ALthough some scoff at the Saints of God in reference to their having the spirit of Grace in them; and others deluded and presumptuous, boast of the Spirit of God, who are in­deed inspired with an evil spirit, as Zedekiah the false Prophet, 1 King. 22.24. and some audaciously as­sert, That grace may be lost, and the spirit taken a­way from such as are truly Saints; yet the truth is, the spirit of grace is in all those, onely in those, and never departs from any of those, who are indeed born of him, and renewed by him.

Search Divine Records, you shall find how God hath promised to pour his spirit upon his people, Isa. 44.3,4,5. as also that he shall not depart from them, Isa. 59.21. He is said to be given unto them, Rom. 5.5. To dwell in them, Rom. 8.11. 1 Cor. 3.16. to abide with them, John 15.16. They are the habi­tation of [...]od by his spirit, Eph. 2.22. the House of God, Heb. 3 6. they are the temple of God, 1 Cor. 3.16. yea, their bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 6.19.

Now for the prevention of self-deceiving, and for our singular comfort and encouragement in God's wayes, let us diligently examine our selves whether the spirit be in us, by these blessed effects of the spi­rit following.

1. They that have the spirit know all things, as the Apostle saith, 1 Iohn 2.20. Ye have an unction from that holy one, (that's the spirit from Christ your Head) and ye know all things; in the Syriac it is, Ye know, or discern every man; as if St. John had said, Ye know those false Teachers that went out from us, and were not of us; and it's according to that of our Saviour, Ye shall know them by their fruits, partly by their pride contention, seperation; partly by their Doctrine; for if any man do Gods will, he shall know the do­ctrine whether it be of God; the Saints know false Doctrine so as not to know it, own it, but disallow it; They know not (saith Christ) the voice of strangers: Also they know false Teachers by the fruit of their Doctrine in their followers, which is neglect of du­ty, looseness of life.

But this is not all, for in the 27. verse the spirit is said to teach them so, that they needed not that any man should teach them; and its said also, That he had thus taught them; see the words, that is, They needed not that any man should teach them any o­ther thing, any otherwise then the spirit had taught them. Now for the spirits teaching, observe how God is said to send his word by his spirit in his Pro­phets, Zech. 7.12. the spirit of the Lord was upon Christ to preach the Gospel, Luke 4.18. and the A­postles are said to speak the things of God in the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth, 1 Cor. 2.13. therefore the Holy Ghost taught the Saints by the Prophets, Christ, & the Apostles; and so the words of the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles, are the words of the Holy Ghost; these words he teacheth and makes known unto the Saints, other words they needed not know; none are like these, nor more words, these make wise unto salvation.

Further, they know all things necessary to be known; they know the first Principles of the Ora­cles of God; they know Christ and him crucified; they know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how that being rich for their sakes, he became poor, that they through his poverty might be made rich. They know that they are translated from death to life, that they have everlasting life, that all things work together for their good.

2. The spirit of God being in a man, doth bear wit­ness with his spirit that he is a child of God, Rom. 8.16. These two spirits, the spirit of man spirituali­zed, the conscience purged from dead works, which [Page 12] is a thousand witnesses; and the Holy Ghost (the spi­rit of truth) joining with man's spirit for confirma­tion of this necessary truth, do make use of the spi­rit's words in Scripture, and the spirit's work upon man's heart, after this manner.

Those that come out from amongst the ungodly, are seperate, and touch not the unclean thing; they are God's children, he hath promised to be a Father to such, and that they shall be unto him sons and daughters, 2 Cor. 6.16,17. But thou art (say these witnesses to a man) come out, art seperate, dost not touch the unclean thing, therefore thou art a child of God. Further, they testifie after this manner; Those that are poor in spirit mourn, hunger and thirst af­ter righteousness, are blessed, and so Gods children; but thou art poor in spirit, dost mourn, hunger and thirst after righteousness, Ergo, thou art a childe of God. And thus these that receive Christ to them, he gives power to become the sons of God; those that love those that are begotten, are also begotten of God, and are his own dear children; but thou (say these witnesses to a man) hast received the Lord Christ (though with a shaking hand) lovest dearly God's children, therefore thou art a childe of God.

