over their owne hearts and those heart-amazing workings of corruption which by after reflexions upon themselves they take notice of these may quickly deprive of these witnessings againe And indeed with many eminent Saints they are not long-lasting They are but the passings by of the Lord before their soules They have a soule-ravishing view of God and Christ by the light of the Spirit but they are soon out of sight againe They must not thinke of building Tabernacles when they are upon this high mountaine beholding the glory of Christ on it A large measure of grace is of great advantage towards the continuance and preservation of these but though they last but for a little moment yet it is an unspeakable favour that they are afforded CHAP. X. Foure Arguments to prove that weake beleivers are capable of attaining these witnessings of the Spirit ANd that weake beleevers are capable of attaining these witnessings of the Spirit I shall prove these wayes Argu. 1. From the Spirits being given to all beleevers as a witnesse 1 Joh. 5.10 It is not said he that is an eminent beleever but he that beleeveth not hereafter shall have but hath the witnes within himselfe This proposition were not universally true if the weakest beleever were at any time destitute of it Neither is it said he hath the Spirit but he hath the witnes i.e. the Spirit as a witnes or for this end to be a witnes to him And how harsh doth it sound that weake beleevers should be uncapable of attaining the end of its being present with them as a witnesse without which it should neither performe its office nor answer its name Object It may performe the office of a witnes or be a witnes-bearer to all beleevers objectively by graces operations though they see or know it not as a Landmarke or sheep-mark witnesse whose the land or sheep are though not efficiently as a Landmarke or Sheep-mark is not alwayes discerned Or the thing witnessed here is onely that Christ is the Son of God 1 Joh. 5. v. 5 6.10 Not that this or that particular soule is interested in Christ Answ That witnessing to particular soules their Adoption and that efficiently i.e. so as to give them a knowledge of it is intended as well as that Christ is the Son of God may appeare these wayes 1. In this whole Epistle the manifestation of mens interest in Christ is driven at as a great end in the Apostles eye 1 Joh. 1. v. 4. These things write we unto you that your joy may be full Chap. 2. v. 3.12.20 Chap. 3. v. 1.10.19.24 Hereby we know that he abideth in us by his Spirit Chap. 4.13 Chap. 5. v. 2.4 c. 2. Water and bloud doe witnes efficiently that Christ is the Son of God 1 Joh. 5. v. 5 6.8 9 10. Many in those dayes denyed Christ to be the Son of God and therein denyed that record which God gave of him viz. That he hath given unto us eternall life and this life is in his Son v. 11. In opposition to these Faith is described in this Chapter to be a beleeving that Christ is the Son of God Not as if assenting to that did expresse the whole nature of faith but as it includeth a cordiall receiving of Christ according to that record v. 11. And hence such are said to be borne of God v. 1. and to overcome the world by their faith ver 4 5. which argueth the whole of Justifying faith to be intended Now to establish these beleevers in these things 1. That Christ is the Son of God and therefore hath life to give v. 1.11 2. That they were borne of God v. 1. had overcome the world v. 5. and had eternall life in him v. 11 12 13. Which latter falleth with the denyal of the former no life to be had in Christ if he be not the Son of God To evidence and confirme the whole faith spoken of v. 1.5 he sendeth them to six witnes v 7 8. whereof water and bloud are two v. 6.8 As if he had said I appleale to your own experiences have you not felt vertue and efficacy in the bloud of Christ for the pacification of your accusing Consciences and hath not Christ been as water i.e. for the purification of your polluted soules These saith the Apostle are witnesses that you are borne of God and that Christ is the Son of God for none else hath power to do these things But neither water nor bloud can witnes so much as that Christ is the Son of God to any soules if themselves be inevident unseen undiscerned I must know I am Justified and sanctified in order before I can know Christ to be the Son of God thereby And the witnessing of this efficiently is intended by the Apostle For 1. It is his designe to strengthen the beleevers by these witnesses against that grand error of denying Christ to be descended from God which prevailed in those times and that cannot be accomplished by water and bloud without a discerning their testimonie 2. Water and bloud witnessed objectively before 3. It is such a witnessing as is proper to beleevers 1 Joh. 5.10 Whereas Christ is objectively witnessed to be the Son of God unto unbeleevere Joh. 3.11 Joh. 5.32 33.36 37 38. Joh. 19 v. 34 35. And if I know that I have the water i.e. Sanctification and the bloud i.e. Justification then my Adoption is witnessed efficiently to me also 3. It is expressely declared to be the end aimed at 1 Joh. 5.13 These things have I written to you that beleeve for what end That ye may know that ye have eternall life This was his scope or drift to manifest unto them their title to eternall life Ergo a witnessing to particular soules their Adoption efficiently is intended and that to all even weake beleevers 1 Joh. 5.10 Argu. 2. From the extensivenes of the promise Joh. 14.21 Christ engageth to afford manifestations of himselfe unto all that love him and the weakest beleever is a lover of Christ Psal 25.14 The secret of the Lord is with those that feare him and he will shew them his Covenant Not eminent beleevers onely but weake ones shall see his Covenant for they feare him Arg. 3. Many that were weake in the faith yet are concluded under a capacity to attaine the witnessings of the Spirit if not under an actual injoyment of them 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you i.e. Can you be ignorant of it if it be a doubting speech whither they did know or not yet it cannot but speake a possibility of their knowing it Nay such Interrogations frequently have the force of vehement Affirmations i.e. ye doe know that the Spirit dwelleth in you And yet they were weak Christians for saith the Apostle ver 1 2. I could not speake unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal as unto babes in Christ There is then a possibility even for babes in Christ not
seemed to be under a midnight of spiritual darknesse before yet when the Spirit hath shined upon its owne workes in the soule and put new life into former experiences then it can conclude that the Sun of righteousnesse is arisen upon or in the heart who was hidden or unseene till then in a great measure And hence the Apostle prayeth Eph. 1. v. 17 18 19. That they might have the Spirit of revelation And for what end v. 18. That ye may know what is the hope of his calling i. e. that you may know upon what certain grounds Vt sciatis qualis quam certa sit spes qua nos sperare jussit Dominus atque ita ne ulla subeat animos vestros mentes vestras dubitatio de rebus non dum praestitis Zanch. and foundatioÌ„s your hopes are built and so may be freed from doubtings about the things hoped for And how is this attained The eyes of your understanding being enlightened v. 18. It is by the Spirits clearing and brightning of the understanding and enduing that with supernaturall light to know those things which naturally it could not know the Spirit raiseth heighneth and strengthneth the soules apprehensions of Divine things by darting in spiritual light and thus it attaineth a revelation knowledge and perswasion of Calling So Psal 36.9 Not in the light of our own understandings but in thy light i. e. in Divine light we shall see light If thy Spirit giveth us the light of knowledge then we shall be able to see what cometh from the Father of lights or hath a Divine stamp or impresse upon it and to put a difference between light and darknes we shall see light And often the Prophet beggeth for irradiations Psal 31.16 67. 1. 80.3.7.19 119. v. 135. Cause thy face to shine And hence 2 Corin. 4. v. 4.6 The light of the Gospell is said to shine in our hearts to give us a knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ By these irâ—â—diations a soule is enabled to see the minde of Christ in the Gospel and to compare its condition with and rightly to judge thereof by that perfect rule of righteousnesse 2. The Spirit witnesseth as by operations within so also by a written word without this doth contribute much to assurance The Word declareth 1. That such a Testimonie is attaineable and that the Spirit is the Witnes Rom. 8.16 1 Joh. 5. v. 8.10 2. What those workes of the Spirit are which doe evidence Adoption as faith Joh. 1.12 it giveth descriptions of faith and other graces and openeth the nature properties and effects of these or discovereth what operations a witnessing worke hath upon the hearts of those that are reall injoyers of it whereby a man may discerne whither those workes he hath found be of the right stamp reall and not counterfeit speciall and not common 3. What the wayes and meanes are whereby these workes may become witnessing 4. What application of a word doth make it witnessing Yet not the word alone but that in Conjunction with the Irradiations and other operations of the Spirit doth witnesse Adoption If the Spirit witnesseth by a reflexion upon acts of faith the word affordeth this proposition towards it He that beleeveth shall be saved Mark 16.16 The second proposition is But I beleeve Now towards this the Word telleth us what Faith is and the Spirit worketh and acteth faith in us and by its Irradiations helpeth us to see it in our selves and to say but I beleeve and then the Conclusion followeth from the Word Therefore I shall be saved And thus I have discovered what this witnessing worke of the Spirit is CHAP. VI. Of the Spirits Witnessing to the soule its Adoption and that first immediately by it selfe proved by foure Arguments Qu. 2. HOw doth the Spirit Witnesse to a soule its Adoption Ans 1. More Immediately by it selfe 2. By Water 3. By Bloud 1 Joh. 5 8. Ans 1. The Spirit witnesseth more Immediately by it selfe I say by it selfe not in opposition to the written word but to distinguish this way of witnessing from those by water and bloud 1 Joh. 5.8 It is the Concurrence of the Spirit with these that maketh them witnessing to us efficiently but besides the Spirit hath a more Immediate Testimonie of its owne which it affordeth to some beleevers whereby they are filled with satisfaction about their Adoption Sometimes when they are gasping after Communion with Christ the Spirit giveth them such sweet unexpressible heart-enamouring soule-ravishing manifestations of it selfe and of Divine love as effectually overcometh them into an undoubted perswasion thereof Ordinarily the Spirit maketh use of the written word in this way of witnessing he maketh the word without a voyce within by the effectual application of it unto a particular soule Or if it be not by an expresse word yet it is by some Scriptural consideration or in or presently after waiting upon the Lord in wayes of his owne appointment by the Word as prayer it may be for the very mercy of Assurance c. and so it is not properly an Immediate Revelation because in the use of meanes It may seeme very improper to call it Immediate and yet assert it to be by the Word But the expression may be borne withall 1. Because the Spirit hath such an eminent stroke here and doth more eminently manifest its owne presence in this then in the other wayes of witnessing Here it witnesseth not in a Discursive way by deducing Conclusions from premises but the Spirit â—â—â—â—â—eth the soule and thereby worketh it into the perswasion by a Direct act without any necessary reflexion upon workes formerly wrought within It effectually causeth the soule to beleeve its Adoption 2. Because the Scriptures are called the Word of the Lord and are the very breath of the Spirit 2 Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Divine breathing or inspiration Men are said Immediately to speake unto one another when they use words to each other face to face Now the Scriptures are but the voyce of the Spirit 3. Because I use the word Immediate to distinguish this from the other wayes of witnessing Now that besides the Spirits witnessing by Water i. e. Sanctification and by Blood i. e. Justification there is such a distinct way of witnessing it may appeare upon these grounds Arg. 1. From the Apostles ascribing it to the Spirit himselfe Rom. 8.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is proper to say that a man doth that which his substitute or servant doth by his appointment Not the Spirit but the Spirit himselfe the Graces of the Spirit are witnesses as every effect is a witnes of its Cause but the Spirit himselfe doth it saith the Text. Symonds deserted soule Case and Cure pag. 453. a Lord doth many times by his Steward but if it be said that such a man himselfe hath performed any worke that argueth his doing it in his owne
