Joh. 3.9 For his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin The word within is a seed that opposeth sin Thou mayest have a hundred Scriptures forbidding a particular sin which the flesh lusteth towards and as many promises of helpe against it all these may be eyed and thought upon and some affections may be slightly touched herewith but if thy heart hath not treasured up these words thou mayest be rushed into the sin in the face of all these But when the heart engageth by the word against sin then it is evidencing for the word is the sword of the Spirit Eph. 6.17 The following particulars will further evidence when the Contest is between the flesh and the Spirit 5. When the soules choosing freedome from sin doth lead to and end in the mortification of sin that this is an evidence of Adoption is cleare Rom. 8.13 If ye by the Spirit doe mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live There may be a cessation from the actings of a sin and yet no mortification of it He that hath been a drunkard swearer Sabbath-breaker c. may desist from these prophane practises which he hath followed and yet be under the dominion of sin still Act. 8.11.13 There may be a change of sin and no change of heart one sin may be left and another taken in the roome of it A cessation chiefly respecteth the acts of sin and aimeth at the repressing of them but mortification striketh at the root the nature of sin Rom. 7.24 aimeth at the destruction of it Rom. 6.6 That the body of sin might be destroyed Yea in some measure it extinguisheth the vigour and expelleth or driveth out the very life of sin 6. When there is an irreconcileable opposition in the soule against sin a man may mislike the way it cometh in as having some ill consequences attending it and there may be a kinde of parting upon it sin may seeme to soffer banishment for a time upon some particular discontents against it Matth. 12. v. 43 44 45. The uncleane Spirit i.e. Sin or Satan is gone out of a man but v 44. it returneth there is a re-entrance and the latter end of that man is worse then the beginning But if there be such enmitie against and detestation of sin as it can upon no termes admit of any reconciliation that mountaines of gold nor the greatest advantages can win the least token of favour or respect from the soule towards sin but it cryeth out under it as Rom. 7.24 O wretched man that I am then it is freed from the dominion of sin 7. When it is upon spirituall and Evangelicall accounts that it chooseth freedome from sin A man may be incensed against sin upon natural civil moral and religious accounts and yet be under the dominion of sin still Rom. 10.2 They have a zeale of God Qu When doth a man choose freedome from sin upon Evangelicall accounts Ans 1. When the contrariety of sin to the will of God in Christ doth dis-ingage the heart from it Christ is often called a King a Lord a Law-giver to note that all Commands whither injoyning duties or forbidding sins they are to be received not onely as from the hands of an All-powerfull and infinitely just God but as from the hands of the Mediatour Not but that a soule is to looke upon sin as a violation of the Fathers will yet his will not according to the tenor of the old Covenant Gal. 3. v. 10 11. but as he hath revealed it in the new Covenant as Commanded over againe by Christ Joh. 14.15 Keep my Commandments 21.23 Joh. 13.34 1 Joh. 2.8 Matth. 5.27 to the end of the Chapter 1 Cor. 9.21 I am under the Law to Christ So that the lowest duty ought to be service to Christ Eph. 6. v 5 6. Servants are to obey their Master in singlenesse of heart as unto Christ You may feare sin and be sorry for it and make opposition against it as contrary to the will of God as Creator but if its striking at Christ as Redeemer carry not out against sin it is not Evangelicall nor witnessing 2. When a sight of the injury offered to Christ by sin doth carry out the heart against it a man may have a sorrow for a feare of and hatred against sin as procuring discredit or losse of reputation sufferings c. and yet be under the dominion of it still But when the soule is touched with a deep sense of it in Christs sufferings for and by it when its piercing wounding and grieving of Christ doth melt the heart for it then it acteth Evangelically Zech. 12.10 3. When a discoverie of the love kindnesse and goodnesse of God in Christ is the constraining thing from sin when the appearances of the grace of God teach to deny ungodlines Titus 2.13 and the goodnesse of the Lord leadeth to repentance Rom. 2.4 Ingenuity did exceedingly affect Sauls heart with his sin 1 Sam. 26.21 David had but cut asunder the lap of his garment when he might have cut asunder the thred of his life and this love and kindnesse of David in sparing his life drew out an acknowledgement of his sin in the aggravations of it for the present I have sinned and erred exceedingly yea it put him upon resolutions against it for the future I will no more doe thee harme A man may be much affected with a sin upon some great deliverance or the like may confesse it in its aggravations and that upon very ingenuous considerations and yet be under the dominion of it still as Saul was But see how the Lord seeketh to affect the bea rt of David with his sin 2 Sam. 12. v. 7 8 