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.

Conversion of Souls, great Joy to the Ministers of Christ.

SERMON III.

JOHN 16.8.

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of Sin, and of Righteousness, and of Judgment.

IN this Chapter (as you have heard) our Lord Jesus Christ doth fore-warn and fore-arm his Disciples against Persecution and Sufferings, which they were like to meet withal; and this he speaks of in the first four Verses; and then he doth en∣deavour to comfort their hearts against that sor∣row that had possessed them for his going away from them: Saith he, Now I go my way to him that sent me: and because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your hearts. Christ en∣deavours to comfort their hearts against their great sorrow; and this in the general he proposeth for their Comfort; Namely, saith he, 'Tis expe∣dient for you that I go away: 'Tis not only expedi∣ent for me, but it is expedient for you that I go away: But they could hardly think so: And then

he gives them this Reason, saith he, If I go not a∣way, the Comforter will not come; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. But then they might be ready to say, Lord! Suppose the Comforter do come, will that make recompence for our loss of thy presence? What if the Comforter do come? what if we have the presence of thy Spirit? yet thy presence might seem to be more comfortable to us. Now Christ lays in further for that, saith he, If the Comforter come, that will be still better for you than my bodily presence is; for if he come, he will be with you to assist you in your Ministry: He will accompany the Ministration of the Gos∣pel in your mouth; he will make your Ministra∣tion to be succesful, and effectual, for convincing and converting. Thus now Christ doth lay in against their sorrow, that they might have upon his departure from them, that though he went from them, yet they should have that from the promise that should countervail all that com∣fort and joy that they had by his bodily presence; And this seems to be the very scope and intend∣ment of these words. When he is come, saith he, He will so work with your Ministry, that it shall Reprove or Convince the World of Sin, of Righte∣ousness, and of Judgement.

Before I come to the Point, because the words seem to have some difficulty in them, and because there seems to be some variety in the Interpretati∣on of them, I shall briefly give you a hint of what I apprehend to be the most proper meaning of these words. As now,

• 1. What doth he mean by Reproving? He shall reprove the World, —
• 2. What doth he mean by the World? And then,
• 3. How he shall Reprove the World of Sin, of Righteousness, and of Judgement.

I. The word here translated Reprove, hath a three-fold acceptation in Scripture.

1. Sometimes it signifies to Reprove, as here 'tis translated: And so I remember, Titus 1.13. This Witness is true: Wherefore rebuke them sharply, or reprove them sharply: 'Tis the same Word. So here 'tis translated in the Text. Though I think that is not the proper signification or in∣tendment of it in this place. For, observe it, It is not so proper to say, That the Spirit, when he comes, shall Reprove the World of Righteousness, he may reprove them of Sin, and rebuke them for Sin, but not of Righteousness, nor for Righteousness, nor of Judgement. That is one signification of the word, to Reprove or Rebuke.

2. Sometimes the word signifies to make manifest, or to make evident, to make apparent, so you shall find it, John 3.20, 21. Every one that doth evil, hateth the Light, Neither cometh to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved (or made manifest) and it is expounded in the next verse, made mani∣fest; But he that doth Truth cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be [made manifest] that they are wrought in God; it is the same Word here in the Text. But this cannot be the meaning of this Word in the Text, that he shall make manifest Sin,

and make manifest Righteousness, and make ma∣nifest Judgment: though there be a Truth in that, yet this cannot be the full intendment of this word in this place.

3. There is another signification of it, and that is to convince, and so 'tis in the Margin, He shall convince the World of Sin, of Righteousness, and of Judgment; and so I remember it is, John 8.46. saith Christ there, Which of you doth convince me of Sin? It is the same Word: he doth not say, which of you charges me with Sin? for they did charge him with Sin enough, and they did reprove and rebuke him for Sin, they said, he was a Blas∣phemer; therefore that cannot be the meaning of the Word to charge or reprove him of Sin; but, which of you can convince me of Sin? to make it apparent without gain-saying, that I am guilty of any Sin. And so I think that place, Tit. 1.9. holding fast the faithful Word, as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound Doctrine, both to exhort, and to convince the Gain-sayers. And so I shall take it in this sense all along; when the Com∣forter is come he shall assist you in your Ministry, so as he shall thereby convince the World of Sin, of Righteousness, and of Judgment.