know this is a maine use which the Spirit is intended for 1 Corin. 2. v. 10 11 12. But God hath revealed them to us by his Spirit i. e. those things v. 9. that eye hath not seen and v. 12. we have received the Spirit for what end That we might know the things that are freely given us of God Whereas if the Spirit did not give demonstrations of its owne presence in its revelations the soule might question whither the things discovered were from God or not and so the Revelations would be of little use or advantage and could not sway the will to a rejection of what it hath formerly owned contrary to what is at present revealed And what light can have more perspicuitie and clearnes in it for the manifestation of Satanicall illusions then the light which proceedeth from the Spirit whose office it is to discover or manifest what is unknowne And I am perswaded that when the Spirit cometh in à witnessing way its light is like a candle or rather a beame of the Sun darted into the soule whereby it seeth into the cunning insinuations unjust accusations violent and horrid temptations and cursed delusions of Satan more then at other times and knoweth them to have their riste from him The annointing of the Spirit which is within the Saints is said to teach them all things 1 Joh. 2.27 and to helpe against those Seducers v. 26. i.e. by the word as a means it manifesteth what is consentaneous or agreeable to the minde of Christ and establisheth therein against all those craftie sophistications whereby Satan seduceth many the same Spirit taketh off the vailes which are upon the hearts of men and giveth them open visions of Divine glory 2 Corin. 3. v. 16 17 18. All which speake out thus much that Revelations from the Spirit by the Word have an inbred propertie to evidence their owne proceeding from the Spirit and to discriminate or difference themselves from those flashes of Satan whereby he striveth to his utmost to lead soules into groundles Conclusions about matters of the highest moment else they would not be effectual to prevent seduction 1 Joh. 2.26 which is one special end they are ordained to That which convincingly discovereth a delusion of Satan must evidence it selfe to come from God Delusions may pretend to the Word but the annointing within teacheth the Saints what is indeed according to the Word Arg. 4. From the Lords ordaining the in-being or in-dwelling of the Spirit to be an evidence of our Adoption if it selfe were inevident it could not conduce unto that end for every reason from whence any Conclusion is collected must be clearer then the Conclusion it selfe onely light can manifest Eph. 5.13 That which evidenceth another thing to me must needs it selfe be more discernable It were impossible for a man successully to try his state by the inhabitation of the Spirit if that were not more manisest then his state And indeed what can evidence its indwelling but it selfe Now this is often made the Rule for tryal as Rom. 8. v. 9. Ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit Now how shall we know that If the Spirit of God dwelleth in you and it is added He that hath not the Spirit is none of his 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine Know ye not that Christ is in you except ye be reprobate 1 Cor. 3.16 Know ye not that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you 1 Cor. 6.19 By all which it may appeare that the Spirit doth give test monie to it selfe in some of its operations or evidence that neither Satan nor any Creature can be the author of them Object But the Spirit is not discearnable in its essence but in its operations Ans 1. The application of promises is a special worke of the Spirit wherein its presence is as discernable as in any other of its operations Ans 2. Those which are the witnessing acts of the Spirit have the greatest aptitude to afford soule-satisfying manifestations of the Spirits presence in themselves of all other for the intention of the Lord in them is to manifest adoption to the soule Rom. 8.16 And seing a knowledge of its presence in the acts is a maine requisite unto Assurance by them hence they cannot fall short of discovering that These operations have more then ordinary light life and strength in them they differ in their brightnes from other concurrences of the Spirit as much as the clearest Sun-shiny day doth from that which is most dark and cloudy and therefore if ever the Spirit be seen in any operations it is in these which are the brightest beames of this Sun The Spirit by a secret touch irresistibly striketh the soule into such cleare firme and strong apprehensions and perswasions of its adoption that though it meeteth with much within and with ut from Satan it s owne heart and Christian friends to worke it into a contrary perswasion yet it cannot but say as Job 19.25 I know or as Rom. 8.38 I am perswaded As the Spirit giveth effectual Convictions of sin that the soule cannot deny its guiltines which formerly hath asserted its innocency and that without enquiring whither the Spirit hath done this or not So it doth worke effectually into a perswasion of Adoption that till afterward it doth not cannot or need not reflect to enquire whither it were the Spirit or no. And so the essence of the Spirit may not be discerneable and yet the testimonie may be sure to the soule by operations it may conclude the presence of the Spirit Yea the Spirit doth not onely give such a perswasion but also it discovereth some invincible grounds and giveth such undenyable demonstrations both of its owne presence and of the reality of what is spoken that as one under powerfull Convictions thereof it cannot but fall downe before it and say to the Spirit as they did to Christ Joh. 16. ver 29 30. Now thou speakest plainly and speakest no proverb by this I beleeve that thou comest forth from God As from some Divine Attributes that shine forth eminently in those witnessing acts 1. The Spirit causeth the soule to take notice of Divine wisdome in the application of promises as in the season of their coming in and sutablenes unto its present condition and in the manner of their working it findeth how Satan was defeated in his enterprises thereby his methods and snares discovered and he confounded and then the soule cannot but cry out as Rom. 11. v. 33. O the depth of the riches of Gods wisdome 2. The Spirit giveth it to see Divine power improved for it in a glorious way and hence Eph. 1. v. 18 19 20. He beggeth the enlightenings of the Spirit for them that they might know v. 19. what is the exceeding greatnes of his power to them-ward who beleeve c. The Saints often feele a Divine power in the application of promises but they cannot tell who is the agent whither Satan or the
Spirit and so the Apostle asketh that they might have a distinct knowledge hereof which argueth that the Spirit discovereth that there is an improvement of its owne power and so evidenceth its owne presence in some of its actings especially in giving a knowledge of the hope of calling as v. 18. And the Spirit convinceth hereof by the exceeding greatnes of the power which is put forth 1. It overcometh the heart into an acceptation of the promise the soule seeth its owne utter insufficiency in it selfe to make such an application of a promise as now it hath felt and an utter aversnes and reall backwardnes thereunto though there had been abilitie It was ready with Sarah to laugh at the newes of the promise or to say with those 2 King 7.2 If the Lord should make windowes in heaven it could not be accomplished to me and yet it was not able to withstand the power that did draw it that way 2. It overcometh Satan the Spirit discovereth how Satan raised his utmost opposition against the closure with the promise and many temptations are brought to fresh remembrance whereby he sought to keep it at the greatest distance from it yea it seeth the same power that draweth to the promise laid out to the utmost against Satan therein And from hence saith the Spirit it could not be thy selfe or Satan for both run crosse to it and therefore it must needs be the Divine Spirit that hath done this 3. The Spirit convinceth it of Christs faithfulnes herein Psal 89. v. 1 2.5.8 I will make knowne thy faithfulnes to all generations v. 8. Who is a strong Lord like unto thee or to thy faithfulnes round about thee So a soule after such a testimonie is exceedingly taken up with the faithfuines of the Lord that it speaketh to God after this manner Thou didst formerly enable me to a dependance on thy selfe in this promise and when my heart flagged fainted failled and gave over all hopes of it yet now hast thou accomplished it and throwne the mercy into my lap and discovered thy faithfulnes when I was unfaithful 4. The Spirit convinceth it of Divine goodnes in the application of the promise Psal 31. v. 19. O how great is thy goodnes his soule is even swallowed up with admiration at the extensivenes of it O how great v. 21. Blessed be the Lord that hath shewed me marvellous kindnes-What maketh him so much wonder at Divine goodnes v. 22. I said in my hast I am cut off Neverthelesse thou heardest So the Spirit causeth a soule to see how full of distrust that hath been how ready to say that it was neglected of God and how neverthelesse the Lord dealt thus and thus graciously with it and it cannot but cry out O how great is thy goodnes it is even wrapped up as into the third heaven and so taken up with redeeming love in the application of some promise as for the time nothing can put it upon a denyal of the working of this love towards it And thus I have shewne what is the primary evidence By all that hath been said it may seeme that this Question How a soule may know this Testimonie is needlesse for such as are actually under it seing the very worke of the Spirit is to give a knowledge of Adoption But in regard 1. Afterward the Spirit may suspend its operations and then the soule may question it 2. Some have strong Conceits and Opinions that they injoy this more Immediate testimonie of the Spirit when they are meerly under delusions and this first answer though it holdeth out the primary evidence of it unto those that really injoy it yet it may seeme not to reach so farre as to discover who have it not 3. Immediate testimonies have admitted of signes for their Confirmation to us Luk. 1. v. 18 19 20. Matth. 3. v. 16 17. Act. 2. v. 2 3 4. Hence though I suppose such signes are ceased yet it not being inconsistent with the nature of an Immediate testimonie to assert some inferiour evidences of it and seing the Spirit doth accomplish some spiritual works in the soules of Saints in and by its witnessing acts which may supply the place of those extraordinary signes therefore I shall speake further CHAP. XIII Of what doth Secondarily Evidence the truth of Immediate Testimony Ans 2. THe Secondary Evidence of the more Immediate Testimonie is Faith there are some eminent acts of faith drawne out by it but Delusions of Satan or the single testimonie of our Spirit leane without these 1. Faith is exercised upon Christ in that witnessing word which is applyed that look how it is to act upon any other word in the same way and manner it doth upon this The Spirit applyeth the promise but faith receiveth it Heb. 10. v. 22. In full assurance of faith if a soule hath attained full assurance faith hath a hand in it or it is brought in by beleeving and therefore faith is called the evidence of things not seen Heb. 11.1 There are varietie of examples in that Chapter of faith's acting upon various occasions Now if such acts be drawne out upon witnessing words as carry a correspondency with them unto those in Ahel Abraham Moses c. upon other or such words then they are Conclusive or witnessing And a reflexion upon those acts of faith must needs be very usefull and conducible towards the discovering a testimonie to be from the Spirit A reviewing of an Evidence is enough to decide the Controversie 2. Faith is exercised upon Christ in other promises besides that which is witnessing whil'st the soule was full of feares and questionings about its interest in adopting love it acted faith very little in comparison of what now it doth Whatsoever the witnessing word giveth it assurance of faith now liveth upon Christ in the promise for it Heb. 10.38 The just shall live by faith Psal 25.2 O my God I trust in thee Psal 63. v. 1.8 When a soule hath a sight of propriety in God this putteth it upon redoubled actings of saith If it can say my God it cannot but say I trust in thee Delusions set not faith upon the wing for the mercies that it supposeth it selfe to have interest in Nay they doe hinder the actings of it Revel 3.17 18.20 She neglected making out to Christ for all yea shut the doore of her soule against him that Christ stands without knocking and cannot have admittance so long as the voyce of her owne Spirit was attended to Object 1. But when is a word or promise received by faith and so when doth faith evidence a testimonie to be no Delusion Ans 1. When the heart is commanded into a perswasion of Adoption by the witnessing word as an act of obedience to the Lord not barely when there is a giving in of a word as I shall shew in another place but when the Spirit overaweth the soule with the Majestie that cometh alongst therewith to yeild subjection to
