What Wesley Left Out

~276 words

of  God  and  his  beloved  apoftles, 
immediately  before  his  afcenfion  into  heaven.  Now,  you 
know,  when  dear  and  intimate  friends  are  to  part,  as  their 
love  then  runs  ftrongeft,  and  their  afFe6t:ions  are  moil  intire 
and  vehement,  fo  then  alfo  they  efpecially  difcourfe  of 
thofe  things  wherein  moil  of  ail  they  defire  to  be  fatisfied 
and  refolved.  Thus  was  it  between  Chrift  and  his  apo- 
(lles :  never  was  there  fuch  dear  and  intimate  friendfliip, 
and  fuch  fincere  and  burning  love,  between  any  as  be- 
tween them.  The  apoilles  all  of  them  loved  Chrift  moil 
truly  and  palTionately ;  and  Peter^  v/ho  had  three  times 
denied  him,  three  times  profefTed  his  love  to  him-,  and  be- 
ing forry  that  Chrift  fhould  queft^ion  his  love  the  third 
time,  he  thus  anfwered,,  Lord^  thou  knoweji  all  things  \  thou 

.   .  kncweji 


10  CHRIST'S    SPIRIT 

knozvejl  that  I  love  thee  {a).  And  Chrifl  alfo  loved  them 
dearly ;  yea,  he  loved  them  firsf ;  and  having  loved  his  own, 
he  loved  them  unto  the  end  {b)  :  and  fo  he  was  not  difcon- 
tented  with  them  for  their  leaving  and  forfaking  him, 
through  human  infirmity,  when  he  was  led  away  to  judg- 
ment and  to  death.  For  though  death  quite  puts  out  all 
natural  love,  yet  fpiritual  love  is  not  extinguifhed,  but 
enlarged  by  death.  Now  when  liich  loving  friends  as 
thefe  were  even  now  ready  to  take  their  laft  leave  of  one 
another,  in  regard  of  bodily  prefence,  who  would  not  moil 
willingly  have  been  prefent,  to  have  heard  what  difcourfe 
paiTed  between  Chrifl  and  his  difciples  at  this  their  laft 
parting  ? 

Now  Lake  acquaints  us  with  the  whole  fum  and  fub- 
ftance  of  Chrift's  difcourfe  with  his  apoflles,  all  the  time 
he  lived  together  with  them  after  his  refurre6lion,  till  the 
day  wherein  he  afcended

~313 words

to  know 
the  times  and  feafons^  which  the.  Father  had  pit  in  his  own 
-power ^  verfe  7. 

The  like  anfwer  to  the  like  demand  Daniel  received  in 
his  time.  For  when  the  angel  had  reprefcnted  to  Daniel 
the  total  deftrudbion  of  the  image  of  worldly  monarchy, 
together  with  the  rife,  and  reign,  and  ruin  of  Antichrift, 
and  the  fetting  up  of  Chrift's  kingdom  in  the  world,  in  the 
flead  of  the  two  former-,  Dayiiel  laid.  Chap.  xii.  8.  And  I 
heard^  hut  I  under  flood  not:  Then  faid  /,  0,  my  Lord^  what 
fhall  he  the  end  of  thefe  things  ?  And  he  faid^  Go  thy  way^ 
Daniel^  for  the  words  are  clofed  np^  a7id  fealed  till  the  time  cf 
the  end.  So  that  the  angel  who  dilccvered  the  things  them- 
felves  to  Daniel^  refufed  to  -difcover  to  him  plainly  and  ex- 
prefsly  the  tinie  when  they  fhould  be  done  -,  but  that  was 
to  be  clofed  and  fealed  up  till  the  time  of  the  end.  And 
fo  here,  in  like  manner,  Chrift,  wlio  had  difcourfed  largely 
and  clearly  to  the  difciples  touching  the  kingdom  of  God, 
yet  denies  to  difcover  to  them  the  tizTiC  when  it  fliould  be 
let  up  in  the  v/or-ld.  And  the  realbn  why  he  denied  this 
to  them,  to  whom  he  had  not  denied  himfelf,  was  not  for 
want  of  love  \  but  bccaufe  the  Father  had  kept  the  time  and 

feafon 


12  CHRIST'S     SPIRIT 

feafon  wherein  all  this  fhould  be  done,  in  his  own  power. 
Had  this  been  placed  in  Chrifl's  pow^r,  he  had,  no  doubr, 
made  it  known  to  them,  as  well  as  he  did  thofe  other 
things  which  he  had  heard  from  his  Father-,  but  the  Fa- 
ther had  not  placed  this  in  his  Son's  power,  but  had  re- 
ferved  it  in  his  own  :  and  the  apoilles  were  not  to  pry  af- 
ter that  which  was  hidden  with  God,  but  were  to  content 
themlelves  with  what  he  had  revealed

~566 words

great 
*'  and  weighty  work,  you  Ihall  receive  the  power  of  the 
*'  holy  Ghoft: :  Tou  fJ^all  receive  power ^  when  the  holy  Ghoji 
"  is  come  upon  you^^  ^c. 

