of Wounds as appears Luk. 10. 34 So it is certainly true concerning this Spiritual Wine It is proper to wash us from all our pollution and defilements and to cleanse and heal the Spiritual Maladies of our Souls This is therefore called frequently the Holy Spirit not only to denote that he is so in himself but in his work also to sanctify us by bearing witness of and sprinkling and applying the Blood of the true Vine even of Christ unto us Hence the Apostle declaring what filthy and poluted creatures some of the Corinthians were he saith They were washed and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 9-11 And the Lord doth wash away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purge the blood of Jerusalem by the Spirit of judgment and by the Spirit of burning so that he that is left in Zion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy Isa 4. 3 4. And the Baptist doth declare unto us that this is the work of Jesus Christ to Baptize and wash men with the Holy Spirit Mar 1. 8. And the sanctifying men separating them from their polutions and dedicating them unto God is attributed to the Spirit as his proper work 2 Thes 2. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 1 2. And so also in and by the Gospel of Christ which is called Spirit as we have seen Christ doth give us an escape from the pollutions of the world And it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth even to save them from their sins Rom. 1. 16. Now are ye clean saith our Saviour through the word that I have spoken unto you Joh. 15. 1-3 And hereby may a young man who is most apt and inclinable to pollution cleanse his way his works walkings and garments Psal 119. 9 And they that are undefiled and sincere in the way who walk in the Law of the Lord they also do no iniquity Psal 119. 1-3 with Gal. 5. 16 17. Oh! this is Wine indeed to cleanse and rinse us from whatsoever is polluting and defiling to us to wash our Garments and make them white and therefore those who live in the Spirit are instructed to walk in it also whereby they shall be enabled to mortify the deeds of the body and as he who hath called them is holy so also to be holy in all manner of conversation Gal. 5. 25. Rom. 8. 13. 3. Wine moderately taken is proper to quench the thirst and so to allay and remove the torment and affliction thereby caused unto a man which is very great so as it causes their tongues to fail and cleave to the roof of their mouths Isa 41. 17. Lam. 4. 4. Thirst causes the youngest and strongest to faint Amos 8. 13. And even to die Exod. 17. 3. Judg. 15. 8. But now Wine is proper to asswage and quench it Hence it is given as one Branch of the description of Covetous worldly men that have no power to enjoy what God gives them they tread their Wine-presses and suffer thirst Intimating they refrain from and deny themselves that which would quench their thirst Job 24. 11. And the thirsty person is invited to buy Wine to quench his thirst and satisfy him Isa 55. 1 2. So we may say of the Spirit it is Wine in a most eminent consideration in this respect viz. to quench the thirst of the Soul and Spirit which no other Drink or Wine will do all other things are such as will not satisfy but herewith our Souls may delight themselves and be abundantly satisfied even every or any poor thirsty Soul Isa 55. 1 2 3. Hence our Saviour in the last day the great day of the Feast of Tabernacles stood and cried saying If any man thirst which he might do notwithstanding that Feast let him come unto me and drink But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive c. Joh. 7. 37-39 And indeed such is the excellency of this Heavenly and Spiritual Wine that it doth not simply quench the thirst of the Soul but so abundantly satisfy it as that in continually drinking in hereof a man shall be preserved from thirsting after any other Wine and he that cometh unto Christ continually unto whom God hath not given the Spirit by measure shall never thirst Joh. 6. 35. This will take off his desire and appetite from all stolen-waters of Wine of violence from lusting after such things as our natural Spirit is thirsting for As our Saviour saith in another Metaphor Whosoever drinketh of any other water shall thirst again But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him of this Aquavitoe this blessed Spirit Isa 44. 3. shall never thirst to wit after any other kind or number of Drink But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of living water springing up to everlasting life Joh. 4. 10-13 14. Such shall be inebriated and fully satisfied with the fatness of his house and he will make them drink of the River of his pleasures for with him is the Fountain of life Psal 36. 7-9 Oh! Such a Feast hath God prepared for us in Christ such Wines on the Lees well refined whereto this Holy Spirit is directing us and which it is bringing nigh unto us in the Gospel that were we feeding on and drinking in hereof our Souls would be so contented and satisfied as that all excess in natural Wine or Strong Drink would be bitter to us and we should loath and not lust after perishing deceitful things which cannot profit nor satisfy us because they are vain In Christ whom this Holy Spirit glorifies and of whose things he receives and shews unto us it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell and therefore there is an emptiness in all other things And in drinking in of this Spirit we should be helped to see and say and set our Seals to the truth of that saying of the Wisdom of God by the wisest of meer men Vanity of vanities vanity of vanities all is vanity and vexation of Spirit Eccles 1. 2. and 2. 1 II Colos 1. 19. 4. Because as Wine doth make one forget ones poverty and remember their misery no more Prov. 31. 7 and doth comfort chear and make merry the heart of man Judg. 9. 13. Plal. 104. 15. Eccles 10. 19. So eminently the Spirit is Wine indeed and answers to though it inconceivably excels all other Wine It is proper to heal the broken-hearted and bind up all their griefs and to comfort all that mourn and doth comfort them that drink it in with everlasting Consolations It gives unto them beauty for ashes the Oyl of joy for mourning the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness Isa 61. 1-3 Luk. 4. 18. Hence the Holy Spirit is called the Comforter because it is his work and office to comfort in all tribulations and trials and to make the
heart merry though heaviness be occasioned to the outward man by the temptations and trials man here meet with Joh. 14. 16. 26. and 16. 7. And he is the Comforter in bearing witness of Christ of his sufferings and the glory which therethrough he hath received Joh. 15. 26. And indeed this Comforter doth glad at the heart those that drink in of his Cup of Consolation in shewing unto them the great abasement of Christ who by the grace of God tasted death for every man and is raised again for their justification and hath offered up himself a spotless Sacrifice unto God through this Eternal Spirit and so hath made peace for us by the Blood of his Cross purged away the guilt of our first sin and sinsuluess so as that it is no longer retained in Heaven against us abolished our first death and destroyed him that had the power of death that is the Devil taken out of the way all contrary to us c. And the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus doth make them free from the Law of Sin and Death that walk after it Rom. 8. 1-3 As well as also it shews unto us that our loss is recovered and all fulness treasured up in Christ that we might be brought back to God That by his own Sacrifice once offered he hath obtained plenteous Redemption even the forgiveness of sins for ever whereof the Holy Ghost is a witness to us and that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in his Son Heb. 10. 10-15-18 1 Joh. 5. 6-11 That in him all things are ready and prepared for us even all things pertaining to life and Godliness That in him there is a feast of fat things prepared for all people of wines on the lees of fat things full of marrow of wines on the lees well refined In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in him is all compleatness for us And the Spirit and the Bride say come Isa 25. 6. Col. 2. 9 10. Rev. 22. 16 17. Oh! what joy hath this found of the Spirit caused to those amongst whom it hath been sounded Act. 8. 5-8 and how hath their hearts been comforted and helped to rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory who have received and been made to drink into this one Spirit And Blessed are the people that know this joyful sound In thy name they shall rejoyce all the day-long Psal 89. 15 16. Indeed the natural Wine exceedingly falls short of this herein though that be proper to comfort and chear the natural Spirit of a man yet the Soul in a Spiritual consideration may be overwhelmed with sorrow and sadness mean time But this Spirit will fill the heart with solid and durable joy and the heart of such as drink it in shall rejoyce and their joy no man taketh from them Joh. 16. 22. with chap. 14. 16-18 And though the believing Thessalonians received Christs Gospel in much affliction yet also they received it with joy of the Holy Spirit 1 Thes 1. 