hard thoughts of God for and then the heart worketh on this manner O I have said the Lord hath forsaken me my God hath forgotten me but now I see his thoughts were precious towards me even then I had wretchedly forgotten him but now I see that though a mother may forget her sucking childe yet he cannot forget me It cannot but expatiate in rebuking its owne heart for untoward workings against this God whose love it now feeleth it taketh Gods part against it selfe more then ever Job 42. v. 5 6. Now mine eye seeth thee wherfore I abhorre my selfe The clearest sights of God cause the greatest selfe-abhorrency Ezek. 16. v. 61. Then shalt thou remember thy wayes and be ashamed When v. 60. When I shall establish unto thee an everlasting Covenant and v. 63. When I am pacified towards thee That testimonie which blocketh up the way to selfe-detestation is very suspicious though it transporteth with joy and comfort for the Lord hath promised that a sight of pacification should be attended with Evangelicall humiliation A delusion hath a naturall tendency to the puffing up of the soule and though hypocrites may have a shaddow of humilitie at other times yet there is the least appearance of it under high attainements and a supposall of glorious revelations But Divine testimonies are of Correctine use unto a soule A Peter after a love-looke from Christ O how he figheth sobbeth melteth mourneth at the remembrance of a foregoing denyall of him A Thomas that hath risen high even unto redoubled actings of unbeliefe when he hath thus seen and felt too O he cannot but check himselfe and say My Lord and my God Joh. 20.28 Under such heart-ravishing revelations this pierceth woundeth and as it were stabbeth the soule that the Lord hath had such unsutable returnes from it after so large expressions of his love Evid 4. The witnessings of the Spirit lay powerfull engagements upon the heart towards selfe-purification though sanctification sometimes lieth so darke that a soule may not be able to make use of that as a witnes for the present yet ever in witnessing the Spirit layeth obligations upon the soule to seeke after it to its utmost for the future 1 Joh. 3.3 Not onely some men but every man that hath this hope i. e. of seing God as he is v. 2. purifieth himselfe And a little purity or holines will not satisfie A knowledge of Adoption as v. 1 2. putteth it upon pressing after the perfection of it to be pure as he i. e. as God is pure Whereas Delusions tend some way or other to unholines Satan driveth at some corrupt defignes therein Evid 5. The witnessings of the Spirit procure an expulsion of Satan out of the soule Christ evinceth his being no impostour and that he acted by the Spirit of God because he did cast out Satan Math. 12. v. 25 26.28 So if a testimonie of Adoption conduceth to the ejection of Satan out of the soule in his temptations suggestions c. this argueth it to be no delusion for if Satan should cast out Satan his kingdome were divided and could not stand v. 26. The binding of the strong man armed must be by the Spirit for none else is stronger then he When the word abideth in a soule then it overcometh the wicked one 1 Joh. 2.14 Every manifestation of Christ is for this end to destroy the workes of the Devil 1 Joh. 3.8 Delusions dimme and dazle the eyes of the soule that it cannot see into the craftie contrivances of that subtile adversary But the Spirit taketh off those vailes that were upon the heart and giveth notable discoveries of Satans close plottings crosse actings secret undermineings soule-ensnaring stratagems that it seeth into his wayes and methods more then ever 2 Corin. 3. v. 16 17 18. 12. v. 7. Yea it filleth the soule with detestation of and indignation against him in his enterprises and that because they tend to interrupt some designes of Christ and to contradict his ends Math. 3.17 with 4. v. 10. And also many temptations are overcome hereby Satan will be incensed when he seeth himselfe cast out and so floods of new temptations are to be expected Rev. 12. v. 13.15 But by the witnessings of the Spirit usually a soule obtaineth a release from those old ones that it hath grapled with and groaned yea even sunk under many a day And it speaketh the Spirit to be the author of a testimonie when it worketh this way for Satan is not cast out but entreth into the soule when delusions prevaile and Satan is expelled out of the soule when that is out of love with him and when his wayes are rendred odious and abominable to it Evid 6. Satan useth his utmost endeavours to draw and beate off the soule from and cause it to doubt of the Spirits testimonie but he seeketh to prevent a questioning of his owne I doe not make doubting an Evidence of Assurance but if thou can'st be sure that Satan tempteth thee to doubting and seeketh to divide between thee and a promise applyed that argueth thy closure with the promise not to be by his meanes And if thou be'st sure that he perswadeth thee to owne a testimonie still which thou bast received then it is very suspicious For Satan is no such friend or favourite unto the Spirit or its testimonie as to seeke the hindring its questioning thereof Neither is he such an enemie to himselfe as to beate off from hearkening unto his owne delusions when the soule is enclined to imbrace them Evid 7. The witnessings of the Spirit afford corroborations against the sharpest afflictions and sufferings a timerous fearfull Spirit that formerly thought it should never be able to hold up against smaller tryals yet after such a testimonie it is undaunted at the sight of greater The shineings of Gods face make it willing to doe or suffer any thing for God now it can venture to the utmost for him When they could claime interest in God Dan. 3.17 Our God This made them declare their resolutions for God v. 18. This will beare out against a fierie furnace Rom. 8.37 In all these things we are more then Conquerours We i. e. we that can say That nothing shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. as v. 39. We are in all these things in tribulations persecutions famine nakednes peril sword c. v. 36. Not onely after these but in them and in all these hard passages of providence by which many are provoked to doubt of Divine love yet in all these we are Conquerours i. e. whil'st we are under them they are overcome to us we are not subdued or kept under in our faith or patience by these but are kept above our tribulations and Conquerours i. e. of Satan who fighteth against us in these he backeth persecution with temptation but we overcome all and are Conquerours i. e. of Corruption that is ready to take advantage
use solicitations by a word as well us the Divine Spirit Meth. 4. v. 6. Satan it 〈◊〉 Christ with an It is written 〈…〉 excite thee to that which as not thy duty by a word therefore unles thou can'st certainly promise thy selfe that it proceedeth from the Spirit of God it cannot be evidenting either of what is thy duty or Condition unlesse the word it false given in doth evidence it 2. Because I finder no Rule to Evidence that the Spirits himing in of words is a ground for such Conclusions I have heard many relate extraordinary passages of providence that attended the coming in of the word as they did not know that there was any such Scripture on where it was and yet opening the booke it was the first plâ—â—â— the eye was cast upon c. Now they ought to take notice of and owns 〈…〉 markeable wayes as these are 〈…〉 of the Spirit is not hereby to 〈…〉 conclude about their owne conditions for mediately from the hinting 〈◊〉 the word but mediately by their coming upon 〈◊〉 ends that the word it selfe which is hinâ—ed in pointeth at A beleever should thinke thus with himselfe Surely it is of great concernment to me to improve this word Lesser providences ought to be followed up towards Gospell ends but greater much more and therefore it standeth me in hand to looke about me that these remarkable ones passe not away without attaining some speciall ends And if the word be improved for the ends it aimeth at as Quickening supportment the acting of some graces c. These improvements of it are witnessing But if these be neglected the ends of the Spirit in casting it in are unattained and so the Conclusions drawne from it are ungrounded 3. Because the Prophet David ascribed all such effects to the word it selfe Psal 119. v. 24.50.105.133 It was the word that Directed Counselled Quickened and Comsorted him Doubtles there was an application of the Word else it would not have accomplished these ends But Application denoteth the Conveyance of the word into the heart and its implantation ingrafting and working mightily there which is sarre more then a hinting of it in or the bringing it to minde and yet he resolveth all into the word it selfe applyed rather then into the application 4. Because of the inconveniencies and dangerous consequences that usually attend building conclusions about its duty or condition upon the bare hinting in of words as hence a foule is often ready to reject a word sutable to its condition which if owned might be of great advantage to it O saith the soule I know not whither it onely came to my remembrance by often reading of it or were given in by the Spirit Whereas thou oughtest to have familiar acquaintance with the word Deut. 6. v. 7. and it is thy mercy if thy mind be filled with variety of words sutable to the severall exigencies necessities and temptations thou meetest withall Their being familiarized to thee should be so far from occasioning perplexity that it ought to be reckoned thy great mercy that thou hast them at hand when many are much at a losse for want of sutable words to their conditions But know that the Lord hath bundled up the Promises in the word that upon all occasions thou mightest have recourse to him by them for what thou wantest and so thou shouldest be so far from disowning a sutable word when hinted in that thou oughtest to goe and take a word when it is not given in It is thy duty to search the Scriptures when thou art at a losse about any matter and to improve any word futable to thy condition that thou findest as well as if it were hinted in John 5.39 Search the Scriptures Acts 17. v. 11. Againe some have persisted in the neglect of their duty a great while for the want of the giving in of a word and have lost much Communion with God hereby Others seeing themselves mistaken in their Conclusions from the hinting in of words have been led into a questioning of all their other Experiences Therefore if a word sutable to thy condition be given in blesse the Lord for it if not find out one and take it whether it be a witnessing quickning supporting or comforting word and pray over it yea give the Lord no rest untill he hath made a powerfull application of thy heart so as to draw that out after Christ by it and without this improvement of it for its proper end it pointeth at the hinting of it in will prove of but little advantage to ther though by the Spirit 9 Lastly Hold fast the Doctrine of Perseverance The Lord hath promised that he will put his fear in their hearts that he owneth in the everlasting Covenant that they shall not depart from him Jere. 32. v. 40. And see Psal 89 v. 30 31 32 33 34. If his Children forsake my Law if they breake my Statutes then will I visit their transgression with a rod and their iniquity with stripes Neverthelesse my loving kindnesse will I not utterly take from him My Covenant will I not breake Here the Lord declareth what he will doe if his people sin not cast them off but correct them So Isa 54. v. 8 9 10. As I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more goe over the earth so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee For the mountaines shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindnesse shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee A Saint may fall into sin but he cannot fall from his faith See Luke 22.32 comp with John 17.20 Let goe the doctrine of perseverance and thy peace will be like a morning dew that passeth away but retaine this and then thou mayest rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God FINIS ROSES FROM SHARON OR Sweet Experiences Gathered up by some precious hearts whilst they followed on to know the Lord. Published for publick Soul-Advantage Cant. 4.16 Awake O North-wind and come thou South blow upon my Garden that the Spices thereof may flow out Let my beloved come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits Cant. 7.12 Let us get up early to the Vineyards let us see if the Vine flourish whither the tender Grape appeare and the Pomegranats bud forth there will I give thee my Loves LONDON Printed by M. S. for Livewell Chapman 1654. The Epistle to the Reader Christian Reader AS Christ the spirituall Aaron doth beare the Names of spirituall Israelites on his heart so they also doe bear his name on theirs They are the Epistle of Christ and have his will written by the finger of the Spirit on their inward man There is much entercourse and communion between Christ and them and many sweet pussages which carnall hearts know not of There are many outgoings of their Joules towards Christ and incomings of Christ into