3. The spirit of God is the spirit of promise, and the godly are said to be sealed therewith, Eph. 1.13. God hath given his people promises, confirmed these promises by oath, added thereunto outward seals, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord; and as though this were not sufficient, he gives an inward seal, the spirit of his Son; the spirit discovers unto [Page 13] them the fulness and freeness of the covenant; the preciousness, certainty, and infallibility of the pro­mises; so they are sealed with the holy spirit of pro­mise, and hereupon being sealed, they set to their seal that God is true, Iohn. 3.33.

4. The spirit also in the godly, seals them unto the day of redemption. Eph. 4.30. The day of Judge­ment though it shall be a day of wrath to the wick­ed, yet it shall be a day of redemption unto the Saints; they shall then be redeemed from the grave; they shall all be fully and everlastingly delivered from all evils; the spirit of God assures the Saints hereof; so that when they hear Christ say, Surely I come quickly; they do no say, God forbid; but Amen, Even so come Lord Jesus.

5. Accordingly the spirit is the Earnest of our inhe­ritance; Eph. 1.14. Believers are heirs, heirs of a countrey the Patriarchs sought after, a House whose builder and founder is God; a Kingdom that cannot be moved; an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that fades not away, reserved in heaven for them; the spirit of God given to the Saints, is the earnest of this countrey, house, kingdom, inheritance; somewhat of it securing unto them the whole in time; the first-fruits of a plentiful harvest.

6. If the spirit of God be in us, he sheds (saith the A­postle) the love of God abroad in our hearts: Rom. 5.5. He gives us to behold what manner of love the Fa­ther hath shewed unto us, how he loved us first; how his love is undeserved; how it is abundant; how of children of wrath and hell, he hath made us chil­dren of God, heirs of God, coheirs with Jesus [Page 14] Christ, how it's an everlasting love: God will not of a most merciful Father become a most inexora­ble Judge, as the Arminians saith: hereupon God lifts up the light of his countenance upon us, we feel his love, our hearts are warmed and ravished therewith, so that we return love for love, yea we love God above our lives.

7. Another effect of the spirit of God, is seasonably to comfort the hearts of the children of God: I will pray the Father, (saith Christ) and he shall send you a­nother comforter, John 14.16. he comforts the Saints concerning all their sins committed, evils suffered, the displeasure of God, assaults of Satan, malice of men; against the Law in the members rebelling, that body of death pressing, and all spiritual wants pinching and grieving.

8. Another blessed effect of the spirit of God, is Joy: The kingdom of God (saith the Apostle, Rom. 14 11.) consists not in meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost: this Joy is in Christ Jesus, Phil. 3.3. in God's favour, Psal. 4.7. in the word, Psal. 119.111. Thy testimonies are the rejoicing of my heart, in hope of the glory of God, Rom. 5.2. It's a joy unspeakable and full of glory, 1 Pet. 1.8. It's a joy that a stranger shall not meddle withall, Prov. 14.10. and that no man shall take from a childe of God, Iohn 16.22. It's a joy attained by the written word: These things (saith John) I write unto you that your joy may be full, 1 Iohn 1.4.

9. The good spirit of God helpeth the infirmities of the Saints, Rom. 8.26. strengtheneth them with strength in the inward man, Eph. 3.16. they of them­selves [Page 15] are infirm, weak, afflictions are a burthen too heavy; Satan and the old man are too strong; the work they have to do is too great; through the pre­sence and assistance of the spirit they have strong consolation in the midst of troubles, their faith is strengthened, they give glory to God, their love is strong as death, which many waters cannot quench; and notwithstanding the difficulties and impedi­ments of holy duties, they are resolved to go on.

10. Accordingly the spirit of God emboldeneth be­lievers to appear for the truth and wayes of God, Acts 4.8.13. We are of our selves timerous, prone to shrink and shame all: the holy spirit of God is wont to put courage into the godly, that they dare hazard both Estate and life in the cause of Christ.

11. Likewise the spirit of God maketh intercessi­on for the Saints with groanings which cannot be uttered, Rom. 8.26,27. they know not what to ask as they should, the spirit of God is the spirit of prayer, and helpeth them not onely to say, but cry Abba Father: Gal. 4.6. to cry day and night: Luke 18.7. to cry to God with their whole heart: Psal. 119.145. We groan (saith the Apostle) being burthened: 2 Cor. 5.4. burthened with the body of death, sins, temptations, afflictions, oftentimes with the sence or fear of God's displeasure, and come thus bur­thened into God's presence, and pray to God with groans, yea groans that cannot be uttered.