II. What doth he mean by the World? Not the whole Universe, the Fabrick of Heaven and Earth, no, that cannot be the meaning of it: but it is to be understood of Men, the World of Men, of sinful Men, Men that are guilty of Sin; and more particularly, by the World we may under∣stand the unbelieving World, a company of unbe∣lievers: Now unbelievers they may some of them be elected and are elected, and shall be brought to

believe in Christ in time, through the Gospel; and some of them are not elected, and shall never be brought to believe in Christ. Now which of these doth Christ here mean? when he speaks of the World, whether he means only those Unbelievers that are elected, and shall be brought on to be∣lieve (so some think): or whether he means the Unbelievers of the World that were never elected, and shall never be brought to believe in Christ (so others.) Truly I see nothing to the contrary but we may include both, namely, Unbelievers that are not elected, the Holy Ghost shall come and convince them of Sin, though they shall go no further, there may be convictions where no con∣version follows; and this is the work of the Spi∣rit to convince of Sin, and he shall also convince Unbelievers that are elected, convince them effectu∣ally, so as they shall be brought on to conversion, and I think especially and chiefly our Saviour here meaneth those Unbelievers in the World that are elected, though I would not exclude the other, but those especially that are elected, and shall be brought on through conviction and conversion to salvation; for Christ doth speak these Words by way of Comfort to the Disciples, that the Spirit shall come and assist them in their Ministry; it is some comfort indeed if any be convinced, but that is not so much comfort as to be convinced and ef∣fectually wrought upon to salvation, and this comfort Christ doth hold forth as an Antidote a∣gainst their sadness and sorrow, upon his going a∣way. And then he shall convince the World of Sin, of Righteousness, and of Judgment.

I shall not now come to speak particularly, to

open these in particular to you, but only thus much in short to shew you how the World was convinced by the Apostles Ministry, immediately after Christs Ascension into Heaven, the World was then convinced; the World of the unbelie∣ving Jews was convinced of Sin, of Righteousness, and of Judgment. Look but into that Sermon, Acts 2. which was preached upon the occasion of the falling down of the Holy Ghost, the coming of the Comforter, which Christ promiseth here; you shall see there how the Jews were convinced, both of Sin, of Righteousness, and of Judgment, by the coming of the Holy Ghost upon them in that very Sermon, verse 23. There he convinces them of Sin, In murdering and crucifying the Lord of Glory; they were so far from believing on Christ as their Saviour, that they did murder him; where∣as, saith the Apostle in another place, If so be they had known, and so believed in Christ, they would not have crucifyed the Lord of Glory; but saith he, Him being delivered by the determinate Counsel of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have cruci∣fyed and slain. He tells them plainly that they were guilty of murdering the Son of God, and they were so convinced at this Word, that they did not gainsay it, but were pricked in their hearts; thus they were convinced of Sin, that they did not believe in Christ, but instead of be∣lieving they murdered him: and then they were convinced also of Righteousness, namely, of Christs Righteousness, that Christ was a Righteous Per∣son whom they crucifyed and slew, verse 22. Ye Men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Na∣zareth, a Man approved of God, by Signs and

Wonders and Miracles, which God did by him in the midst of you, as your selves know; the Apostle here holds forth that he was a Righteous Person, and they crucifyed a Righteous Person, and what had they to say against this? No, they were silent, they laid their hands upon their mouth, and af∣terwards their hands come upon their heart, and they were pricked at the heart, and now they were convinced of the Righteousness of Christ; and also of Judgment, that now God had given all power to execute Judgment, into the hand of Christ, unto this Son of man whom they crucified, and slew. So verse 24. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden of it; he overcame Death, and overcame the Devil that had the power of Death; and at Verse 31. he seeing this before, spake of the Resurrection of Christ, that his Soul was not left in Hell, This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses; Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost — having received all Power, and Authority, and Do∣minion, and Government, over all Principalities and Powers, &c. By this means he convinced them of Judgment; for the Prince of this World is judged, Christ is exalted at the Right hand of God, and they had nothing to say against what the Apostle spake, but their hearts were pricked, and now, Men and Brethren, what shall we do to be saved?

Thus you see the intendment and scope of Christ in these Words, is to comfort the Hearts of his Disciples against his going away, and now saith Christ, I will send the Comforter unto you: and

when he is come he shall so assist you in your Ministry, that you shall be able to Convince the World of Sin, of Righteousness, and of Judgment; your Ministry shall be made effectual, operative, and saving; and this he delivereth as an Antidote against their sorrow for his going away from them. And here is the Point that I shall briefly take up to speak to at this present, if the Lord please.

Doct. That it is a matter of unspeakable Joy and Consolation unto the faithful Servants of Christ, that their Ministry is made effectual through the power of the Spirit of Christ for the saving of poor Souls.

Christ gives them this very thing as an Anti∣dote, as a Comfort and Cordial against their sor∣row which their hearts are filled with for his go∣ing away from them, saith he, the Comforter shall come to you, and be with your Ministry, and make your Ministry effectual and powerful and sa∣ving to the Souls of many persons in the World, and this he gives as an Antidote against their sor∣row. And truly I might have said it is a matter of the greatest. Comfort that any thing in the World can afford to the faithful Servants of Christ that their Ministry is made effectual to the fur∣therance of the Salvation of Souls; he speaks of it you see, as a Comfort suitable to their sorrow, that is able to weigh down their sorrow, that though they were so filled with sorrow at Christs depar∣ture from them, yet saith Christ, you shall have that, that is as comfortable to you as my bodily

presence can be, you shall have the co-working of the Spirit with you in your Ministry to make it effectual for the furtherance of the salvation of poor Souls.