9. I have anointed thee King over Israel c. And if this had been too little I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things Wherefore hast thou despised the Commandment of the Lord And when this love of God had evercome his heart into an acknowledgment of his sin v. 13. presently he had a sentence of absolution He seemeth to be interrupted in speaking out his sorrow with this the Lord also hath put away thy sin When the remembrance of the former loving-kindnesses of the Lord doth melt the heart for sin this is soone followed up with a testimonie of remission 4. When it aimeth at a Conformitie unto Christ in its seeking freedomes from sin 1 Pet. 2.21 22 23. Custome and the example of Forefathers and the credit of religion in the Country or place a man liveth in as also education c. may prevaile so farre as to restraine very much and make a man discountenance sin but except Christ be thy patterne of imitation and thy sorrow be because thou fallest so short of him he regardeth it not 5. When it aimeth at the coming up to some speciall Gospell duty or the attainement of some speciall Gospell priviledge in seeking freedome from sin A man may see that sin crosseth some carnal
acceptation into favour with God and now through Christ may lay claime unto whatsoever that relation can entitle to this testimony telleth us that we may have an expectation of such provisions protections portions as it becometh such a Father to give out And hence Rom. 8.17 And if Children then heires heires of God and joynt-heires with Christ CHAP. II. The Observation from the Text. The Observation I shall speake to is this Doctr That the Divine Spirit doth witnes unto those which are in Christ with their Spirit their Adoption This is the secret language of many a Son of Sion Though I be adopted yet O it is impossible that I should ever attaine assurance of it alas I cannot climbe up to heaven to see my name written there How should I dive into such a secret as that is Methinke I finde the Lord answering such a soule and so as it might for ever silence it in such reasonings The Spirit it selfe beareth witnes c. As if he had said What testimony wouldest thou desire what wouldest thou reckon a sufficient evidence of thy Son-ship who might be a witnes that thou couldest confide in If the Divine Spirit might ascertaine thee of thy Adoption Behold that is nigh thee thou needest not ascend up to heaven to setch that thence that is descended to thee for every one that beleeveth hath the witnes within himselfe 1 Joh. 5.10 The Spirit knoweth the minde of God and how his heart standeth towards thee and that is sent from the bosome of the Father into thy bosome even on purpose to bring good newes from heaven of thy Fathers love and though with men it be impossible yet with the Spirit all things are possible That is able to give infallible and convincing demonstrations of thy Adoption and this Spirit it selfe witnesseth c. In the carrying on of this I shall shew 1. What this witnessing worke of the Spirit is 2. How the Spirit doth witnes to a soule its Adoption 3. Who are capable of attaining the witnessings of the Spirit 4. How a soule may know its injoyment of them 5. By what meanes a soule may attaine them CHAP. III. Of the witnessing worke of the Spirit or what it is for the Spirit to witnesse unto a soule its Adoption Qu 1. VVHat is this witnessing worke of the Spirit Or what is it for the Spirit to witnesse unto a soule its Adoption Answ It is a worke whereby the Spirit doth that towards the clearing up unto a soule of its Adoption that a witnes doth amongst men for the decision and determination of a matter dubious and uncertaine Now the use of a witnes is to give in evidence upon knowledge how the matter in question standeth purposely to ascertaine others thereof Deut. 19.15 Matth. 18.16 The end of witnessing is expressed to be that a matter may be established or confirmed and made to stand as firme and true by that record which is given in And hence Joh. 8.17 The testimony of two men is true i. e. is to be received as a sufficient evidence and may free from doubting It was certaine in it selfe before and by the testimony it is rendred certaine unto those that questioned it And when the Spirit by some operations doth what is equivalent unto this then is witnesseth The speakings of the Spirit are in a way sutable to it selfe who is the speaker and to the soule which is spoken to and therefore by operations not by voyce And the Spirit witnesseth 1. Objectively 2. Efficiently 1. Objectively when it affordeth such speciall operations as have an aptitude to ascertaine the soule of its Adoption There are some speciall and remarkeable Concurrences of the Spirit which by a due observation might manifest adoption and carry with them the force of affirmations and assertions thereof But many overlooke these evidences and will not heare what the Spirit saith unto them A soule may remaine without a knowledge of its Son-ship after the Spirit hath thus witnessed if its record be not received So Rev. 22.18 I testifie unto every man that heareth the words and yet every man to whom he speaketh this doe not beleeve what is asserted Joh. 3.11 Wee testifie and ye receive not our witnes It is but a testimony proposed or offered and is not