THE

OFFICE AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,

IN EVERY AGE, WITH REFERENCE TO PARTICULAR PERSONS;

CONSIDERED IN SEVERAL SERMONS,

ON JOHN III. 6. AND GALATIANS V. 25.

TO MRS. HOWE.

MADAM,

Ir was apprehended the entire thoughts of this great man, upon so important a subject, might be very useful to the world, and acceptable to many; and though they are only a specimen of his ordinary course of preaching, without any finishing hand, or further design, or perhaps, always his ripest thoughts; yet they carry the lively signatures of the admirable genius, and excellent spirit, which always appeared in his composures, and rendered them so peculiarly fit to instruct and impress the minds of men. Whosoever considers the compass and variety of the matter, the thread and connexion of the thoughts, the striking imagery, and the pertinence and pungency of the expression, will see reason to admire the vast capacity of the author, and be easily disposed to forgive any lesser neglects and escapes; especially when he only proposed to speak familiarly and without any written notes, and allowed himself a liberty in expressing the well digested and disposed conceptions of his mind.

It will be necessary for your satisfaction, as well as the reader's, to assure you, that the same care has been taken, and the same method observed, in reviewing and transcribing this part of the subject, as was used in the other; as the manuscript was writ by the same skilful and diligent hand.

The intimacy of a long friendship, and mutual respect, the endearments of the nearest relation, for several of the latter years of his life; the high honour you always paid him, and the singular value he expressed for you, living and dying; give you the best title to these two volumes of posthumous discourses of the Spirit, and of Family Prayer; and to any respect we are capable of showing you. We believe the noble argument, as well as the excellent author, will be peculiarly acceptable and delightful to you, who were so well acquainted with his spirit and preaching, and may contribute to a well-grounded peace of mind in a clearer discerning of a regenerate state; and to your daily walking in the Spirit, and improvement in the spiritual life.

Goodman's-Fields,
July 9, 1726.

This is the sincere desire of,
Honoured Madam,

Your respectful humble servants,

W. HARRIS,
JOHN EVANS.

SERMON 1.*

John iii. 6, latter part.

That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

fountains of evil and good, unto the children of men, according as the one or the other hath place in them. The whole verse presents us with a view of both; "that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit;" though I am to insist, as my design requires, only upon the latter. Some perhaps, taking some notice, that there is a universal death reigning over this THE apostle represents the different states of men,accord- world, by reason of that carnality which hath spread itself ing to the different temper of their minds, as they are either through it; may be prone to inquire, From whence is it, carnal or spiritual; the misery and deadliness of the that so prevailing a carnality should so mortally have taintformer; Rom. viii. that "to be carnally minded is death:"ed the spirits of men every where? And this our Lord the life and peace which is involved in the other; that "to gives no other account of, and only resolves the matter be spiritually minded is life and peace." We are present- into ordinary human propagation; "that which is born ed in this text with a view of the two great fountains of of the flesh is flesh." His account is not such as seems that carnality and spirituality, which are themselves so great to aim at gratifying the curious, but such as wherein the

* Preached November 25th, 1677, at Cordwainer's Hall.

THE

OFFICE AND WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,

IN EVERY AGE, WITH REFERENCE TO PARTICULAR PERSONS;

CONSIDERED IN SEVERAL SERMONS,

ON JOHN III. 6. AND GALATIANS V. 25.

TO MRS. HOWE.

MADAM,

Ir was apprehended the entire thoughts of this great man, upon so important a subject, might be very useful to the world, and acceptable to many; and though they are only a specimen of his ordinary course of preaching, without any finishing hand, or further design, or perhaps, always his ripest thoughts; yet they carry the lively signatures of the admirable genius, and excellent spirit, which always appeared in his composures, and rendered them so peculiarly fit to instruct and impress the minds of men. Whosoever considers the compass and variety of the matter, the thread and connexion of the thoughts, the striking imagery, and the pertinence and pungency of the expression, will see reason to admire the vast capacity of the author, and be easily disposed to forgive any lesser neglects and escapes; especially when he only proposed to speak familiarly and without any written notes, and allowed himself a liberty in expressing the well digested and disposed conceptions of his mind.

It will be necessary for your satisfaction, as well as the reader's, to assure you, that the same care has been taken, and the same method observed, in reviewing and transcribing this part of the subject, as was used in the other; as the manuscript was writ by the same skilful and diligent hand.