For the opening of this Point I shall speak to these four things that are implyed and wrapt up in it.

1. That the Ministry of the Gospel is the Means of the conversion and salvation of Souls. This is implyed here, They shall go out to preach, and this should be for their Comfort, that they should be instrumental for the conversion and salvation of Souls.

2. That it is through the power of the Spirit, that the Ministry of the Gospel comes to be effectu∣al for the conversion and salvation of Souls. There∣fore saith Christ, I will send the Comforter to you, the Holy Ghost, and he shall convince the World of Sin, he shall make the Word that you preach efficaci∣ous to further the salvation of Souls.

3. That as the Ministry of the Gospel alone of it self cannot, so neither will the Holy Ghost work efficaciously and savingly to the conversion and salvation of Souls without the Ministry of the Gospel. Christ doth not say the Spirit alone shall work effectually, and convertingly, and savingly, no, but with your Ministry. It was therefore spo∣ken for their Comfort, the Spirit shall come along with your Ministry, and shall work effectually, and convincingly, and savingly.

4. It is matter of exceeding great and unspeak∣able Consolation and Joy to the faithful Servants of Christ, that their Ministery through the Opera∣tion of the Spirit is made efficacious and effectual

for the convincing and converting and saving of any Soul. Briefly to run over these things.

1. That the Ministration of the Gospel is the ordi∣nary Means of the Conversion and Salvation of Souls. And therefore hence it is that the Gospel is called sometimes the Word of Salvation, Acts 13.26. To you is this Word of Salvation sent; the Word of Sal∣vation, that is the Gospel; and sometimes 'tis called the Gospel of Salvation, Ephes. 1.13. The Gospel of your Salvation, saith he; and sometimes 'tis called Salvation it self, Heb. 2.3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great Salvation? If we neglect the Gospel we cannot escape damnation: The Gospel is called Salvation, beause 'tis the Instrument and the means of conversion and salvation. And hence it is that people are said to be begotten and born a∣gain unto God by the Gospel. Saith Paul to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 4.15. Though you have ten thou∣sand Instructors in Christ, yet you have not many Fa∣thers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel; I have begotten you, saith he, to be Children of God by the Gospel. So Paul writing to Philemon concerning Onesimus, at the 10th verse, saith he, Receive him, for I have begotten him in my bonds. Paul was then a prisoner, and Onesimus ran away from his Master Philemon, and came to Paul, and he was an instrument to beget him again to God by the Gospel; so saith the Apostle to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 15.1, 2. The Gospel by which you are saved — And so the Apostle James calls it the Word of Truth, whereby Souls are begot∣ten to God, Cap. 1.8. And so Peter also, saith, Ye are born again by the incorruptible seed, the Word, namely, the Word of the Gospel. So that the

Holy Ghost doth testify to us that the Gospel is the Means of the Conversion and Salvation of Souls.

Question.

And why so I pray? Whence is the Gospel, the means of the Conversion and Salvation of Souls?

Answer.

In a word, it is from hence, namely, Because God hath so ordained it and appointed it; It plea∣sed God, saith the Apostle, 1 Cor. 1.21. by the foolishness of Preaching to save those that believe. God hath appointed and ordained the Gospel, and the preaching of it, to be a means for the Con∣version and Salvation of Souls; It pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching, not that the Apostle calls it foolishness, but he speaks after the manner of the World, after the account and esteem that the World had of the preaching of the Gospel: As now, Cannot we as well read a Chapter at home, and edify our selves at home by reading of a Chapter, or reading some good Sermons, better than we can Hear? And therefore•• is it not a simple, weak, foolish thing for us to spend our time so? But, saith the Apostle, count it foolishness if you will, It pleased God to ordain by this way of foolishness as the World counts it; It pleased God by the foolishness of Preaching to save them that believe; 'Tis that that God ordains, and appoints, and institutes for that end, and that's the reason it is a means of Conversion and Salvation, though it be a foolish thing to carnal reason to come and hear a man speak a little time, and think this to be a means of Conversion and Salvation; but though it be so foolish a thing,

yet this is the way and means that God hath ap∣pointed whereby Souls should be converted and saved.

Question.

But, I pray, How is the Ministry of the Gospel a Means of Conversion and Salvation?

Answer.