Which  words  alfo  may  be  an  Anfv/er  to  another  Quef- 
tion,  which  the  difciples  cjid  or  might  malvc,  after  this 
manner. 

''  Our 


A    CHRISTIAN'S   STRENGTH.     13 

•*'  Our  dear  Lord  and  Mafter,  why  wilt  thou  leave  us, 
^'  thy  poor  difciples,  among  fo  many  evils  and  enemies  in .. 
"  the  world,  which  our  weaknefs  mull  of  neceflity  fmk  un- 
*'  der  P  We  well  remember  how  fearful  and  foolifh  we  have 
^'  been  whilft  thou  wafl  yet  with  us  -,  but  how  much  more 
*'  timorous  and  trembling  Ihall  we  be  when  thou  art  gone 
*'  from  us  ?  When  thou  waft  apprehended  by  the  armed 
*'  power  of  the  m.agiftrates,  thou  knoweil  how  we  all  for- 
^'  foDk  thee  and  fled  :  And  I,  faid  PeUr^  denied  thee  and 
"  forfwore  thee,  at  the  voice  of  a  fnnple  maid :  And  there- 
"  fore  if  thou  now  quite  leave  us,  what  Witnefles  are  we 
-"  like  to  be  unto  thee,  and  what  Preachers  of  thy  Name, 
"  among  the  obilinate  Jews,  among  the  angry  and  enrag- 
"  ed  rulers  and  people  ^  who  will  be  ready,  for  thy  name's 
"  fake,  every  day  to  deliver  us  up  to  a  new  death  ?  And 
"  how  fhall  we  be  able  to  ftand  amidft  fo  many  difficulties, 
"  troubles,  diftrcfles,  oppofitions  and  perfecutions,  when 
*'  thou  haft  left  us  ?  Surely,  we  are  fuch  weak  and  infirm 
*'  creatures  that  we  ftiall  never  be  able  to  hold  out,  but 
*'  jfhall  lie  down  both  in  ftiame  and  forr6w." 

To  this  Chrift  anfwers  in  thefe  wordi;  Tou  Jhall  receive 
the  power  of  the  holy  Ghoft  coming  upon  you.  As  if  he  fhould 
have  faid,  "  You  have  a  hard  tafk  indeed,  but  you  ihall 
*'  be  furniihed  v/ith  proportionable  power.  The  bufinefs 
"  you  are  to  undertake  is  not  human,  but  divine;  the 
*'  things  that  you  are  to  teach  are  not  carnal,  but  fpiri^ 
*''  tual;  the  work  that  you  are  to  fet  upon,  is  not  man's 
"  work,  but  God's.  You  are  to  ad  among  men  for  God; 
"  you  are  to  adt  in  the  world  againft  the  world;  you  are 
"  to  a6b  againft  the  devil,  in  the  very  midft  of  the  devil's 
"  kingdom.  You  are  to  convert  Infidels,  tomakeof  Hea- 
"  thens,  Chriftians ;  to  bring  them  near  unto  God,  who 
"  are  now  without  God  in  the  world;  to  carry  the  light  of 
"  heaven  up  and  down  this  dark  world,  among  the  people 
"  that  fa  in  darknefs  and  the  floadow  of  deaths  to  fhew  them 
"  the  way  to  life  and  falvatbn.     You  are  to  turn  the 

world 


14  CHRIST'S    SPIRIT 

*'  world  upfide-down  •,  to  change  the  manners  and  cufloms 
*'  of  the  people ;  to  bring  them  off  from  the  idolatry  of 
"  their  forefathers,  to  worfhip  the  true  God  in  fpirit  and  in 
"  truth.  You  are  to  reduce  the  earth  into  conformity  with 
*'  heaven,  and  {tt  up  God's  kingdom  here  in  this  prefent 
"  world.  And  all  this  you  fhall  not  do  in  eafe  and  quiet- 
*'  nefs,  in  profperity  and  pleafure;  but  whilfl  you  are  thus 
•'  employed  and '  bulled,  you  fhall  have  the  whole  world 
"  rife  up  againfl  you,  and  the  devil  perfecuting  you  with 
*'  his  utmoft  power,  through  wicked  men  ^  and  you  fliall 
*'  not  only  ^^  hated  of  all  7nen  for  my  name's  fake\  but  you 
*'  Ihall  be  even  ovenvhelmed  with  reproaches,  obloquies^ 
*'  (landers,  oppofitions,  perfecutions,  priibns,  torments, 
"  deaths.  And  therefore  that  you  may  be  able  both  to 
*'  do  and  to  fuffer  all  thefe  things.  Ton  jhall  receive  the  power 
"  of  the  holy  Ghofi  coming  upon  you.^^ 

Now  from  thefe  words  we  fhall  note  fomething  gene- 
rally, and  fomething  more  particularly. 

