- A godly man hath the Spirit of God residing in him,1 2 Tim. 1. 14. The Holy Ghost which dwelleth in (Gal. 4. 6) us. The Schoolmen move the question, whether a man receive the Holy Ghost himself or no? Montanus held that the godly have so Gods Spirit in them, that they partake of his Essence, and are become one person with himself; but this amounts to no less than blasphemy; then it would follow, that every Saint were to be worshipped.
I conceive the spirit is in the godly per modum influxus, they have the presence, and receive the sacred influences of it: When the Sun comes into a room, not the body of the Sun is there, but the beams that sparkle from it: Indeed, some Divines have thought, that the godly have more than the influx of the spirit, though to say how it is more, is ineffable, and is fitter for some Seraphique Pen to describe than mine. The Spirit of God discovers its self in a gracious soul two wayes.
- By its motions: These are some of that sweet perfume the spirit breaths upon the heart, whereby it is raised into a kind of Angelical frame.
Quest. 1. But how may we know the motions of the Spirit from a delusion?
Answ. The motions of the Spirit are always consonant to the word; the word is the Chariot wherein the Spirit of God2 rides; which way the tyde of the word runs, that way the wind of the spirit blows.
Quest. 2. How may the motions of the Spirit in the godly, be distinguished from the impulses of a Natural Conscience?
Answ. 1. A Natural Conscience may provoke sometimes to the same thing that the spirit doth, but not from the same principle. Natural Conscience is a spu[…] to duty, but it puts a man upon doing duties for fear of hell; as the Gally tugs at the Oar for fear of being beaten: whereas the spirit moves a Childe of God from a more Noble Principle; it makes him serve God out of choice, and esteem duty his priviledge.
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The impulses of a Natural Conscience, put men only upon more facil duties of Religion, wherein the heart is less exercised; as perfunctory reading, or praying; but the motions of the spirit in the godly go further, causing them to set upon the most irksome duties, as self-reflection, self-humbling; yea perillous duties, as confessing Christs Name in times of danger: Divine motions are in the heart like new wine which will have vent: When Gods Spirit possesseth a man, it carries him full-sail through all difficulties.
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The Spirit discovers it self in the godly by its3 virtues. These are various.
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Gods Spirit hath a teaching virtue, the spirit teacheth convincingly·4 Ioh. 16. 8. It doth so teach, as it doth perswade.
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Gods Spirit hath a sanctifying5 virtue, the heart naturally is polluted, but when the spirit comes into it, it works sin out, and grace in: The Spirit of God was represented by the Dove· Embleme of Purity; the spirit makes the heart a Temple for pureness, and a Paradise for pleasantness: The holy Oyl of6 Consecration, was nothing else but a prefiguring of the7 spirit: The spirit sanctifies a mans fancy, causing it to mint holy meditations; it sanctifies his will, byassing it to good: so that now it shall be as delightful to serve God, as before it was to sin against him: sweet powders perfume linnen; so Gods Spirit in a man, perfumes him with holiness, and makes his heart a Map of Heaven.
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Gods Spirit hath a vivifying virtue 2 Cor. 3. 6. The Spirit giveth8 life: As the blowing in an Organ makes it sound, so the breathing of the spirit causeth life and molon: When the Prophet Elijah stretche[…] himself upon the dead Childe it revived 1 Kin. 17. 22. so Gods Spirit stretching self upon the soul infuseth life into it.