Spirit of Christ stamps the image of his Son upon us looking upon and beholding the glory of the Lord we are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord 2. Cor. 3.18 that is the first reason God gives the Spirit of his Sonn to conforme us to the similitude of his Sonne Secondly God gives his people the Spirit of his Son which is the fruit of his death and intercession that we may be fully convinced of all the glorious perfections and fruits of the death and merits of Jesus Christ God hath convinced us of the perfection of his love by sending his Sonne into the world John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his Sonne if you will measure his love measure the gift but both the one and the other is infinite Christ was the ensuring earnest of his love having given him he will surely give all things with him Rom. 8.32 Now as Christ is an assuring testimonie of the perfection of Gods love so the gift of the Spirit is an assuring testimonie of the perfection of Christs merits and therefore it is called the earnest of our inheritance untill the redemption of the purchased possession 1. Ephes 14. greater is Christ then all other fruits of Gods love and greater is the Spirit then all other fruits of Christs merits as all the fruits of Gods love are intayled unto the person of Christ so all the fruits of Christs death are intayled unto the Spirit of Christ hee that hath Christ need not question whether God will give any other fruit of his love so he that hath the Spirit need not question any other fruit of Christs merits his Justification Sanctification Adoption Grace and Glory will follow God would not have us doubt of his love and therefore he hath given us the person of his Son neither would he have us doubt of the fruit of Christs merits aad therefore hath hee given us the Spirit of his Son the very gift of Christ being understood doth convince of the love of God and yet Christ in his person did also preach the love of God so the very gift of the Spirit doth convince of the merits of Christ and yet this Spirit doth preach and declare the perfection of Christs merits None in the world could be convinced of the love of God except Christ had preached it unto him so none in the world can be convinced of the merits of Christ except this Spirit doth shew it and preach it unto him Christ did bear witnesse of the truth of Gods love and his witnesse is true John 5.31 and it is the Spirit that beareth witnesse unto Christs blood and this Spirit is truth 1. John 5.6 What ever God gives and not his Son there is no testimonie of Gods love so what ever the soule hath and not the Spirit there is no conviction of the merits of Christ though the Word speakes peace and the Prophets of God speakes peace and all the people of God speakes peace yet the soule cannot heare it except God viz. by his Spirit cause it to heare the voyce of joy and gladnesse Psal 51.8 Thirdly God gives the Spirit of his Son unto his Saints to fit them for glory God doth not love disproportion when he made a woman for man hee made her a meet help 1. Genesis 18. When God sent Christ for the worke of Redemption he fitted him A body hast thou prepared or fitted Heb. 10.5 So God intending his Elect for glorie he makes them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light 1. Col. 12. and to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus 2. Ephes 6. and this meetnesse is by the Spirit for the Elect of God are chosen to salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and beleefe of the Truth 2. Thess 2.13 who living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit wait through the Spirit for the righteousnesse of Faith viz. the end thereof which is the salvation of their soules Gal. 5.5 no uncleane thing shall enter into the Kingdome of God Revel 22.15 but the Saints shall therefore are they washed and sanctified and just fied in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of ouâ— God 1. Cor. 6.11 The Sacrifices and all the appurtenances thereof under the Law were to be sanctified and set apart and the Priests that were to enter into the holy place were sanctified and chosen from the world for that purpose and this sanctification was tipified by the anointing oil sprinkled upon Aaron Exod. 29.21 So the Saints of God are sanctified chosen or separated out of the world being made spirituall Kings and Priests unto God and appointed to come into that holy place even the place of glorie wherein dwelleth righteousnesse to give glory and honour and thanks to him that sitteth upon the Throne that liveth for ever and ever Revel 4.9 which sanctification consisteth in the powring forth of the Spirit compared to oyle 1. John 2.27 upon the Saints and thereby fitting them for glory Lastly God gives his people the Spirit of his Son that so they may be enabled to doe and suffer his will in an acceptable manner God is a Spirit and will be worshipped in Spirit 4. John 23. hee requireth that wee should pray in the Spirit and sing in the Spirit 1. Cor. 14.15 that wee should walke in the Spirit and live in the Spirit Gal. 5.25 that wee should doe every thing from a spirituall principle according to a spirituall rule with reference unto a spirituall end God is not a hard Master requiring to reap where he did not sow exacting a tale of bricke and give no straw but that they may doe the will of God in an acceptable manner he gives his Spirit unto all his Saints the Apostle saith that