6. And though now the dayes were evil in which the Apostle writes to these Ephesians sinful dayes and dayes of affliction both which cause sorrow yet now he gives this exhortation and instruction to them Be ye filled with the Spirit and signifies in what follows that this would apt and dispose them to Sing and make melody in their hearts to the Lord Eph. 5. 18 19. Oh! this is Wine indeed that will make the heart truly solidly and everlastingly merry and chearful and comfort it with everlasting consolations and good hope through Grace well therefore may it be likened to Wine 5. Wine is that which is proper to deliver the natural Spirit of a man from his fears and timerousness and to make one bold courageous against ones enemies and notwithstanding any cause or occasion of fear Hence we have such expressions used Like a mighty man that shouts by reason of Wine And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts he put them to a perpetual reproach Psal 78. 65 66. They shall devour and subdue with sling-stones and they shall drink and make a noise as through wine Zech. 9. 15. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man and their hearts shall rejoyce as through Wine chap. 10. 5-7 And so it is an usual thing now in our dayes that men may be delivered from fears to drink Wine or Strong Drink And indeed the Spirit is Wine in an eminent consideration in this respect namely it is that which doth strengthen against and deliver from fears those that drink it in For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear or cowardize but of power of love and of a sound mind Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of the Lord But be thou partaker of the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God 2 Tim. 1. 7 8. Rom. 8. 15. And whose hearkeneth unto Christ the Wisdom of God receives and entertains his Gospel and turns at his reproofs To such an one he will pour out his Spirit and make known his words And he shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of evil Prov. 1. 20 21-23 33. Hence as the Lord saith to his people in former times My Spirit remaineth among you fear ye not Hag. 2. 5. So when he sent his Apostles to preach the Gospel in all the world he first tells them they should be indued with power after the Holy Spirit was come upon them and then should be his witnesses being thus strenghened and imboldened as well as fitted and furnished Act. 1. 8. Truly we may say This Holy Spirit in glorifying Christ and shewing unto us that he is indeed the Saviour of the world In bearing witness of that plenteousness of redemption and everlasting righteousness that is in him and the love of God manifested in Christ and that he is Love and Charity it self hereby casteth out all fear all fear that hath torment out of the hearty Believer hereof as with respect to God and saves them from his wrath and from the fears thereof And such receive not the Spirit of bondage to fear but the Spirit of Adoption the Spirit of child-like boldness and confidence to approach through Christ by this Spirit unto the Father and so unto the Throne of Grace and to cry Abba Father 1 Joh. 4. 14-18 19. Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 4-6 Eph. 2. 18. Psal 49. 5. And by this Holy Spirit we may be delivered from the fears of death and though we walk in the midst of the valley of it yet to fear none evil because in the Light and by the Testimony of the Spirit we may see that Christ hath abolished it and destroyed him that had the power of it that is the Devil And will in due time destroy it utterly even this first death Heb. 2. 14 15. Psal 23. 4. 2 Tim. 1. 7-10 And in drinking in and walking after this Spirit we shall
seen and said before The Gospel of Christ and Spirit therein may be received by men and the Spirit in the Testimony may be in them though yet they are not in it not so overcome led enlightned established and framed thereby to the mind of Christ as might be desired and ought to be endeavoured And Christ will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax or dimly-burning week but nourish and cherish every little spark Be we more like-minded after the example of our Lord Jesus Christ that we may not despise the day of small things nor discourage but support the weak Zech. 4. 10. 1 Thes 5. 14. 4. It may exhort and provoke us all to come unto Christ and drink and drink in abandantly of the Wine which is in him for us That we may grow thereby and increase with the increase of God Joh. 7. 37-39 He that cometh unto him continually shall never thirst but his Soul shall be abundantly satisfied and his faith shall grow exceedingly and his charity towards all men and especially towards the Brotherhood shall abound But to this we shall have occasion to speak afterwards II. A second Instruction we may note from these words is That the Believers cannot fill themselves with the Spirit they have no sufficiency hereto of themselves as of themselves Therefore he saith not fill your selves but Be ye filled with the Spirit They have not the fountain of Spirit in themselves The Spirit is not put upon them for themselves but it is given unto and resteth upon Jesus Christ Isa 11. 1-3 and is put upon him that he might dispence thereof unto us This was he saith the Baptist of whom I spake He that cometh after me is preferred before me for he was before me And of his fulness have all we Prophets and holy ones received and grace for grace Joh. 1. 15 16. In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily And in him ye are compleat Col. 1. 19. and 2. 3 9 10. God hath not given the Spirit by measure unto him but hath immeasurably filled him therewith And to that end he hath so done that he might pour forth thereof to us according to our needs and capacities Joh. 3. 34 35. Isa 42. 1. Upon this stone this precious corner-stone and sure foundation this Stone which the builders disallowed and which is now become the head of the corner are the seven eyes even the seven spirits of God which are sent forth into all the earth Zech. 3. 8 9. and 4. 10. with Rev. 5. 6. Indeed in us that is in our flesh in us as of us we have no good thing dwelling we have all sinned and are come short of the Glory of God But our Lord Jesus hath restored that which he lost not and recovered by his Blood and is possessed of all fulness for us being glorified with the Father 's own self with the glory which he had with him besore the world was Joh. 17. 4 5. He hath the seven spirits of God Rev. 3. 1. And from him the Apostles received the Holy Spirit And unto every one of us it is given according to the measure of the gift of Christ Eph. 4. 7-10 And this Instruction might be of usefulness unto us all 1. To hide Pride from us and preserve or deliver us from boasting of or glorying in our selves for wherein are we to be accounted of Isa 2. 22. Who maketh thee to differ And what hast thou that thou didst not receive Now if thou didst receive it why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it 1 Cor. 4. 7. The blessing of Abraham is in Christ for us Gentiles that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith Gal. 3. 13 14. To him are we beholding for all and none can fill themselves with this Holy Spirit out of their own store For we are poor empty creatures destitute of all spiritual good Job 11. 12. We cannot furnish or fill our selves with this blessed Wine but need continually to be supplied therewith from Jesus Christ Philip. 1. 19. Where is boasting then it is excluded We neither have this good Spirit of our selves nor can we purchase it by any price of ours that we can give to God But it is the gift the free gift of our Lord Jesus Christ and of God in and through him Act. 5. 32. and 8. 20. 1 Joh. 3. 24. 2. This may also warn and admonish us to take heed heed that we sin not against Christ Oh! let us all beware of him and not provoke him but obey his voice lest he withhold or withdraw his good Spirit from us for his it is primarily properly and fully So he saith to the Angel of the Church in Sardis These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God Remember how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent If therefore thou shalt not watch I will come upon thee as a thief c. I will take away mine Holy Spirit from thee which I have given unto thee and which thou hast so much and so often grieved and sadned Rev. 3. 1-3 Psal 51. 11. And if he take it away from us no man hath power over the Spirit to retain the Spirit Eccles 8. 8 nor can we fill our selves therewith by any wisdom strength or works of righteousness of ours It is not received nor can we fill our selves therewith by any works of the Law Gal. 3. 2. Oh then let us take heed and beware that we sin not against Jesus Christ But let us Kiss the Son and be ruled and ordered by him lest he be angry and we perish from the way Psal 2. 12. III. We may also note from this Exhortation in that he saith Be ye filled with the Spirit That God is so giving his Holy Spirit to them that obey him that they might be filled therewith Act. 5. 32. He is not like unto them that say Be ye warmed and filled and yet give them not needful things Jam. 2. 16. He saith not Be ye filled with the Spirit and yet withholds it from them or gives it not unto them so as they might obey his exhortation But He gives liberally to all men and upbraids not Jam. 1. 5. He who loveth a chearful giver is himself a chearful and liberal giver and dispenser of his Holy Spirit to them that believe in him Joh. 7. 37-39 He will pour out his Spirit unto such as hearken to him and receive his Gospel and make known his words unto them as he hath promised both to the Jews and Gentiles Prov. 1. 20-23 Act. 2. 38 39 his readiness to dispence his Spirit is manifested and evidenced to us in that he hath at so dear a rate prepared it for us and caused it to rest upon his Son to that end that it might be made communicable and be poured forth unto us he hath killed his killing He hath not spared his own Son but delivered him up for