effectual unlesse received And if nothing further were intended in the Text yet it were a Mine with much spiritual treasure layd up in it Severall things of great importance arise from this As 1. Hence a knowledge of Adoption is attaineable it is the very end of the Spirits witnessing to assure thereof It is not to render God more assured who are his Children he knoweth who are his Nor to make Adoption certaine in it selfe that must be before it can be witnessed But its scope drift and designe is to leave us assured or perswaded of it And that it should never attaine its end in this when it is so successull in other workes how unconceivable a thing is it 2. Hence it is a duty of great concernment to receive that testimony which the Spirit offereth may not the Spirit complaine unto many Christians as Christ did Joh. 3.11 So I have testified that you were the Children of God and you have not received my witnes Doubtles it is a sinfull neglect in those that are spoken to not no yeild attention unto the voyce of the Spirit which speaketh It is urged as a choyce duty and enforced by a powerful argument 1 Joh. 5 9. If ye receive the witnes of men how much more is a divine testimony to be received which is farre greater and it is the witnes of the Spirit he intendeth ver 6.8.10 Christians reckon it a small matter to deny the appearances of Gospell grace and to call the speciall operations of the Spirit delusions of Satan O but hereby you not onely hinder your owne peace comfort and establishment which might come in at that doore but which is farre worse you grieve the Spirit of God also Eph. 4.30 I may say to such as Isai 7.13 Is it a small thing for you to weary grieve and disquiet your owne Spirits but will you grieve the Spirit of my God also It s sad enough that carnal men deny attention to the voyce of the Spirit O let not Christians make it speake in vaine also or misse of its end in speaking to them But I suppose this is not all which the Text aymeth at or intendeth Therefore 2. The Spirit witnesseth efficiently it causeth the soule to conclude of its Adoption by its speakings to it As Calling doth often expresse not onely an Inviting to a participation of Gospel grace but the soules answering those Invitations which is effectual Calling Rom. 8.28.30 2 Thes 2.14 So witnessing expresseth an effectual efficacious witnessing And that this is intended in the Text may appeare 1. From the Context the scope of the Apostle is to give a knowledge of this who are in Christ so have
not say he hath the witnes in heaven but within himselfe i. e. on Earth 3. Because if our Spirits were intended they must be our sanctified and renewed Spirits and these belong to and are included in the witnes of water which denoteth sanctification and so unlesse by Spirit be meant the Holy-Ghost there will yet be but two not three witnesses on Earth for our Spirits and water make but one Arg. 4. From the experience of the Saints I could name many that have had their Adoption ascertained to them by the Spirits applying a written word Although experience alone is not argument enough to prove yet with the former spirituall grounds it may confirme the thing to us But of this more in the second part I have insisted more largely upon the proose of this because some stumble at it and suppose that Assurance is attaineable onely by reflexion upon marks and signes or Qualifications within I shall answer a doubt or two further before I leave this point Object 1. Have not some poore soules languished in doubtings almost all their dayes in expectation of such a kinde of witnes and and doe not others dangerously erre by taking the strong conceit of their owne phantasie for the witnes of the Spirit Answ 1. I grant that the Spirit doth witnes by faith and other graces and any one of these testimonies may keepe him that hath it from languishing 2. Possibly a limiting or tying up the Spirit unto one way of witnessing may be the occasion of the soule distresse though asking asigne was lawfull in it selfe yet when the Pharisees desired it in a carnal way and limited Christ to this way when they had Miracles and the Scriptures to testifie of him besides this occasioned a denyal of their desires Matth. 12. v. 38 39. Let Christians beware of prescribing the Lord and tying him up to one way that they have met with him in when other meanes are Instituted for the same end besides that 3. Many that make inherent Qualifications the onely evidences yet take their owne phantasies for these Though distracted men say that all the houses and lands they travaile by are theirs yet men in their right mindes may know what is their owne so as I once heard a servant of Christ say though bedlam professors may say that Christ and eternal life are theirs when onely their owne phantasies tell them so yet it no way followeth thence that such a testimonie of the Spirit is not to be expected Object 2. But the three witnesses 1 Joh. 5.8 doe testifie Conjunction together not severally or one alone and so the Spirit may witnes with water and bloud or may put forth some distinct acts about these and not have a distinct way of witnessing Answ 1. If sanctification be discerned I aske whether it will not be granted that this witnesse is sufficient if so then they may witnesse