through Christ we have accesse by one Spirit unto the Father 2. Ephes 18. through Christ viz. the blood of Christ wee are brought into this grace and by the Spirit wee are enabled to improve this grace viz. in all spirituall services so that God gives them his Spirit that so they may be enabled to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable unto God by Jesus Christ 1. Pet. 2.5 And so likewise for passive obedience he hath given them his Spirit that with comfort and spirituall joy and consolation they may undergoe that hard worke of bearing the crosse which leadeth me to the solution of the second generall Question Namely how the Spirit doth comfort beleevers in evill times How doth the Spirit of Christ support Beleevers in evill times Answ First by his owne naturall genuine and proper strength and influence 1. John 4 4. You are of God little children and have overcome the world because greater is he that is in you then he that is in the world the Saints of God are as little children in meeknesse humilitie singlenesse of heart simplicitie of mind freedom from envie dependance upon God and
of their trouble When Jesus Christ was to leave the world whose absence was the sorrow of the hearts of his Disciples Joh. 14.1 he comforts them by telling them that he was going to his Father and their Father to his God and their God And Philip lookt upon this as a sufficient means to stay the heart Lord saith he shew us the Father and it sufficeth ver 8. it cannot suffice that God is a Father except he be a revealed Father shew us the Father And as no man cometh unto the Father but by Christ so no man hath seen the Father but the Son and he unto whom he will reveal him Therefore saith he Lord shew us the Father and this he doth by the witnesse of his Spirit Rom 8.16 The Spirit it self beareth witnesse with our spirits that we are the sons of God and this he doth chiefly in a suffering condition for so the next verse sheweth If so be we suffer with him we shall also be glorified with him The bowels of parents yearn towards their sick children and the sweetest language and most tender expressions of their affections are then little enough Luke 15. The Prodigall had more serious thoughts of his father when all was gone then it seems he had when he first received his portion and so the Saints have the sweetest thoughts of their heavenly Father in the saddest times When Abraham had bound Isaac and was readie to slay him Gen. 22. yet the child could look him in the face and cry out my father ver 7. And his father could as tenderly and with as yearning bowels as ever he spake with all in all his life reply Here am I my son v. 8. So when the Saints of God seems as it were to be bound to be sacrificed unto the good will of God in suffering yet they can look in the face of God and cry out Father and hear the voice of God by his Spirit answering here am I my children The Spirit of God worketh a threefold conviction in the hearts of his people in the times of their suffering from this dear and sweet relation First that he will correct in measure Jer. 30.11 What ever I do saith God to other Nations I will not make a full end of thee but I will correct thee in measure the Lord poureth forth his furie upon the heathen but corrects his people in judgement and not in anger Jer. 10.24 25. he corrects in measure in respect of the matter of the afflictions he will visit the transgressions of his people with the rod of a father and their iniquity with stripes Psal 89.32 but he will break the wicked with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potters vessell Psal 2.9 Secondly he corrects in measure in respect of time O my people that dwellest in Sion saith God be not afraid of the Assyrian he shall smite thee with a rod and shall lift up his staffe against thee after the manner of Egypt for yet a little while and the indignation shall cease and mine anger even in their destruction viz. of the Assyrian Isa 10.24.25 Heavinesse may endure for a night but joy shall come in the morning Psal 30.5 His anger endureth but for a moment in his favour is life even in the perfection both of happinesse and duration the Spirit of God convinceth the soul that yet but a little while he that shall come will come and will not carrie Hebr. 10.37 that what God doth in afflicting he will do it in measure that God is faithfull who will not suffer his to be tempted above what they are able to bear that is in respect of the matter of their suffering but will with the temptation make a way to escape there is measure of time 1 Cor. 10.13 Secondly the Spirit convinceth that God as a Father doth afflict them in love not in passion for their good not simply his owne will the Apostle calls for submission unto the will of God in chastising us from that consideration Heb. 12.9.10 c. Our naturall fathers chastened us after their owne pleasure but God for our profit that wee might be partakers of his holinesse c. Wherefore lift up the hands that hang downe and the feeble knees verse 12. the Spirit convinceth Rom. 8.28 that all things shall worke together for the best that out of the eater shall come meat and out of the strong shall come sweet that God will smite this rock viz. of hardship and trouble and sweet waters shall issue there from and that he will make this wildernesse viz. barren conditions in respect of ontward comforts like the garden of Eden in respect of divine and spirituall Consolations that blessed