and rejoycing to their Hearts and Spirits But here by is meant the spirit of God 1 Cor. 2. 12 even the holy Spirit the comforter whom the Father hath sent forth in Christ's name to give forth the full of the Testimony and by which we have the Gospel now preached to us according to the Revelation of the mystery and the mystery so opened and made known as in former times it was not made known to the sons of men Joh. 14. 16 17 26. and 15. 26. 1 Pet. 1. 12. Eph. 3. 3-5 And the work of which Spirit is to testifie of Christ Joh. 15. 26. Of his death as actually sustained and overcome of his having been actually raised again from the dead according to the Scriptures of the excellency compleatness and everlasting acceptableness of his own Sacrifice once offered so as there needs no more sacrifice for sin Of his being exalted with and to God's right hand a Prince and Saviour The Saviour of the World in what he hath done and is become The Saviour of all men especially of them that believe in what he is now doing c. Joh. 15. 26. Act. 5. 30-32 Heb. 10. 10-15 1 Joh. 4. 13 14. 1 Tim. 4. 10. And that he shall come again Joh. 16. 13. This Spirit is called and is the spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 9. Phil. 1. 19. Both because it rests upon him immeasurably in the nature of man upon the account of his having been slain for us Mat. 12. 28. Act. 2. 33. Rev. 5. 6. And he hath shed forth and sent him from the Father Luk. 24. 49. Joh. 15. 26. Act. 2. 33. And it is his work and office to glorifie Christ and to take of his things and to shew unto us Joh. 16. 14 15. And in glorifying him in the Testimony as now come forth To reprove and convince the World of sin of righteousness and of judgment and to teach the Believers all things and guide them into all truth and shew them things to come And to be the Comforter of them and Advocate in and for them To be the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation to them in the knowledg of Christ Eph. 1. 17 18. To bring to their Remembrance and mind them of his sayings Joh. 14. 26. To teach them how to pray and what to pray for as they ought Rom. 8. 26. To give them wherewith to Answer all their Adversaries and Opposers Mat. 19. 19 20. Luk. 12. 11 12. To baptize them into one body and make them to drink into one Spirit one inlightned mind and judgment 1 Cor. 12. 13. Ephes 4. 3-5 To strengthen them that Christ may dwell in their hearts by Faith Eph. 3. 16. To prepare them more and more for an habitation of God Eph. 2. 22. To help them to mortifie their lusts and corruptions Rom. 8. 13. Gal. 5. 16 17. To conform them in beholding Christ's glory in the Gospel into his Image and Likeness 2 Cor. 3. 18. To fill them with the fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God Gal. 5. 16-22 Eph. 5. 9. To direct them to have their Access through Christ unto the Father at all times and for all things according to his light and direction Eph. 2. 18. To make them useful instruments of good to others among whom they live and unto whom they have opportunity to speak Isa 59. 21. 1 Cor. 12. 7. and so to perfect whatsoever doth concern them All which he doth by his bearing witness of the blood of Christ which hath been shed for mankind and the ends and virtues thereof and the free and immense love and charity of God therein commended to us 1 Joh. 5. 4-6 And because by this holy Spirit in glorifying Christ God doth work all our works in us and perfect all that doth concern us and all is given by this Spirit therefore the spirit is used as a comprehensive word in which all heavenly and spiritual things are contained It is even the whole of and answers unto the blessing of Jehovah as Isa 44. 3 I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring And he is set down as comprehensive of all spiritual good things Hence whereas in one Evangelist Christ saith How much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things unto them that ask him It is thus expressed in another How much more shall your heavenly father give the holy spirit to them that ask him Mat. 7. 11. with Luk. 11. 13. And this was the one thing as it were Christ promised that he would pray for and send unto his Disciples when he was taking his leave of them even the holy spirit Joh. 14. 16 17 26. and 15. 26. and 16. 7-15 Luk. 24. 49. And the spirit is set down as containing the blessing of Abraham as the Apostle intimates in saying Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us That the blessing of Abraham might be in Christ for the gentiles that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith Gal. 3. 13 14. And hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his spirit And he that hath not this spirit of Christ whatever else he may have or be possessed of he is none of his in a peculiar consideration 1 Joh. 4. 13. Rom. 8. 9. This is the Spirit here meant and intended by the Apostle of which now in this day the believers receive but a first fruits The harvest thereof is still to be waited for as well as the Adoption the Redemption of the body which is to be given and effected in due time also by this holy Spirit Rom. 8. 11 23. John 6. 63. And by the spirit is also meant together with the former The Gospel of Christ especially as it hath been now preached to us according to the Revelation of the mystery And many times this bears the Name of the Spirit because it hath been given forth by the Spirit and with the holy Spirit came down from Heaven 1 Pet. 1. 12. And the Apostles in preaching it have spoken it not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth compareing spiritual things with spiritual they spake as the holy Ghost gave them utterance Yea in these last days the Spirit was poured forth more abundantly than in former times especially after Christ's ascension and receit thereof in the nature of man To make known the mystery to the Apostles and by them to us as in former times it was not made known to the Sons of men Act. 2. 1 Cor. 2. 10-12 Eph. 1. 8 9. and 3. 3-5 And with this Gospel of Christ the holy Spirit is present unto the end of the World so as that it is the ministration of the spirit and life 2 Cor. 3. 6 8. And he that ministreth it ministreth the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6. Gal. 3. 5. And he
that receiveth this testimony of Jesus receiveth the Spirit Gal. 3. 1 2. And he that rejecteth and despiseth it despiseth and rejecteth the holy Spirit 1 Thes 4. 8. Hence the words which Christ spake unto us are said to be and are spirit and life Joh. 6. 63. And the Apostles were able Ministers of the new Testament not of the letter but of the spirit 2 Cor. 3. 5 6. And the Spirit is said to be the word of God even the Gospel of Christ Ephes 6. 17. And the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy Rev. 19. 10. And whereas our Saviour signifies unto us the necessity of a mans being born of the Spirit that he may enter into the Kingdom of God Joh. 3. 5 6 8 the Apostles explicating it unto us shews that the immortal and incorruptible seed is the Gospel 1 Cor. 4. 15. the word of truth Jam. 1. 18 19. the word which by the Gospel hath been preached to us 1 Pet. 1. 23-25 Gal. 4. 21-29 And so also the spirit with which they should be filled is the Word and Testimony of Christ And this understanding of it agrees well with the saying of the same Apostle in another Epistle in which he is speaking to the same purpose as here For whereas here he saith Be ye filled with the spirit speaking to your selves in Psalms and Hymns c. He thus elsewhere expresseth it Let the word of Christ dwell richly in you in all wisdom Teaching one another in Psalms and Hymns c. Compare Eph. 5. 18 19 with Col. 3. 16. 