In  general  three  things.     The  fir§f  is  this  : 

I.  That  as  Chrifl  will  not  fuffer  his  difciples  to  be  tempt- 
ed above  their  power,  fo

~632 words

far  greater  than  the  world  fufpedls  or  ima- 
gines. 

So  that  we  may  judge  of  our  calling  to  any  bufmefs, 
and  of  our  employment  in  it,  by  the  power  we  have  re- 
ceived from  Chrift  for  it.  If  we  have  none  of  the  powa* 
of  Chrift,  we  were  never  fet  on  work  by  Chrift  ^  for  Chrift 
never  fets  any  on  his  work,  without  communicating  unto 
them  of  his  power.  And  hereby  we  may  certainly  know 
and  conclude,  that  thofe  in  the  Miniftry  that  are  loofe  and 
vicious,  idle  and  negligent,  and  infufficient  for  that  work, 
were  never  called  to  it,  nor  employed  in  it  by  Chrift  -,  but 
they  ran  of  their  own  heads,  when  they  were  not  fent,  and 
minifter  in  the  church  for  the  gain  of  money,  and  preach 
only  that  they  might  live.  Whereas  if  Chrift  had  employ- 
ed them  in  that  calling,  he  would  have  furnifned  them 
with  abilities  for  it :  and  they  being  deftitute  of  fuch  abi- 
lities, it  is  moft  evident  they  were  not  fent  by  Chrift. 

Judge  then  what  a  kind  of  Reformation  this  church 
were  like  to  liave,  if  fome  men  were  to  have  their  minds  -, 
who  would  have  ignorant  and  infufficient  men,  yea  loofe 
and  profane  men,  tolerated  in  the  miniftry,  under  pre- 
tence of  keeping  up  ordinances  •,  when  yet  fuch  men  were 
never  employed  by  Chrift,  nor  fupplied  with  any  power 
from  him.  Yea,  and  what  ordinances,  I  pray,  are  they  like 
to  be,  which  are  kept  up  by  men  that  are  carnal,  not  having 
the  Spirit  ?  But  you  fee  here,  that  Chrift's  way  and  wif- 
doni  was  different  from  this^  for  he  firft  gave  the  apoftles 

the 


i6  CHRIST'S    SPIRIT 

the  fewer  of  the  Spirit^  and  then  fent  them  to  preach,  when 
he  had  firfl  enabled  them  to  preach  (f). 

II.  You  fee  here,  that  Chriil  being  to  leave  his  difci- 
ples,  in  regard  of  his  bodily  prefence,  yet  leaves  behind 
him  the  promife  of  the  Spirit  of  power-,  and  this  was  fome 
eftablifhment  to  them  :  yea,  this  gave  great  joy  and  com^ 
fort  to  them,  who  before  had  their  hearts  filled  with  forrow. 

Chriil,  though  fometimes  he  leaves  his  people,  in  re-* 
gard  of  fenfe,  yet  he  never  leaves  them  without  a  promife. 
The  foul  fometimes,  in  the  hours  of  temptation  and  de- 
fertion,  may  want  the  {tx\{t  and  feeling  of  Chrift,  but  it 
never  wants  a  promife  from  Chrift ;  and  the  promife  makes 
Chrift  prefent  in  his  abfence  :  for  Chrift  himfelf  is  fpiri- 
tually  prefent  in  the  promife;  and  not  Chrift  only,  but 
the  holy  Spirit  alfo;  for  Chrift  and  the  Spirit  are  never 
afunder-,  but  as  the  Father  and  the  Son  are  one,  fo  is 
Chrift  and  the  Spirit  one,  and  all  are  in  the  promife.  And 
fo  the  promife  is  able  to  uphold  the  foul  in  any  condition ; 
not  becaufe  of  its  own  nature,  but  becaufe  God,  and 
Chrift,  and  the  Spirit,  are  prefent  in  the  promife  j  and 
they  are  infinitely  able  to  fupport  the  foul,  through  the  pro- 
mife, under  the  greateft  evils  either  of  earth  or  hell.  Now 
this  enjoyment  of  God  in  the  promife,  is  the  enjoyment  of 
faith,  and  not  of  fenfe;  and  this  enjoyment  of  faith  is  the 
moft  excellent  and  intimate  enjoyn^ent  of  Chrift.  And 
thus  may  the  foul  enjoy  Chrift's  prefence  in  his  abfence; 
his  prefence  according  to  faith,  in  his  abfence  according 
to  fenfe.  And  therefore  Chrift  departing  from  his  difci- 
ples,  in  regard  of  his  bodily  prefence,  leaves  with  them 
the  promife  of  the  holy  Spirit,  and  in  that  promife  his 
fpiritual  prefence.  And  this  Is  the  worft  condition  that 
Chrift  ever  leaves  his  true  church  in;  he  leaves  them  his 

prefence 

(/)  Melius  eft,  nullum  habere,  quam  facrllegum,  implum  &  fcclera- 
tum  miniftrum,  qui  non  vcnit  nifi  ut  maftet  &  perdat,  ficut  fur  &  latro^ 
Luik,  de  Injiit.  Minijlr.  EccL 


A    CHRISTIAN'S   STRENGTH,     17 

prefence  in  a  promife,  when  in  regard  of  fenfe,  he  forfakes 
them. 