is the man whom he chasteneth Psal 94.12 that it is good for him that he is afflicted and that God will make it a mercy unto him in the latter end and that hee shall cordially and not complementally blesse the Lord for that suffering condition and the sweet experiments of his love therein that bowels of love directs the rod and infinite goodnesse guides the hand Thirdly the Spirit of God perswadeth that God as a father will but discipline him by afflictions and thereby make him meet for his inheritance an ingenuous beleever is not satisfied that glory is purchased for him by the sufferings of Christ but is willing also to be made meet for that inheritance by his owne sufferings forasmuch as it is the will of God that through many afflictions we must enter into the kingdome of heaven the Lord Jesus himselfe sanctifying that road by his own sufferings for this cause the Apostle Paul with the rest of the suffering Saints did not faint because though the outward man did perish yet the inner man is renued day by day 2 Corinth 4.16 What a beleever is in estate he is in spirituals And he reckons himself to rise and fall as is the condition not of his outward but inner man and herein is the difference between a formall and reall Christian Let the formalist abound in the outward man he hath his will but a beleever rejoyceth in his increase and thriving in the inner man although it be gained by the perishing of the outward man and therefore they will rejoyce even in affliction knowing that their affliction worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in their hearts This kindly working of their afflictions caufing them to thrive in the inner man and thereby fitting them for glory makes them sweetly submit to the will of God herein it makes them say with sweet submission of heart Shall I not drinke of my Fathers cup and ought I not first to suffer and then to enter into glory as Christ did the soul looks upon these outward afflictions which are but for a season as working for them a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory 2. Cor. 4.18 See here
though little children yet able to grapple with and overcome the whole world how so because they are of God viz. of his antient love and the birth of his Gospel Secondly because God is in them viz. by his Spirit and greater is he that is in them viz. to support to comfort to incourage to preserve then he viz. Satan the prince of the power of the aire the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Ephes 2.2 that is in the world viz. carnall and wicked men to cast down to grieve to discourage to destroy We have another Scripture for this in the third to the Ephes 4.16 I how my knee to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man this our God grants unto beleevers first because he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and in him their Father and so interressed in the same power by which he was strengthened in the inner man in the daies of his flesh and sufferings upon earth Secondly because it is according to or falling in with the riches of his glory viz. the glory of his grace by which he hath the revenews of his glorie coming in even in the highest degree Luke 2.14 and whereof there are riches even treasures wherein he hath abounded towards them Ephes 1.8 Thirdly because this is the joynt request of all the Saints in each others behalf I viz. Paul how my knee viz. in prayer unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ that he would grant you c. the person of the Lord Jesus Christ intercedes in heaven for all his Saints Hebr. 7.25 and the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ intercedes in the earth for the same Saints Rom. 8.27 and the Father heareth him who did his will interceding both by his blood and Spirit in heaven and earth Joh. 9.31 this is that divine nature 2 Pet. 1.4 and that power of God 1 Pet. 1.5 whereby the Saints are kept against all their discouragements even unto salvation this is that whereby the Saints are comforted in all their tribulation 2 Cor. 1.4 and whereby their consolations do abound in them beyond the abounding of their afflictions vers 5. it is the Spirit of comfort called the Comforter Joh. 14.16 which shall be as a continuall streame or waters of life in the bowels of the Saints to refresh and chear them in all their losses and troubles of this life the comforts whereof the Spouse of Christ prayeth for Cant. 2.5 Stay me with flaggons and comfort me with apples for I am sick of love all the troubles sorrows and afflictions of the Saints are sicknesses of love as they are from God they proceed from love are steered by love love is the root and rule and end of all as they proceed from man they are because of their love to God therefore in all their afflictions they may be said to be sick of love What is her prayer why stay me with thy flagons and comfort me with thy apples with thy flagons viz. of wine which cheareth the heart Prov. 31.6 Comfort me with thy apples viz. the glorious fruits of Jesus Christ the tree of life under whose shadow the Saints do sit with great delight and whose fruit is pleasant unto their taste vers 2. what are all these expressions but the setting forth of those sweet Consolations of the Spirit of Jesus Christ supporting their hearts in evill times This is that whereof the Church reports Cant. 2.6 His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me See here the Churches posture in the time of