Whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.-1 John iii. 9. 24.

We know that we dwell in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.-1 John iv. 13.

It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth, &c. There are three that bear record in heaven, The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one, &c.1 John v. 6-8.

These be they, &c. sensual, having not the Spirit. Jude 19.

Grace be unto you, &c. and from the seven spirits which are before his throne. Rev. i. 4; iii. 1. 5.

Hear what the Spirit saith the churches.-Rev. ii. 7. 11. 17. 29.

I beheld, and lo, &c. a Lamb having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.-Rev. v. 6. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.-Rev. xxii. 17.

SECT. 2.-The Nature, Workings, and Fruits of the Spirit. AND the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.-Gen. i. 2.

And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man.-Gen. vi. 3.

Balaam, who came with a purpose to curse Israel, when the Spirit of God came upon him, blessed them.Numb. xxiv. 1-14.

Is the Spirit of the Lord straitened, (or shortened?) are these his doings? -Micah ii. 7.

Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Luke xxiv. 39.

I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. John i. 32.

He would have given thee living water, &c. water springing up into everlasting life.-John iv. 10. 14.

We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God.-1 Cor. ii. 12.

No man speaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jesus accursed; and no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit, &c. to one is given, &c. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing, &c.--1 Cor. xii. 3, &c.

Who hath also sealed us, and given us the earnest of his Spirit.-2 Cor. i. 22; v. 5.

Ye are our epistle, &c. ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ, &c. written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart, &c. The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, &c. were glorious, &c. how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.-2 Cor. iii. 2, 3. 6—8. 17.

God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.-Gal. iv. 6.

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other, &c. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.-Gal. v. 17. 22, 23.

Ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession.Eph. i. 13, 14.

Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.-Eph. iv. 30.

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth.-Eph. v. 9.

God hath not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.-2 Tim. i. 7.

Having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. -1 Thess. i. 6; Acts ix. 31.

Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself, &c.--Heb. ix. 14. The anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie.1 John ii. 27.

Try the spirits, whether they are of God, &c. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God, &c. Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.-1 John iv. 1-4.

It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth, &c. The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; these three are one.-1 John v. 6-8.

The Spirit and the bride say, Come. -Rev. xxii. 17.

SECT. 3.-Saints' Duty toward
the Spirit.

1. In following after him, and making use of him. THE same anointing teacheth you of all things.-1 John ii. 27.

And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man.-Gen. vi. 3.

The true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.-John iv. 23, 24.

No condemnation to them, &c. who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.-Rom. viii. 1, 2. 4.

Fervent in the Spirit, serving the Lord. Rom. xii. 11.

The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. -1 Cor. xii. 7.

I will pray with the Spirit, &c. I will sing with the Spirit, &c.1 Cor. xiv. 15.

Walked we not in the same Spirit? -2 Cor. xii. 18.

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect in the flesh ?-Gal. iii. 3.

Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh, &c. If ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.-Gal. v. 16. 18. 25; 1 John ii. 27.

He that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.— Gal. vi. 8.

Be not drunk with wine, &c. but be ye filled with the Spirit.-Eph. v. 18.

The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.-Eph. vi. 17, 18.

We are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit.-Phil. iii.

3.

Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To-day if ye will hear his voice, &c.—Heb. iii. 7.

Building up yourselves, &c. praying in the Holy Ghost.-Jude 20.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. -Rev. ii. 7. 11. 17. 29.

II. Not to sin against, grieve, or

quench the Spirit.

BUT they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit, therefore he was turned to be their enemy.-Isa. lxiii. 10.

But the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.-Matt. xii. 31, 32; Mark iii. 29, 30.

Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost? &c. Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God, &c. How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? &c. She fell down and died, &c.-Acts v. 3-5. 8-10.

Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears; ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? &c.-Acts vii. 51, 52.

Simon offered money, for power to confer the Holy Ghost.-Acts viii. 18, 19.

The Sadducees say, that there is no resurrection, neither angel nor spirit.-Acts xxiii. 8.

Keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed, &c.-Eph. iv. 3. 30.

Quench not the Spirit.-1 Thess. v. 19.

He that despised Moses' law, died without mercy, &c. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden. under foot the Son of God, &c. and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?-Heb. x. 28, 29.

The Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, &c.-1 Pet. iv.

14.

CHAPTER XX.

OF AFFLICTIONS, TROUBLES, AND PER

SECUTIONS.

SECT. 1. To whom they belong, or who may expect them.

I. Common to all.

MAN is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.-Job v. 7.

Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.-Job xiv. 1.

II. More especially, Christian Believers, such as are born of the Spirit.

First. The Holy Ghost affirms this. I WILL be his Father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: but my mercy shall not depart away from him, &c.-2 Sam. vii. 14, 15; Ps. xcix. 8.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.-Ps. xxxiv. 19.

