Much of self-denial speaks much of the Spirit: he who will be least his own is most God’s, and partakes most of the divine nature. The Spirit loves the room of self; I live not, but Christ (by his Spirit) lives in me, Gal. 2, and the Spirit so to speak, is the full predominant element in the acting (not that nature itself is wholly dead and passive) and self appears to be sunk into nothing, and is denied; as Matt 10:20. It not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you. Though they be living persons in their nature and being, Peter and John Speaks: and yet the Sprit so discourses and lays aside the creature called self, and sets up God, and that as if self were annihilated and not there at all the spirit as the predominate speaks in the man and acts in him, rather than the man. And the Spirit of the Father prayeth, preacheth, reigneth, acteth, disputeth, confesseth in the believer. 1 Cor 15:10. But I laboured more abundantly than they all; then must I in Paul be preferred and exalted above John, the beloved Disciple, and all the eminent apostles? Oh no; I laboured more abundantly, yet not I but the grace of God which was with me. Acts 6. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which Stephen spake. He saith not they were not able to resist and dispute against the sinful man Stephen, Acts 4:8.
—Samuel Rutherford, “Influences of the Life of Grace.”