her trouble is lying in the bosome of her beloved grasping her like a tender husband between his arms Jesus Christ hath bosome consolations for his sick Saints watens of life for fainting fits Manna is reserved for the wildernesse and the best wine when all is spent when all forsake the Lord stands by he is light in darbuesse Psal 112.4 Act. 12.7 and mans casting into dungeons is but Christ bringing into his banqueting house where his banner over them is love his left hand is under them and his right handimbraceth them Christ hath left hand mercies viz. the comforts of this lift which though they be contracted within a small bulk even into a little oyl in a cruce 2 King 4.2 five barley leaves and two fishes for five thousand Joh. 6.9 that is a poore something next to nothing to support and maintain a great charge why this is Christs left hand and yet this shall be sufficient if he puts but the effecacie of even his left hand it shall be enough but his right hand mercies are most high and spirituall and when the Lord doth any thing with his right hand he doth it most dextereously even unto perfection as appears if you look Psal 60.5 That thy beloved may be delivered save with thy right hand And so Psal 20.6 45.4 c. So when God imbraceth or comforteth with his right hand he doth it so as none can discourage when all secondarie means of comfort are gone the Lord Jesus doth then comfort most immediately and therefore most perfectly for whatsoever God doth without secondary causes alwayes are without imperfection When he made all things at first coming immediately from between his hands behold all were very good so it is in his immediate consolations Hence it is we read of joy unspeakable and glorious 1 Pet. 1.8 even in the time of heavinesse through many temptations vers 6. thus Jesus Christ viz. by his Spirit becomes a hiding place from the wind and a refuge from the tempest as rivers of water in a dry place and the shadow of a great rock in a wearie land Isa 32.2 Jesus Christ is a sutable good unto all his people and what he is he makes good unto his people by his Spirit So that as Eliiah stretched himself upon the dead child 1 King 17.21 and the soul of the child came unto him again and he revived so when the Saints are as it were kill'd and slain at the first encounter with troubles and persecutions and losses of all their comforts why then doth the Lord Jesus Christ by his Spirit as it were stretch forth himself over them and then their life and joy and peace returns again yea like unto that of the resurrection after death in that perfection that the weak flesh is scarce able to bear it Comforts indeed sutable unto glorified Saints Thus the Spirit chears and comforts the hearts of the Saints by his naturall genuine and proper strength and influence the Spirit of God being in it self a Spirit of comfort Secondly the Spirit chears the hearts of beleevers in evill times by presenting God in Jesus Christ as a deare and loving Father unto them a most sweet and glorious vision and assurance whereof for the most part he vouchsafeth unto them in the dayes
answer to the second generall question namely how the Spirit comforteth beleevers in evill times viz. by tâ—anslating and carrying them above the reach of all trouble and sorrows here belowe and setting them in God as in a sure rock and defence Fifthly the Spirit comforteth Beleevers in evill times by setting before them and clearing up unto them the glory of and their interest in the excellencie of the other world the inheritance incorruptible undefiled that fadeth not away reserved for them in the heavens revealed unto them by the Spirit of Christ is that wherein they greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be they are in heavinesse through manifold temptations 1 Pet. 1.4.6 verses those glorious things which eye hath not seen nor eare heard nor mans bea rt conceive prepared by God for them that love him and revealed by the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.10 God having given them the Spirit that they may know the things that are given to them of God verse 12. These things I say bear up the heart in evill times this made Steven seeing the glory of God and Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God and all the glorious vision of heaven opened unto him insensible of that stonie strome by which he was translated unto that glory quietly refigning his soul unto God and begging mercie for those that killed him Act. 7.60 This was that that made those holy Martyrs in the old time an extract of the storie whereof we have in the 11. to the Hebr. to indure cruell mockings and scourgings bonds and imprisonments tortures and stonings sawing in sunder and to be killed with swords wandring up and down in sheep skins and goats skins being destitute afflicted tormented Hebr. 11.35 36 37. viz. They looked after a Countrey better then this world even heavenly and a City prepared for them by God verse 16. Their eyes being fixed and directed by the Spirit upon the recompence of the reward verse 26. This made both them and the Lord Jesus himself with patience to run the race that was set before them to indure the crosse and to despise the shame viz. the joy that was set before them Hebr. 12.12 And this was that that made the Apostles in after times not to faint in the sad various and manifold perishings of their outward man namely their looking not at the things that are seen but at the things