The VOICE of the SPIRIT OR An Essay towards a Discoverie of the witnessings of the Spirit by opening and answering these following weighty Queries Q. 1. What is the witnessing worke of the Spirit 2 How doth the Spirit witnesse to a soule its Adaption 3 Who are capable of attaining the witnessings of the Spirit 4. How may a soul know its injoyment of them 5. By what meanes may a soule attaine them To which is added Roses from Sharon or sweet Experiences reached out by Christ to some of his beloved ones in this Wildernes By SAMUEL PETTO Preacher of the Gospell at Sandcroft in Suffolke Isaiah 59 19. When the enemy shall come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a Standard against him LONDON Printed for Livewell Chapman at the Crowne in Popes-head-Alley 1654. To the Saints and people of God in and about Sandcroft Grace and peace be multiplyed Dearely beloved in the Lord. AS Jesus Christ by the appointment of the Father hath purchased Redemption brought in an everlasting righteousnes and obtained eternall Salvation for a certaine number of the race of fallen Adam so the blessed Spirit is designed by the Father and the Son not onely to make application of Christ and to bring soules into the relation of Sons and Daughters thereby but also to beare testimony of their standing in that blessed Relation To encourage unto a waiting for and to give a knowledge of the witnessings of the Spirit is the designe of this Treatise And now Deare friends I beseech you rest not satisfied without a perswasion from the Spirit of Adoption that God is your Father Give over carnall reasonings and give all diligence to make your Calling and Election sure Though you be under the hidings of Gods face at present Isa 8.17 yet waite for the light of his Countenance and the issues will be glorious When Josephs brethren were in their greatest distresse then Joseph maketh knowne himselfe to them Gen. 45. v. 1.3 4. So when many charges and accusations are brought in against you and many seemingly hard passages are met withall and that from Christ himselfe and your hearts are ready to sinke downe lowest your fears to rise highest yet then may your Assurance be nearest Christ your spirituall Joseph as with Reverence we may speake it will be able to refraine no longer he cannot but cry out I am Joseph your Brother And if you injoy a testimonie of Divine love at last you will not repent you of all your waiting It will be as a cluster of grapes from the Celestiall Canaan that will give you a foreknowledge how good the Land is This will sweeten your bitterest cups and your worst conditions to you this will be enough that God is your Father Your hearts are now fearefull of medling with promises and this is the language of your soules it is true here are precious promises but what is this to us we know not whither we have any right to them or not such a testimony will assure you that all the promises are yours because Christ is yours in whom all the promises are Yea and Amen Indeed when you want Assurance yet it is your duty by faith to take hold of promises sutable to your conditions but Satan hindreth oftentimes therein when you cannot see your interest in Christ Hereby also you will see your liberty for neare approachings unto God and that with a holy boldnes because he is your Father and may hope of being succesfull in all your drawings neare to him Hereby you will have freedome from or establishment against many temptations which a doubting condition exposeth you to you will not be so ready to have hard thoughts of God or murmuring discontented thoughts at his dispensations c. as you have been Hereby you will be rendred thankfull for your mercies whereas now you are apt to Call the most speciall mercies Common And that such an abundant entrance may be administred to you into the everlasting kingdom and that you may be filled with peace and joy in beleeving even joy unspeakable and full of glory shall be the prayer of him who is Sandcroft 4th Mo 20th day 1654. Yours in Gospell Engagements SAMUEL PETTO To the Christian Reader THe eternall decree of the great God about the everlasting state of soules in which they shall for ever abide after the number of our Months are determined and that this body is seized upon by the king of torrors is registred in the bookes of God and to be opened at the great day but at the present so hidden that by all that is before us as that we cannot eyther know love or hatted or what will be the sentence of the Judge of all the world upon a particular soule when he comes to speake those irreversible words Goe ye Cursed Come ye Blessed Yet he that was worthy to open the books and unto whom the Father hath committed all Judgement even Jesus our Lord be it is that hath sent for that blessed Spirit which curiously and exactly surveighs the very bottome Counsells of God to make report of and to witnesse unto soules the precious assurance of their Adoption that so such as doe beleive might have consolation and hope And now a search after the knowledge of the language of that Spirit and the whisperings thereof whereby the soule is made acquainted with the secret of God must needs be a worke worthy the utmost of our care and diligence and every beame of light tending to that end should be answerably esteemed of by us according to its issue which is so great even of eternall moment Besides multitudes there are bound up in darknes some on the one part laying claime to acquaintance with the Spirits testimonies whose walkings yet savour so ranke of the flesh as they declare them sensuall and deluded Others there are who not onely have tasted the Spirits sweetnesse but by him have been made to drinke into Christ yet through over-elated thoughts and expectancies of the Spirits witnessings much like the Jewes in their too much raised account of some pompous and extraordinary appearing of the Messias regardlesse of those pretious whispers of love which the Spirit in the promise hints to the soule makes them still froward and dissatisfied with God as not counting their prayers heard or their persons regarded because not extraordinarily visited by the Spirit The designe and aime therefore of the Author in this peice is to promote our understanding of the voyce of that Spirit And according to the Grace given him to releive and edifie the weake and doubting and undeceive such as are deluded We are perswaded hee hath dealt faithfully both with Christ and you in laying aside all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and endeavouring in the plainnesse and demonstration of that Spirit which he is heere treating of to speake home to eyther sort Upon that short view we had of this worke we have added our testimony to it not
because wee thinke our names are any way worthy or can backe the Truth or that we intended the Authors Commendation therby we know he needs it not where himselfe is knowne and his worke we trust will approove him faithfull with Jesus Christ Only we aime at bearing testimony to the Truth And if it may be the encouragement of some poore soules further to ponder and consult what is heere wrott Reader Consider and view it over and see if thou canst finde the booke in thy heart and thy heart in that We beleive when thou hast perused it thorough though thou misse spangles of Eloquence yet thou wilt not account thy expence of time as to be thy losse Greive not that Spirit by slighting any peice that may familiarize his voyce and language to thee Here are Questions of moment flated opened and in some measure cleered up If thou meetest with thy satisfaction give glory to the God of heaven if the blessing of the Gospell drop but from one leafe or line upon thy Spirit in thy consulting it thy paines are recompenced Now that the Spirit of the Lord may be redoubled upon the Author who hath waged in this worke and that thy profit who perusest it may be answerable to the desires and travaile of his soule shall be the prayers of us who are meanest among the Saints who yet desire to approve our selves faithfull to Christ his truths his interests and his people so we bid thee farewell Grace be with thy Spirit Amen SAM HABERGHAM EDVV. BARKER 1. day 4. Mo 1654. To the Reader Deare friend THe plentifull pouring out of the Spirit is the great priviledge which is promised unto the latter dayes and therefore it must needs be a duty of high concernment to seeke for inward acquaintance with that blessed Spirit in all those wayes it is promised in amongst which its witnessing of Adoption is none of the least According to that measure of light which the Lord hath lent me I have endeavoured the clearing up of that great mysterie in the ensuing Treatise And some of the reasons which have byassed my Spirit to appearing in it in so publique a way are these which follow 1. Because of the many encouragements which I have had hereunto from diverse friends both Ministers and others 2. Because so few have written distinctly on this Subject The more Immediate testimonie of the Spirit is very little insisted upon by any that I could ever yet see Assurance I confesse is the Subject of diverse bookes but there are many markes and signes lay'd downe by some which I feare will not hold weight in the ballance of the Sanctuary 3. Because of the many Delusions which multitudes of soules are under in these dayes who yet are pretenders to the Spirit therein Here are many things that if the Lord will may be conducible to the undeceiving of such as are taken in the snares of the Devill and to the establishing others against them 4. Beause of those great perplexities and inward distresses which my selfe and many heaven-borne soules have been in for want of light into that Question How shall I know the testimonie of the Spirit from the Delusions of Satan I have been like Noahâ— Dove have not knowne where to set the foot of my soule as to the Doctrinall part so as to be safe for eternitie I knew that faith and other graces when of the right stampe were evid ncing but how to know true faith from false and so for other graces and that my heart did not deceive me in passing judgement on my condition seing Satan transformeth himselfe into an Angel of light and counterfeiteth every grace this hath put me to a stand And now the Lord having given me much satisfaction in this search more then ever I had formerly about the Doctrinall part and delivered me from many perplexities and feares which heretofore I laboured under least I should take that for an evidence which was none I am hereby encouraged to hope that these Directions may be usefull unto others in the same wayes that they have been to me Yet the speciall Concurrences of the Spirit onely can make them effectuall to a soule for their proper end And those experiences of that more Immediate testimonie of the Spirit which thou findest in the latter end of the booke coming to my hand by an especiall providence when I had well nigh finished the Treatise and carrying with them such a harmony unto what the Lord had convinced me of before from his Word yet was almost discouraged for publishing because I had found so little thereof in my owne experience these have not onely added much Confirmation to me in the truth it selfe but also have given me much encouragement to a proceeding in the worke The Treatise by a blessing from heaven may be usefull 1. To those which are in a state of nature to take them off those sandy foundations which they have built upon for eternitie Here they may see how farre they may goe and yet be in a perishing condition still Though they may attaine unto Convictions of sin and to a kinde of beleeving on Christ and have some good motions and desires c. yet unlesse there be such a through-worke as bringeth in a heart turne from sin and to Christ they will miscarry everlastingly for all this The swaying prevailing part of the heart must be Christ-ward else their faith is vaine they are yet in their sinnes And hence we read so often of Conversion and turning to the Lord and that as a distinguishing thing of Saints from others Jam. 5.20 Math. 18.3 4. Act. 3.19 Psal 51.13 Ezek. 18.30.32 Act. 14.15 Act. 26.18.20 It is not enough that the heart is touched or wrought upon by the Word unlesse it be turned 2. To those which are in a state of grace it may be of advantage to them towards peace joy Comfort establishment and let them beware of disowning any testimonie from the Spirit whither in that Immediate way or otherwise It is an ordinary saying that wicked men would have Christ for their Saviour but not for their Lord. And I grant that none doe rightly take Christ for Salvation but also doe take him for Sanctification but if hereby they intend to make receiving of Christ as Lord the onely Evidence of interest in him I conceive they are much mistaken for Blood is made a witnes of Adoption as well as Water And I am confident there is no heartie willingness in any unrenewed soule to have Christ for a Saviour Joh. 5.40 Hebr. 2.3 Receiving Christ as a Saviour is as distinguishing as receiving him as a Lord. But there may be some kinde of willingnes to receive him either way yet if it be not an effectuall heartie willingnes it is not evidencing of which see more in the Treatise it selfe And now Reader search the Scriptures whither the things be so or not And if this poore Treatise may but be a provocation unto others