III.  Note,  that  Luke  being  to  fpeak

~158 words

the  very  head  of  anti- 
chrift,  which  is  yet  to  be  broken.  And  therefore  let  us. 
know,  that,  as  the  Pfalmift  faith.  Except  the  Lord  build  the 
houfe^  they  labour  in  vain  that  build  it  \  and  except  the  Lord 
keep  the  city^  the  watchman  watcheth  but  in  vain :  fo  alfo  ex- 
cept the  Lord,  through  his  Word,  pour  forth  the  promife 
of  the  Spirit,  and  by  that  Spirit  of  his,  in  and  through 
the  Word,  enlarge  and  govern  the  church,  they  labour  in 
vain  that  undertake  thefe  things  of  themf^lves.  For  it  is 
the  Spirit  alone  that,  through  the  faithful  miniftry  of  the 
word,  makes  the  increafe  of  the  church,  and  lays  hold  on 
all  the  eled,  and  brings  them,  through  faith,  into  the  unity 

C  of 


iS  CHRIST'S    SPIRIT 

of  the  Son  and  of  the  Father-,  and  teaches  them,  and  or- 
ders them,  and  governs  them,  and  preferves  them.  And 
therefore  you  fee  here,  that  the  promife  of  the  Spirit  is  iirfl 
performed,  before  the  church  of  God  hath  any  enlarge- 
ment or  government. 

And  now,  from  thefe

~281 words

partakers  of  it  by  faith.  Yea  Chrift  himfelf  hath 
a  greater  expreinon  than  this,  yea  fuch  a  one  that  I  ncvcr 
durft  have  fpoken,  if  Chrift  himfelf  had  not  firft  fpoken  itj 
and  that  is  this  :  He  that  believeth  in  me^  the  wor%s  that  I 
do  J  pall  he  do-,  and  greater  zvcrks  than  thefe:  hccaufe  I  go  to 
the  Father^  John  xiv.  12.     Where  Chrift  faith,  a  believer 
fnall  not  only  do  the  fame  works  v/ith  himfelf,  (which  alfo 
IiaJ  been  a  great  thing)  but  alfo  greater  works  than  him- 
felf-, and  this  indeed  is  altogether  admirable  and  wonder- 
ful, that  a  believer  fhall  do  greater  works  than  Chrift. 
!3ut  how  is  this  made  good  ?  Why  thus :  Chrift  overcame 
the  Law,  and  Sin   and  Death  and  Hell,  and  the  whole 
power  of  the  devil,  in  a  body  and  foul  free  from  fin  -,  his 
liuman  nature 'being  tlie  imm.ediate  formation  of  the  holy 
Spirit  in  the  v/omb  of  the  virgin  Mar)\  and  fo  had  not  the 
leaft  fpot  of  iin  in  it.     But  now  believers  overcome  the 
jame  evils,  even  the  Law  Sin  Death  Hell,  and  the  whole 
power  of  the  devil,  in  corrupted  and  polluted  nature,  in 
bodies  and  fouls  at  the  firft  full  of  fin,  and  aftei-wards 

•      '      defiled 


A   CHRISTIAN'S    STRENGTH.-  23 

/defiled  through  many  corruptions.  The  devil  came  to 
Chrifb,  and  found  nothing  in  hnn;  and  fo  he  overcame. 
But  he  comes  to  a  believer  and  finds  much  in  him;  andy.et 
Jie  overcomes.  And  this  truly  is  a  greater  work  than 
-Chrift  did  :  and  thefe  works  we  do,  but  not  through  our 
own  power,  but  through  Chrifl's,  of  which  we  truly  par- 
take through  faith. 

2.  A  chriflian,  throxigh  the  power  of  faitli

~170 words

conformable  to  his  very  death.  Yea,  I  add  yet  far- 
ther, that  if  a  chriflian  fhould  chance  to  fall  down  into 
hell,  (as  we  believe  Chrifl  defcended  into  hell,  and  fo  alf^ 
jnany  of  his  faints  have  done,  as  Bavid  and  Hezekiah^^c.) 
yet  a  chriflian,  through  the  power  of  the  Spirit,  v/ere  able 
toovercome  both  the  fins  and  the  pains  of  hell.  And  there- 
fore, faith  Solomon,  Love  (v/hich  is  the  power  of  the  Spirit) 
is  too  ftrong  for  death,  and  too  hard  (or  too  cruel)  for  hell: 
Cant.  viii.  c,^6,  as  is  evident  in  that  godly  woman,  (for  I 
will  name  but  one  inftance  inflead  of  many)  who,  think- 

c  4  ^^S 


24  CHRI  ST*S     S  PIRI  T 

ing  of  the  torments  of  hell,  and  of  the  hatred  and  blaf- 
phemy  of  God,  which  reigned  in  the  damned,  did  earr 
neilly  iutreat  God,  ut  etiamf.  damnaretm\  tamen  Beam  dili- 
geret  \  "  that  though  fhe  were  damned,  yet  flill  Die  might 
*'  love  God."     Here  love  was  too  hard  for  hell  indeed