severally and it is not necessary that the three be alwayes together in witnessing And why may not the Spirit also be alone in witnessing who is the highest witnesse 2. This was answered before Water and bloud are different in their wayes of witnessing and therefore also the Spirit different from them both because a third and chiefe witnes Yet I deny not but that Graces may witnesse at the same time when this more Immediate testimonie is afforded That light which is darted in may discover graces and former experiences yet the Immediate presence of the Spirit so gloriously accomplisheth the worke that the soule doth not or not primarily Conclude from these graces for the present yet afterwards when the Spirit hath suspended its operations then the remembrance of these may confirme and evidence that it was really the Spirit which did bow it into that perswasion and may difference it to others from all delusions And it is necessary to understand that these belong unto the other wayes of witnessing least the want of a distinct knowledge of one from the other should hinder a reception or owning of reall testimonies when water or bloud lie dark And this is the first way of the Spirits witnessing CHAP. VII Of the Spirits witnessing by water Ans 2. THe Spirit witnesseth by Water 1 Joh. 5.8 There are three that beare witnes on Earth the Spirit and the Water i. e. Sanctification And that this is intended by water is evident For it is something 1. Derived from Christ ver 6. He came by Water 2. That hath an aptitude to witnes v. 8. 3. That witnesseth in Earth v. 8. i. e. to or in us 4. That is distinguished from bloud ver 6.8 Now Sanctification is the priviledge injoyed or derived from Christ which the Scripture setteth out by Water in way of distinction from bloud and therefore that must needs be intended here This worke of Sanctification was typified under the Law by washing Exod. 19.10 Hebr. 9.10 because water hath a cleansing propertie and so the Communication of grace by the Spirit is expressed by powring out Zech. 12.10 And we read of the washing of regeneratio Tit. 3.5 and are exhorted to cleanse our selves 2 Cor. 7.1 Which are Metaphors taken from water and are used to set out sanctification But most clearely Eph. 5.26 That he might sanctifie and cleanse it i. e. his Church with the washing of water which fully evidenceth that sanctification is set forth by water and I know nothing else that those requisites aforementioned will agree to besides that And that the Spirit doth witnes unto soules their interest in Christ by sanctification is evident 1. Because it is expressely called a Witnes 1 Joh. 5.8 and there could not be three if that were not one 2. Because it is reckoned up amongst the peculiar priviledges and speciall favours which the Saints receive from Christ 1 Cor. 1.30 1 Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified Where it differenceth their state of Conversion to Christ from their state of nature wherein they were without Christ And it is attributed to the Spirit which is therefore frequently called the holy Spirit because it worketh holiness in the hearts of men 3. Because there is a necessary Connexion between sanctification and salvation 2 Thes 2.13 1 Pet. 1.2 Act. 20.32 26.18 An inheritance among them that are sanctified And what ever hath salvation coupled with it being discovered must needs have a witnessing force in it Yet alwayes remember 1. That Water i. e. Sanctification cannot witnes Adoption without the Irradiations of the Spirit when a Christian hath had some sweet lively experience of God some sensible injoyment of him and a feeling of the Spirits operations exciting quickening and acting its owne graces yet by and by when this light from the Spirit is wanting it is ready to throw away all againe and say O I thought I had seen God in such a way and heard his voyce and felt his love but now I feare I was mistaken and yet afterwards when the Spirit
then certainty were unattainable if the act were to be tryed for so long as there is any tryall there is an act of judgment passed If thou findest 1. That some works have passed upon thy heart 2. That they are such as are warranted to be witnessing the act of judgment is unquestionable From thy discerning them thou mayest conclude that thou hast the irradiations of the spirit for none but the Spirit can discover these 1 Cor. 2. v. 10 11 12. From the works discerned thou mayest conclude the presence of the spirit and thy own Adoption 4. If thou be'st in the darke or wantest clearness about the works themselves which formerly thy soule hath been under thou art ever to beware at such a time of drawing up Conclusions about thy condition many have been ready to deny the grace of Christ and have run their soules upon horrible temptations and into deep desertions and have given Satan great advantages to rush them into unbeleife by concluding upon the sight of halfe-works or without a clearness in the nature quality circumstances and ends of what they have met withall When the eyes of thy soule are dim as in a day of desertion thou art not a competent judge but oughtest to attend unto other duties that concerne thee in thy present condition and to waite for the shineings of the Spirit upon the works thou hast had experience