Briefly; for I must not inlarge, The Gospel is a Means of Conversion and Salvation (namely) part∣ly by discovering or convincing People where they are out of the way of Salvation; as in the Text, I will send the Comforter, and he shall convince the World of Sin, of their sinful Estate, and how they are out of the Way of Salvation, and doth discover and convince them, and shew them the right way; and also the Gospel is a means to open and enlighten the Understandings of People, to open their blind Eyes; as Christ told Paul, when he sent him to preach the Gospel, Acts 26.18. Go, saith he, I have sent thee to open the Eyes of them that are blind, and to turn them from Dark∣ness to Light; that is, by the Ministry of the Gos∣pel. The Gospel is a Means to open peoples Eyes, to turn them from Darkness to Light, to make them see that they are in a state of Darkness, to make them see that there is a glorious Light held forth in the Gospel: as the Apostle speaks, 1 Pet. 2.9. Who hath called you out of Darkness into his marvelous Light; This is that the Gospel is a Means of, and so it brings to a state of Salvation. And again, the Gospel is a Means to deliver peo∣ple from the power of the Devil; every one natu∣rally is in the power of Satan, he rules and works

in all the Children of Unbelief; Now the Gos∣pel is a means to bring Souls from under the power of Satan; and so Christ told Paul in that 26th of Acts, I have sent thee (saith he) to turn them from Darkness to Light, and from the power of Satan to God. The Gospel is a Means of that; therefore saith the Apostle, 2 Cor. 10.4. The Weapons of our Warfare are not carnal, but mighty, through God, to the pulling down of strong holds, to beat down the Batteries, and Castles, and For∣tifications that Satan builds; it is mighty to pull down the power of Satan, and so by that means to bring a Soul into a State of Conversion and Sal∣vation. And also the Gospel is the Means to work faith in the heart, to cause a Soul to believe on Christ, 'tis a means of that, and so by that means the Soul comes to be justified, and freed from the guilt of Sin. Faith, saith the Apostle, com∣eth by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, Rom. 10.17. Faith cometh by hearing the Gospel preached; God is pleased to make use of the preaching of the Gospel to work Faith in the Souls of poor Sinners, and by working Faith in their Souls, drawing them unto Christ. Now by be∣lieving in Christ they come to have remission of Sins, as Christ told Paul in that of the Acts, To turn them from Darkness to Light, from the power of Satan to God, that they might receive Forgiveness of Sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified, and all by Faith in Christ: So that I say, the Gospel is the means ordained and appoin∣ted of God for the Salvation of Souls; and there∣fore let no body think that the Ministry of the Go∣spel is a needless thing, as many are ready to think

in their minds, that of all the Callings in the World the Ministry of the Gospel may be best spared. Truly, if so be that the Salvation of Souls be not necessary, then the Calling of Ministers to their Office, and their preaching of the Gospel, may be spared, but you see Christ hath appointed it to be the means of Conversion and Salvation; and therefore, whatever people may think secretly in their minds that we may edifie our selves by reading a Chapter, and meditating upon it, by reading of good Books, and what need we to trouble o••r selves to wait upon the Ministry of the Gospel? Truly know this, That the Foolish∣ness of God is wiser than the Wisdom of Man: God hath pleased to ordain and appoint the Ministry of the Gospel to be the means of Conversion and Salvation, and therefore if the Conversion of Souls be necessary, then the preaching of the Gos∣pel is necessary; therefore let us take heed we do not neglect attending upon the Gospel, and the preaching of the Gospel as we would be loth to neglect our own Salvation. That is the first, That the Gospel is the Means of working a sa∣ving and converting Work upon the Souls of Men.

2. The second is, That the Gospel alone of it self cannot work a saving and converting Work upon any Soul; no, there must be the Operation of the Spirit of Christ, that must go along with the Gsopel, or else the Gospel will never be able to work any saving converting Work upon any Soul; 'tis true indeed, the Gospel is the Word of Salvation; Ay, saith the Apostle, Rom. 1.16. It is the Power of God to Salvation; Ay, where

the power of God goeth along with it, it works Salvation by the power of the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 13.4. The Weapons of our Warfare are mighty through God, saith the Apostle; not mighty in themselves. The Weapons of our Warfare, what is that? The Ministry of the Gospel, the Preaching of the Gospel is mighty, but it is migh∣ty through God to the pulling down of Strong Holds. Alas! of it self it cannot, the Gospel of it self is but a weak Letter; but where the Power of the Spirit goes along with it, it is mighty, mighty through God, mighty to con∣vince, and mighty to convert, and mighty to save; therefore the Gospel is compared to a Sword, and it is called the Sword of the Spirit, Eph. 6.17. Take to you the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; It is a Sword that cannot do good, except it be wielded by the hand of the Spirit of God: It is not now as a natural cause to effect any thing; as now our Food is a natu∣ral cause, sanctified and ordained by God as a natural cause of nourishment. Physick is ordained as a natural Cause of health; but 'tis not so with the Word, the Ministry of the Word is but as a Tool or Instrument in a Workmans hand, in a Carpenter or Joyners hand; the Tool of it self cannot work, the Word of it self cannot work, but as it is in the Workmans hand, so it works. Truly so, the Sword of the Spirit, in the hand of the Spirit, that will work to the convincing and converting, and saving of a Soul, other∣wise it cannot do it; no, it is but weak in it self; even as a Sword that cannot move or lift up it self: but now in the hand of the Spirit

