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For the Spirit accompanies the Word in the Ministery of the Gospel;* 1.1 and therefore the Gospel is called the Ministration of the Spirit, that is, the Word and Spirit in union and operation. In the Law, there was the Letter without the Spirit, and so that could do nothing; but in the Gospel, the Word and the Spirit are alwayes joyned: and therefore saith Christ, The words that I speak are spirit and Life, that is, they come from the spirit, and carry spirit with them.
And this Spirit that is present in the word of the Gospel, and works in it, and is given by it, reforms mightily; and therefore it is called the spirit of judgement and burning; And the Lord look∣ing to this time of reformation, promised long before to pour out his Spirit upon all flesh, and so to reform all flesh.
Now the Spirit poured forth upon the flesh, reforms it two wayes.
1. By taking away all evils out of the flesh.
2. By changing the flesh into its own likeness.
1. The Spirit poured forth upon the flesh, reforms it all by taking all evil, out of the flesh; As first, all Sin and Corruption, saith Paul, If you mortifie the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit, yee shall live; the deeds of the flesh are not to be mortified by any power, but by the Spirit; all pride and envy, and lust and covetousness, and carnal mindedness and all other evils of the flesh, are reformed by the pre∣sence of the Spirit in it, and no other way.
2. The Spirit reforms not only all Sins in the Church, but all Errors,* 1.2 and Heresies, and false doctrines, as is evident by that of Paul 1 Cor. 3. 12. If any man, build upon this foundation gold, sil∣ver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, every mans work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revea∣led by fire, and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is, &c.
So that a man may lay Christ for a foundation, and yet build wood, hay, and stubble upon him, that is, humane doctrines and the inventions of men, and false and wicked opinions.
2. The destruction of this hay, wood, and stubble, that is, error, heresie, and humane doctrines, in the Church of God, that is, the people built on Christ, shall not be by Laws of States, or Con∣stitutions of Councels, but by the Holy Spirit which is as fire.