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Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God....Eph: iv. 30.

How affectionate and condescending is this address of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ to his children! Paul writes to Philemon, "Though I might be bold to enjoin thee that which is convenient; yet, for love's sake, I rather beseech thee." So with infinitely higher authority, the Lord might command with terror, instead of beseech with love. Astonishing expression! Grieve not the holy Spirit of God. Hast thou? Canst thou, O believer, be guilty in this matter? It is easy to conceive that we may grieve our own spirits, and the spirits of good men by our sin and folly: but to think of grieving the Spirit of God, is enough to make us cry out in amazement, What mystery of love is this?

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But verily, so dear are God's children to him, that as in love to our souls he took on him our nature, so in condescension to our weak capacities, he borrows language from nature, and assumes to himself passions like unto ourselves: for he was in all things like unto us, but without sin. So it is said, God DELIGHTS in the pros'perity of his people, he REJOICETH over them to do them good. But when, through their sin and folly, they hurt their own souls, Jesus is touched with a feeling of our infirmities; his Spirit is grieved at our conduct.

Who can tell in how many ways christians do this? Inwardly by giving way to unbelief; by low unworthy thoughts of Jesus, his blood, righteousness and salvation; his mediation and intercession, of whom the Spirit is the glorifier; so also by indulging vain, carnal, sinful thoughts: outwardly, by neglecting the gospel of grace, not walking closely with Jesus by faith, not conforming to his will in our lives and conversations: and experience woefully convinceth, that when the holy Spirit is grieved, the poor soul is distressed. We never send the Spirit grieved to heaven, but he leaves our spirits grieved on earth. He is our comforter; by him believers are sealed unto the day of redemption. Though we are sealed by him, as the Lord's own possession, yet if he leaves us to ourselves, the view of Jesus is obscured to us, and his comforts are withheld from` us. The natural fears, legal terrors, and desponding doubts seize on us, and evil spirits rejoice over us, with "there, there, so would we have it." Though he never becomes the Spirit of bondage to us, yet he leaves us to the bondage of our own legal spirits. What reason have we to pray daily, "cleanse thy servant, O Jesus, from his secret faults; and let not, O Spirit.of grace, presumptuous sins get the dominion over me."....Psalm xix. 12, 13.

The Spirit, like a peaceful dove, Why should we vex and grieve his love, Flies from the realms of noise and strife, Who leads our souls to heav'nly life?

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ....2 Cor. x. 5.

Ir is fit that soldiers of Jesus should have the sentence of death in themselves. They are hereby taught not to trust in themselves., Though armed with the spiritual weapons of their warfare, yet they, are no farther mighty and conquering but as aided by the power of God. Poor souls, by trusting to their graces instead of the God of all grace, have been foiled by the enemy, and have. fallen. "I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me: but, through, the Lord, will we push down our enemies."....Psal. xliv. 5, 6. This is. the language of faith, this the confidence of humble souls: after believers have escaped the corruptions that are in the world through, lust, and have been turned from their sinful courses to the Lord Jesus, then danger threatens from another quarter; self-righteous-, ness will exalt its baneful head against them, "Now I am somebody;; I have received inherent grace and strength, I am justified, my sins, are pardoned, and I have got a clean heart." Thus towering imaginations swell against God's everlasting love, his election of grace, the imputed righteousness of Jesus, and final perseverance of the saints., When these evangelical truths are rejected, it argues that pride, self-sufficiency, and self-righteousness prevail. Verily, O soul, "thou trustest in thine own beauty, and playest the harlot, because of thy renown. Woe, woe, unto thee." This is a severe reproof from the mouth of the Lord....Ezek. xvi. 30. St. Austin is peremptory, "that it hath been profitable to some proud spirits to fall into gross offence; for they have not lost so much by their fall as they have got by being down." It is better to be humble under sin, than to be proud of grace. God will suffer no flesh to glory in his presence; his truths tried at the bar of carnal reason will be rejected. But as free-grace truths are precious to that Spirit who indited them, so he will bring disciples to submit to them. To reject the doctrines of grace, under a specious pretence to holiness, is to blaspheme the God of wisdom. High thoughts of ourselves oppose the truths of God; vain imaginations strengthen self-confidence, which is contrary to the faith of Christ. To see Jesus all in all, and to see ourselves nothing at all, is to see and know aright, in the light of truth, and by the views of the Spirit of truth. There is an inward obedience of the heart, a submission to the righteousness of God, as well as an outward obedient walk. There may be much of the pride and holiness of the Pharisee without, where there is none of the simple faith and love of Jesus within.

I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword....Matt.x. 34,

Is not our Saviour the prince of peace? Hath he not made peace between God and man, by the blood of his cross? Doth he not give peace in the conscience, and establish peace among his people? Is it not the essence of the gospel to preach peace by Christ? All this is true. Why then doth my Lord say, "I came not to send peace, but a sword?" Conceive not of the meek Lamb as though his soul delighted in war, and that the sword of slaughter should be drunk with human blood. No: he came not to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Therefore this sword is no other than the "sword of the Spirit, the word of God." It is rendered in St. Luke, DIVISION. This sword divides and separates a christian from his carnal friends and relations; yea, divides asunder flesh and Spirit. Hence open war commences, and hostilities begin; for there never, never can be any peace, harmony, and agreement, subsisting between carnal and spiritual men, no more than between flesh and Spirit in the christian. These are contrary to, and at continual war with each other. "Wars and fightings come from your lusts." Sin is the cause of all contention and division among men: every christian is a soldier; the sword of the Spirit, the word of God is one blessed part of his armour. By this he is enabled to resist satan, subdue his lusts, cut down unbelief, and to stand his ground against every enemy from the world, flesh, and devil, which are always in battle array against him.