the Spirit, the Gospel is mighty to open the under∣standing, to open the heart. We read the heart of Lydia was opened when she heard Paul preach, but it was not Pauls preaching, but the Spirits go∣ing along with it, that did open her heart, and she attended to what was spoken by Paul; and so the Spirit with the Word is mighty to draw a Soul to Christ, not the Word alone; no, saith Christ, John 5.44, 45. No man can come unto me, except the Father draw him; that is, there must be the mighty Power of the Spirit of God con¦curring, to work with the Word, to draw and perswade and convince by the Word, and then it works. And so the Spirit with the Word will cause a Soul to grow and encrease in a Spi∣ritual Estate. Paul may plant, and Apollos may water, but it is the Lord must give the encrease to make the growth. So it is, one may preach, and another may preach, but still there must be the concurrance and work of the Spirit, or else all our preaching will be but like the watering of a dead plant; but the Spirit of the Lord must come and be present, and then our preaching, our planting and watering may be blessed for those ends for which God hath appointed it: And the reason is this, That without the Spirit of God, the Word, though it be ordained of God to be a Means of Conversion and Salvation, yet the Word alone without the Spirit cannot do it, because the Ministry of the Word is too weak to make an Impression upon our hard hearts.

Take a Seal, and set it upon a Rock or Stone, it makes no Impression, Why? Because there is

no pliableness in the Rock or Stone to receive the Impression: Thus it is with our hearts; our hearts are naturally like so many Stones; therefore see what the Lord promises, To take away the heart of Stone, and to give a heart of Flesh; a soft heart, the hardness of it shall be taken away; that when the Word comes as a Seal to make an Impression upon the heart, the Spirit doth change the heart, and makes it pliable to receive the Impression, which othewise it could not do. You may as well make an Impression upon a Rock or Stone, as upon any Heart, till the Spirit come and soften the heart, and make it pliable to receive the impression of the Word; and therefore hence you may observe, That sometimes, when divers hear the same Word preached, there are diversity of effects in the same hearers hearing the same Word, some are con∣verted, and others not; some believe, and others not. As Acts 17. When Paul had been preaching to them, Verse 32, 34. When they heard of the Re∣surrection of the dead, some mocked, and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter: Howbeit certain clave to him, and believed. Ay, some recei∣ved the Gospel, and others not; some believed, and others not.

As I remember, 'tis said, Acts 28.24. Some believed the things that were spoken, and some belie∣ved not; And, What is the Reason? The Spirit doth work effectually with the Gospel upon some hearts, but not upon others; that is the reason that some believed, and some believed not. And hence it is again, that sometimes some are more hardned by the very word of the Gospel: So far from being converted and brought into a state of Salvation,

that they are more hardned and set further off, nearer to their damnation. What is the reason? Because there wants the presence of the Spirit, and therefore you shall see Isa. 6.9. saith the Lord to the Prophet (he was an Evangelical Prophet) Go, (saith the Lord) make this peoples heart hard; go and harden their hearts, that they may hear, and not understand, that they may not be conver∣ted and saved; Let their hearts be more hardned, saith God, by hearing the Gospel preached: nay sometimes, what is the reason that the most emi∣nent ablest Preacher of the Gospel in the World; that their Ministry is sometimes less efficacious than the Ministry of them that are far inferiour to them? what is the reason? Because the Con∣currence of the Spirit goeth along with the one and not with the other. You shall see Christ him∣self▪ the most eminent Preacher that ever was un∣der Heaven, John 22.36, 37. He preaches there; and though he did Miracles before them, yet they believed not on him; that the saying of Isaiah the Prophet might be fulfilled, Lord, who hath believed our Report? and to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed; And therefore they could not believe, because, Isaiah saith again, He hath blinded their Eyes, and hardned their hearts — These things, said Isaiah, when he saw his glory and spake of him; when he saw the glory of Christ, when he was most Evangelical in his Mi∣nistry, then he spake these Words, whereas Pe∣ter now, that was far inferiour to Christ, having the presence of the Spirit mightily poured down upon him, Acts 2. (where the Holy Ghost fell down upon the Apostles like so many fiery cloven

tongues.) Peter preached to them, and he con∣verted three thousand Souls at one Clap, because of the powerful presence of the Spirit together with the Word. Therefore, Brethren, still let us not satisfy our selves with hearing the Gospel preached, though we had the most eminent preach∣er that ever was in the World, though we should have heard Christ himself, but look for the Con∣currence of the Spirit, the breathings of the Spi∣rit, wait upon God for the communicating and giving out of his Spirit, that they may make the Gospel to be the Ministration, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit, for it is the Spirits Work to make the Gospel effectual and operative for the Con∣version and Salvation of Souls.