that are not seen 2 Cor. 4.16 17 18. And their certain knowledge that when their earthly tabernacles were dissolved they had a building of God an house not made with hands but eternall in the heavens 2 Cor. 5.1 This made them rejoyce in partaking with the sufferings of Christ because they knew that when his glory should appear they should be glad also with exceeding joy 1 Pet. 4.13 and that if they suffered with Christ they should also reigne with him 2 Tim. 2.12 And this also made the Saints of God after the Apostles times in the time of the ten Persecutions to indure burning stoning frying roasting scalding cutting whipping with hot wiers tearing in peeces with wild beasts boring out of eyes tearing of the flesh from the bones with hot pincers and iron instruments plucking out of their bowels and all other exquisite tortures as divellish cruell heart of men taught by the Devill himself could invent the severall stories whereof are extant which would make our very hearts to ake and bleed yea enough to overcome our very thoughts even unto swounding to read and beleeve the same yet the Spirit of God made them able by shewing them the glory of a better resurrection as the Apostle hath it Heb. 11.35 And this was that that made likewise the people of God under Queen Maries dayes of later times to indure such cruell burnings c. even the glory of another life this made a burning flame a bed of roses and this was light in darknesse and life in death unto them And again I appeal unto you O ye that now fill up the rest of the sufferings of Christ do ye not feel the vision of glory chearing up your hearts and silling you with inward glory and joy Did you ever see the heavens so clear over your heads as now Doth not your waiting for the hope of the glorie of God raise up your hearts Doth not this make you look upon your present troubles and losses of your estates and comforts with more inward joy and peace and quietnesse of spirit then ever you could look upon them when you had them Hath not God by quitting you of your estates and large enjoyments here belowe quitted you likewise of a great deal of trouble and perplexitie and made you exult in the enjoyment of himself in his Son by his Spirit and of al chose giorious things wherunto he hath reserved you wel that is the 5. Answer to the Question the Spirit comforteth Beleevers in evill times by setting before them the glory of another world Lastly the Spirit of Christ comforteth Beleevers in evill times by furnishing them with and enabling them to the exercise of those suffering gifts and graces that are suitable unto such a condition Afflicted Saints are strengthened with all might according to the glorious power of God unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulnesse Colos 1.11 They are in themselves weak but of weak God makes them strong and therefore they are strengthened with all might God hath no strength beyond all might and beleevers in God are strengthened with all might unto patience the Saints have need of patience unto all patievce they are obnoxious unto all troubles and therefore need all patience and long-suffering not patience for a time but with perseverance even long-suffering and that not with grief and discontent but with joyfulnesse Patience imply sorrows and comforts imply sufferings and yet with joyfulnesse for the truth is the verie grace of patience is more precious then deliverance and freedome from the trouble which is the cause thereof The Apostle saith Rom. 5.3 We glory in tribulation why so because saith he tribulation worketh patience and patience experience and experience hope It is a beleevers joy and crown of rejoycing to see the thriving of the inner man and that his heart and every part there may be as a fruitfull garden sweetly flourishing with the beds of spices he will pray and desire that North wind viz. cold winter afflictions or South wind viz. the warme comforts of the inner or outward man may blowe upon it Song 4.16 And it will glory even in afflictions when the fruit thereof shall be such prosperity in the inner man If so be that the blessed prosperitie of afflictions shall be such a sweet of-spring as that as Abraham begat Isaac and Isaac begat Jacob. c. So afflictions shall beget patience and patience experience and experience hope c. Surely a beleever cannot chuse but rejoyce yea glory in afflictions as much as ever Sarah did rejoyce and glory in
her great belly this was that renuing in the inner man day by day which made Paul and the rest of the suffering Saints to rejoyce though their outward man did perish 2 Cor. 4.16 And hence it is that they count it all joy when that they fall into divers temptations knowing that the triall of their faith worketh patience and patience having its perfect work maketh them perfect and intire wanting nothing Jam. 1.2.3 A spirituall growth in the inner man is so much the more acceptable unto a beleever above all outward injoyments by how much the more it is more precious in it self then they Outward blessings are Esau his portion but God is the portion of his Saints and the more of God they have viz. of his divine communicable nature the richer they are if they can see the light of Gods countenance shining upon them and the work of his Spirit thriving in them they have enough and will rejoyce in that condition wherein these prosper though it be most irksome to their frail flesh and here again I call for your experiences you refined Saints