disciples, John xvi. 7. "I will fend him unto you: And when he is come, he fhall convince the world of fin," which was verified, Acts ii. 1 to 4. "they (viz. the difciples) were with one accord, in one place, and it fat upon them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghoft." This brought the multitude together. Confe quent upon this, they were able to adminifter matter of conviction to them of their fin in refifting all the evidences of Jefus being the true Meffiah, "for though he had done fo many miracles, yet believed they not on him." John xii. 38.---Of fin because they believe not on me.

So when they proved, Acts ii. 33, that he was by the right hand of God exalted, and had received the promife of the Holy Ghoft, and had fhed it forth according to his promife; it was manifeft that his work was perfect was finished, was to the Father's acceptance, that he was well pleased for his righteoufnefs fake.---Of righteoufnefs because I go to my Father.

Hence they could make manifeft, that there could be no fafety in oppofftion to him; this oppofition being always under the government of the prince of this world, who by Chrift's exaltation is judged or caft out, and is to be made, with all his adherents, the footstool of the exalted Jefus. verfes 34, 35. "The Lord faid unto my Lord, fit thou at my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool."---Of judgment because the prince of this world is judged.

This feriptural view of the Spirit's ftriving with men, may ferve to fhew how he strives in all ages; and may fhew the difciples their duty to ftrive together for the faith of the gofpel, and to maintain the order of it (being influenced by the hope of it) as the principal means of conviction they are to afe with the world around them.

L

Upon the whole it may be faid, that though the Spirit ftrives with thofe in unbelief and difobedience, yet it is not faid, to be given to them, to be fent unto them, or to work in them. But," the prince of the power of the air, is the spirit that now worketh in the children of difobedience," Eph. ii. 2.

« PreviousContinue »