3. In a Word, that, As the Preaching of the Gospel of it self cannot convert, or save any Soul, So neither will the Holy Ghost without the Concur∣rence and preaching of the Gospel. You heard before that the Preaching of the Gospel cannot do it alone; But cannot the Spirit? will not the Spirit do it alone? It can do it alone indeed, But mark I pray, the Spirit will not ordinarily convince and convert effectually and savingly any Soul without the Ministration of the Gospel: To give you but a Scripture or two for this, Acts 9. You see there Christ himself speaks to Paul; you know how he met with him as he was going to Damascus, to persecute the Saints, and Christ spake immediately to him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? well, who art thou, Lord? saith he; I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest; Well, Verse 6. You shall see, saith Paul, Lord, What wouldest thou have me to do? Mark now,

Christ doth not preach the Gospel immediately himself, but he sends him to one to preach to him; Go into Damascus, and there it shall be told thee what thou shalt do; and there Christ sent Ananias to preach the Gospel to him; Christ himself would not preach the Gospel from Hea∣ven to him, nor he would not convert nor save his Soul without the Ministration of the Gospel. And look into Acts 10. See there concerning Cornelius, there was an Angel from Heaven sent to him, he had been fasting and praying, and that hour there came an Angel of God to him to tell him that God had heard his Prayers, and accepted his Alms, but why may not the Angel preach the Gospel immediately? No, the Lord would have the Gospel dispensed in an ordinary way of preach∣ing, not by an Angel from Heaven, therefore Verse 5. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose Surname is Peter, and he shall tell thee words whereby thou and thy house shall be saved, he shall preach the Gospel effectually to you; and you shall see afterwards, Verse 33. Im∣mediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast done well that thou art come: now therefore are we all here present before God to hear thee; and Verse 44. Whilest Peter spake these Words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. Why did not the Angel himself preach the Gospel to Cornelius? Why was not he an Instrument of his Conversion and Salvation? no, the Holy Ghost will not work alone without the ordinary concurrence of the Ministration of the Gospel, and therefore look at it as a delusion of Satan, if so be that upon any pretence whatsoever, any shall endeavour to take

you off from attending upon the Ministry of the Gospel upon pretence of the Spirit, that the Spirit shall anoint us and teach us all things —. Well, look upon it as a Delusion of Satan, if it be to take you off from attending upon the Ministery of the Gospel which is the ordinary way that God hath appointed; and take this for an universal Rule, That whatever it be that tends to take any people off from any Ordinance of God, or any In∣stitution of God, look at it as a delusion of Satan, let it be under any pretence whatsoever; as now, to take one off from Duties and Ordinances, to wait till the Spirit come immediately to inspire — look upon it as a Delusion, because it tends to take you off from the ordinary Institutions that God hath appointed. So, you see the Gospel is the Means of Conversion and Salvation, the Gospel without the Spirit cannot do it, and the Spirit without the Gospel will not do it.

4. The fourth thing is this, That it is a matter of unspeakable Joy and Consolation to the faithfull Servants of Christ, that their dispensing of the Gos∣pel through the Concurrence of the Spirit is made ef∣fectual for the Conversion and Salvation of any Soul. Ay, saith Christ here; this shall be instead of my bodily presence with you, and it shall be as com∣fortable to you. You are now troubled and sor∣rowful because I am going away from you, but I will send the Comforter to you, and the Comfor∣ter shall assist you in your Ministry, and make it successful to convince and convert and save Souls, and Christ would have them, to look upon it as equivalent to his own bodily presence, and would be matter of greater Joy and Consolation to them.

Look into Verse 12, 22 of this Chapter, saith Christ, You are now sad and sorrowful, but I tell you, (saith He) the time is coming that your sorrows shall be forgotten: The sorrows that you have upon my departure shall be forgotten, they shall be swallowed up with Joy and Consolation: Look, saith he, as it is with a Woman when she draweth near the time of her Travail, when her pains begin to come upon her, then she is sad and sorrowful, but, saith he, when she is delivered, she forgetteth her sorrow, for Joy that a man-child is born —: so shall it be with you. Thus Christ comforts his Disciples against his going a∣way, they should have such matter of rejoycing that should swallow up all their sorrows, they should have the presence of the Spirit, and their Ministry should be efficacious and successful for the converting of Souls, and Christ did speak it from his own experience, John 4. When he was speaking to the Woman of Samaria, he sent his Disciples into the City to buy food, for he was hungry, and when he sat down weary on the Well, he asked a little water of the woman, and so fell a discoursing and convincing of the wo∣man that she lived in Adultery, and converted the woman, and when his Disciples came, Master, say they, here is meat to eat: Meat, saith he, I have that which is better than meat, I have meat to eat which you know not of; my Meat is to do the Will of my Father; here is my joy and rejoycing to convert Souls. Meat is matter of great joy to an hungry man, if you give him all the World, if he have not meat it is nothing; saith Christ, I take more joy and delight in converting of Souls,