~175 words

than  unto  God^  judge 
ye^  AQis  iv.  19.     As  if  they  {hould  have  laid,  "  O  ye  Ru- 
"  lers  and  Elders  of  the  people,  our  cafe  is  a  plain  cafe, 
"  wherein   we    are    mod  willing   that  even   your  own- 
"  felves  fhould  be  judges:  For  we  have  received  a  com- 
<^'  mand  from  God  to  preach  the  gofpel  of  his   Son  Jefus 
"  Chrift;  and  you  forbid  us  to  do  that,  which  God  hath 
"  commanded  us.   Now  do  you  yourfelves  be  judges,  who 
"  is   fitteft  to   be  obeyed,  God  or  you .?  Hie  great  and 
*'  alorious  God  cf  heaven  and  earth,  or  poor  wretched 
"  men,  fuch  as  yourfelves  ?  Nay,  what  God  hath  com- 
*'  manded  us,  we  muft,  and  will  obey,  againft  all  your 
^'  threatenings  and  pvmiftiments,  and  whatever  you   can 
"  fay  or  do.     We  cannot  conceal,  but  muft  publifti,  what 
"  we  have  fecn  and  known  of  our  Lord  Jcfus  Chrift  ;  of 
*'  his  Jncarnauon,  Life,  Death,  Refurredion,  Afcenfion, 

*''  Kingdom, 


A    CHRISTIAN'S  STRENGTH.    53 

**  Kingdom,  Glory,  and  of  that  great  Redemption  and 
"  Salvation,  which  he  hath  wrought  and  purchafed  for 
"  all  the  Eled  of  God." 

Now

~274 words

only  endued  with  their  own  fpirits: 
But  now,  faith  Micah,  I  am  full  of  power  by  the  Spirit  of  the 
J_.ord,  and  of  judgement,  and  of  might  -,  to  declare  unto  Jacob  his 
tranfgrejfion,  and  to  Ifrael  his  fin. 

As  if  he  fhould  have  faid,  "  The  power  of  the  Spirit  of 
"  the  Lord  dwelling  in  me,  puts  forth  itfelf  two  ways,  in 
*^  judgement,  and  in  fortitude." 

I.  In  judgement j  and  this  fignifies  the  reproving  and 

the 


A    CHRISTIAN'S    STRENGTH.     35 

the  condemning  fin  and  wickednefs,  as  the  Prophet  him- 
felf  explicates;  faying,  that  I  might  declare  unto  Jacob  his 
tranfgreffwn^  and  to  Ifraelhhfin,  But  feeing  their  bemp-  full 
of  judgement  doth  not  want  danger,  but  expofes  a  man  to 
a  thoufand  evils,  inafmuch  as  the  world  can  endure  no- 
thing lefs  than  the  reproof  of  fni;  therefore  I  am,  by 
the  power  of  the  Spirit,  not  only  full  of  judgement,  but 
alfo. 

Secondly,  Full  of  might;  as  the  fpirit  of  judgement 
expofes  me  to  danger,  fo  the  fpirit  of  might  enables  me  to 
contemn  thofe  dangers.  So  that  though  the  world,  be- 
caufe  of  the  fpirit  of  judgement,  threatens  never  fo  many 
evils  -,  yet  the  Prophet  is  not  frighted  from  his  office,  but, 
through  the  fpirit  of  might,  difcharges  it  faithfully,  in  de- 
fpite  of  all  thofe  threatenings. 

And  whenever  minifters  want  this  fpirit  of  might, 
though  out  of  danger,  they  may  be  confident,  yet,  at  the 
very  firft  encounter  of  evil,  they  will  bend  and  yield,  and 
fpeak  and  do  all  things  for  the  favour  of  the  world ;  rather 
than,  for  the  truth's  fake,  they  will  expofe  themfelves  to 
the  hatred  and  oppofition  of  the  world

~358 words

the  power  of  it,  is  ne* 

D  4  ^^^^7 


40  CHRIST'S     SPIRIT 

caflary  for  miniflers,  fo  alfo  for  all  other  chriftians  what- 
foever. 

But  fQme  here  will  be  read)^  to  fay,  Yea,  but  do  all  be- 
lievers receive  the  Spirit  of  God,  and  the  power  of  the  Spi- 
rit, as  miniflers  do  ? 