of and if such a candle be lighted up in thy soule as enableth thee to see and by the word to discerne them to be speciall workes then thou mayest say as Rom. 9.1 My conscience beareth me witness by the Holy-ghost and then it is dangerous disclaiming or disowning the Spirit in its operations 5. It is the worke of the Spirit to discover both the sincerity and the deceitfulnesse of the heart there are seeds of hypocrifie as well as of other sins even in the best of Saints They finde matter for heart-breaking complaints of the treacherousnesse of their own hearts Grace doth not tot ally destroy the being of any one sin Peters heart deceived him when he was upon high resolves for Christ and yet a beleever But never doth a soule see more of the deceitfulnesse of its heart then upon a discovery of divine love Job 42.5 6. Isa 6.5 Ezek. 16.63 And thus he that would not be deceived shall not be left to the deceitfulnesse of his own heart Object 2. But I have found that my heart hath deceived me and I was mistaken in my passing a judgement about other matters and I had as many symptomes of my being led by the Spirit of God into those Conclusions as I have of its leading me into this and therefore I fear I am deceived in all Answ 1. Thou mightest be deceived about some Circumstance and the particular end of some dispensation and yet thy judgment might be right in the maine 2. Particular mistakes are not to be made generall rules Peter had a clear testimony of his Adoption and that from the mouth of Christ himself Mat. 16. v. 17. Blessed art thou Simon and yet this did not preserve him from a delusion of Satan that came afterward v. 22 23. The same mouth that blessed him quickly called him Satan Christs testimony was enough to give him full assurance of Divine love but yet it did not secure him against a false Confidence in a particular Case nor a dolefull fall Matth. 26. v. 35.70.72 It thy heart hath deceived thee in some particular things yet do not Conclude that thou art deluded in all 3. Yet let thy mistakes provoke thee to the greater watchfulnes against the delusions of Satan and thy own Spirit And take these as Symptomes of delusions and beware of yeelding to them 1. Whatsoever hath a naturall tendency to promote sin or unrighteousnesse is a delusion unholines cannot be from the holy Spirit and hence there is a diametrical opposition between the fruits of the Spirit and the workes of the flesh Gal. 5. v. 19 20.22 that which emboldneth or giveth any encouragement or is refreshing to corruption beware of it 2. That which ariseth from or leadeth into security is a delusion Rev. 3.17.22 They are rich and encreased in goods c. and now they conclude they want nothing but the Spirit of God told them that they wanted all things Davids security led him into a false Confidence Psal 30.6 From his present prosperity he Concluded that he should not be moved 3. That which springeth from a supposed selfe-sufficiency or in its owne nature leadeth into selfe-advancement is a Delusion Psal 30.6 David was confident he should not be moved and this was built and bottomed upon his outward accommodations and furnishments for self-defence and therefore he checketh correcteth and recalleth himself v. 7. By thy favour my mountaine standeth strong So if thou hast overcome this or that temptation and now Concludest that thou art able to encounter with any it is but the voyce of thy own Spirit and it may be a small one will surprize thee quickly And so if it tendeth to make thee aspiring Gen. 3.5 4. That which beginneth not with and endeth not in Christ is a delusion Peter engageth for Christ but not in the strength of Christ and so he fell though not totally yet shamefully from Christ The Laodiceans are neglective of Christ and take satisfaction in things below Christ and this produced false Confidences and Conclusions Rev. 3.17 18.20 Object 3. But may there not be some sin that I am ignorant of harboured in my soule that may render me deceived in passing judgement on my owne Condition May not my heart be engaged to some secret sin that I know not of and so I not be marryed unto Christ Answ Is thy heart carried out to seeke for cleansing through the blood of Christ from secret sins which thou knowest not of If so thou art not deluded but even these motions of thy heart are witnessing The best of Saints are subject to many secret sinnes Psal 19.12 Who can understand his errours cleanse thou me from secret faults The interrogation hath the force of a negation i.e. none can understand his errours i.e. all his sins and therefore he himselfe beggeth cleansing from those he knew not of Qui form aliter distincti poenitentiam agit de peccatis omnibus cognitis virtualem confusam resipiscentiam habet de ijs etiam peccatis quae non novit Dr. Ames c. c. l. 2. cap. 8. So that if thou hast such a knowledge of Gosell Mysteries as thy whole heart be drawn out after God in the way of the Mediatour Christ Jesus and be bent and set against all sinnes known upon Gospel accounts and lookest after purification from what thou art ignorant of and wouldest seek the mortification and abandoning of them if thou knewest them can'st cordially say as Psal 139. v. 23 24. Search me O God and know my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me and