than I do in eating when I am an hungry. And you shall see how the Apostle Paul doth rejoyce in this, that he was an Instrument in converting and saving of Souls, he writing to the Thessalonians, 1 Epist. 2.19, 20. For what is our Joy, or Hope, or Crown of rejoycing? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? for ye are our Glory and our Joy; ye (saith he) are the Top of my Joy, the Crown of my Joy; Paul had been an Instrument to convert them by the preach∣ing of the Gospel, and, saith he, ye are the top of my glory and rejoycing; So, 2 Thess. 2.13, 14. We are bound to give God thanks always for you, my Brethren, and Beloved in the Lord; because God hath from the beginning chosen you unto Salvation, through the Sanctification of the Spirit, and Belief of the Truth, whereunto he called you by my Gospel, to the obtaining the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ: Saith he, we are always bound to give thanks to God for you; Ay, here is matter of Joy and Re∣joycing. And truly so, though Paul did meet with Afflictions, Tribulations, and Persecutions for preaching of the Gospel, yet notwithstand∣ing he made nothing of all his troubles, sufferings and sorrows, in regard he did but finish his Course with Joy. If he have but this Joy and Con∣solation, I care not, saith he, what troubles or afflictions do abide me, Acts 20.24. The Holy Ghost witnesseth in every City, that bonds and afflicti∣ons abide me; but none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto my self, so that I may finish my Course with Joy and the Ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus. If I can but preach the Gospel, saith he, and be an Instru∣ment

to convert Souls, this is the Joy of my heart, let my life go for it. And it is a very high expression which the Apostle John hath Epist. 3. Verse 4. saith he there, I have no greater joy, (mark) the Apostle John that had such Communion with Christ; Yet saith he, I have no greater joy than to hear that my Children walk in the Truth; Those that he had been a means and Instrument to con∣vert by his preaching, now to see that their con∣version was true and real by their continuing in the truth: I have no greater Joy in this world, saith he; And why so, I pray? Why should this be such a matter of Joy and rejoycing to the hearts of the faithful Servants that their Ministry is made effectual for the Conversion of Souls?

1. Upon this Account, because, Here is a Sign and Token that God hath blessed their Ministry, that the Blessing of God from Heaven hath been upon their labours: and I pray let me appeal to your selves, is it not matter of Comfort Joy and Rejoy∣cing to you that you find your labours and in∣deavours to have any Success, to be blessed of God? As now, take a Nurse that brings up a Child, and she sees the child begins to thrive by her suckling of it, and it is the Joy and Rejoycing of her heart; as on the other side, if she see the Child pine a∣way, and doth not prosper, 'tis the grief of her heart, when she takes all this pains and no good comes of it. When you plant and sow seed, if you take any pains in your Orchard or Garden in grafting and the like, and you find that your la∣bour is made fruitful, is it not a Comfort to you to go into your Garden, and see the seed that you have sown flourish and come up? It is rejoycing

to you; and much more is it to the hearts of the faithful Servants of Christ that their labours in the Ministry are blessed and made fruitful and suc∣cessful; because now here is the more immediate presence of God upon their labours, here is the blessing, the blessing of God doth more immedi∣ately appear in their labours. Now in sowing of Seed there is instrumental means and causes of its growing, there is Dew, and Showers, and Rain from Heaven, there is the influence of the Sun, the fatness of the Soil, that concur to cause it grow; but now there is much against the Mi∣nistry of the Word to work upon the heart; there is the corruption of the heart, and the temptati∣ons of Satan and the World, and all to hinder the Gospel from taking effect, but now when the Lord makes the Gospel to take effect, to become effi∣cacious to the Conversion of Souls, of poor Creatures, here is now the blessing of Heauen up∣on his labours, and now he hath cause to rejoyce greatly that God is with him, and hath blessed his labours, and now God doth own him as a Fellow-Labourer together with himself, We are Workers together with God, saith the Apostle, We are Gods Husband men, and we are planting for God, and God goes along with us and co∣operates with us; what a mighty cause of rejoy∣cing is this? that we have the presence of God with us, and the blessing of God upon us; nay, it is an argument and token that God owns their Ministry and labour, and he seals their Ministry and Labour, as the Apostle saith, Ye are the Seal of our Ministry; this is I say matter of great Joy and Consolation in regard it is a Sign

and Token that God hath blessed the Labours of his Servants, and owned their Ministry.

2. 'Tis a matter of great Joy and Consolation, because now, Here is a Testimony that Jesus Christ in Heaven and in his Glory is mindful of his poor Servants here below in the World, he doth mind and remember such a poor Servant of his, that labours in his Name, and doth send down the Spirit to accompany him in his Labours; as Christ said here to his Disciples, I will send the Comforter and he shall assist you, and I will remember you, when I am in Heaven, I will not forget you. Thus Christ now sends down the Comforter, the Spi∣rit from Heaven to assist such a poor Minister in his labours and endeavours; what matter of Conso∣lation is this to think that Christ from Heaven sends down his Spirit to co-operate with him in his indeavours? What matter of Joy and Conso∣lation is this? Take but one more.