17. And this the spirit wherewith they should be filled the Gospel of Christ and the holy Spirit which breathes therein and always accompanies it and in which he testifies of Christ glorifies him and takes of his things and shews unto us And so we have briefly spoken to the first thing and come to the second viz. II. How or in what respects the Spirit answers unto though yet it infinitely exceedeth Wine It doth appear in the very words that though the Spirit be opposed unto Wine and signified to be exceedingly and inexpressibly better yet there is some answerableness between these two But there is nothing in the Spirit answering to any evil in the Wine Of the former it is said therein is excess but not of the latter we cannot exceed in drinking in the Spirit nor will our being filled therewith lead us to any thing that is displeasing unto God or hurtful unto men But the Spirit doth in many particulars answer unto Wine as that is good and may lawfully and commendably be made use of by us though still as we have said it infinitely exceeds and excels it As to say 1. Wine is the blood of the Vine or Grapes which are the fruit of the Vine it proceeds from the Vine without which we could have no Wine properly so called Gen. 49. 11 12. Matth. 26. 29. So it may be said of the Spirit as sent forth and communicated to us It is the blood or fruit of the Vine of the true Vine which cheareth the heart of God and man even of Jesus Christ who is the true Vine Joh. 15. 1. We could have had no Spirit but by and from him by his having been trodden in the wine-press as it were It is indeed the blood of the Vine the procurement and product of the precious Blood and sufferings of our Gracious and blessed Redeemer It is upon the account of Wisdom's having killed her killing that the Wine is mingled that the Spirit is received into the nature of man that it might be imparted to us and that we have any Gospel or glad tidings preached to us by the messengers Prov. 9. 1-3 So much our Lord Jesus signifies to his Disciples It is expedient for you saith he that I go away that he departed from them by death that he died for our offences and rose from the dead for our justification and went to him that sent him For if I go not away the Comforter this Holy Spirit will not come unto you But if I depart I will send him unto you Joh. 16. 7. The Father hath so loved him that he hath given all things into his hand and particularly given the Holy Spirit unto him without measure to speak and make known Gods words But the reason why he so loved him was because he laid down his life that he might take it again compare Joh. 3. 34 35. with chap. 10. 17. It is because Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was raised again and exalted that he hath received of the Father the Holy Spirit which also he shed forth upon his holy Apostles that by them the Preaching might be fully known Act. 2. 31-33 It was upon the Lamb that had been slain that John saw the seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth Rev. 5. 6. And because this Spirit is procured for us and dispensed to us by the Blood of this Vine therefore it may be called and included in his Blood as that which is obtained by Blood is called Blood 2 Sam. 23. 16 17. Act. 1. 19. So whereas in one place it is said Come drink of the Wine that I have mingled to wit of his Spirit In another it is said My blood is drink indeed He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me and I in him saith our Saviour compare Prov. 9. 3-5 with Joh. 7. 37-39 and 6. 53. 54-56 Oh! this Spirit is Wine in this respect Wine by way of eminency it is the product of the true Vine who hath been tormented for our transgressions bruised for our Iniquities Hence the Spirit is called as hath been said the Spirit of Christ because obtained by him put upon him and sent forth from him 1 Pet. 1. 11. Rom. 8. 9. Philip. 1. 19. And the Spirit of Gods Son whom he in the fulness of time sent forth made of a woman made under the Law to redeem us that were under the Law Gal. 4. 4 5 6. This is Wine indeed the Blood of the true Vine to him are we beholding for it and have therefore cause to give thanks to God for his unspeakable gift and to do it in the name of our Lord Jesus and so to thank Christ Jesus our Lord who hath been Sacrificed for us that this Wine might be mingled for us and dispensed to us 2 Cor. 9. 15. Eph. 5. 18-20 1 Tim. 1. 13-15 2. As Wine was used to wash away spots from Garments and make them clean and comely for so much appears to be meant by that Prophesy of Jacob concerning Judah He washed his garments in Wine and his clothes in the blood of Grapes Whereto possibly respect may be had in saying They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb who is the true Vine Gen. 49. 11. Rev. 7. 14. And as Wine was used to cleanse away filth the filth
sanctified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6. 11. Joh. 13. 8 Unto him as our redemption to free us and set us at liberty in our minds from all bondage and thraldom whatsoever whether to sin death Satan an evil conscience Law world or whatever we are naturally inslaved withal Joh. 8. 31 32 36. Rom. 8. 1 2 3. Gal. 5. 1 13. 1 Cor. 1. 29-31 The work of this Holy Spirit is to lift up and glorify Jesus Christ that we may run unto him continually as to that good and only foundation of faith and hope Isa 28. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 4-7 As to the fountain of light and teaching who is the light of the world the Son of righteousness Joh. 8. 12. Matth. 4. 2. To him as the matter of our feeding who is the living bread and the bread that he giveth is his flesh which he hath given for the life of the world Joh. 6. 35. 51-58 So as to have our life in him and he to be our life the life of our Souls and Spirits to be our self as it were Gal. 2. 20. Colos 3. 3 4. And they are in some measure filled with this Spirit who are not led by themselves as men but led and guided by this heavenly Wine so as they suffer the loss of all things and go on to count them as dung that they may gain Christ and be found in him that Christ may be all unto them as the life of their Spirits Philip. 3. 7-9 When they are overcome of this Spirit and subdued and conquered by it to be under its regiment and government and being brought out of themselves are translated and removed into Jesus Christ who is the beginning of the creation of God And so live in the Spirit Gal. 5. 25 and are new Creatures 2 Cor. 5 14 17. Eph. 2. 10. and helped to reckon themselves in and after Jesus Christ Rom. 6. 3-11 Col. 2. 12. And then men may be said to be Filled with the Spirit when they grow up into the knowledg of Christ in all things so as that He in the full of the Testimony is formed in them Gal. 4. 19. And they are filled with the knowledg of Gods will in all wisdom and Spiritual understanding Col. 1. 10. And have through the knowledg of Christ in the Gospel a right judgment concerning all things effected in them He that is Spiritual judgeth discerneth all things yet he himself is judged discerned of no man 1 Cor. 2. 13-15 16. and chap. 3. 1 2. For this the Apostle prayes for these Ephesian Believers that the God of our Lord Jesus the Father of Glory would give unto them the spirit of wisdom and Revelation in the knowledg of Christ the eyes of their understandings being enlightned that they might know what is the hope of his calling c. This he prayed for them who were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise after they believed Eph. 1. 13-17 18-23 and 4. 30. And when as the consequent of the former the Believers are established in the faith and rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ standing fastly and firmly in him For this the Apostle also prays for these Believers That God would grant them according to the riches of his glory to be strengthned with might by his spirit in the inner man that Christ migh dwell in their hearts by faith That they being rooted and grounded in love might be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledg That so they might be filled whth all the fulness of God Eph. 3. 16 17-19 And unto this the Apostle exhorts the believing Colossions that they would walk in Christ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as they had been taught c. Colos 2. 6 7. And when also with the former they are filled with joy and spiritual mirth and have a merry heart effected in them rejoycing in Christ Jesus rejoycing with joy unspeakable and full of glory and having no confidence in the flesh rejoycing in Christ in his Cross and what he hath thereby done for us and obtained into himself and is become and is and in what he is now doing both from Heaven in the name of the Father and in the anointing of the Holy Spirit to us and in Heaven with the father for us and what he will do hereafter As a man when he is in Wine his heart is made merry and chearful therewith he remembers not his former or present poverty affliction and misery but he sings and rejoyces So also it is here in a spiritual consideration This Heavenly Wine being largely drunk in by us will cause our hearts to rejoyce as through Wine even to rejoyce in the Lord Zech. 10. 7. So here the Apostle exhorts these Believers Be ye filled with the spirit singing and making melody in your hearts c. Eph. 5. 18 19 Giving thanks alwayes for all things not only at some times and for such things as our natural spirit is desiring and pleased withall but for those things which seem to be grievous unto us also unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ vers 20. In being filled with this Spirit they are filled with joy and peace with joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. and 15. 13. And whatever occasions of sorrow and sadness they have as with respect to the temptations trials and troubles which they here meet with and depravations which are ordered to them Though their belly trembles and lips quiver and rottentess enters into their bones c. Yet they rejoyce in the Lord and joy in the God of their salvation and even glorify him in the fires Habbak 3. 16-19 Isa 24. 7-14 15 1 Pet. 1. 6-8 Psal 89. 15. 16. Prov. 15. 15. And then they may be said to be Filled with the Spirit when they walk in Christ Jesus as they have received him and through this blessed Spirit crucify continually the lusts and affections of the Flesh Mortify their members which are upon the earth then are they led by this holy Spirit as the Apostle signifies when he saith If ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live For as many as are led by the spirit of God they are the Sons of God intimating to us that such as these are in and led by the Spirit Rom. 8. 7-9 13 14. Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16 17. If we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit let us not be desirous of vain-glory provoking one another envying one another vers 24 25 26. To this the Apostle exhorts these Believers That they put off as concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts To put away lying To be angry
