The way of the Spirit in bringing souls to Christ set forth in X sermons on John 16:7, 8, 9, 10 and chap 7:37 / by Mr. Thomas Allen, late pastor of a church in ... Norwich.

Answer.

I do not say 'tis in your power, but thus much

I may say, you may oppose and resist the saving Work of the Gospel upon your hearts; and there∣fore to be found waiting upon the Lord in his way you cannot tell but the Lord may make the Go∣spel effectual to you for your Conversion and Sal∣vation. And therefore let me commend three or four Words by way of Direction in this case, and so I shall leave all to the blessing of God.

Do you desire to have the Word of God made effectual for the convincing and converting and saving of your Souls? Then

1. Be much and earnest in praying for the Spirit to go along with the Preaching of the Word into your hearts and Souls; Ay, pray much for that, O! before you come you should be careful to wrestle with God for the presence of the Spirit to go along.

I fear, Brethren, that people are careless in this Point, they come reeking out of the World and from their business, and never wrestle with the Lord for the presence of his Spirit to assist the Preaching of the Word, that it may become ef∣fectual and profitable to your Souls, and so you go away as you come. Therefore I say, as the Apostle, Jude v. 24. Be building up your selves in your most holy Faith. But how shall we build up our selves in our most holy Faith? how shall we do it? why, saith he, Praying in the Holy Ghost, that is the way: Beg earnestly for the Spirit, for the Holy Ghost to accompany the Word, and make the Word profitable and effectual to you. That is one Direction, I do but name it, I pray remember it.

2. As we do desire to have the Word made ef∣fectual

for Conviction, Conversion, and Salvation to our Souls, Then attend upon the Preaching of the Gospel as the Lords Ordinance, for that very End that he hath appointed it, namely, for Conversion and Salvation. This is the very End for which God hath appointed the Preaching of the Gospel, to be a saving Word, a Word of Salvation to poor Souls, that is the very End of the Gospel, it is appointed for that End. Eph. 4.11, 12. saith the Apostle, Christ when he ascended up on high, he gave Gifts to men, Ministerial Gifts, he gave Pastors, and Teachers, for the edifying of the Body, for the bringing home of Souls to the Body, for the perfecting of the Saints: So that those that are Saints should still attend upon the Gospel for more edifying, for the saving work to be carried on. This is the very Intendment of the Preach∣ing of the Gospel, God hath ordained it for this end and purpose, therefore wait upon it for that end, attend upon it as the Word of God which he hath appointed for that end. 1 Thess. 2.13. We are always bound to give thanks to God for you, beloved Brethren, because when you heard the Word, you received it not as the Word of man, but as it is indeed the Word of God, which worketh effectually in them that believe. Ay, receive it as the Word, and the Word of God, for that End that God hath appointed it, and through the presence of the Spirit it will become effectual. Mark how it wrought in Cornelius and his Family, Acts 10. Cornelius was directed to send for Peter to preach to him, and Cornelius in the mean time had gathered together the Congregation, his Friends and Relations; he had got them together that they

might hear the Gospel as well as himself, when Peter came he preached Christ to them; Now, saith Cornelius, we are all here before the Lord, to hear whatever God hath directed thee to speak to us, we are here to attend upon it as the very Word of God; and Peter opened his mouth and preached the Gospel to them, and it is said The Holy Ghost fell upon them all that heard it, v. 44. and then saith Peter, verse 47. Can any man forbid Water that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we. Attending upon the Preaching of the Gospel as Gods Ordinance and Institution, for saving ends and purposes, for Con∣version, and Edification, and Salvation; this is the way whereby we may have the Gospel made effectual to us, we shall be brought to receive it, and receiving of it, we shall be brought into a state of Salvation▪ and further built up in our most holy Faith: That is the second Direction.

3. Receive the Ministration of the Gospel with humility of Spirit, and meekness, I say, receive it with all humility and meekness of Spirit, that is the way whereby it may be made effectual to Sal∣vation. When people come and say, they can tell as much as the Minister can tell them, and they had as good stay at home, and read a good Book: and not c••ming to it as Gods Ordinance, with a teachable frame of Spirit, being willing to hear what the Lord will say, how can the Word become effectual? but now when a Soul comes with meekness of Spirit, to hear what the Lord will say, and then as Psal. 25.9. The Lord will teach the meek, and saith the Apostle, James 1.21. Receive with meekness the ingrafted Word, which

is able to save your Souls; receive it with meek∣ness, with an humble Spirit, to receive whatsoe∣ever the Lord shall please to direct his Ser∣vants to speak. And let me add but one thing more, and I will have done, and that is this.

4. Be careful to receive the Word and Truth in the Love of it, and to mixe it with Faith. Re∣ceive it in the Love of it. Truly, if so be we have no Love to the Truth, and the Word, when we come to attend upon it, it may be just with God to give us up to believe Lies; as that hath been the very Judgment of God upon the Antichristian World for these 1200 years to∣gether for this very Sin, for not receiving the Truth in the love of it, 2 Thess 2.11, 12, 13. Because they received not the Truth in the Love of it, therefore God gave them up to strong delusions to believe Lies. And Antichrist hath prevailed to this Day, upon that very account. Therefore remember, that we be ready to receive the Truth in the Love of it, as to say, This is a Truth of God, and though I have heard it before, yet it is a Truth, and the Lord would have this Truth spoken to me, and I must receive it in the Love of it, and then mix it with Faith, H••b. 4.2. They had the Gospel preached to them as well as we, and The Word preached did not profit them that heard it, why? because they did not mixe it with Faith in their hearts; What is this mixing the Word with Faith? Truly, when the Lord perswades the Heart to receive whatever is spoken, as spoken from the Lord to me, this Word the Lord doth intend for me, and makes a particular

application of it, this is the proper work of Faith, to apply the word spoken to our selves, as spo∣ken from the Lord to us: And thus the word cometh to be effectual through the Spirit, either in a way of Conviction, or Conversion, or for the Furtherance of the Salvation of the Souls of any. But thus much shall suffice at this time.