3. It must needs be matter of great Joy and Consolation to the faithful Servants of Christ, to think that the Lord should please to make use of such as they are to be Instruments in his hands to pull down the Kingdome of the Devil, and to inlarge the Kingdom of Christ; That the Devils Kingdom and power should go down, and that Souls should be drawn out of his Kingdom by the Labours of his poor Servants, what Joy is this? When Christ sent his Disciples to preach, Luke 10.17, 18 it is said, They returned again rejoycing, saying, The Devils are subject to us: Ay, saith Christ, I beheld Satan fall down from Heaven like Light∣ning. Where the Gospel comes, there goes such a Presence of the Spirit with the preaching thereof

that Sathan goes down, and poor Souls are brought out from under his power and Dominion; as you know Christ told Paul, that he should be instrumental to turn people from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; though they be under the Kingdom and Power of the Devil, yet by the preaching of the Gospel, when the Spirit concurs and goes along with it, poor Souls are translated from the Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of his dear Son, Col. 1.15. Now what Joy and Comfort must this needs be to the hearts of the faithful Servants of Christ? that the Lord should please to make them Instru∣ments in his own hands to pull down the King∣dom of the Devil and to inlarge his own King∣dom, that such shall be added to the Lord as shall be saved? I say it must needs be matter of Joy and Rejoycing: But I would hasten to an end. Briefly therefore by way of Application.

Application. And here I might in the first place take occasion to speak a Word of Direction to the Ministers of Christ, if it were a fit place and sea∣son, namely, to direct us how we may so preach that we may have most Joy and Consolation. The faithfull Servants of Christ have more Joy and Consolation by being instrumental for the Conversion and Salvation of Souls, than by all that ever the People of their Congregation can do for them; If they may be instrumental in the Lords hand for their Conversion and Salvation, this is more Joy and Consolation to them, than any thing in the World can be. Christ tells his Disciples that this would be matter of Joy and Rejoycing to their Hearts when he was gone from them,

therefore we should seek to convert and save Souls, we should do, as the Apostle saith, I seek not yours, but you; we should seek the Conversion and Sal∣vation of Souls, and therefore we should be preach∣ing of Faith and of Repentance, as the Apostle Paul saith of himself, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and Repentance towards God, whereby poor Souls may be converted and saved: And we had need be much in pleading with God for the Spirit, that the Spirit of the Lord may go along with our Ministry: Our Sermons had need to be watered and soaked in earnest prayer for the Spirit.

2. Here is now a mighty Word of Encourage∣ment unto poor Souls to be ready to entertain and receive the Gospel, and the Ministration of it; to be ready so to receive it into your hearts as it may be a good Word of Conversion and Salvation to your Souls. Ay, this would be matter of Joy and Rejoycing to the Servants of Christ more than all that ever you can do for them, if they may be but instrumental for the Conversion and Salvation of your Souls, it will be more Comfort and joy to them than all the World besides; Joy to them, Ay, it will be Joy to the very Angels in Heaven, Luk. 15.10, 11. There shall be Joy in Heaven over one Ein•••••• that repents — The Angels of Heaven observe how you come into the Congregation, they observe your Carriage, and how you take the Word, and what impression it makes upon your hearts to Co••v••ction and Conversion, and Sal∣vation, it is the Joy and Rejoycing of the Angels in Heaven to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a poor Soul brought in by the Ministry of the Gospel••; and do not you think, you your selves will have as much cause of Joy

and Rejoycing? Whereas on the other side, if so be the poor Servants of Christ do come and take pains; they study, and labour, and hold forth the Word of the Gospel to you, and people come and receive it into their ears, and not into their hearts; no good done upon them, but they remain as carnal, as worldly and unbelieving as before, and they see no fruit of their Ministry; this is the grief of their hearts and Souls, they labour and labour and question whether the Lord doth own their Ministry or no; they have cause to complain as the Prophet Isa. 49.6. I have laboured in vain, I have spent my Strength for naught and in vain. So the poor Servants of Christ go with a dead heart into their Studies, and come to preach with a sad heart, when they see no good done, no sa∣ving Work wrought; this is a very Cut to their hearts and Souls, and they would rather (if they might have their wills) cease mentioning of the Name of Christ to people. Therefore let it be the desire, and endeavour, and care of people so to hear and receive the Word into their hearts that it may become effectual, and an Instrument in the Lords hand for the Conversion and Salvation of their Souls.

Objection.

But you will say, Is it in our power (I know you think so in your hearts) to make the Word convincing, and converting, and saving?

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.