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conscience_n spirit_n testimony_n witness_v 1,787 5 10.0023 5 true
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A28310 A soul-searching catechism wherein is opened and explained not onely the six fundamental points set down Heb. 6. I. but also many other questions of highest concernment in Christian religion : wherein is strong meat for them that are grown and milk for babes, in a very short catechism at the end, exceeding needful for all families in these ignorant and unsetled times / written by Christopher Blackwood. Blackwood, Christopher. 1653 (1653) Wing B3101; ESTC R24658 62,833 92

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betwixt these sinful pleasures here and the fear of eternal vengeance hereafter 5. Their combat how hot soever is still joyned with a custome and purpose of sinning so that they lay down the Cudgels to sin saying This is my nature and I must do it 2 Pet. 2.14 Now the combat in regenerate men is 1. Fierce and in the purpose of the heart against all sin though sometimes it be defective in some act or acts 2. In this combat they disallow the evil they do not onely from a principle of natural conscience which in some sins carnal men may do but also from a principle of spiritual life because it is contrary to the life which they live 3. They groan under their evils with many a sign and tear in secret yea such evils as the world takes no notice of as dead-hartedness declining of affection to God want of former feelings hard ness of heart unbelief coldness and distraction in good duties vain hopes vain fears carking cases lumpishness in Gods service risings of revenge also the tricks the soul hath had to keep off convincement in suffering times also the by-ends in the good it hath done One wears a chain as an ornament another as a fetter and would fain be rid of it so wicked men wear their lusts as ornaments to them but Gods people wear them as the heaviest chain 4. If in the combat the Flesh get the upper hand and they fall they cannot be quiet till they have turned to God and recovered their acquaintance with him Psalm 51.8 9 10 11 12. but carnal men are not troubled but add sin to sin Gen. 37.24 Q. Whether it be possible for a Christian to be assured of his union with Christ and of his acceptation into favour with God A. Yes 1. because the Scripture bids us prove our spirituall estate 2 Cor. 13.4 Gal. 6.4 1 Cor. 11.28 Now the Spirit would not bid us search for that which could not be found 2. Because the Scripture reveales unto us many evidences of our assurance some taken from our union with Christ and some from the in-dwelling of the Spirit in us Q. What markes or signs doth the Scripture reveal to evidence our union with Christ A. The most demonstrative signe or at least one of them is soveraigne love to God to the Lord better then any enjoyment of Lands Liberties Life Wife and Children Mat. 10.37 Luke 9.23 14.26 Mat. 16.24 which evidence if you leave out the soul may be deceived in others severed from this For whosoever believes in Christ his faith doth work by love Gal. 5.4 yea by a love of this measure Heb. 11.25 26 27 35. Q. What are the Witnesses that witness a Christians good condition to God-ward A. They are two 1. The witness of Gods Spirit 2. The witness of our regenerated Spirits Rom. 8.16 The Spirit beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the children of God Q. What doth the Spirit witness A. It witnesses God is our Father for we having received the Spirit of adoption thereby cry Abba Father Rom. 8.15 it witnesses the things that are freely given us of God 1 Cor. 2.9 12. Q. After what manner doth the Spirit witnesse A. Two wayes First by the impressions and stamps which like a Seal upon the Wax it maketh upon the soul Ephes 1.13 Secondly by the fruits and effects thereof Q What are the impressions or stamps the Spirit maketh upon the soul A. They are two First the stamp of Holiness whereby the Spirit changeth the Saints into the image of God from one glorious grace into another 2 Cor. 3.18 so that as a seal destroyes that image that was in the Wax before so doth the seal or stamps of the Spirit destroy corruption in the soul in respect of the reign of it and set up grace in the reign thereof Rom. 6.14 This same stamp of Holiness being throughout 1 Thess 5.23 and consisting in a change of the whole man 2 Cor. 3.18 and especially in a transformation of the minde Rom. 12.2 and will Acts 9.6 is one of the impressions of the Spirit Secondly the impression of Comfort and Feeling Psal 51.8.12 this being given of the Spirit Eph. 1.13 as an occasional refreshing not as daily food for the soul to feed upon Psal 6.8 Psal 31.22 doth shew the Spirit of God is in us 2 Cor. 1.3 yet doth not the want of his feeling prove that the Spirit of God is not in us for God doth sometimes hide himself from the soul Isa 45.15 Psal 51.8 the Spirit in respect of this feeling is one of the three witnesses that testifies Christ to be our Saviour 1 John 5.8 Q. whether is a Christians assurance and feeling all one A. No The word and promise of a powerful faithful and willing God with the Notes and Evidences of a Christians good estate as they are laid down in the Scripture are the grounds of a Christians assurance and comfortable feelings are the Crown thereof A poor deserted soul that hath little feeling may have a soveraign love of God fear of sin and an absolute purpose against it Psal 44.18 19. yea he may have uprightness of heart Job 1.1 compared with chap. 6.4 yea he may have faith in Christ Psal 22.1 yea an earnest thirsting after Christ Cant. 5.6 Now shall I have a purpose to deny credit wealth and life for Christ yea and have all the forementioned gracious fruits and shall I not have grounds of assurance that my estate is good to God-ward When Christ asked Peter whether he loved him he did not say Lord thou knowest we cannot tell whether we love thee or no but said Thou knowest that I love thee Q. Whew doth the Spirit seal the soul with comfort A. First when the soul is cast down in humiliation and earnestly longs for the light of Gods countenance Job 22.29 Isa 29.19 Secondly upon self-denial of that which is pleasant or suffering that which is painful Mat. 19.27 Thirdly after conflict with corruptions or other temptations and victory over them Apoc. 2.17 Fourthly when a believer takes paines with his heart and puts forth his strength in duty Hosea 12.4 Q What are the effects and fruits whereby the Spirit witnesses his in-being in the soul A. They are divers as 1. An inablement of the soul to do things above nature as to love the Lord Soveraignly to love our enemies to love the godly for the Image of God in them 2. When the Spirit is combating in us against all that is sin Gal. 5.17 so that we do not onely suppress the same but also lust after graces contrary thereunto 3. As the beames of the Sun shew forth the presence of the Sun so the sighs groans and meltings in holy hearts evidence that the Spirit is in them Zach. 12.10 Rom. 8.26 Q. What is the testimony of our own spirit A. It is the Testimony of a renewed Conscience witnessing us no be in the state of grace upon sufficient grounds Rom.