by the fiery triall did you ever feel God so powerfull in you the work of his Spirit so strong in you in patience meeknesse humilitie gentlenesse dependance upon God c. as you have done since you have been stript of your late comforts Did you not know the time that the smallest crosse and trouble in your estates made you peevish passionate and froward and now you can look upon the spoiling of your whole estate with joy Did you not know the time when the best food easiest lodging costly garments and many friends with many other accommodations could not satisfie and content you and you are now satisfied and can blesse God and thank your friends for a meals meat a suit of clothes a little money a nights lodging a mean house to hide your heads in and now brown bread and the Gospel is good fare with you The time was when you thought your selves high and great men and that every man wrong'd you if he came not to you with cap and knee at everie word looking haply upon your inferiours in estate though superiours in grace with mean thoughts and disrespect but now you hugge them in your bosoms and blesse God for their societie and Christian company and is not this a sweet chearing Would you want this precious spirituall work upon your hearts for all your glorie Well this is the last way that I shall note whereby the Spirit comforteth Beleevers in evil times viz. by furnishing them with and enabling them unto the exercise of those suitable gifts and graces fit for a suffering condition And so much for the second generall Question how the Spirit comforteth Beleevers in evill times The third generall Question is How the Spirit of Christ may be discerned from the spirit of delusion This indeed is one of the most concerning Queries in all the world as will appear if you note these brief considerations First If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8.9 viz. for the present in his own knowledge and to his own satisfaction Secondly if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he cannot worship him in spirit and in truth so that to kill an ox in sacrifice is no more acceptable unto God then killing a man His sacrificing a lamb is as if he cut off a dogs neck his oblation is as swines blood his incense is as blessing an Idol Isa 66.3 that is not onely not acceptable unto God but every way as abominable as these provocations Thirdly if a man hath not the Spirit he is left alone in all his troubles and perplexities for there is no meet help and comfort for a man but the Spirit When God made man at first having made the world behold all was good save one and that was for man to be alone Genes 2.18 But now among all the creatures was not found an help meet for him verse 20. Even so it is not good to be alone Eccles 1.10 that is alone to bear all his crosses and troubles Now among all other comforters is not found an help and comforter meet for man and therefore God gives his people the Spirit Adam was above the capacâ—…ie of all other creatures here belowe and therefore he must have an help of his own qualitie and consideration just so the whole world is beneath the soul of man and therefore it must be something like it self that must be a suitable good and that is the Spirit of Christ which indeed differeth from Adams help in this chiefly ☞ viz. that when God made man at first his help was the weaker vessel by occasion whereof he fell but now in restoring man God intending to make his recoverie more glorious then at first his help is the stronger viz. the strong God himself by his Spirit within Fourthly confider if a man hath not the Spirit of Christ the day of his death will be a bitter day unto him even the houre and power of darknesse when the whole world shall vanish in his own vision being sensible of nothing but fear and dread and a guilty Conscience and of Satan readie to prey upon his trembling soul readie to expire Digest these considtrations with such like seriously in your thoughts and let them have their own proper working upon your spirit Consider are you able to bear it that Christ and you should have no interest each in other that all your prayers and tears and duties of all kinds shall rise up against you one day have you not sin enough to damne you but your duties must do it are you able to be alone in your miseries are not the Heavens black over your heads and the Earth bloodie under your feet do you not see the hils to quake and the mountains hurl'd into the midst of the Seas is there not such a Concussion of Kingdoms Cities Countreys which threatens a confusion of all Do you not see God coming like an armed man against you attended with a black guard of bloodie warre famine plagues pestilences and the bitter consequences of these Do you not expect death every day when God is coming with his judgements as with a fieth to mowe down the kingdom before him and can you bear the thoughts of death without the Spirit to chear you and support you How might all this put us all upon inquisition whether we have the Spirit of Christ Before we come to the solution of this grand Question Ssme things are to be premised by way of caution First that there are many in the world that think they have the Spirit of Christ and it is nothing so Secondly that some there are that have the Spirit of Christ and know it not Thirdly that it is very possible to know that a man hath the Spirit of Christ Fourthly that it is a very hard and difficult thing to find it out All and