to a more through handling of this great point or may draw our any thing to the further distinguishing the speakings of the Spirit from Satanicall Illusions it will be a matter of rejoycing to me And if thou reapâ—st any spirituall advantage by what thou readest give the glory of all to the Lord and send up some groanes and cryes unto the Father of mercies for me that I might have a practicall experimentall acquaintance with the Witnessings of the Spirit which I have endeavoured in a Doctrinall way to cleare up to thee And that thou mayest be filled with the same Spirit shall be the prayer of him who is A poore unworthy labourer in the worke of the Gospell S. P. Courteous Reader By reason of the Authors far distance from the Presse many faults have escaped some of the chiefest are here noted out which thou art desired to take notice of ERRATA'S PAge 3. line 11. for rathen read rather p. 9. l. 18. for no r. to to yeeld attention p. 11. l. 14. for or Conscience 1. our Conscience p. 27. l. 17. for times r. things p. 30. l. 24. for Antedent r. Antecedent p. 34. l. 17. for understood r. understandeth p. 37. l. 18. for promises r. premises p. 38. for Spirituall grounds r. Scripturall grounds p. 40. l. 9. for Conjunction r. Conjunctim or in Canjunction p. 44. l. 12. for is r. was p. 54. l. 13. for curruption r. corruption p. 58. l. 16. for appleate r. appeale p. 67. l. 9. blott out of p. 104. l. 14. for himseife r. himselfe p. 113. l. 8. read thus And hence they are said p. 119. l. 20. for are r. as p. 138. l. 19. for bolines r. holines p. 140. l. 12. for Consequences r. Consequence p. 140. l. 16. for be as r. bias p. 148. l. 26. r. they that are after the Spirit p. 150. l. 5. for having r. have p. 160. l. 8. for carnall confidences are read thus a carnall Confidence is p. 160. l. 10. for are r. is p. 81. l. 8. for leane r. leave p. 166. l. 11. for cannot r. could not p. 168. l. 18. for Spirits r. Spirit p. 173. l. 25. for the r. they p. 175. on the Margin for distincti r. distinctè p. 176. l. 3. for haire r. heire p. 181. l. 30. for its r. his p. 188. l. 5. blott out it p. 191. l. 6. read thus be hinted in A BRIEF DISCOVERY of the witnessings of the Spirit to the Soules of the Saints ROM 8. VERS 16. The Spirit it selfe witnesseth with our Spirit that we are the Children of God CHAP. I. Opening the Text and shewing the meaning of the words THis Apostle Paul having made it his great designe in the foregoing Chapters to cleare up the doctrine of Justification by faith without the workes of the Law he draweth up a comfortable Conclusion Chap 8.1 That there is no condemnation to those which are in Christ And as well to prevent a presumptuous claiming of interest in Christ as to deliver from ungrounded doubtings thereof 〈◊〉 Characterizeth those which are in Christ in the following verses and the inhabitation of the Divine Spirit ver 9. with its concurrences in the mortification of sin ver 13. and as a Conductor or Leader ver 14. These are made the great discriminating differencing things which those that are in Christ are set out and distinguished from others by But because men are apt to be deceived dreame of an injoyment of leadings from the Divine Spirit when they are without them therefore he addeth this ver 16. The Spirit it selfe witnesseth c. So that the words expresse the way whereby a soule attaineth a knowledge of its union with Christ and consequently of its freedome from condemnation and it is this The Spirit it selfe witnesseth c. Where you may take notice 1. Who witnesseth The Spirit it selfe with our Spirit 2. What is witnessed that we are the children of God The Spirit i.e. not onely gifts and graces but the Spirit who is the worker or bestower of these That Spirit which hath enabled us to beleeve and doth enable us to cry Abba Father and which shall quicken our mortall bodies in the day of Christ ver 11 The Spirit i.e. who searcheth the deepe things of God who undoubtedly knoweth whither wee be adopted or not and whose testimony is infallible he being truth it selfe this Divine Spirit not by a proxie but it selfe Witnesseth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contestatur testimonium reddit und testatur i.e. co-witnesseth or rendreth a testimony or witnesseth together saith Leigh Crit. Sac. the word is composed with the Preposition together or with and so it denoteth a double or Twin-testimony 1. The Spirit of God 2. Our Spirit It beareth witness saith he together with rathen then to our Spirit Yet the word is sometimes used to expresse a single Testimony Wicked men are confident of their Adoption upon the false deceitfull and deluding testimony of their owne Spirits but the Sons of God have the Divine Spirit who cannot lye or beare false witnes to testifie Si unus esset testis dubitatio non tolleretur sed duo sunt testes itaque nullus restat dubitationi locus Spiritus noster fallere posset nos sed Spiritus Sanctus non sinit nos falli Fayus to or with their Spirits their Adoption Here are two witnesses the Spirit of Adoption and our Spirit i.e. Either 1. Our soule Luke 23.46 Into thy hands I commend my Spirit i.e. my soule Act. 7.59 And so it is contra distinguished from the body 1 Corin. 6.20 Glorifie God in your body and in your Spirit i.e. in your soule So 1 Cor. 7.34 And if you take it in this sense it holdeth out thus much That the witnessings of the Spirit are not to the outward ear but to the heart the Spirit maketh report of Divine mercy to the inner man the way of its witnessing is not externall by an audible voyce but internall by secret whisperings to the soule Not by outward expressions but by inward unspeakeable inspirations Or 2. Our Spirit i. e Our Uunderstanding Judgement and Conscience which being renewed are called also by the name of Spirit 1 Cor 2.11 What man knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of a man c. Here our Spirit denoteth the knowing faculty And ver 15 16. He that is Spirituall judgeth all things c. Here the Judging power is given unto this Spirit of a man And in this sence I take our Spirit in the Text and that because it is the proper office or worke of our understandings judgements and Consciences to receive imbrace or refuse such testimonies as are offered Rom. 2.15 Their Conscience also bearing witnes c. 2 Cor. 1.12 The testimony of our Conscience The meaning then of the words is this That the Divine Spirit witnesseth to our understandings and judgements and with our consciences That we are the Sons of God i. e. that we have
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
for the assuring us of our Adoption I finde no Rule for these The Spirit giveth a certainty of Adoption by its actings within the soule as well as if a hundred witnesses had affirmed it As 1. It maketh an effectual application of witnessing words when it testifieth by direct acts the hinting or giving in of a word is not enough as I shall shew in another place But then a word is applyed when it is powerfully set upon the heart by the Spirit and is so fixed setled and engraven there that it becometh an ingrafted word James 1.21 and worketh effectually towards its proper end 1 Thess 2.13 Coloss 1.29 And that it beareth downe all temptations objections and unbeleeving reasonings that were in the soule before against what it is called up to by the word and so is written upon the heart Jerem. 31. v. 33. It is onely the finger of the Spirit that can doe this 2 Corin. 3.3 And when there is such an application of a witnessing word as the heart is irresistibly overpowered into a pers wasion of Adoption by it then it it indeed witnessing And some of the Saints have found such a supernatural power coming alongst with a word that th ugh afflictions and temptations came yet they durst not could not but say to the Lord Doubtles thou art our Father Or as 2 Corin. 5.1 We know And at such a time the promise is as it were holden to the heart they are knitt and glued together that untill the Spirit suspendeth its operations it is as easie to make the soule leave the body as to make this perswasion of Adoption leave the soule as I shall shew more fully else where 2. The Spirit exciteth and draweth out some manifest speciall gracious acts when the way of testifying is by reflex acts the Gospel declareth and determineth saith and other graces to be infallible evidences of Adoption Now the Spirit enableth to act these Rom. 5.5 Gal. 5.22 And from these by reflex acts to draw Concsusions of Adoption I call them speciall gracious acts to difference them from those workes of the Spirit unbeleevers may have Hebr. 6. v. 4 5.6 that have not power to assert Adoption which is a speciall relation for nothing common can evidence that which is speciall And they must be manifest acts of grace for Witnesses are purposely to cleare up a matter which is dark dubious and therefore witnessing must ever be by what is more conspicuous and apparent and hence Christ referreth the Jewes to his workes and the Scriptures Joh. 5.36.39 Because they were more visible to them And I conceive there are many secret concurrences of the Spirit which though they be speciall workes yet are not intended for this but some other end and with the utmost diligence a soule can use are not capable of being improved unto witnessing being themselves so hardly discerneable Yet I dare not confine assurance unto eminent Saints I thinke few or no Christians are so weake that they are destitute of all such acts of grace as may witnesse to them Adoption as I shall prove afterward But there is a vast difference between the operations and the witnessing operations of the Spirit these must have light as well as peculiarnesse in them 3. The Spirit causeth the soule to apply it selfe unto the use of due meanes for the attaining assurance Sometimes his proceedings are graduall or by degrees the soule goeth on step by step towards it and it may be a great while before it arriveth at it As the Spirit may first Convince by the word that a Christian ought to seek after and may attaine unto more quietnes establishment then yet it selfe hath found 2 Pet. 1. ver 10. This part of the will of Christ it little minded before And then it may be the Lord removeth out of the way those impediments which formerly hindred Assurance subdueth some corruptions answereth some doubts causeth it to see the groundlesnesse of some feares it hath laboured under helpeth it to looke into Satans designes that have hindred the worke of Christ within it and to take notice of some glorious advantages in the attaining of Assurance which it thought not of before it seeth how it may glorifie God more in such a condition then it can doe under doubtings feares disquietings And thus the Spirit capacitateth the soule for such a mercy So Exod. 33. v. 9.11.14.17 Moses upon every new grant or returne of prayer taketh advantage to rise higher and higher in his requests and at last cryeth out ver 18. I beseech thee shew me thy glory And ver 19. compared with Exod. 34.6 All his goodnes passed before him So the Lord causeth a soule to seeke for some mercits and upon the Lords answering some desires it hath encouragement to goe with a holy boldnes for greater mercies and at last it is enabled to act faith in an eminent way for sights of Divine glory and in the face of Christ hath these also It obtaineth some mercies conducing to assurance at first and afterwards injoyeth that also I have mentioned this the rather 1. Because Christians thinke to have assurance all at once upon a sudden and are apt to be very much troubled if it commeth not in by the lumpe whereas the will of God is to let it in sometimes by little and little and the soule may be a long time in attaining it this is no matter of discouragement that thou hast it not presently if thou be'st in the way to it 2. Because many are very suspitious of a testimony if it be not by some violent powerfull heart-astonishing alterations whereas though sometimes it be by such invincible operations as doe not leave the soule to freedome whether it will owne them or not but overcometh the heart immediately to a reception of the testimony yet at other times the Spirit acteth in a more milde gentle and secret indiscernable way and doth more leave the soule to its choyce for owning it or not and by quenching the motions of the Spirit it may misse of that Assurance which they lead to Yet these operations when they doc effectually witnesse are so powerfull that ever they carry the heart alongst with them towards Christ When Assurance commeth in as the result of selfe-examination it may not cause such eminent alterations as a soule may expect and yet it may be good But there are sweet gracious effects that will follow reall witnessings of the Spirit which way soever they come in And that bowing of the heart to the use of meanes as selfe-examination c. is another worke of the Spirit as a witnesse 4. The Spirit affordeth Irradiations as a witnesse openeth a Case and sheweth how it standeth so the Spirit by shining forth with its bright glorious and heavenly beames into the darke dungeon-like soule doth cause it to discerne enough in the application of promises and in the exercise of graces to satisfie it about its adoption And though it