and not sin c. Eph. 4. 22-30 31. And when also they so drink in of this Wine as that they are filled with the fruit of the Spirit with love joy peace long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance against which the Law is not The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth Gal. 5. 16-22 Eph. 5. 8 9. And have the righteousness of the Law fulfilling in them more and more Rom. 8. 3 4. And are seeking after and setting their affections upon things above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God having their conversation not on earth but in Heaven Col. 2. 12. and 3. 1-5 Philip. 3. 7-9-20 And when they are led by this Spirit and overcome thereby to speak unto and to be teaching and admonishing one another sounding forth Gods praises holding forth the word of life in word and conversation holding fast and holding forth the profession of their faith and hope without wavering without fear of men or their fear without fear of amazement speaking the word of Christ and walking in his way and as he hath left us an example with boldness and confidence and chearfully and confidently enduring whatever they may meet with and undergo taking joyfully the spoiling of their goods for Christ and his Gospel sake so as walking in the wisdom and humility of Christ not being moved by any thing they suffer nor counting their lives dear to themselves that they may finish their course with joy when they are so filled with Christ's Gospel as that it is a burning fire shut up in their bones and they are even constrained to speak what they have seen and heard Psal 39. 1-3 Jer. 20. 7-11 Act. 2. 11-13 The being filled with the Spirit is to be imboldned by it as Esth 7. 5. So of the Apostles and Believers it is said They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spake the word of God with boldness And with great power gave the Apostles witness of the Resurection of the Lord Jesus c. Act. 4. 30 31 32. and vers 20. Mic. 3. 8. To which we shall not enlarge any further because we have spoken so largely in shewing the answerableness of the Spirit unto Wine before nor indeed am I in a meet capacity to speak any thing hereabout because I am not filled therewith my self and therefore do but darken Counsel by words without knowledg IV. We come in the last place briefly to note some Instructions from this Exhortation of the Apostle Be ye filled with the Spirit Namely I. That even the Believeres themselves which have received the Holy Spirit and have been sealed therewith unto the day of Redemption may not be filled or so filled with the Holy Spirit as God would have them to be as is before signified in what we have said These were Believers and had received this good Spirit in some measure and yet they are instructed and exhorted to be filled therewith and made more spiritual thereby The Believing Corinthians were Baptized into one body and made to drink into one Spirit and yet they were not filled with the Spirit For the Apostle could not speak unto them as unto spiritual ones but as carnal as unto Babes in Christ 1 Cor. 12. 13. with chap. 3. 1-3 The Believing Hebrews though in receiving the word of Christ they received his Spirit yet alas they still needed to be taught which were the first principles of the Oracles of God and were become such as had need of Milk and not of strong meat Through their dulness of hearing and slowness of heart to believe the first and great things of Gods Law the word of the begining of Christ the Apostle knew not well how to speak unto them of the High-Priesthood of Christ his Sacrifice which he had offered his Mediation in the Heavens and Advocation for Believers his coming again with the high acts and works of faith c. Heb. 5. 10-14 and 6. 1 2 c. The Thessalonian-Believers though they received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit yet there were wants found in their Faith and therefore the Apostle did pray night and day exceedingly that he migh see their face and might perfect that which was lacking in their faith 1 Thes 1. 2-6-10 and 2. 13. and 3. 10. There may be much or somewhat lacking in them that have received this good Spirit as to their being filled therewith there may be somewhat wanting in their knowledg faith establishment rejoycing confidence consolation in Christ conformity unto Christ conversation c. They may be and some of them are but little children And others though they be young men yet still they may receive and dirnk in more and more of this Spirit in the Testimony of Christ yea and the fullest may yet be fuller while they are here in mortal bodies For they receive here but some First fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8. 23. And this Instruction may be of usefulness unto us 1. To warn and admonish us all to take heed and beware of high-mindedness and that we should not think of our selves more highly than we ought to think but to think soberly as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith Rom. 12. 2. 3. A sad and dangerous thing it is for us all to think and say We are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing This is the high-way so to provoke Christ as to cause him to spue us out of his mouth Rev. 3. 15-17 We have none of us yet attained nor are we already perfect as to attainment Philip. 3. 12 13. Alas how short are we in every thing We have cause continually to cry out and complain of and and bewail our leanness emptiness blindness instability in the faith inconformity to Christ Oh! be we not high-minded think we not more highly of our selves than is meet for that will hinder us from coming continually unto Christ who is the fountain of life and Spirit and all spiritual blessings 2. This instruction shews unto us and informs us that the receit of the Spirit is a gradual thing it is not wholly received at once But the Light and Spirit of Christ is received and shines more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4. 18. They who have obtained like precious faith with the Apostles and know and are established in the word of truth the Gospel of our salvation may grow in grace and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 1-12 with chap. 3. 18. They who are in Christ go from strength to strength from one degree to another until every one of them appear before God in Zion Psal 84. 4-7 3. This Instruction may teach us that we should not conclude concerning any that they have not the Spirit of Christ because they are not so filled therewith as they should be for the former may be where the latter is wanting as we have