For whom the Lord loveth, he correcteth: even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.-Prov. iii. 12.

Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me, are for signs and wonders in Israel.-Isa. viii. 18.

He that departeth from evil, maketh himself a prey.-Isa. lix. 15.

They watch for iniquity, they make a man an offender for a word, &c.— Isa. xxix. 20, 21.

You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.Amos iii. 2.

Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils: and they will scourge you in their synagogues : and ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, &c. and the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child, &c. and ye shall be hated of all

men for my name's sake, &c. The disciple is not above his master, &c. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? &c. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth, &c. A man's foes shall be they of his own household.-Matt. x. 17, 18. 21, 22. 24, 25. 34-36; xxiv. 9, 10; Luke xxi. 12, &c.; Mark x. 30.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.-Matt. xvi. 24; Mark viii. 34, 35.

Woe unto you that laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you for so did their fathers to the false prophets.-Luke vi. 25, 26.

Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.-Luke ix. 58.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love its own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord: if they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you, &c. All these things they will do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.-John xv. 18-21; 1 John iii. 13; John xvii. 14.

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended: they shall put you out of the synagogues; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doeth God service; and these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, &c. In the world ye

shall have tribulation.-John xvi. 1— 3. 20. 22. 33.

Of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, &c. both Herod, &c. were gathered together, to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.-Acts iv. 27, 28.

The Lord said of Paul, I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name.-Acts ix. 15, 16.

Exhorting them to continue in the faith: and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.-Acts xiv. 22; Mark x. 30.

The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying, That bonds and afflictions abide me.-Acts xx. 23.

Always we which live are delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus, &c.-2 Cor. iv. 11; vii. 5.

But as then, he that was born after the flesh, persecuteth him that was born after the Spirit, so it is now.Gal. iv. 29.

We wrestle not against flesh, &c. but against principalities, &c.-Eph. vi. 12, 13.

Unto you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.—Phil. i. 29.

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.1 Thess. iii. 3.

All that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution. 2 Tim. iii. 12.

Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, &c. for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? but if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.- Heb. xii. 6-8.

Think it not strange, concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are made partakers of Christ's sufferings: judgment must begin at the house of God.-1 Pet. iv. 12, 13. 17.

The devil, &c. whom resist, &c.

T

1 Pet. v. 8, 9.

The sorrows of death compassed

Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Rev. ii. 10.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten be zealous therefore, &c. Rev. iii. 19.

These are they that came out of great tribulation, and have washed, &c.-Rev. vii. 14.

SECONDLY. That the Saints have been so exercised with Afflictions, in Soul and Body, from God: and in their Bodies, and outward concerns, from Men, by Persecutions.

I. From God more Immediately.— Prov. xviii. 14.

Jacob sorely afflicted for Joseph and other of his sons.-Gen. xxxvi; xxxiv.

The Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me: I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty, &c.-Ruth i. 20, 21.

Job greatly afflicted in his substance, and his body.-Job i. 13. 22; ii. 5-8; vii. 3, &c.; ix. 27, &c.

O that my grief were thoroughly weighed, &c. for now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words are swallowed up, (or I want words to express my grief:) for the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.—Job vi. 2—4; xiii. 24. 26; xix; xxx; Ps. xxxviii. 2; lv. 4, 5.

I am full of confusion, therefore see thou my affliction.-Job x. 15, &c.

My soul is also vexed; O Lord, how long? &c. I am weary with my groaning all the night (or every night) make I my bed to swim: I water my couch with my tears: mine eye is consumed because of grief, &c.-Ps. vi. 3. 6, 7; xxxii. 4; cii. 3, &c.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? &c. I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not.-Ps. xxii. 1, 2.

I am desolate and afflicted: the troubles of mine heart are enlarged, &c.-Ps. xxv. 16, 17; xl. 12; cii. 3 -6.9; cxliii. 4.

My tears have been my meat, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?—Ps. xlii. 3. 10.

Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice; hide thy face from my sins. Ps. li. 8, 9.

Save me, O God, for the waters are come in unto my soul: I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I am come into deep waters (or depth of waters) where the floods overflow me: I am weary of my crying, my throat is dry: mine eyes fail, while I wait for my God.-Ps. lxix. 1—3; xlii. 6, 7.

All the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.-Ps. lxxiii. 14.

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my sore ran in the night, and ceased not; my soul refused to be comforted: I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak, &c. Will the Lord cast me off for ever? will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail?-Ps. lxxvii. 2-4. 7, 8, cxlii. 3, 4. 6; cxliii. 4. 7; Luke xviii. 8.

My soul is full of troubles, &c. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the depths: thy wrath lieth hard upon me, thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves, &c. I am afflicted, and ready to die: I suffer thy terrors: I am distracted: thy fierce