The intimacy of a long friendship, and mutual respect, the endearments of the nearest relation, for several of the latter years of his life; the high honour you always paid him, and the singular value he expressed for you, living and dying; give you the best title to these two volumes of posthumous discourses of the Spirit, and of Family Prayer; and to any respect we are capable of showing you. We believe the noble argument, as well as the excellent author, will be peculiarly acceptable and delightful to you, who were so well acquainted with his spirit and preaching, and may contribute to a well-grounded peace of mind in a clearer discerning of a regenerate state; and to your daily walking in the Spirit, and improvement in the spiritual life.

This is the sincere desire of,
Honoured Madam,

Your respectful humble servants,

Goodman's-Fields,
July 9, 1726.

W. HARRIS,
JOHN EVANS.

SERMON I."

John iii. 6, latter part.

That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

THE apostle represents the different states of men,according to the different temper of their minds, as they are either carnal or spiritual; the misery and deadliness of the former; Rom. viii. that "to be carnally minded is death." the life and peace which is involved in the other; that "to be spiritually minded is life and peace." We are presented in this text with a view of the two great fountains of that carnality and spirituality, which are themselves so great

* Preached November 25th, 1677, at Cordwainer's Hall.

fountains of evil and good, unto the children of men, according as the one or the other hath place in them. The whole verse presents us with a view of both; "that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit;" though I am to insist, as my design requires, only upon the latter. Some perhaps, taking some notice, that there is a universal death reigning over this world, by reason of that carnality which hath spread itself through it; may be prone to inquire, From whence is it, that so prevailing a carnality should so mortally have tainted the spirits of men every where? And this our Lord gives no other account of, and only resolves the matter into ordinary human propagation; "that which is born of the flesh is flesh." His account is not such as seems to aim at gratifying the curious, but such as wherein the

ly Ghost, and is attributed and ascribed to it, to produce spirit, and bring forth such a thing as spirit in them who appertain to God, and are in purpose, and shall be actually, taken into communion and participation with him. For if we refer this verse to the foregoing verses of the chapter, we find our Saviour designedly insists upon this argument of regeneration; and doth not only discover to us that there is such a thing, but gives some account wherein it doth consist, or what kind of work it is; and represents the indispensable necessity of it to any man's entrance into the kingdom of God, a. e. his coming into it, or seeing and having any part in it. And so the truth which we shall recommend to you, as both answering the text and our present purpose, is, that there is a work to be done upon whomsoever shall be taken into the kingdom of God, by his own blessed Spirit, whereby they are to be created, or begotten, spirit of that Spirit. We have three things before us which require our consideration, in order to the more distinct and clear notion of it.

sounder mind might very well be expected to acquiesce. | forth so much in general, as that it doth belong to the HeIt being taken for granted, that the higher original of human nature was very well understood and known; it might seem a sufficient account of the original of that corruption, which is now connate with the nature of man, that from apostate creatures, such as were like themselves have descended, and what is born of the flesh, is nothing else but flesh it being manifest that our Saviour intends to comprehend under that name, with the nature of man, the corruption which is now adhering to it. But serious and awakened inquiries would not surcease here, though they were never so well satisfied thus far; but at least having gotten an intimation that there is a design on foot, for the restoring of life and peace among men, who were universally sunk into carnality, earthliness and death; they would carry the inquiry further: i. e. In what way this is ever to be brought to pass; by whom it is to be effected; what course is to be taken to bring about so happy and glorious a change, with any of this wretched and forlorn world? At least they would take notice that here and there is a renewed spirituality appearing, and putting forth itself open to view; though there is too little of it, the Lord knows. Why, whence is it, how comes it to pass, that here and there we can perceive spirit and life flourishing afresh in the world, which was so universally over-run with carnality and death? This matter our Lord gives an account of in the words which I have designed more especially to consider; and resolves it wholly into a spiritual production. This is owing to nothing else but the Spirit, or a new kind of creation, and generation: the Spirit of the living God has taken the matter into his own hands, to recover and revive and raise up life and spirit out of this wretched world, which is so lost and buried in flesh and sin. What is born of the Spirit is spirit; if there is any such thing as spirit, any thing worthy of that name to be found now among men, that spirit is not of man, but the production of the Eternal, Almighty Spirit.

