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blessed truths and promises of the gospel, &c. You must wait for it in the motions and stirring of God's word in you by God's means; then, as Cornelius and his company received it at Peter's sermon, Acts x. 44, and as the Galatians, at the hearing of faith, Gal. iii. 5, so may you. For the gospel is called the ministry of the Spirit, 2 Cor. iii. 6, 8.

Fourthly, Pray for the Spirit; and though you cannot pray well without the Spirit, yet since it is God's will that you should pray for it, set about prayer for it as well as you can; then God will enable you to pray for the Spirit, and you shall have it. For Christ saith, If ye that are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke xi. 13. As these are means to get the Spirit, so they are means to continue, nourish, and increase the graces of the Spirit.

Fifthly, If you would keep and nourish this Spirit, you must take part with it, in its conflicts with the flesh and sin: you must not resist, but willingly receive the comforts and motions of the Spirit, and must do your best to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. You must take heed that you neither grieve nor quench the Spirit. It is grieved, when it is resisted, crossed, or opposed any way, Eph. iv. 30, 31; 1 Thess. v. 19, 20. It is quenched as fire is. First, by throwing on water; all sinful actions, as they be greater or smaller, are as water. They do accordingly more or less quench and abate the Spirit's operations. Secondly, Fire may be quenched and put out by withdrawing of wood and fuel; all neglect, or negligent using of the word, sacraments, prayer, meditation, and holy conference, and communion of saints, do much offend and quench the Spirit; whereas the daily and diligent use of all these, through his concurring grace, does much increase and strengthen the life of God in the soul; whence must needs follow much peace and comfort.

Now when you have gotten this Holy Spirit, and have any proofs of the Holy Spirit's being in you, then you ought to rest satisfied in the Spirit's witness to