12. The Saints with open face beholding the glory of the Lord, are by the spirit (saith the Apostle) trans­formed into the same image, from glory to glory: 2 Cor. 3.18. the Saints are glorious in this world, [Page 16] their glory is spiritual, it consists in the image of Christ and of God, in righteousness and true holi­ness, the spirit doth change them from one degree of this glory unto another, till they be perfectly glorious in the kingdom of heaven.

13. And as the spirit transforms into the image of Christ, so he is wont to bring the words of Christ (which they have heard) to their remembrance, Iohn 14.26. this is not below the spirit of God, for he is the spirit of the Son, and the Son's words are his words also; therefore he helpeth the weak and slippery memories of the Saints, bringeth God's word to their remembrance, that thereby they may resist satan, answer gain-sayers, edifie and comfort one another, preserve themselves from sin, and com­fort themselves in a time of trouble.

14. Further, the spirit of God leads the saints, Rom. 8.14. they cannot stand but as he upholds them; they cannot go but as he leads them, he leads them in the old and good way, in the way of truth, in the way of God, of holiness and righteousness: in the way of wisdom, humility, meekness, uprightness, peace: In a word, in the way of Gods commandments, the way of heaven: I will put (saith the Lord) my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my Statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them, Ezek. 6.27. And this he doth by his voice in the Messengers of Christ sounding in their ears, and his power and gracious influence upon their hearts.

Now concerning the Law, called the Command­ment, two commandments, ten words; know this for thy future & eternal good, That Adam through his [Page 17] lost the image of God, conformity in heart, and life to the Law: Christ as Priest (besides other things) hath purchased conformity to the Law: God in Christ hath promised this conformity: Christ as a Prophet he reveals the Law; as a King, subjects man's will unto it; and for this cause puts his spirit in the hearts of his people: God gives them faith whereby they believe, that God according to his gracious covenant will pardon their sins, and put his Laws in their minds, and write them in their hearts, give them to obey the Law, and repentance also, e­ven sorrow for breaking the commandments, with an endeavour of obedience; therefore the Antino­mian in slighting of the Law of God, (I speak not of it as a covenant of works) slights Christ's three-fold-Office, slights the covenant of Grace, the Of­fice of the holy Ghost, bewrayes his want of the Divine nature, the image of God, the new man, which is subject to the Law of God, and to have a carnal mind, which neither is, nor can be subject to the law; he knowes not what Faith is, what repen­tance means. O Antinomian, that sayest Christ must be all and man nothing; is Christ the Lord thy God? and dost thou worship him? according to that Psal. 45.ii. And whether art thou of the number of those that every where call upon the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord? according to that 1 Cor. 1.2. 2. Whether is Christ thy leader and commander? and dost thou obey him? as it is Isa. 55.4. He com­mands thee to repent, believe, ask, seek, knock, strive to enter in at the strait gate, to deny thy self, take up thy cross, to watch and pray, to say, Hallow­ed [Page 18] be thy Name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done, &c. to say, Forgive us our trespasses: to pray in good ear­nest for pardon of thy sins daily: Dost thou obey Christ herein? if not, though thou sayest that Christ is thy all, yet thou dost but mock Christ, and makest him nothing. I fear thou dreamest (according to a discovery of thee, and such as thou art) that Christ was but a meer man, and that coming unto God by faith, he was godded with God, and that herein he is an example and pattern unto us, and thou imita­ting Christ herein, thou likewise art godded with God, equal to Christ, yea past him in respect of any further use thou hast of him, and a Christ to others: O Antinomian, God ere long will awake thee out of thy dream concerning his Son and thy self, fear shall surprise thee, the terrors of God shall compass thee, trouble and anguish shall take hold upon thee.