unto you Prov. 1. 21-23 So the Lord also saith concerning his people in former times They shall take away all the detestable things and all the abominations thereof And I will put a new Spitit within you But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations he will not put a new Spirit within them but saith he I will recompence their way upon their own head saith the Lord God And again I will sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idols I will cleanse you And a new Spirit I will put within you And I will put my Spirit within you c. Ezek. 11. 18-21 and 36. 25-27 Oh then to the end we may be filled with this holy and blessed Spirit and drink in and drink abundantly of this Wine let us forsake the foolish both persons and things And let us have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them Eph. 5. 11-18 Come we out from amongst men and be we seperate and let us touch no unclean thing And this is the way for us to be filled with the Spirit Gen. 6. 3-6 1 Thes 4. 1-8 3. Needful also it is that we may be filled with the Spirit that we be emptied of our selves and of our conceits of our knowledg fulness and sufficiency The full Soul loatheth the Honey-comb But unto the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet Prov. 27. 7. He filleth the empty and hungry with good things but the rich he sends empty away Luk. 1. 5 3. Wo unto you that are full saith our Saviour for ye shall hunger Luk. 6. 24 25. When men once begin to think and say they are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing when they conceit they know enough already and need not to receive help from others and that they are already whole and clean Alas this will hinder men from being filled with the Spirit and make them wax wanton against Christ and shut the door against him Rev 3. 17-20 If they think unsoberly of themselves and of their knowledg parts attainments cleanness and uprightness How should they as new-born babes desire earnestly the sincere milk of the word that they may be filled therewith and grow thereby Wo to them that are rich and full in and of themselves But Blessed are they that are empty and who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled Matth. 5. 6. While men retain a lie in their right hand and fill their bellies with the wind how shall they receive and be filled with the truth the Spirit of truth we must be emptied of the former that the latter may dwell plentifully in us Isa 44. 20. Men cannot press forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ unless they be like-minded with the Apostle namely to count and reckon that they have not yet attained neither are already perfect that they have not yet apprehended Phil. 3. 12-15 Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes there is more hope of a fool than of him Prov. 26. 12. with chap. 29. 22. 4. Needful also it is that we come continually unto Jesus Christ and believe in him that of his fulness we may receive and be filled with this holy Spirit If any man thirst saith our Saviour let him come unto me and drink If any man be empty and sensible of his need and want of his emptiness and incompleatness in himself let him come unto Christ the house of Wine Cant. 2. 4. In whom there is a feast prepared for all nations of fat things of Wines on the lees Isa 25. 6. And let him drink let him take freely of it Rev. 22. 17. But how should such an one come unto him and drink Our Saviour acquaints us how this may be done He that believeth on me as the Scripture hath said out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water saith our Saviour But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive Such an one shall so receive the Spirit as that his belly and inward man shall be abundantly filled with it even as with new Wine Joh. 7. 37-39 And indeed this coming unto him is a believing on him as the Scripture hath said and so according to his word cleaving to and depending on him And in his Word and Gospel there is Christ and his Spirit So that the way to come to Christ and be filled with his Spirit is to receive and let the word of Christ dwell richly in us as hath before been said Ephes 5. 18. with Col. 3. 16. Avoid we then and go from the presence of all strangers that consent not to wholsom words the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine according to godliness Reject all false Doctrines and listen not to them for this Spirit is not in them but another even the Spirit of the Devil and Errour 1 Joh. 4. 1-6 But receive and keep his word in the midst of your hearts as the wisdom of God saith Let thine heart retain my words keep my Commandments and live Prov. 4. 4 5. For his words are Spirit and Life Joh. 6. 63. And having and keeping his Commandments his word God and Christ will by his Spirit come unto us and make their abode with us Joh. 14. 21-23 Come we then unto Christ the fountain of Spirit continually in his Testimony and so he will pour out his Spirit unto us and fill us therewith 5. In an exercise of faith pray we and pour out our hearts unto the Father in the name of Christ for his Holy Spirit and for a plentiful effusion thereof Howl we not firstly for Corn and Wine for the outward man as we are too apt to do But if any of us lack wisdom this Spirit of wisdom as who doth not let him ask of God who giveth liberally to all men and it shall be given him But let him ask in faith nothing wavering Jam. 1. 5 6. I say unto you saith our Saviour ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened to you For every one that asketh receiveth And he that seeketh findeth And to him that knocketh it shall be opened If ye being evil know how to give good gifts to your Children How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him Luk. 11. 7-13 If thou knewest the gift of God saith our Saviour to the Woman of Samaria and who it is that saith unto thee Give me to drink Thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given thee living water even this good and Holy Spirit Joh. 4. 10. with chap. 7. 37-39 Ask then in Christs name and ye shall receive that your joy in the enjoyment of this Holy Spirit may be full Joh. 16. 24. with Rom. 14. 17. 1 Thes 1. 6. For this the Apostle made mention of these Believers in his prayers That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory would give them the Spirit of
wisdom and Revelation in the knowledge and for the acknowledgment of him The eyes of their understanding being enlightned that they may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints c. Eph. 1. 16-19 And good encouragement have we to pray that we may be filled with this blessed Spirit because our Lord Jesus the last Adam who by the Grace of God tasted death for every man and is raised again for their justification is made a quickening Spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. And hath the Spirit given immeasurably to him Joh. 3. 34 35. And also prays the Father to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask it in his name while they pray on earth he prayes in Heaven for them And hath also promised that abiding in him and his words abiding in them they may ask what they will and it shall be done unto them He will do it for them Joh. 14. 13-16 17. and chap. 15. 7. Oh then Restrain we not our prayers but as he hath encouraged and given us liberty let him see our countenance and hear our voice And let us come boldly to the throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need Cant. 2. 14. Heb. 4. 14-16 6. And lastly That we may be more and more abundantly filled with the Spirit walk we in and after it mind we the things of the Spirit the things of Christ which the Spirit takes and shews unto us And be we led by the Spirit and yield up to his operations so shall we not fulful the lusts of the flesh Gal. 5. 16. But be helped continually to mortify them and put them to death Rom. 8. 13. Col. 3. 5. And whatever this Holy Spirit is working in us to will and do let us do all things without murmuring and disputing It will produce nothing hurtful in us For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth Eph. 5. 8 9. Oh! Quench not this Spirit but let it inflame your hearts with love to Christ and God in him and to Men and Brethren according to his Instructions and operations and fill you with joy and peace in believing And effect in you Long-suffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance Gal. 5. 16-22 And smother not this blessed Spirit but work out that Salvation he is working in you with fear and trembling make confession and hold forth the profession of the faith unto salvation without wavering And fear not the reproach of men nor be afraid of their fear Follow the leading of this Spirit without doubting where-ever or unto whatsoever it leads you Act. 11. 12. Rom. 8. 14. Have in usefulness what God hath given to you For to him that hath shall be given and he shall have more abundantly But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath Matth. 13. 12. And sow to this blessed Spirit in labours of love according to your capacity and ability make not your bellies your gods For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption everlasting corruption But he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not As we have therefore opportunity let us do good to all men especially to the houshold of faith Gal. 6. 6-10 If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul Then shall thy light rise in obscurity and thy darkness shall be as the noon-day And the Lord shall guide thee continually and satisfy thy Soul in droughts and make fat thy bones And thou shalt be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not Isa 58. 7-11 Consider what is said and the Lord give us understanding in all things And the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with us all Amen The END