Yes,  equally  and  alike  with  them,  without  any  differ- 
ence. This  is  evident,  j^dfs  xi.  15.  where  Peter  tells  the 
Jews,  who  contended  with  him  for  converfmg  and  eating 
vrith  the  Gentiles,  that  when  He  began  to  fpeak  the  zvcrd  to 
tbem^  the  holy  Spirit  fell  on  them^  faith  he,  as  on  us  at  the  be- 
ginning. And  again,  ver,  ij.  For  afmuch  then  as  God  gave 
unto  them  the  like  gift  as  he  did  unto  us^  who  believed  on  the 
Lord  Jefus  Chriji ;  what  was  /,  that  I  could  withfland  God, 
So  that  God  gave  the  holy  Spirit  to  as  many  Gentiles  as 
believed,  iji  like  manner  as  he  did  unto  the  apofliles  them- 
felves :  and  they  received  the  fame  power  of  the  holy  Spi- 
rit coming  on  them,  as  the  apoflles  did-  Whereby  you 
may  perceive  that  not  miniflers  only  are  fpiritual  men,  and 
all  others  temporal,  as  the  Papifls  have  taught,  and  many 
.  ignorant  people  among  ourfelves,  are  flill  perfuaded :  but 
all  true  believers  are  fpiritual,  as  wdl  as  they,  being  born 
of  the  Spirit,  and  baptized  with  the  Spirit,  equally  as 
they  are. 

And  fo  all  true  believers,  as  well  as  miniflers,  being 
endued  with  the  Spirit-,  are  alfo  endued  with  the  power 
of  the  Spirit,  and  fo  have  more  than  an  earthly  power  in 
tliem.  They  have  all  of  them  power  of  another  nature 
than  the  power  of  the  world ;  they  partake  of  fpiritual, 
heavenly  and  divine  power,  even  of  the  very  power  of 
Chrifl  himfelf  •,  which  infinitely  tranfcends  all  the  power 
of  the  creature. 

You  fee  then  clearly,  that  all  faithful  chriflians  have 
the  Spirit  of  power,  and  the  power  of  the  Spirit  coming 
pn  them,  as  well  as  miniflers :  And  they  fland  in  need  of 
both  thefe,  for  thefe  caufesi 

h  They 


A    CHRISTIAN'S    STRENGTH.     41 

1.  They  ftand  in  need  of  the  Spirit  of  power,  firft,  to 
difference  and  diilinguilh  them  from  reprobates  and  de^ 
yils

~330 words

benefit  of  mankind.. 

2.  All  chriflians  have  need  of  the  power  of  the  Spirit 
to  work  grace  in  them.  For  our  natures,  are  wholly  car- 
nal and  corrupt;  and  nothing  can  implant  grace  in  them, 
but  the  mighty  power  of  God's  Spirit.  And  it  is  as  great 
a  miracle,  to  fee  the  grace  of  God  dwelling  in  the  corrupt 
nature  of  man,  as  to  fee  the  ftars  grow  upon  the  earth. 
And  yet  the  power  of  the  Spirit  doth  this,  as  it  is  written, 
'^Triitb  Jhall  fpring  out  of  the  earth,  Pfal.  Jxxxv.  ii.  and  a- 
gain,  Great  .md precious  rromtfes  are  made  to  us,  that  wejhoul^ 
he  -partakers  of  tpe  Divine  nature^    2  Pet.  i.  4.  and  again, 

He 


A    CHRISTIAN'S   STRENGTH.     43 

He  hath  predeftinated  us  that  we  Jhould  he  conformable  to  the 
image  of  his  Son,  That  is,  as  in  other  things,  fo  alfo  in 
his  virtues.  So  that  the  pqwer  of  the  Spirit,  implants  grace 
in  our  nature;  and  each  grace,  is  fo  much  of  the  power 
pf  the  Spirit,  in  our  flefh,  as  was  faid  before.  Vv'herefore 
we  muft  needs  learn  to  know,  whofe  power  the  pov/er  of 
grace  is.  For  though  grace  be  a  power  in  our  flefli,  it  is 
pot  the  pov/er  of  our  flefh :  for  Paul  faith,  /;/  me^  that  is  in 
my  flejh^  dwells  no  good  thing:  but  and  if,  any  good  be  in 
my  flefh,  it  dwells  not  ifi  my  flefh,  but  in  God's  Sp>:t 
which  dwells  in  me.  As  light  is  in  the  air,  but  dwells 
in  the  fun,  fo  when  men  are  regenerate,  good  is  in  the 
flefli,  but  dwells  in  the  Spirit.  For  grace  in  the  foul,  is 
nothing  but  fo  much  of  the  power  of  the  Spirit,  imme- 
diately  dwelling  and  working  in  us ;  and  when  the  .Spirit 
is  gone,  all  grace  goes  along  with  him,  as  all  light  with 
the  fun;  but  it  dwells  in  him,  and  is  infeparable  froni 
him. 

3.  All  chriftians  fland  in  need  of  the  power  of  the  Spi- 
rit

~397 words

and  that  duty  that  is  m,oft  fpiritual,  is  the  moft  powerful. 

