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What is it for God to dwell or abide in us?
God is said to dwell, not where he is, but where he loves to be, and so doth a man. Now God loves to be where love is, God loves not to be where malice and discontent is; God being a God of peace, loves to dwell in a
place of peace, or else he dwels not. God indeed is all the world over, if we go to Hell, he is there; if to Heaven, he is there; but yet he doth not dwell every where, Isa. 57.15. If where the Devill dwels, all that he possesseth is in peace, much more God, who is the God of peace, loves to be where peace is, & keeps that peace which passeth understanding.
There is a two-fold peace that passeth understanding.
1 The peace of that soule whose sins are pardoned, Phil. 4.7.
2 The peace of that soule whose sinnes are mortified; now where God is, where God keeps the soul, there is peace that passeth understanding, both par∣doning sin, and mortifying corruption: When Jacob was with Laban, and Jo∣seph in Potiphars house, all was well; much more will all be well, where God himself is.
Reas. 1. From Gods nature, for God is love, where sparks flye out of the Chimney, there is fire; so where you see love in the lips, carriage and heart of a man there is the presence of the blessed God.
2 From Gods operations: Where God dwels, he pardons sin, and purifies the conscience, or prospers the outward man, and there is a spirit of love in that mans heart; where God freely pardons, there is much forgiven, & where is much forgiven there is much love, Luk. 10.43.47. where we have a thou∣sand forgiven, we shall be ready to forgive an hundred, Ephes. 4. ult.
2 He purges filth: If our hearts be purified from uncleannesse and sinfull distempers, there the heart runs clear in love, and there dwels, 1 Pet. 1.21. But if the heart be full of mud, it will run foul in hatred.
3 He works love. If we love our brethren, it must be from the love of God in us, if there be love, it is from God; if there be hatred, it is from the Devill, Judg. 9.23. it is said, That he sent an evill spirit between Abimilech and the men of Shechem. Where Satan dwels, he will set all on fire, all hatred and wrath is from hell, and it will so kindle that it will consume one another; Fire from hell doth not warm, it scorcheth, Ephes. 4.17. If we give way to sinful wrath, we give place to the Devil; Love cannot be from the Devil.
2 This love is not from the world, Jam. 4.4.
3 This is not from our flesh, Jam. 4.5.
Therefore it must spring from God, who makes peace, pardoning our sins, and mortifying our corruptions.
Quest. But may there not be peace where Satan is? Luk. 11.21.
Answ. He dwels in peace, but a false peace, for the wrath of God lyes on that soul, as a mans house when it is on fire, he being asleep, he sleeps, but not securely.
2 This peace is a peace of a mans own conception.
Obj. There may be much peace and much love, and I have known much true hearted love amongst men, that have nothing but the light of Nature, much more where is the light of Gods common grace, shall we say, God dwels not here?
Answ. The Spirit speaks not of civill love, but of such a love as wherein God dwels, pardoning sin, and mortifying sin, which he never doth in natu∣ral men; there may be found good nature in men, but that love which eviden∣ces pardoning and healing of sin, is not found in natural men, this love differs from carnal love.
1 This love reacheth not to the body onely, but to the soul, Lev. 19.16, 17. If we love not the soul of our brother, our love is not true love.
2 Christian love reacheth to strangers and enemies, as well as neighbours and friends; good natured love may reach to strangers, but not to ene∣mies.
3 Christian love will be stronger to our brethren then worldly love, though Christian love may be damped, yet it will over-flow; good natured love that comes from a little fountain, a little thing will stop it; but Christian love springs from heaven, and no man can make a dam to stop it.
Ʋse 1. Of tryal of Gods fellowship with us, whether God dwell in our
hearts or no, where God once dwels, he always dwels, John 10.27.28. who shall put him out? he is stronger then all.
Quest. How shall I know whether God dwell in my heart or no?
Answ. Ask thy soul whether God dwell in thee or no: not good natured love; but that love which desires peace of conscience, and purity of thy owne heart, and of thy brothers, 2 Cor. 7.8, 9, 10.
2 This should teach us all to walk in a frame of brotherly love, to abound in tenderness of spirit to one anothers souls, not to provoke one another to wrath, and seduce from ways of salvation, but to be helpful one to another in our spi∣ritual estate: God loves to lye in a bed of love, God will not dwell where love dwels not, therefore keep open house for the spirit of love; God is where he loves, and he loves to be where love is: wrath, malice, and hatred smoaks God out of doors; a man performs no duty pleasing to God while wrath is in his heart.