15. The spirit of God is a free spirit, and doth esta­blish the people of God: Establish me (saith Da­vid) with thy free spirit: he is free in his operations, he bloweth where he listeth; his influences and brea­things are gracious, Psal. 51.12. he frees the spirits of the saints for, and in duties of piety and mercy; he doth stablish, strengthen, and settle the saints according to the promise, 1 Pet. 5.10. he doth not suffer the souls in whom he dwells, to be unsta­ble souls, tossed to and fro, and carryed about with every wind of Doctrine, to turn Anabaptists, sepera­tists, Quakers, Blasphemers; to turn with the dog to the vomit, and the sow to the wallowing in the mire, and the unclean spirit to return with seven other [Page 19] spirits worse then himself, that so his latter end should be worse then his beginning.

Lastly, they that are possessed with the holy Ghost, are far from sinning against the holy Ghost, yea they are troubled at the thought of that sin; this sin is not as some fancy, when a man will not be con­vinced by miracles that Jeius is the Christ: this sin is after illumination, conviction: It is saith Christ, a word against the holy Ghost; it is blaspheming and reproaching the holy Ghost, as we read expresly in the Evangelists; those that after they have escaped the pollutions of the world by the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, do depart from the holy command­ment given unto them, and wallow in sin, that sin willingly after they have received the knowledge of the truth, do despite (it's said expresly) to the spirit of grace, and are guilty of this sin: see Heb. 10. 2 Pet. 2. The Pharisees sinned against the holy ghost in saying that that spirit by which Christ spake and wrought Miracles, was an unclean spirit: Mark 3: 28,29,30.

And do not our Quakers (those I mean who were enlightened) sin against the holy ghost, in saying that that spirit in Christ's Ministers by which they preach, which is the same spirit, is an unclean spirit, a Devil?

Yea; they that are possessed with the holy ghost are not only far from sinning against the holy ghost, but they are afraid of those sins we read of in the Scri­ptures, viz. Tempting, resisting, & vexing of the holy spirit of God; yea further, of quenching, or grieving of him; and when as through sin he is grieved, their [Page 14] spirits are grieved, their souls are greatly troubled, they cry out, Take not thy holy spirit from us, Psal. 51.11.

But some may say, It seems that some that are en­lightened taste of the heavenly gift, are made parta­kers of the holy ghost, fall away, and so fall short of heaven.

I answer, The seed of saving grace once sown in the heart of a man though it be but as a grain of Mustard-seed, doth never perish, but through the spirit of grace is stil preserved; this grace in the very first moment it is infused, created, differeth much from that we call common grace; it's a thousand times better, a fruit of God's eternal love, purchased with Christ's blood, and promised onely to such as God sprinkles with this blood, Ezek. 36.25,26. and differenceth a mans duties from the duties of the un­godly, both in respect of the manner and end; as al­so though it be but a dram, it denominateth a man gracious, and in time is prevalent against corrupti­ons. The spirit of God may (in reference to the glory of God, & the churches good) inlighten the reprobate by the Ministry of the word, so as he may be much affected & reformed, yet he never attains a new heart, a good & honest heart, he never becomes a new crea­ture, all his reluctancy and duties are in reference to himself; his faith is feigned, his love is feigned, he himself but a wretched hypocrite at the best; there is alwayes a vast distance even betwixt him and the broken Reed; betwixt his grace (if you call it grace) and the smoking flax; the root of the matter is not in him, neither any good thing towards the Lord: [Page] Jehu though he was zealous for the Lord, and Judas forward for the poor, yet they had no spark of true grace: Solomon when he was at the lowest, had a spark, though no more, and that buryed under many ashes: he had somewhat of the Divine nature, they nothing of that nature; his did differ much from theirs, even in the species, form, and esse thereof.

Hence it necessarily follows, that they who are not enlightened, know not all things necessary to be known unto salvation, are not comforted, sealed, have not the love of God shed abroad in their hearts, do not boldly profess the truth, do not call upon the Name of the Lord with groans, do not walk in the wayes of God, &c. however they may pretend to the spirit of grace, yet they never had, neither as yet have him dwelling in them.

Further I add, that they which speak evil of the Scriptures, are void likewise of the spirit, for the Scriptures are the words, inspiration, and breath of the spirit of God; holy men of God spake (saith the A­postle) as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, 2 Pet. 1.20,21. Paul tells us, that the words of David, Psal. 95.7. are the words of the holy ghost, Heb. 3.7. As the Holy Ghost saith, Harden not your hearts: the holy ghost is said seven times in the second & third chap­ters of the Revelation, to speak unto the churches those words which St. Iohn from the mouth of Jesus Christ writ unto the churches.