And certainly to such whose hearts are deeply and thoroughly concerned about a matter of this consequence, this of our Lord here cannot but be a very grateful discovery, and carry with it a very pleasant and joyful sound; that there is so great and mighty an undertaker, who is engaged in this affair, thus to retrieve things among men, and make life and spirit spring up in this world, so universally under the dominion of death. Nor can it be more grateful to some than it is certainly necessary to all; and we may wonder that it should not be more generally apprehended so, and that more eyes are not looking wishly round about. What, is there no deliverer; no one to undertake? Is there no one suitable to such an undertaking as this; or who will engage in it? to repair the ruins of perishing flesh, and restore the life of God among men, who were alienated from the life of God? But, alas! instead of such solicitous inquiries, it appears, we are fallen into an age, wherein some deny, and others deride, and most utterly disregard, the operations of the blessed and glorious Spirit of God, for such purposes. There are multitudes to whom the mention of such a thing is matter of laughter. What, to have the Spirit! for men to talk of having the Spirit!-And there are a great many more, we have reason to suppose, who do as little concern themselves, whether they ever are the subject of such operations of this Spirit, as if they were yet to learn, or had never heard, whether there were any Holy Ghost: as is said concerning some, Acts xix. 2.

It is therefore my design and purpose from sundry texts of Scripture, which may successively suit our purpose, to assert unto you the office of the Holy Ghost, in reference to the refining the spirit of men, and restoring the life of God among them; to show that such a work is attributed to it; to let you see the necessity of so great an undertaker for this work, and his abundant sufficiency for it; to show you by whose procurement, and for whose sake, and in whose name, it is employed and set on work; and in what way, and through what dispensation, it is communicated, and by what methods, and steps, and degrees, it carries on this work upon the spirits of the elect of God, till having brought them to sow to the Spirit, they do at length of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

The scripture which I have now read doth plainly hold

I. The effect to be wrought, or produced; which is here called by the name of the spirit.

II. The author or productive cause of this great effect; it is called with an emphasis, the Spirit.

III. The way or manner of production; and that is said to be by begetting, or being born; for so 'tis indifferently rendered.

I. We are to consider the product or the effect wrought, and that is defined by the name spirit; what is born or begotten of the Spirit, is spirit. It is needful to give some account here what we are not to understand by it, and then what we are.

1. It is very manifest we are not to understand by it the natural spirit of a man; for our Saviour is not speaking here of bringing men into the world, but bringing them into the church: he is not speaking of such a sort of begetting whereby men are produced, but Christians. Nor is it a distinct substance from that, or another substance diverse from the spirit of a man; for then a regenerate person and an unregenerate, the same person in his unregenerate and in his regenerate state, would substantially differ from himself; and that you may easily apprehend how absurd it would be. But,

2. As to the reason of the name, and the more general import of it; by spirit we are to understand something spiritual, and which is of a spiritual nature; the abstract being put for the concrete, which is a very ordinary elegance in the Scripture; as well as it is many times in a contrary sense: You were darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord, Eph. v. 8. The name is no more intended to hold forth to us, spirit,considered under a merely natural notion, without any adjunct, than flesh is intended to signify without any adjunct, and only in a merely natural sense. The thing which in general is intended to be held forth to us by this name, is that frame of holiness, which is inwrought in souls by the Spirit of God in regeneration; and which because it is a spiritual production, most agreeable to its productive cause, is therefore called here by the name of spirit. It is something which is many times in Scripture held forth to us by such other names as these: sometimes 'tis called simply by the name of light; "Now are ye light in the Lord;" as if this product were nothing else but a beam of vigorous vital light, darted down from heaven into the hearts of men. Sometimes it is called by the name of life; that is used, 'tis true, as an expression of a larger extent than for the internal work of the Spirit, but it comprehends that too; "Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life," John v. 45. Many times 'tis so used as that the circumstances of the place do determine it more limitedly, to that peculiar sense. 'Tis sometimes expressed by the seed of God, an incorruptibie seed which is put into the souls of men, 1 Pet. i. 23. 1 John iii. 8, 9, 10. Sometimes 'tis called the new creature: In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumeision, but a new creature, Gal. vi. 15. If any man is in Christ he is a new creature. It is very usual to speak of the effect, and the operation too, by which that effect is wrought; the former under the name of creature, the latter under the name of creation; as here it is spoken of as a thing begotten; and the causative action, under the