The Priests the Levites that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me they shall come near to me to minister unto me c. saith the Lord Ezek. 44. 10-13 14 15 16. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments saith the Lord Jesus And they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy Rev. 3. 4 the consideration of all which might ingage us To come out from among men in evil days and be separate and touch no unclean thing And the Lord Almighty will receive us whoever reject us and will be a Father to us and we shall be to him for sons and daughters Having therefore these promises and encouragements let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit c. 2 Cor. 6. 14-17 18. and 7. 1. Again 2. As evil signifies evil of Affliction and Judgment so we may receive this further instruction That when the days are evil when God's Judgments are poured forth amongst us and felt by us and greater feared then especially we need to have and receive this Admonition that we be not drunk with Wine but that we watch against all intemperance and insobriety When thy judgments are in the earth saith the Prophet the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness Isa 26. 9. And therefore then it behoves the Believers especially to be temperate in all things So it was with Daniel and his three companions when they were in captivity and under great affliction they would not defile themselves with the portion of the King's meat nor with the Wine which he drank Dan. 1. 5-8-16 And indeed as it is always sinful so it is most unseasonable to eat and drink to excess when God is casting us down in his Providences and ordering occasions of mourning and lamentation to us when men are minished and brought low thorow oppression affliction and sorrow Psal 107. 39. When we see a sword a sword is sharpened and also furbished it is sharpened to make a sore slaughter it is furbished that it should glitter should we then make mirth Ezek. 21. 9 10. should we unfit our selves for a wise consideration of the Lord's doings when he is making desolations amongst us surely this will be an high aggravation of our iniquity as is once and again signified to us Wo unto them saith the Lord that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink that continue until night till Wine inflame them And the harp and the viol the tabret and pipe and wine are in their feasts but they regard not the work of the Lord nor the operation of his hands Isa 5. 11 12. In that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping and to mourning and to baldness and to girding with sack-cloath And behold joy and gladness slaying oxen and killing sheep eating flesh and drinking wine c. And it was revealed in mine ears by the Lord of hosts surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye dye saith the Lord God of hosts Isa 22. 1-12-14 Wo to them that put far away the evil day that lye upon beds of ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches or abound with superfluity and eat the lambs out of the flock and the calves out of the midst of the stall That chaunt or quaver to the sound of the viol That drink Wine in bowles and anoint themselves with the chief oyntments But they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed Amos 6. 1-3-6-8 Truly as our Saviour gives us to understand now the Bridegroom is taken away from us it is a continued time of fasting and outward occasions of mourning are presented to his disciples till God shall send us him again who now is preached to us Mat. 9. 14 15. Luk. 5. 34 35. And to all this time that may be long which our Saviour speaks to his Disciples when he is taking his leave of them Verily verily I say unto you that ye shall weep and lament but the world shall rejoyce and ye shall be sorrowful c. Joh. 16. 20. And yet at some times more abundantly they have oâ—â—…ard cause of mourning administred to them And they then are instructed to be afflicted and mourn and weep To let their laughter be turned into mourning and their joy into heaviness Jam. 4. 9 10. And such have been and are the times in which we live wherein God hath been sharpening his sword and hath made great slaughters amongst us in former times And as yet it is not put up into it's Scabbard As also he hath been sweeping away multitudes multitudes by the Pestilence and other grievous diseases which he hath been inflicting amongst us And hath also been contending by devouring Fire whereby the crowning City hath been almost destroyed yea and hath been pleading with us by Water and unusual floods whereby he hath washt away the things that grow out of the earth and destroyed the hope of man as Job 14. 19. And hath thorow decay of Trade and otherwise brought our formerly rich and flourishing Nation very low and into great poverty and straits And hath removed and taken away many merciful and righteous ones from amongst us even in the midst of their days so as we may say Wo is us for we are as when they have gathered the summer fruits as the grape gleanings of the vintage there is no cluster to eat The good man is perished out of the earth and men of kindnesS and godliness are taken away Mic. 7. 1 2. Isa 57. 1 2. Psal 12. 1 c. And this is an heavy Judgment in it self and the fore-runner and way-maker for greater and more dreadful to come if we prepare not to meet the Lord in the way of his Judgments Yea what cause of mourning is also presented to us now there is such an abounding of spiritual iniquity and of divers and strange Doctrines and such a multitude of poor Souls deluded and in the high-way to be destroyed thereby And how long and often hath God been threatning to give up our Nation to that strong delusion which hath been brought into and preserved in the World by him whose coming was after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders because the inhabitants thereof have not received the love of the truth to be saved thereby 2 Thes 2. 8-11 yea how many have departed from the faith already giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils or Doemons 1 Tim. 4. 1. yea and how hath God cast upon us the fierceness of his anger wrath and indignation and trouble by sending evil angels amongst us as Psal 78. 49 yea his anger is not turned away but his hand is stretched out still and what he is further threatning to do unto us
evil end or as if they knew not how otherwise to pass it away when as alas our days upon the earth are as a shadow and there is no abiding And we are sojourners here and should therefore pass the time of our sojourning in fear 1 Pet. 1. 17 18. How like fools do men act herein especially such as profess themselves to know God and his grace in Christ they cannot recall that which is past nor can assure themselves of a days continuance for the future they cannot boast themselves of the morrow for they know not what a day may bring forth Prov. 27. 1. No man is sure of life Job 24. 22. And yet how prodigal are intemperate ones of their time as if they were delivered or preserved to do whatsoever is right in their own eyes or could continue themselves in this world during their own pleasure Oh! it doth behove us always to redeem the time and opportunity and especially when the days are evil that we may hear wisdom and watch daily at her gates and wait at the posts of her doors And the holy ghost saith To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts Heb. 3. 7 8 15. But alas how shall we be thus found doing if we overcharge our hearts with surfeiting and drunkenness Consider what excess and mispending of time there is in such evil and riotous practises and consider it before it be too late before the day and time pass as the chaff before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you lest you mourn at the last when the things belonging to your peace are hid from your eyes because you knew not the time of your visitation and say How have we hated instruction and our hearts despised reproof say not as the people in former times did The time is not come the time that we should come to Christ and be made an habitation for God that he may dwell in us at his house for is not that time come and yet is it time for you to make Provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof Doth God continue you still in the land or the living that you should abuse your selves and his good creatures for the satisfying of your vile and brutish affections Hag. 1. 2-4 c. Truly men herein are more brutish than many brute creatures which are made to be taken and destroyed Even the Stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times and the Turtle and the Crane and the Swallow observe the time of their coming and will not be hindred therefrom by any means But alas intemperate ones know not the opportunity they observe not the time for applying their hearts to wisdom that is alotted them they still in their actions cry The time is not come for that And therefore great will be the misery of such as go on in not knowing or mispending their time For as the fishes that are taken in an evil net and as the birds that are caught in the snare so are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them Jerem. 8. 7 8. Eccles 8. 6-8 and 9. 12. Truly all our life-time is little enough to be spent in the service of him who hath so greatly loved us when we were dead in sins and trespasses as to give his Son to die for us And how have good men complained of the shortness of it Job 10. 20. Psal 39. 4 5. Job saith My dayes are swifter than a Weavers shuttle Job 7. 6. My dayes are swifter than a Post they flee away Job 9. 