SERM." tell whence it cometh, and whether it goeth: fo ccxxxi.« is every one that is born of the Spirit." Though we do not know the manner of the Spirit's working, nor perceive the operations of it upon our minds, yet we find the effects of it in the renovation and fanctification of our hearts. Thus by undeniable arguments men are affured of a divine providence governing the world, though men do not always fee, nor can make out to others the particular interpofitions of it, fo as to fay that this or that was an immediate effect of divine providence. To know certainly that a thing is, it is not neceffary that we fhould be able to give a particular account of all it's operations, and the manner of them; these may be. hidden from us, and yet we may be fufficiently affured by other arguments that there is fuch a thing. Men are sure they have fouls, though they can give no account, how the actions of understanding, and remembrance, and fenfation are produced by them: fo it is in the prefent cafe; we are fufficiently affured from the word of God, that good and bad fpirits have a great influence upon the minds of men, tho’ we be not conscious to their operations, and the manner of them.

II. The Spirit of GoD which is in good men is greater than he that is in the world; he is more able and ready to affift men to good pupofes, than the devil is to tempt and help forward that which is evil. And this will appear, if we confider these three things.

1. The Spirit of GoD is more powerful than the devil; and this is fo evident in itself, that it needs no proof.

2. The Spirit of GOD is as forward and willing to SER M. affift men to good purposes, as the devil is to the CCXXXII. contrary. That extremity of malice and envy which

is in evil fpirits does no doubt make them very forward and active to do all the mischief they can to mankind, by tempting and feducing them to fin: but on the other hand, the utmost perfection of goodnefs, which in GOD is more and greater than the malice of the devil, will incline more ftrongly the holy Spirit of GOD to pity, and aid, and help good men, than the malice of the devil can urge him to procure the harm and mischief of mankind; and if we could suppose their will and inclinations equal, yet our comfort is, their power is not.

3. The Spirit of God hath a more free and immediate access to the minds of good men, and a more intimate conjunction with and operation upon them, than the devil. The Spirit of GOD is always prefent to us, and willing to dwell and abide in us, and ready to help and affift us, if we be ready to obey his dictates, and comply with his holy and blessed motions ; if we did not refift, and quench, and grieve him, he would always take up his abode and habitation in us, and would be continually exciting, and guiding, and affifting us to that which is good; he knows our hearts, and fees all the fecrets of our fouls; knows all our inclinations, knows our weaknefs and our danger, what affiftance we want, and when it will be moft feasonable; and is as intimate to us, and as conscious to all the motions of our spirits, as we ourselves are.

But now the devil is under great restraint, and cannot make nearer approaches to any man than GOD permits him; he does not know our hearts,

nor

SER M. nor can pry into the fecret of our thoughts. GOD knows, but the devil does but guefs at the thoughts, and defigns, and inclinations of men; he hath no power over us, nor any accefs to us, but what we give him, or GOD permits. By obedience to GOD'S will, and refifting the temptations of the devil to fin and difobedience, we may not only keep out the devil, but keep him at a great distance, and make him "flee from us," fo that we fhall have little trouble or moleftation from him: for though he be unwearied in his malicious attempts to ruin our fouls, yet because he cannot be every where, he haunts those most where he hath greatest hopes of fuccefs, and is too eager and intent upon mischief, to employ his time and temptations where he hath been often foiled, and hath reafon to despair of victory. So that if all things be confidered, it is our own fault if we want the affiftance of GoD's holy Spirit, or if the devil have any great power over us: for GoD does not ufually, but upon great provocation, take away his holy Spirit from men, and lay them open to the affaults and temptations of the devil. If any beled captive by the devil at his pleasure," it is thofe who have wilfully forfaken GoD, and " fold "themselves to do wickedly."

III. We will confider in what ways the Spirit of GOD doth move and affift good men. These two 'ways..

1. By exciting good motions in us, and enabling us to bring them to effect.

2. By supporting us under perfecution for religion, 1. By exciting good motions in us, and enabling us to bring them to effect. Thefe the apoftle puts together, Phil. ii. 13. "For it is GOD which work

"eth

"eth in you, both to will and to do of his good S ERM. pleasure." It is he that stirs up good inclinations in us, and carries them on to effect. And this he makes an argument why we fhould be diligent and industrious in the work of our falvation, because GOD is fo ready to affift us; " work out your own falvation with fear and trembling: for it is GoD " which worketh in you both to will and to do of his "good pleasure.”

2. By fupporting us under perfecution for religion. In cafe of extraordinary temptations, and violent affaults upon our conftancy in religion, by fierce and cruel perfecutions, GoD affords immediate and extraordinary fupports to good men, whereby they are many times borne up under the greatest fufferings, not only with patience, but with comfort and joy unspeakable and full of glory." Wherever GOD fuffers good men to be tempted above humanity, he affords them an immediate divine affiftance, to bear them up and make them victorious. So St. Peter tells us, 1 Pet. iv. 4. that those who suffer "and are reproached for the name of CHRIST, the Spirit of glory and of God refteth upon them." So likewife St. Paul, 1 Cor. x. 13. fpeaking of those who had not yet been fet upon by any fharp perfecution, "no temptation hath taken you, but fuch as "is common to man," in μὴ ἀνθρώπινος, nothing but what is human, what the fpirit of a man may bear but if fuch a cafe happen, of temptation above, nature, and the spirit of a man be too weak to fupport itself under it, GoD will in that cafe afford men immediate and extraordinary fupports and comforts,

GOD is faithful, who will not fuffer you to be "tempted above that ye are able; but will with

"the

CCXXXIII. 66

SERM." the temptation alfo make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it," and then it immediately follows, "wherefore my dearly beloved, "flee from idolatry;" because Gop hath promised fuch an extraordinary affistance in cafe of perfecution for religion, therefore he encourageth them to continue ftedfaft in the profeffion of chriftianity, and cautions them against apostasy to the heathen idolatry.

The inference from all this difcourfe, is to encourage us to continue ftedfast in the truth, and in the practice of our holy religion, "to hold faft the profeffion of our faith without wavering," and not to suffer ourselves to be "fhaken with every wind " of doctrine, by the arts and cunning of those who "lie in wait to deceive; who creep into houses, and "lead captive filly women, laden with fins, and "led away by divers luft." You fee what kind of perfons thefe falfe teachers ufed to profelyte; women of no virtue, of a proftituted reputation, "laden with fins, and led away with divers lufts ;” a character that notoriously agrees to fome feducers of our times.

Therefore let us continue in the things which "we have heard," and not fuffer ourfelves to be "moved from our ftedfaftnefs." The more we confider our religion, and compare it with the unquestionable revelation of GoD in the holy fcriptures, the greater reafon we fhall fee to adhere to it. The doctrines of our religion "are of God," plainly contained in his word, and fuch as are worthy of him, and likely to proceed from him, and tend to the good and happiness of mankind, to make men really better, and to qualify them for that hap