That Bleffed Spirit which defcended on the Apostles to Comfort and Confirm them, and to lead them into all Truth, does ftill move in the Minds of God's Faithful People, to direct their Judgments in all Neceffary Truths, to infpire them with Heavenly Wif dom, and to Affift all their Good Endeavours. Not indeed in that Extraordinary and Senfible Manner, that it did in the First Ages of Christianity, when fuch an Extraordinary Power and Operation upon the Minds of Men, was Neceffary to bear down those Prejudices in which they had been bred, and to fubdue them to the Obedience of Faith. But now that the Principles of Religion and Rules of Holinefs are naturally and gradually inftill'd into us by pious Instruction and Education, the Spirit of God ftrikes in by the way of Affiftance, to give Life and Force to thofe Spiritual Means, and does thereby teach and direct Us in a more Human Way, a Way more fuitable and accommodate to Human Nature. And this gracious Secret Guidance and Direction God will certainly give to all those that seriously fet themselves to feek out the Way of Truth and Righteousness, with hearty Refolution to walk therein, and are in good earnest Careful and Diligent to work out their own Salvation.

And indeed, confidering the Weakness of our Nature and the Strength of our Paffions,

with the Multitude of Temptations that furround us, were we left wholly to ourselves without any Divine Affiftance, it is to be fear'd that the Beft Difpofitions would make but poor Improvements in Righteousness and true Holiness. But this is our Comfort, that let us but be Honeft and Sincere with God, and fully bent upon a good Course of Life, truly defiring and endeavouring to Walk in all the Commandments of God with a Good and Upright Heart, and earneftly imploring the Affiftance of his Holy Spirit, to enable us so to do; and fuch Measures of it as are neceffary for us, fhall not be wanting to us. His Goodness will never fuffer Good Men fatally or finally to miscarry.

III.

But IIIdly, The Heart must be Prepared to receive the Good Influences of the Spirit of Wisdom.

We are not born Wife. The Heart of Man, as it is now deprav'd, when left to itfelf, is more likely to be over-run with all manner of Vice and Folly, than to bring forth any Thing that is Good. Virtue and Wif dom and good Inclinations will not grow nor thrive in it without Care and Culture: The Heart must be duly Prepar'd and put in order for them: Evil Habits and Difpofitions, Carnal Prejudices and Follies must be rooted out, before it will be Willing, or fit to receive Inftruction.

And

And this is a Work that requires our own Diligence and Care. We must make the Best Obfervations we can, and endeavour to get a right Judgment in all that concerns us: We must confider the Nature and true Worth of Things, with their Certainty and Duration, and how far they Affect us: And we muft seriously Weigh our own Actions, the Nature, and Tendency, and Consequences of them, their Lawfulness and Expediency, and fo form our Conduct thereby, as, according to the Rules of Right Reason, will be most for our real Good and Advantage. For this Purpose we muft open our Ears to all good Inftructions, especially to the Inftructions of Divine Wisdom, taking them from the Holy Scriptures, the Fountain-head of all True Wisdom; applying our Minds to them, and inclining our Hearts to receive them; refolving faithfully to follow them in all Things as the Best and fureft Rules, and never to depart from them.

This is Our Part: And This is what we may do, with the Help of that Common Grace which God affords to all that act with Sincerity. Wisdom is a Pearl of inestimable Price, that is not to be got by bare lazy Wishing: It will not drop into our Bofoms without our Seeking. And the Wiseman tells us, that it must be Diligent and Earnest Seeking, Prov. ii.That we must incline our Ear unto Wisdom, and apply our Heart to it

That

That we must seek for her as Silver, and Search for her as for hidden TreasuresAnd fo feeking we may be fure to find herfor fo it follows, Then fhalt thou understand the Fear of the Lord, and find the Knowledge of God. So it was that all the great Masters of Wisdom obtain'd it; by faithfully ufing the Means, and thereby helping to Fit and Prepare their Hearts for the Divine Blef fing. Solomon himself fought it diligently, and ftudied hard for it: He tells us, he acquainted his Heart with it, and he fet his Heart upon it, before it was given him so plentifully by Special Gift from Heaven.

་

There is an Evil Spirit that is contrary to the Spirit of God, a Spirit of Pride and Perverseness and Folly, a Spirit of Uncleannefs, or a Spirit of Wrath and Envy, ruling in the Hearts of Sinful Men, which must first be difpoffefs'd before the Good Spirit will enter. All Sin is Enmity with God, and whilst we live in it, we live in a State of Enmity with him, and in Rebellion against him: And so long we must expect no Favour norGood from him, northat he will vouchfafe to have any Thing to do with us. "You require of me, (fays Theophilus "the Devout Father to his Heathen Friend c Autolicus,) that I should make known to you My God: But you must first make "Yourself Known to Me, whether you are

Antiochenus ad Au

tol. Lib. 1.

not an Adulterer or a Whoremonger, a "Thief or a Robber, a Backbiter or a Mur"derer;

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derer; are you Covetous, Paffionate, Proud, or Envious? Are you Uudutiful

to your Parents, or Unnatural to your "Children? Our God will not make him"felf Known to any that are engag'd in any fuch Courses of Life, till they have first quitted, or are willing to Purge themselves " from the Defilements of Sin." Froward wild. i. 3ì Thoughts, fays the Book of Wisdom, Separate from God-For into a Malicious Soul Wisdom will not Enter, nor Dwell in the Body that is Subject unto Sin.

4.

The Holy Spirit indeed makes gracious Offers of itself even to Sinners; frequently knocking at the Door of their Hearts, by Good Suggestions, Admonitions and Reproofs; and if they will Open, and Prepare to receive him, Well; He will then Enter, and Abide with them, and will Confirm and Strengthen them in all Goodness: All which our Saviour himself has expreffly declar'd, after his Meffages to the Afian Churches; Rev. iii. 20. Behold Iftand at the Door and knock; if any Man hear my Voice, and open the Door, I will come unto him, and will Sup with him ; that is, I will Communicate and Dwell Familiarly with him, or as he expreffes it in St. John xiv. John's Golpel, I will make my Abode with him.

If we Prepare and Confecrate Temples for the Service of God, that he may please to Dwell therein; fo we muft Purge and Purify and Confecrate Ourselves, Body and Spi

23.