25 And yet his dayes were dayes of wonderful affliction and heaviness and it might be thought he might otherwise have judged of them But alas Drunkards in their excessive spending and mispending of their times do by their works declare that they think their dayes are so long and tiresome that they know not how to pass them away were it not for such riotous filthy practices Oh! that the time past of our life may suffice us that we have wastfully and unprofitably mispent so much of our time allotted us to seek the Lord in and that now we may avoid and flee from all Intemperance in which is such excess and profuse wasting of it For yet while it is called to day it is an accepted time now is the day of salvation in which we may receive his grace to purpose that we may be saved 2 Cor. 6. 1 2 lest we provoke him at last to rise up and shut to the door against us and then it will be too late for us to cry and call and seek to enter in at the strait gate Luk. 13. 24-26 Prov. 1. 24-31 Whatsoever thine hand findeth to do in the present time do it with thy might for there is no work nor device nor knowledg nor wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest And there is no man hath power over the Spirit to retain the Spirit neither hath he power in the day of death and there is no discharge in that war neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it Eccles 9. 10. and 8. 8. Jam. 4. 13-17 3. In which is Excess namely uncleanness and incontinence and all manner of filthiness of the flesh This is an ordinary concomitant and consequent of Drunkenness and Intemperance and so the word here translated Excess is rendred Riot Tit. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 4. 4. As that includes in it all manner of fornication and uncleanness 1 Pet. 4. 3. with vers 4. And so whereas of the Prodigal it is said He wasted his substance with riotous living or living Excessively the same word as here it is afterwards said He hath devoured thy living with Harlots Luk. 15. 13. with verse 30. And this understanding of it agreeth well with the scope of the Apostle in this Chapter in which he had been warning the believers of uncleanness But saith he fornication and all uncleanness c. let it not be once named amongst you as becometh Saints neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting c. For this ye know that no whoremonger nor unclean person hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God Let no man deceive you with vain words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the Children of disobedience Be not ye therefore partakers with them Eph. 5. 3-7 And again Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret vers 11 12. And now to the end they might flee from and avoid all filthiness of the flesh he gives them this counsel and backs it with this motive and argument Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess or Riot even all incontinent lust whatsoever And so the Scripture elsewhere and frequently signifies to us that in Intemperance is uncleanness that doth provoke and prepare men for all filthiness and uncleanness
have boldness in every day of judgment and both be delivered from the fear of our enemies and be made courageous against them and wax valiant in fight Hence the Apostle faith concerning himself and such as in whom this Spirit dwelleth and abideth Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or Sword Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us 1 Joh. 4. 14-17 18 19. Rom. 8. 1-37 Herethrough they were strengthned with strength in their Souls strengthned with might by his Spirit in the inner man and the word of God abiding in them they were strong and helped to do valiantly even to overcome the wicked one and not to fear what Men or Devils could do unto them Eph. 3. 16. 1 Joh. 2. 14. and 5. 4 5. Those that drink in of this good Spirit are of God and shall overcome all their opposers because greater is he that is in them than he that is in the world And they shall be valiant and victorious Not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts Zech. 4. 6. And as in former times it was said The Spirit of the Lord came upon such and such a man And he went out and prevailed against his enemies Judg. 3. 10. and 6. 34. and II. 29-33 and 14 19 Even so still by this Spirit of the Lord we may be delivered from all our fears of amazement and be made bold and courageous like Lions to resist and put to slight all our Spiritual enemies Hence when the Apostle tells the believers That they wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places or things he directs them to take unto themselves the whole armour of God and particularly the sword of the spirit which is the word of God whereby we may overcome the wicked one and all his instruments and temptations Eph. 6. 10-12-17 Rev. 12. 11. And so this spiritual wine is proper and powerful to deliver us from the fear of man which brings a snare and causes men to comply and have fellowship with them in their Drunkenness and intemperance and in other unfruitful works of darkness lest they should incur their displeasure or lose their favour and friendship And to strengthen us to resist unto blood striving against sin And in walking in this Spirit we shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh either for fear of the loss of mens favour or for fear of their evil will or punishment but shall be strengthened to resist and overcome the world there-through 6. Wine is good to be used for those who are infirm and for their stomack sake to strengthen them and help them to digest And it begets and preserves in them an appetite to their food that they may thereby be fitted for any work or business As the Apostle signifies when he saith to Timothy Drink no longer water but use a little wine for thy stomacks sake and thine oft infirmities 1 Tim. 5. 23. So it is as with respect to this heavenly and spiritual Wine in drinking in thereof and being filled therewith this will still beget in us an earnest desire and appetite unto wisdom's provision It will indeed as before we have said take off our hearts and desires from thristing after the Devils cup For we cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of Devils 1 Cor. 10. 21. But yet if we have tasted the graciousness of the Lord by this Spirit it will cause us still to come unto him and drink And to desire as new-born babes the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby that we may grow in grace and in the knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 2-4 And 2 Pet. 3. 18 And even as the hart pants after the water brooks so with our Souls to pant after and thirst for God the living God even Jesus Christ and God in him which is the true God and eternal life Psal 42. 1-3 and 63. 1-8 To hunger and thirst after righteousness after Jesus Christ who is Jehovah our Righteousness that we may win him and be found in him not having our own righteousness which is of the law but the righteousness which is through the faith of Christ even the righteousness which is of God by faith And that we might be changed into his Image and be framed to a likeness of mind and demeanour after the example of our Lord Jesus Matth. 5. 6. Phil. 3. 7 8-10 Thus it was with Christs Spouse while she sate down under the shadow of that blessed Apple-tree and his fruit was sweet to her taste and he brought her into the banquetting-house into the house of Wine caused her to drink in of his Spirit or ever she was aware she was so filled with spiritual desire after and earnest appetite unto this heavenly food that she cryes out Stay me with flaggons vessels of small quantity or small draughts would not now suffice or content her But in drinking in of this Spirit before she had such a good stomach that she now cries out and calls for flaggons for a more abundant participation of this Spirit And comfort me with apples for saith she I am sick of love She was even restless and unsatisfied in her desires that she might more eat of this living bread even the flesh of Christ that was given for the life of the World and drink in of his blood as knowlng this was most sweet and desirable and would nourish her Soul and preserve it in life even to the enjoyment of everlasting life Cant. 2. 3-5 and 5. 8-16 and 6. 1. They that know and have tasted of this gift of God will still and more abundantiy ask and desire after it that their Souls may delight themselves in that excellent feast which is prepared for men in Christ and be satisfied therewith as with marrow and fatness Joh. 4. 10. Psal 63. 1-5-8 And this Spirit being drunk in by them will cause their Souls to digest the food the Spiritual food which they eat so as their Souls may prosper and be like unto watered Gardens and like Springs of water whose waters fail not that they may flourish in the Courts of our God and bring forth fruit in old age and be fat and green To shew that the Lord is upright And there is no unrighteousness in him Psal 92. 12-14 That they may spring up as among the grass as willows by the water courses And may be trees of righteousness the planting of the Lord Filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God that he in all things may be glorified by them through Jesus Christ our Lord Isa 44. 3 4. and chap 61. 1-3 Phil. I. II. 7. Wine being drunk in