God's Wind on the Church (2)

In spiritual things there is a chain of causes and effects: prayer comes from faith (Rom. 10:14); faith from the hearing of the word; hearing from a preacher, by whom God by his Spirit blows upon the heart; and a preacher from God's sending. If the God of nature should but hinder and take away one link of this chain, the whole frame would be disturbed. We need this blowing, otherwise our spirits will be becalmed and stand at a standstill and Satan will have his bellows blowing up the seeds of sinful lusts in us. For there are two spirits in the church, the one always blowing against the other. The best had need to be stirred up; otherwise, with Moses (Exod. 17:12), their hands will be ready to fall, and abate in their affection. We need blowing:
(1) In regard of our natural inability.
(2) In regard of our dullness and heaviness, cleaving to nature occasionally.
(3) In regard of the contrary winds from without. Satan has his bellows filled with his spirit, that hinders the work of grace all he can; so that we need not only Christ's blowing, but also his stopping other contrary winds (Rev. 7:1).
(4) In regard to the state and condition of the new covenant, wherein all beginning, growth, and ending, is from grace, and nothing but grace.
(5) Because old grace, without a fresh supply, will not hold against new crosses and temptations.
Therefore, when Christ draws, let us run after him; when he blows, let us open ourselves to him. It may be the last blast that we will ever have from him. And let us set upon duties with this encouragement, that Christ will blow upon us, not only to prevent us from falling, but also to maintain his own graces in us. Where is the stirring up of ourselves, and one another, upon these grounds?

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Love of Christ (Bowels Opened), pp. 9-10
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.