Lastly: Jude saith expresly, that such as despise Do­minion, speak evil of Dignities, go in Cain's way, run greedily after the error of Balaam, gainsay with Core, that speak great swelling words, and seperate them­selves, [Page] are sensual not having the spirit. There is a seperation lawful, warrantable necessary he mem­bers of the church of Corinth are called out from a­mong the Idolatrous heathen, and commanded to seperate from them, 2 Cor. 6. but not any member of the church of Corinth was commanded to come out of the church it self, or to seperate from the body thereof, though it was very corrupt, such a seperati­on is expresly forbidden in the Book of God, Heb. 10.

It's lawful, yea necessary, to seperate from the church of Rome, it's Babylon, out of it we are called: this heavenly call we have so far obeyed, as that we are condemned for hereticks, have resisted unto blood, many have been burnt at stakes: Have they charity and the spirit of God, that dare forsake, and also condemn our Assemblies?

But some may say upon the reading of this Dis­course, What means should we use that God may pour down his spirit upon us?

I answer, We must ask the spirit of God: Christ saith, Luke 11.13. If ye who are evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Ghost to those that ask him? It's duty, not presumption to pray for him.

2. We must attend upon the word, it's the cha­riot of the spirit, and turn also at God's reproof: Prov. 1.23. Turn ye at my reproof, saith the Lord: Be­hold I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

3. We must thirst after the Water of life, the spirit of God: I will (saith the Lord) pour water up­on the thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour [Page 23] my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thy off­spring, Isa. 44.3.

4. We must believe on the [...] God, Christ in­viting the thirsty to come unto him, and promising water of life unto them: John 7.37,38,39. It's said, This he spake of the spirit which they that believe on him should receive.

5. Let us distinguish betwixt that new heart and spirit which God according to his promise puts in his people, and God's holy spirit which he hath pro­mised to put within them: We must necessarily di­stinguish betwixt grace, and the spirit of grace; the new creature, and the Creator: The Lord saith in Ezek. 36.26. A new heart will I give unto you, and a new spirit will I put within you: And verse 27. he adds another promise, and saith he, I will put my spirit within you. And the Apostle Rom. 8.9. saith, Ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be the spirit of God dwell in you: Now if any have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Distinguish also betwixt the spirit's being in a man in respect of his essence, and in re­spect of his influence and operations: The Lord pro­miseth in many places (saith Orthodox Downam in his Christian Warfare) to give unto us his holy spirit, which is not onely to be understood of the gifts and graces of the spirit, but also of the vertue and effi­cacy of the spirit dwelling in us.

Let us also lean upon the good spirit of God, trust in him for direction, guidance, assistance in all things, let us give him glory herein, and he will be with us, quicken, settle, lead & perfect us. To whom with the Father and his dear Son Jesus Christ, be glory for ever. Amen. Amen.

REader, because some pages are vacant, I thought good to put down certain railing speeches of the Papists against our Protestant-Ministers, that it may appear to all our hearers that the Quakers are either disciples to the Papists, or their confederates, or at the least led, or rather misled by the same spirit.

Some of their railings are these that follow:

• The Devil possesseth you.
• The spirit of the Devil is within you.
• The Devil reigneth in your hearts.
• Ye are moved by the instinct of Satan.
• The Devil hath you fast bound.
• Ye are the children of the Devil.
• Ye are the limbs of Antichrist.
• Ye are the practised Ministers of Antichrist.
• Your Babilonical tower.
• Ye are fast bound in Satans fetters.
• Ye have learned of the Devil.
• The spirit of Satan is in you.
• Satan holds you captive.
• Thou Heretick Judas, Beelzebub.
• You are Miscreants.

These railing speeches, with many others, are ga­thered out of the writings of Mr. Harding and o­ther Popish-writers, by those two famous Divines, B. Jewel, & D. Willet, and are set down in B. Jewel's De­fence of the Apology of the Church of England, and Dr. Wil-let's Four Pillars of Popery.

Call to mind good Reader, what railing speeches thou hast heard out of the mouths of the Quakers, and compare them with these railings of the Pa­pists, and then judge whether they or we be more popish.