Ana 


A    CHRISTIANAS    STRENGTH.  45 

And  therefore  faith  Paul^  I  will  pray  with  the  Spirit^  and  / 
willfing  with  the  Spirit  •,  and  all  the  worfhip  of  the  faithful 
is  in  the  Spirit.  Fhilip.  iii.  3.  We  are  the  circumcifion  which 
w or/hip  God  in  the  Spirit^  and  have  no  confidence  in  the  flejh. 
So  that  there  is  no  more  power  in  any  duty  than  there  is 
of  the  Spirit  in  it  •,  and  there  is  no  more  acceptance  of 
any  duty  with  God,  than  there  is  of  power  in  it. 

Fifthly,  AH  chriftians  iland  in  need  of  the  power  of  the 
Spirit,  to  enable  them  to  the  ufe  of  the  word,  and  that 
both  in  private,  and  in  public,  as  occafion  ferves. 

■  I.  In  private;  for  no  man  can  fay  ^  thatjefus  is  theChrift^ 
hut  by  the  holy  Spirit.  No  man  can  fpeak  of  Chrifl  fpiritu- 
ally,  but  by  the  Spirit-,  and  without  this  Spirit,  which 
fearches  the  deep  things  of  God,  and  reveals  them  to  us, 
chriftians  are  unable  to  give  the  fenfe  of  the  word  of  Go4 
in  their  families,  and  among  their  friends,  and  acquaint- 
ance, and  are  alfo  afhamed  to  do  it.  Whereas  the  Spirit 
of  God  gives  both  ability  and  boldnefs :  as  Aquila  and  Frif 
cilia  his  wife,  did  not  only  fpeak  the  word  in  their  family, 
but  alfo  took  Apollos^  a  minifter,  home,  when  they  per- 
ceived him  fomewhat  ignorant  in  the  myftery  of  Chrift, 
and  inJlruBed  him  in  the  way  of  God  more  perfectly, 

2.  They  have  need  of  the  power  of  the  Spirit,  to  en- 
able them  to  fpeak  the  word  of  God  in  public,  as  every 
chriftian  may  do,  if  he  come  where  people  are  ignorant  of 
God's  word,  and  there  are  no  minifters  to  do  it.  This  I 
fay,  in  fuch  a  cafe  he  may  do  by  virtue  of  his  anointing 
with  the  Spirit ;  and  for  this  you  may  fee  the  pradlice  of 
Stephen  and  Philips  who  were  but  deacons,  and  not  elders 
or  minifters,  and  yet  publiilied  the  vv^ord,  where  the  peo- 
ple were  ignorant-,  yea,  you  may  fee,  A5ls  viii.  how  all  the 
difcipies,  except  the  apoftles,  were  by  reafon  of  a  great  per- 
fecution  fcattered  throughout  the  regions  of  Judea  and 
Samaria,  and  they  that  were  fo  fcattered^  went  every  where 
preaching  the  word^  becaufe  the  people  among  which  they 

were. 


46  CHRIST'S    SPIRIT 

were,  were  ignorant,  and  there  was  no  body  elfe  to  do  it. 
And  God,  having  made  known  Chrifl  unto  them,  they 
could  not  but  declare  him  unto  others :  the  love  both  of 
Chrift,  and  of  their  brethren,  conftraining  them.  But  this 
is  in  cafe  of  neceflity,  and  where  other  faithful  chriftians 
are  abfent:  otherwife  when  chriftians  are  prefent,  no  man 
can  take  that  to  himfelf,  without  the  confent  of  all,  whicli 
belongs  to  all. 

Sixthly,  All  chriftians  ftand

~181 words

evils,  more  than  conquerors.  And 
this  is  on«  thing  cbfervable,  between  natural  and  fpiritual 
flrength,   in  the  overcoming  of  evil.     Natural  flrength 
feeks  always  to  throw  off  the  evil,  and  fo  it  prevails ;  but 
fpiritual  flrength  never  feeks  the  removing  of  the  evil,  but 
let  the  evil  be  what  it  will,  it  {lands  to  it,  and  overcomes 
it.     For  the  flrength  of  the  Spirit,  is  eafily  able  to  over- 
come all  evils  that  can  happen  to  flefh  and  blood,  whether 
they  arife  from  earth  or  hell.     And  thus  thofe  blelTed 
Martyrs  mentioned  Hebr.  xi.  and  thoufands  and  ten  thou- 
fands  of  their  conforts  fmce,  have  overcome,  cfuel  mock- 
ino-s  and  fcourgings,  and  bonds,  and  imprifonment,  and 
floning,  and  fawing  in  funder,  and  flaying  with  the  fword, 
and  all  the  woes  of  poverty  and  want,  and  banifhment, 
and  of  living  in  wilderneffes  and  caves,   and  dens  of  the 
earth-,  thefe  and  all  other  evils,  they  have  mightily  over- 
come, by  this  only  power  of  the  Spirit  coming  upon 
them.     Thus  we  fland  in  need  of  the  power  of  the  Spirit, 
to  overcome  afflidion  and  perfecution

~425 words

make  us  fit  to  receive 
himfelf.  It  lies  wholly  in  his  own  power  and  goodnefs, 
firft,  to  prepare  in  us  a  place  for  himfelf,  and  then  after  to 
receive  and  entertain  himfelf,  in  that  place  he  hath  fo  pre- 
pared. Now  the  works  of  the  Spirit,  whereby  he  firft  pre- 
pares us  for  himfelf,  and  then  entertains  himfelf,  in  us,  are 
thefe  tv/o  efpecially. 