as well as graces within us I take bloud to be a clearer evidence then Water which is often muddy and full of imperfection and hence such an Emphasis is put upon bloud 1 Joh. 5.6 He came not hy water onely but by water and blood His saying not by water onely argueth that it is the bloud he would have especially taken notice of and that it was for the sake of bloud that this is iterated Men are apt to slight bloud as if that deserved not the name of a witnesse whereas although water is not to be neglected yet bloud is most to be minded or more then water in this witnessing worke for he striveth most to advance that witnesse not by Water onely CHAP. IX Shewing who are capable of attaining the Witnessings of the Spirit Qu 3. VVHo are capable of attaining the witnessings of the Spirit Answ 1. Onely beleevers are in a capacity to injoy such a testimonie from the Spirit for onely they are adopted Joh. 1.12 1 Joh. 3.1 Gal. 4.26 Ye are the children of God by faith There must be adoption before it can be witnessed to a soule that it is Adopted else there is a bearing false witnesse which cannot without blasphemie be charged upon the Spirit of truth who is the witnesse 1 Joh. 5.6 That some eminent beleevers may and doe attaine the witnessings of the Spirit is evident Rom. 8.16 Job 19.25 2 Tim. 1.12 And often we reade of Confidence and Assurance 2. Weake beleevers are capable of attaining the witnessings of the Spirit about their Adoption this position is questioned by some yet because the denyal of it doth directly tend to raise discouragement in their way to seeking after it because it is in vaine to attempt things impossible and seing the very knowledge of a possibility of attaining it is very comfortable and the thing it selfe much more hence I thought good to offer some reasons which for the present satisfie me that it is not a priviledge intended by Christ onely for the tallest Cedars in Christianity or those that are strong ones but also such as are weake in the faith have this Legacy bequeathed to them by the will of Christ Yet before I lay downe my grounds I shall premise some things which will make way for them Prem 1. The witnessings of the Spirit may be attaineable and yet not be attained Christians are without much of that sweete Communion which they might injoy with the Lord Christ he knocked called cryed to the Spouse Open to me my sister my love Cant. 5.2 But spiritual sloth and carnal securitie shut the doore against him and he withdrew himselfe ver 3.6 Here fellowship with Christ was not attained and yet was attaineable I doe not undertake to prove that every weake beleever doth injoy effectual witnessings though much might be said for that but I am onely to prove that they are attaineable even by babes in Christ If they choake smother and quench the motions of the Spirit that if followed up and cherished might have been witnessing and through negligence about the use of meanes or temptations c. may goe without them yet this speaketh not their incapacity for the injoyment of them 2. I shall endeavour to prove that those which are really weake not onely in gifts and naturall abilities but even in graces also yet are in a capacity to attaine the witnessings of the Spirit and therefore it is very dangerous for men to despaire of them because they are weake in their owne apprehensions seing they may mis-judge about their measure and may be strong in the grace of Christ and however reall weaknes affordeth not matter of discouragement 3. The witnessings of the Spirit may admit of degrees as its operations are at one time more potent conspicuous and manifest then at another so may the soules perswasion of its Adoption be which are raised by these The appearances of the Spirit at one time may be so glorious and its actings so powerfull as all doubtings feares or questionings about its state may be crushed suppressed and banished that if men and Angels should labour to bring under a contrary perswasion yet it durst not it could not subscribe to them Rom. 8.38 39. Yet at other times they may not be so cleare or irresistible but liable to quenchings by smaller meanes I shall not at present assert that witnessings in those high degrees are attaineable by weake beleevers these may seeme to be too strong meates for them to beare But that they are capable of freedome in some measure from their doubtings and of attaining some degree of perswasion that Christ is theirs this I am to prove The rich mans window may be wider then the poore mans and so the Sun may make his house more lightsome that the things within it may be more clearely discerned there but the poore man may really injoy the beames of the Sun and know that they come from it and may see what is in his house as well as he So the poorest Saint may know that the Spirit hath shined in his heart as well as others that are beholden to it for brighter beames then he hath been acquainted with 4. An eminent measure of grace is of great advantage towards Assurance 2 Pet. 1. v. 5 6.8.10 Therefore this affordeth no encouragement unto any to content themselves with that measure which they are come up to Nay the witnessings of the Spirit will be furtherances and provocations unto grow'th in grace if really injoyed Rom. 13. v. 11 12. But yet a high measure of grace is not so necessary to Assurance but that a weake beleever in the use of meanes may actaine it as well as other mercies that concerne him in his well-being 5. I deny not that a weake Christian at some particular times may hinder himselfe of such a mercy but this is common to him with eminent Saints for they may by nourishing some curruption weaken if not loose these witnessings of the Spirit when they have injoyed them Psal 51.8.12 These are extraordinary hindrances I am to prove an ordinary capacity Neither doe these so incapacitate as to forbid seeking after witnessings for David when upon such an occasion he had lost the joy of his salvation yet with that intermediate duty of Repentance and pleading for cleansing Psal 51. v. 2.7 he beggeth also that his joy might be restored v. 12. 6. I am not about to prove the duration of these witnessings but the capability of weake beleevers to attaine them how little while soever they last I doe not assert their having such a constant certainty of salvation as should perpetually put them beyond doubtings the multiplicity and variety of temptations which they are subject to and their weaknes and unskilfulnes to resist the tempter may occasion a speedy losse of it againe their want of experience in those wayes which tend to the strengthening and cherishing of this perswasion together with that great suspition which they have
onely to have a probable opinion but a certaine knowledge that the Spirit dwelleth in them which is to know their Adoption Rom. 8. v. 9. And 1 Joh. 3.24 Hereby we know he abideth in us by the Spirit And those he writeth to are little Children v. 18. 1 Joh. 2.12 He telleth them that their sins are forgiven them which may assure us that it doth not make to the hurt of weake beleevers to know they are forgiven Arg. 4. Weake Christians ought to exercise themselves unto selfe-examination Ergo They are in a capacitie to attaine a knowledge of their state thereby 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves Prove your selves The ingemination of the exhortation argueth it to be a duty of high Concernment else he would not use so much earnestnes in exciting to it And it is their station they are to enquire about 1. Whither they be in the faith 2. Whither Christ be in them or not And that weake beleevers are not exempted from this duty is undenyable For 1. It extendeth or reacheth to unbeleevers those that have not Christ in them are to finde it out hereby they are to try whither they be in the faith or no 2. It hath no limitation unto strong beleevers let them prove it that will assert it 3. These were weake in the faith which are here twice over required to come up to it 2 Corin. 12. v. 20 21. Prone to envyings strifes backbitings whisperings swellings c. which are made the symptomes of but babes in Christ 1 Cor. 3. v. 1 2 3. Yet these are injoyned to examine 2 Cor. 13.5 There are some seasons then which all Christians even the weakest ought to take for self-examination about their union with Christ Ergo they are capable of doing it with good successe Either weake Christians must alwayes give in this verdict that they are without Christ and this is false and the Lord doth not command them to a false Conclusion Or else they must give in no verdict and then the duty is fruitlesse as to its proper end Or else they must conclude that they are in the faith And the Text calleth for one of these Conclusions Either 1. That they are in the faith Or 2. Reprobates i.e. unsound hypocrites without the Spirit Unto all which I may adde that these Romans were many of them weake in the faith Rom. 14. v. 1 2. c. And yet in the Text he excepteth and excludeth none but seemeth to conclude all under the witnessings of the Spirit By all which I cannot but apprehend Assurance to be ordinarily attaineable even by weake beleevers CHAP. XI Shewing how a soule may know whether it enjoyeth the witnessings of the Spirit or not and first the Immediate witnessings of the Spirit Qu 4. HOw may a soule know whither it injoyeth the witnessings of the Spirit or not Before I give a direct answer to this Question I shall premise that the answers to it will be usefull to such ends as these 1. To give satisfaction unto doubting soules many precious sons of Sion are full of feares about their Adoption could they but know that God were their Father they should account it a favour of great value Whereas the Spirit hath witnessed this to them but they know not its voyce or understand not that these operations which they have found doe amount to a testimonie of Divine love They question whither they be from the Spirit or not or else whither they be witnessing and intended by the Lord for that end By a due observation of what I shall here lay downe and the shinings of the Spirit on its owne workes without which nothing will be witnessing those that never had Assurance way attaine it and those that have lost it may recover it againe if by reflexion they can finde that such workes have passed upon their hearts as I shall speake of 2. To difference the testimonie of the Spirit from Delusions of Satan and the single testimonie of our owne Spirit that so the voyce of the Spirit may be owned and Satanicall delusions rejected 3. To confirme and establish those that doe injoy witnessings in the perswasion of their Adoption And the better to attaine these ends I shall 1 Speake particularly unto the feverall wayes of witnessing How a soule may know that 1. The Spirit 2. Water 3. Bloud have witnessed 2. Adde some Generall discoveries or secondary evidences which will respect all those wayes of witnessing According unto the threefold way of the Spirits witnessing so must I divide the Question into three Qu 1. How may a soule know whither the Spirit hath witnessed its Adoption to it in that more Immediate way or not Before I reply to this Question I shall give these pre-considerations Preconsid 1. That there must be some great and remarkeable impression and alteration made upon the heart working it into some strong perswasion of Adoption else there is not the least ground for a pretending to an Immediate testimony Those that never found any thing of this nature are not concerned in this Question for there must be something like the testimonie to make capable of tryal The Nature of an Immediate presence of the Spirit and the application of a word require that there be some great impression when ever they be injoyed Jam. 1.21 1 Thes 2.13 2 Corin 3.3 So that if a man should read over witnessing words never so often and his thoughts should run this way that God is his God and Christ and eternall life his yet if no power commeth alongst with the word to fix fasten and set it upon the heart there is not any colour for an Immediate testimonie The word must take deep rooting in the heart Matth. 13. v. 21.23 else no gracious effects at all are accomplished by it much lesse can it be witnessing But if a man hath found some great alteration made upon his Spirit that hath wrought towards a perswasion of Adoption Our enquiry is How he may know whither it be meerly a strong flashy opinion and fancy of his owne Spirit a delusion of Satan or indeed a testimonie from the Divine Spirit Precons 2. That my designe in answering this Question is not to discover who is interested in Christ and who not that will be the thing driven at when I come to speake of the Spirits witnessing by water bloud But if a man hath a testimonie of interest in Christ by some eminent impression made upon his Spirit our enquiry is whither it be from the Divine Spirit or be a Delusion I suppose that many reall beleevers may through their owne default want this Immediate testimonie of the Spirit and may be under false confidences through the Delusions of Satan i. e. Confidences taken up from such grounds as are not evidencing Revel 3.17 Psal 30.6 when by a due search they might finde infallible grounds for the same Conclusions This Question is not for the tryal of Christianitie but of some Confidences thereof