Thus the weapons of thy warfare, O soul, are not carnal, but spiritual and mighty, through God, "to the pulling down the strong holds of satan." Though earth and hell are at war against thee, yet strengthen thyself in thy God, he is on thy side. Fortify thyself by the word of his truth. This, for thy comfort, assures thee, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn."....Isa. liv. 17. By "this sword of the Spirit thou shalt prevail : by the blood of the Lamb thou shalt overcome.” "Not by might or power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."....Zech. iv. 6, Alas! the poor sensible soul is ready to say, my strength is small, my arm is weak; though such a weapon is put into my hand, I have neither skill nor courage to use it aright; sin, satan, and the world will be too strong for, and overcome me at last. No; that is impossible. Though weak as infancy, feeble as childhood, this blessed word exactly suits our state, and is a cordial to our spirits, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them." Why so? Because " greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the

world."....1 John iv. 4.

Jesus said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation....Luke xxii. 46.

THE dull, sleepy frames of disciples, though natural to them, are by no means commendable in them, nor are they to find excuses for them, as though this was a sleepy state of the churches, and so we were to lie down and take our rest. This is injurious to the honor of our dear master, brings discredit upon his cause and interest, is very uncomfortable, and exposes sleeping souls to many and great dangers: though love may excuse it, yet will Jesus sharply reprove for it. Why sleep ye? wherefore do you indulge yourselves with sloth when you are called to activity? sleep is unreasonable when danger is near. Ye know, my beloved disciples, your adver sary satan is ever wakeful, watchful, busy in plotting and seeking to rob you of your shield of faith. Is this a time to be sluggish? to fold your hands and cry, a little more carnal ease and worldly pleasures, a little more spiritual slumber? Most inexcusable to be taking sleepy opiates of pleasure to indulge the flesh, and intoxicating draughts from the world to drown the Spirit. What meanest thou, O sleeper? "arise and call upon thy God. Say not "I am in an unsuitable frame, dull, and heavy." Thou readest of no such reply from these drowsy disciples to their master." Wilt thou stay till thou art rich before thou wilt be industrious? He who calls to duty is Both able and willing to give strength in duty, and power to perform it. Take with you words and say, Jesus will give the Spirit to pray. Ever remember, prayers move God, not as an orator moves his hearers, but as the cry of a beloved child moves an affectionate father; when we are out of the reach of danger, prayer will be needless. But when will that be? not in this life; not till every enemy is destroyed; that will not be till death is swallowed up in life. *Now there is danger from temptation. Temptation cannot hurt us, but entering into the temptation will. Jesus was in all things" tempted like as we are, yet without sin; his temptations were all without him; they could not enter in to defile him; but they may ús: when the love of the world enters and prevails, the sense of the love of God is lost: when the lusts of the flesh get power, the con solations of the Spirit are not enjoyed; when ease and happiness are expected from any other object but Jesus, the precious Saviour is slighted and disesteemed: then our views of his love are eclipsed, and our souls miserably darkened. "The end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer.".... I Pet. iv. 7.7 He hates the sloth we're subject to, But yet he loves the saint.

How precious is our Saviour's love!
How tender his complaint!

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I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.... Psalm cxix. 162.

THE saints of God in all ages were taught by the same Spirit, looked for the same salvation, and were comforted by the same truths found in the word of the Lord; hence the wORD is so precious to them; it causes rejoicing of soul within them; thus it is of the written word of the Lord which makes known his everlasting, loving designs to sinners of mankind: this also is true of the essential, divine, and uncreated wORD, the Lord Jesus: he in person manifested God's thoughts of love, as words declare what is in the mind: Jesus lay in the bosom of the Father from eternity; he has revealed the Father's eternal love to us! O, he who findeth Jesus will rejoice indeed. With joy, says Philip, "we have found him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write."....John i. 45. Hath a conqueror, who hath obtained a complete victory over, and is enriching himself with the spoils of a wealthy enemy, cause of rejoicing? how much more has the christian daily from the word of the Lord. Alas! the joy of the one is but momentary and uncertain; what he hath gained in war to-day, to-morrow he may be deprived of; but joy through the victory of Jesus, and the spoil the christian reaps from the word are durable and eternal: the victory of Jesus is the christian's spoil; here he beholds sin subdued, death conquered, satan vanquished, hell overcome, and a crown of eternal life and glory fully obtained, absolutely ensured, and which shall most certainly be enjoyed. In the written word of the Spirit are given unto us "exceeding great and precious promises." In the essential word JESUS, "all the promises are in him, yea and amen, to the glory of God." By the former we understand "what is the hope of our calling, and what the riches of the glory of our inheritance in the saints." By the latter, union with Jesus, and faith in him, we obtain the happy assurance that all things are ours. "Whether ministers, the world, life, death, things present, or things to come, all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.".... 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. And "nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus."....Rom. viii. 39.

Blessed be God for the word of his grace, the BIBLE; blessed be God for his unspeakable gift, Jesus. Here is thy treasure, O christian; where should thy heart be but in meditation and delight herein daily? For thou canst get spiritual joy from no object but victorious Jesus, set before thee in the gospel; and the clearer thou seest salvation by him, so will thy faith be stronger in him; this creates spiritual rejoicing of soul continually.

How doth thy word my heart engage!

How well employ my tongue! And in my tiresome pilgrimage Yields me a heav'nly song.

When nature sinks and spirits droop.

Thy promises of grace

Are pillars to support my hope;
And there I write thy praise.

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