I.  He  empties  us ;  and  2.  He  fills  us  with  himfelf,  r;hom 
he  hath  made  empty. 

I.  He  empties  us.  And  this  emptying,  is  the  firft  and 
chief  work  of  the  Spirit  upon  the  eledl,  whereby  he  pre- 
pares them  to  receive  himfelf.  For  the  more  empty  a 
man  is  of  other  things,  the  more  capable  he  is  of  the  .Spi- 
rit.    If  you  would  fill  a  vefiel  with  any  other  liquor  than 

-E  it 


Sd  CHRIST'S    SPIRIT 

it  holds,  you  muft  firft  empty  it  of  all  that  is  in  it  before  ; 
if  you  would  fill  it  with  wine,  you  muft  firft  empty  it  of 
beer  or  water,  if  any  fuch  liquo-r  be  in  it.  For  two  mate- 
rial things  cannot  poflibly  fubfifl:  in  the  fame  place,  at  the 
fame  time,  the  fubftances  of  each  being  fafe  and  found. 
And  fo  if  the  holy  Spirit,  who  is  God,  mAift  come  into  us  r 
all  mortal  and  unftable  creatures,  together  with  fm  2nd 
ourfelvcs,  and  whatever  elfe  is  in  us,  mui];  go  forth.  Hu- 
man reafon,  and  human  wifdomi,  and  righteoufnefs,  and 
power,  and  knowledge,  cannot  receive  the  holy  Spirit: 
but  we  muft  be  emptied  of  thcfe.  if  ever  \vc  would  re-, 
ceive  himi. 

"VVe  muft  thus  fuffer  ourf!lves  to  be  prepared  by  the 
Spirit,  to  receive  the  Spirit:  but  with  this  caution.  That 
when  the  Spirit  of  God  hath  wrought  this  in  us,  we  do 
net  attribute  it  to  ourfelves,  as  our  own  work,  nor  think 
anv  thin 2;  of  ourfelves,  but  defccnd  into  our  ov;n  nieer 
nothing.  Otherwife  we  ftiall  be  a  hindrance  to  the  Spirit, 
that  he  cannot .  v/ork  in  us  after  a  more  excellent  man- 
ner. 

And  when  a  man  is  thus  empty  of  him.feif,  and  of  other 
things,  then  he  becomes  _^i?^r  in  fpirit^  and  fuch  the  Spirit 
always  fills,  and  defcends  into  with  a  v/onderful  and  ir- 
-refiftible  power,  and  fills  the  outer  and  inner  man,  and  all 
the  fuperior  and  inferior  faculties  of  the  foul,  with  himfelf, 
and  all  the  things  of  God. 

And  this  is  the  fecond  work  of  the  Spirit,  to  fill  thofe 
whom  he  hath  emptied.  Nov/  the  ufual  and

~228 words

proportion  of  God's  Spirit.  For  as  the  apoftle 
faith.  If  any  man  love  the  worlds  the  love  cf  the  Father  (that 
is,  the  holy  Spirit)  is  not  in  him:  fo,  if  any  man  love  the 
Father,  the  love  of  the  world  is  not  in  liim :  now  the  more 
any  one  loves  the  Father,  tlie  Icfs  he  loves  the  world : 
and  the  lefs  he  loves  the  world,  the  more  the  Spirit  dwells 
in  him. 

4.  To  ceafe  daily  from  our  own  works.    The  more  we 

'13  ^ 


54  CHRI  ST'S    S  P  I  Rl  T 

adt  ourfelves,  the  lefs  doth  the  Spirit  a6l  in  us.  Anii 
therefore  we  muft  from  day  to  day,  ceafe  from  our  own 
works,  from  the  operations  of  our  own  mJnds,  and  un-^ 
derftandings,  and  wills,  and  affeftions,  and  muft  not  be 
the  authors  of  our  own  actions.  For  we  being  flelh  our- 
felves, whatever  we  do  is  flefhly,  feeing  the  effed  cannot 
be  better  than  the  caufe.  And  if  we  mingle  the  v;orks  of 
our  flefli,  with  the  works  of  God's  Spirit,  he  will  ceafe 
from  working  in  us.  But  the  lefs  we  ad  in  ourfelves,  ac- 
cording to  the  principles  of  our  corrupt  nature,  the  more 
will  the  Spirit  a6l  in  us,  according  to  the  principles  of  the 
djvine  nature.  But  our  own  works,  are  always  a  mighty 
imxpediment  to  the  operations  of  the  Spirit. 

5.  To  increafe