Precons 3. That the primary evidence of this Immediate testimonie is not to be limited or restrained unto this Immediate way of witnessing onely For as graces doe sometimes discover their owne proceeding to be from the Spirit so at other times the Spirit evidenceth its owne presence in the exercise of graces Indeed it is the very busines of the Spirit and the maine errand it is sent upon to put the soule into a perswasion of Adoption when it witnesseth in this Immediate way and so the soules assurance of the truth of the thing testified hath a great dependance here on its knowledge that the Spirit is the witnes and therefore usually it giveth the most transparent and remarkable tokens of of its owne presence here Yet it is not to be confined to that way of witnessing but sometimes the Spirit draweth out graces to act at such a height more then ordinary and doth so efficaciously witnes adoption by reflex acts upon these as it giveth sufficient evidence to its owne presence therein CHAP. XII Of what doth primarily evidence the truth of this Immediate Testimony I Shall now answer the Question by shewing 1. What doth primarily 2. What doth secondarily evidence the truth of such a testimonie Ans 1. The Spirit it selfe doth primarily evidence the proceeding of its owne witnessing acts from it selfe whil'st a soule is in an actual injoyment of them those irradiations and other Concurrences of the Spirit doe carry with them such cleare and convincing demonstrations to the soule of their coming from the Spirit as render it in some measure perswaded thereof There are such sparklings of Divinity in them and the glorious name of the blessed Spirit is in such a lively way engraven or enstamped upon them as they doe aloude proclaime themselves to have their original from that holy Spirit According to that degree of clearnes which the Spirit manifesteth its owne presence in so is the degree of perswasion in the soule stronger or weaker And when there is a Plerophorie or full Assurance all other things would be but as a candle lighted up to see the Sun by which is best seen by its owne light and so is the Spirit best seen in the soule by its owne light and all other things are but additional confirmations and secondary evidences hereof If the Spirit hath indeed witnessed to a soule its Adoption heretofore and now its testimonie be clouded or eclipsed by a serious reviewing the forgoing testimonie and judicious reflexions upon that usually it will more easily recover it againe then by any extrinsecall demonstrations or consequential effects whatever for the appearances of the Spirit are most conspicuous in its witnessing acts which are intended purposely to assure yet effects are very usefull for confirmation Now that the Spirit doth afford manifestations of it selfe in its owne testimonie or that it doth operate so efficaciously as is doth evidence its owne presence in its witnessing acts and giveth the soule that injoyeth them a knowledge of their proceeding from it selfe and that they can be from no other I shall prove by these following Arguments Arg. 1. From his appointment unto this witnessing worke were not Adoption a thing questionable and controversiall in the soule there needed no calling in of witnesses The very use of them is Luk. 22.21 the determination and establishment of a matter against Contradiction see Matth. 18.16 2 Cor. 13.1 And it is the special reason why the Spirit rather then any other is ordained as the witnes because that is truth 1 Joh. 5.6 If I question the faithfulnes of a witnes the testimonie is never certaine to me and so the Spirit who is truth it selfe is constituted as the witnes that we might be infallibly ascertained of what is spoken upon the credit of the Witnes or Revealer and hence v. 9. The testimonie of God is greater which imports that the great inducement to receive the testimonie or owne and confide in it is this the greatnes faithfulnes and truth of him which beareth record it is God who is greater then men and therefore more to be credited And this can be no enforcement unto my reception of the testimonie if the Spirit doth not evidence it selfe to be the author of it whose truth is to be my incentive to receiving of it The maine thing towards assurance would be wanting which is the fidelity of him that speaketh if the Spirit should not evidence its owne presence in testifying Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it selfe witnesseth c. Here the Holy-Ghost as well directeth us to looke for its presence in witnessing as expresseth that it is its office to beare witnes And how little it should contribute towards efficacious witnessing if it did not manifest it selfe in its operations you may eafily conceive by considering these things 1. That it is usuall for Satan to bring in contradictory testimonies to those of the Spirit and so the soule is in a Labyrinth of trouble and perplexitie not knowing which to owne or choose A conscientious satisfaction must arise from assurance that the witnes is faithful If my owne Spirit and Satan should joyne together in one testimonie of my adoption it were invalid because the witnesses are unfaithful Satan can assert and give impulsions to receive his record therefore if the Spirit did not evidence its owne presence in its testimonie against Satans deluding voyce the soule would be no nearer satisfaction about its state then before the Spirit witnessed 2. Then the Spirit should answer one doubt with another for the uncertaintie about the witnes may create as much dissatisfaction as any thing else yea it raiseth a new ground of perplexitie O saith the soule I feared my condition formerly and here is a testimonie but whence it cometh I know not I doubt as much of that as I did before of my Adoption and O if it should be from Satan and I should owne it my condition would be yet worse then before And if it must seeke for other demonstrations whither it be from the Spirit or no it is in as much darknes as ever and then it did nothing to wards the end it is sent to attaine for the matter remaineth as dubious as formerly and the soule no nearer satisfaction Arg. 2. The Spirit is the highest Witnes Ergo It evidenceth the truth of its owne testimonie or its owne presence in it There must be something to give a knowledge that the testimonie cometh from the Spirit and there can be none higher then the Spirit to give it For. 1. It is the Spirit that maketh other things witnessing therefore that is the chiefe witnes No graces or experiences can witnes without him 2. It is called the Witnes 1 Joh. 5. v. 6. 10. And if any inferiour witnes can evidence it selfe or the Spirit that being the highest witnes may evidence it selfe much more Arg. 3. From its special appointment for this very end to give manifestations unto the Saints of what they should
a time and many gracious effects are produced by it c. but these are more fully opened else-where especially under the generall evidences Object But many have had flashes of joy in the reception of the word Luk. 8.13 yea have been raised unto a high degree of hope and even a triumphing joy who yet have been hypocrites Job 8.13 27.8 Job 20. v. 5. and others have been made partakers of the Holy-Ghost and have tasted of the heavenly gift the good word of God and the powers of the world to come and yet have been under delusions all this while Hebr. 6. v. 4 5 6. How shall I discerne that I goe beyond these Answ There are many things already hinted that will difference the testimonie of the Spirit from such slashes as these are but further 1. The witnessings of the Spirit cause glorious transsormations into the image of the word delusions or common workes of the Spirit leave without these A man may partake of the Holy-Ghost in the gifts of it as Saul did 1 Sam. 10.10 and yet no imprinting of the word in the heart Some one affection as joy may arise upon the reception of the word as Matth. 13.20 21. and yet the word have no root Mark 4.6 the heart not be changed into the nature of it but when the Spirit worketh effectually by a word then there is a counterpane of the word in the heart and hence Jerem. 31.33 Hebr. 8.10 The Lord doth promise in the new Covenant to write his word in their hearts some principles and dispositions or inclinations are wrought within that have a lively resemblance in them unto the word 2 Corin. 3.3.18 We beholding as in a glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Saith Mr Forbes the working of the Spirit in the wicked is like the smell of an Apothecaris Shop which one that passeth by receiveth although he never carry any of these odoriferous things with him But the witnessing of the Spirit to the Elect is by imparting the thing witnessed to the soule and making it really to possesse it So that if a man could see the soule of a true childe of God he should see engraven in it mercy peace love righteousnesse life joy and Christ himselfe All the promises of God in Christ being written therein according to the Covenant of God 2. The witnessings of the Spirit have powerfull operations in the heart towards the attainment of spirituall Gospell ends there The end any worke driveth at is a great discoverer what it is if a man be not lightly but effectually carried out after it The noise of heaven and happines is taking even with carnal hearts Many with the yong man in the Gospell Matth. 19. v. 16.22 may be inquisitive after eternall life and have desires to enjoy it and take much paines to seeke after it and be very sorrowfull at the thoughts of missing of it and these imply some tastig of the heavenly gift and the powers of the world to come Hebr. 6. v. 4 5. A man may be elevated with raptures of joy upon a supposed interest in heaven and all this may be but in a natural way like Haman he may thinke whom will the Lord honour but my selfe Esth 6. v. 6. but with the yong man he may minde earthly things more then Christ or eternal life ver 21 22. Saith Forbes as a Physitian that hath prepared a comfortable potion for the health of a beloved patient he will give to others a little of it to make them apprehend the tast of it but not so as to have any strength to make any operation in the stomacke so the Lord may let some carnal men discerne some goodnes in Christ and eternall life But these tasts doe not make them partakers of the refreshing power of these They may be wrought into a great reformation and a glorious outward profession hereby but they have not such an operation as to cause their hearts to mount up Christ-ward and place their satisfaction in him alone But the speakings of the Spirit make the soule cry out as Cant. 5.10 11. My beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest amongst ten thousand c. v. 16. He is altogether lovely A soule at such a day cannot but reckon Christ the top of its glory and it can finde no rest but in him and Communion with him and the smiles of his face all other things are nothing to these in its account Reall-tasts that the Lord is gracious cause the soule to disrelish carnal delights and imbitter those sweets to it Saith the soule should I be taken with the smiles of Creatures is not the smiling face of Christ better should I be drunke with the sweet cups of worldly delights is not the Wine in Christs Cellar better should I feed upon ashes after Christ hath led me into his banqueting house O no. Whither should I goe Thou hast the words of eternall life But I shall proceed to the other Questions CHAP. XIV Shewing how a soule may know that the Spirit hath witnessed its Adoption by bloud Qu 2. HOw may a soule know that the Spirit hath witnessed its Adoption by Blood Ans 1. From the New Covenant or the free promise we are not to thinke that there is an application of material blood but the Gospell discovereth that the bloud of Christ which was shed upon the Crosse was intended and is usefull for Justification Redemption c. and offereth it for such uses and ends unto particular soules The application of blood is by faith Rom. 3.25 and therefore it must be by a promise because faith ever must have a Divine word to fasten upon and Rom. 10 v. 8.10 The Apostle checketh reproveth for such carnal apprehensions as that we must clamber up to heaven for the blood of Christ No saith he the Lord reacheth it forth and maketh it nigh to us in or by the word of faith and the same word promiseth beleevers that they shall be saved v. 9. So that a Divine word is the instrument for the conveyance of the blood of Christ unto soules and for their assurance of salvation thereby This is Gods Deed of gift which they have to shew for their right and title to that blood and all advantages that come by it and their Acquittance or discharge from the debt they did owe to Justice Many are possessed with apprehensions that it is impossible to attaine assurance of interest in that blood of Christ and are filled with inward porplexities about it for want of considering the written word as the means of conveyance Whereas if the promise of it be yours the blood in the severall uses it serveth to is yours also and that ought to satisfie you for there is an inseparable connexion between blood and the Covenant Heb. 10. v. 16.19 12. v. 24. 13. v. 20. And your Conclusions of interest
of Adoption BUt in regard wicked men may have some unwillingnes to commit some sins and to helpe weake Christians I shall adde some discoveries when there is a heartie choosing freedome from sin and a heartie unwillingnes to sin such as the Gospel owneth as an Evidence of Adoption 1. When it is free in its choice or without coaction the Apostle maketh an opposition between doing by constraint and doing willingly 1 Pet. 5.2 and between acting out of necessitie and willingly Phil. v. 14. which clearely intimate that if a man acteth in Gospel duties as those were which he exhorts to yet if it be by necessitie or constraint then it is not willingly in Gods account Things that a man is obliged to by the necessitie of a Divine Command yet if there be not a freenes in coming up to them it is not willingly or out of choyce nor acceptable obedience to the Lord. He that is in a tempest casts his merchandize into the Sea not properly by compulsion but by a necessitie of a supposition or condition i.e. if he will save the Ship and his life he must cast out the goods yet he doth not this willingly i.e. not with a voluntary freenes and yet with a kinde of willingnes i.e. rather then loose his life and all he will cast out the goods such acts he doth willing with a nilling minde or nilling with willing minde So a man may acknowledge not onely in the generall that he is a sinner but even particular sins and may really wish them uncommitted and make promises and take up resolutions for the future not to commit them and may without dissimulation i.e. not feignedly but meaning as he saith be unwilling to commit some sin that he is pressed on to and yet may be under the dominion of sin still He chooseth and consenteth to part with sin rather then to be damned or to avoyde eternall death and wrath to come horrours of conscience or such like foreseen dangers Alas this is but by necessitie or constraint and so it is not willingly Pharaoh concluded his sinfulnes Exod. 10.16 and Judas Matth. 27.3 and repented himselfe v. 3. i.e. it was so imbittered to him as he was sorry for what he had done and wished it had been otherwise and both were reall in what they said for it was their distresse that made them acknowledge and because Judas cast away the gaine he had by his sin v 5. But all this being extorted from them by Conscience they were under the dominion of sin still If it be a free choyce that suppose there were no danger of wrath hell or damnation for sin yet the nature of sin would make you deny service or subjection to it then you are not under the dominion of sin Rom. 6.16.22 Joh. 8. v. 34.36 2. When the choice is universall when it consenteth to part with all sin Not that a man can be really freed from one sin who is under the reigning power of others but he may be restrained from many and yet be freed from the ruling power of none Psal 119. v. 104.128 I hate every false way Psal 139.23 Search me O God and see if there be any wicked way in me He was unwilling to have any sin finde entertainment in his heart The subduing of one sin may discover freedome from the dominion of all when the heart is carryed out against the nature of fin in that one But the hearts indulging one though never so small argueth the dominion of all for the least partaketh of the nature of sin as well as the greatest Jam. 2. v. 10 11. The Apostles scope is to advance love without respect of persons v. 8 9. and enforceth it this way for whosoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point is guilty of all And addeth this reason of it v. 11. For he that said doe not commit adultery said also doe not kill It is taken from the authoritie of the Commander if this did oblige to one Command the same obligation would extend to all because there is the same Divine authoritie stamped upon one as upon another 3. When the choice is absolute without condition a man may have a reall unwillingnes to commit one sin yet if it standeth in competition with another sin or somthing inordinately affected he will rather commit it then relinquish these Pilate was unwilling to condemne Jesus as appeared by his seeking to release him and his washing his hands c. Matth. 27. v. 18.24 And Herod was unwilling to behead John Baptist Mark 6.26 27. The King was exceeding sorry Darius was unwilling to cast Daniel into the Lyons Den. Dan. 6. v. 14.18 19 20. He was sore displeased with himselfe and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him could neither eate drinke or sleepe the night after he was cast in and rejoyced exceedingly at Daniels safetie v. 20. All which argue a great unwillingnesse that Daniel should suffer and yet all these under the dominion of sin still There was a defect here they were more unwilling to staine their honours then to commit the sins and they choose the sin rather then their owne sufferings that way Thus a man may be so unwilling to commit a sin as he may take much paines to prevent the commission of it and may be exceedingly sorry that he hath been drawne away to it he may weep for it and have no rest night or day after he hath been so overtaken and yet be under the ruling power of it still This is the language of his heart I would not commit this sin but rather then I will part with this pleasure that profit these honours I will doe that which otherwise I am unwilling to doe If there be any condition in the world that will hire thee into sin it is not a heartie choice 4. When there is a conflict between the flesh i.e. sin and the Spirit in the soule by this choice Gal. 5. v. 17 18 19. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and his scope is to discover by this conflict who shall inherit the kingdome of God and who not and who are given up to fulfill the lusts of the flesh and who not as v. 16. Qu When is the Conflict with sin Evidencing Ans 1. When it is between the right parties i.e. the flesh and the Spirit Gal. 5.17 There may be a great strugling in a mans Spirit by the enterfering of one corruption with another or between the inclination of the will to the commission of some sin and the dictates of the natural Conscience Rom. 2.15 Or between the judgement and inclination to that which is morally good and very corrupt affections But unlesse it be between the Spirit and the flesh it is not evidencing 2. When the opposition is made by the hidings of the Word in the heart Psal 119.11 Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee 1
a place of but little beautie glory or felicitie if Communion with God and Christ were not to be injoyed in it Others desire Christ onely for heaven he desireth heaven chiefly for Christ Naturall men are even drunke and swallowed up in Creature delights but the interest of Christ prevaileth with a gracious heart against all other interests He may be interrupted in his motion to Christ in particular acts but he is the prime principall object his soule is moved and bent towards set and fixed upon and given up to Rom. 8.5 Phil. 3.20 Coloss 1.18 1 Pet. 2.7 Col. 3.11 Christ is all and in all Other-things are as nothing to him if Christ be not injoyed in them he is all in all injoyments all in all inlargements all in all duties all in all comforts Others apprehend that Christ it better then the gnawings of an accusing conscience better then the company of damned Spirits better then flames but they see no such beautie or excellency in Christ as should make him best or all in all here on earth They can verbally owne Christ as superlatively excellent but practitally they deny it And they know not Christ in those spirituall excellencies which advance him in the eyes of Saints Take him as cloathed with bolines and appearing against sin c. and they preferre other things that are base and low before him The following particulars will further discover when Christ is all in all 2. From his spending his highest desires and endevours after attaining Communion with God in Christ when the heart is set upon Christ or turned Christ-ward it cannot stand still without him it must be waiting for him and enquiring after him with utmost diligence Cant. 3.3 Saw ye not him whom my soule loveth Psal 130.5 6. Phil. 3.14 3. From his willingnes to part with all other things at Christs Call or for his sake Luk. 14.26.33 Whosoever forsaketh not all that he hath Mark 8.35 10. v. 29. he cannot be my Disciple Matth. 10.37 He that loveth father or mother more then me is not worthy of me 4. From the carriage of his heart under his withdrawings when these procure such heart-sicknesses as can be cured no way but by his returnings to it Cant. 5. v. 6.8 Tell him I am sick of love When the feare of hell is not upon them yet O the sighings sobbings cryings faintings of love-sicke soules for Christ's presence No quiet or satisfaction without him Like the childe that nothing can still but the breast so nothing can fill up Christs roome in the soule It reckoneth it selfe empty in the midst of fulnes without him It is resolved for ever to goe in widdow-hood if he will not owne it as his Spouse This argueth a Consent of heart to the Match and so a marriage union between Christ and the soule 5. From his injoyment of the leadings of the Spirit these are a certaine infallible evidence of Adoption to all that have them Rom. 8.14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God CHAP. XX. Of the soules Enjoying the leadings of the Spirit and when Qu VVHen doth a soule enjoy the leadings of the Spirit Answ 1. When a Complyance with the will of Christ becometh naturall to the soule as there is a propensitie in light things to moove upward and in heavie things to moove downward so in the soule to moove Christ-ward Suppose there were no wrath as the Consequences of disobedience nor no reward as the effect of Gospell obedience yet the sweetnes of the wayes themselves the respect it oweth to the will of Christ would be as the heart unto an owning of Christ therein Psal 119.30.173 I have chosen the way of truth c. And v. 35. for therein I delight So Rom. 7.22 Rom. 8. v. 1 2. For the law of the Spirit of life hath made me free from the law of sin and death Carnall men in their hearts call a libertie for sin freedome but such as are indeed freed from condemnation and walke after the Spirit they call this their libertie to be free for Christ and from the law of sin and reckon obligations to sin the greatest bondage and thraldome in the world The Spirit raiseth an admirable freenes in the soule to walke in the wayes of Christ 2 Corin. 3.17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is libertie And hence the Spirit of Adoption is opposed unto the Spirit of bondage Rom. 8.15 A man may exercise himselfe in the externall part of all duties that a Christian is engaged to and yet be without the leadings of the Spirit He may have many carnal enforcements hereunto but unlesse there be a libertie of heart to these wayes that he would not but be imployed in them and accounteth it a high favour from the Lord that he will use him in any services for himselfe and findeth more delectation in these then in any other wayes that it becometh even meate and drinke to him to doe the Lord service and it is a matter of great complaint and lamentation that he can doe no more for the Lord that he findeth a backwardnes in himselfe or any contrary principles which seek to obstruct and hinder his following the Lord in his wayes Rom. 7.22 23. Then he injoyeth the leadings of the Spirit 2. When it hath corroborations or assistances against those impediments that would hinder it in walking in the wayes of Christ or the Spirit leadeth by remooving these Carnal men wonder that any should complaine for want of strength unto duties they can easily come up to them But it ariseth partly from Satans not molesting them in the performance of duty because they looke not beyond the externall part of it they strive not to act in a right manner or for right ends or because they are insensible of the working of corruption when yet it doth act But a gracious heart findeth that if it be not strengthened by a power beyond its owne it cannot act any grace or performe any duty in an acceptable way to the Lord and hence the Apostle prayeth Ephes 3.16 That they might be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man Israel is said to be led by the Spirit of the Lord. Isai 63. v. 11 12 13 14. And how doth he lead them it is by dividing the water before them and keeping them that they should not stumble i.e. the Lord threw up and remooved impediments out of their way and took away what might cause them to fall and this was his leading of them So if thou hast been eagerly pursued by Satan and he hath raged against thee like a Lyon spoyled of his whelpes that thou wert beset with temptations and did'st finde many and strong lustings of the flesh to hinder thy following of the Lord Christ in the wayes of his appointment And if such mountaines have been made plaines and corruption borne downe when thou hast found thy heart
so full of deadnes hardnes unbeliefe and all manner of distempers that thou hast even despaired of acting in the duty as prayer c. in any acceptable way to the Lord and like the Israelites thou hast cryed out that thy destruction was at hand Yet if these spirituall enemies have been conquered and thy heart let out more then at other times towards Christ here are the leadings of the Spirit Rom. 8.13 If ye by the Spirit mortifie v. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit The particle For argueth mortification to appertain unto the leadings of the Spirit And so Gal. 5. v. 16.18 Those that are led and doe walke by the Spirit they shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh Not as if they were perfect and had no sin in them for he addeth v. 17. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit It doth not quite hinder the stirrings no nor the prevailings of sin for he saith ye cannot doe what ye would i.e. ye cannot act so spiritually and so circumspectly as ye would Ye cannot yet ye would The will prevaileth against and getteth the upper-hand of corruption even when duty is hindred or sin acted by the soule that corruption is not predominant in the soule Then they are the fruits of the spirit when thy love to Christ is predominant and ordinarily prevaileth against thy sinfull love to other things below Christ and thy Joy in the Lord is predominant or beareth sway against thy sinfull and carnall joy in creatures or lusts and thy peace by the blood of Christ helpeth thee to see that false peace which thou hadst taken up from other grounds and thy faith is predominant against thy unbeleife which discovered it self formerly in causing thee to choose and imbrace other objects besides Christ or in thy not coming up to a hearty accepting of him and so for all other fruits of the Spirit v. 22 23. There is an opposition made between the works of the flesh and of the Spirit v. 19.22 to shew that when the works of the flesh are kept underneath and prevailed against then a soule enjoyeth the leadings of the Spirit as v. 16.18 3 When the heart is under powerful drawings Christ-ward in being exercised in the wayes of Christ 1 There must be drawings The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth to be moved acted guided c. it may be taken from blind men that stand in need not onely of directions by word of mouth but of a hand to lead helpe and uphold in a way Or from weake persons as young children that need a hand to suportand sustaine yea an arme to carry them Men cannot goe alone in the wayes of Christ they may pray and heare c. but they cannot mixe faith with these or act spiritually if the Spirit hath not a greater stroake in such actions then themselves Joh. 15.5 Without me saith Christ ye can doe nothing i. e. nothing in a pleasing or acceptable way to God Psal 17.5 And the Spouse cryeth out Cant. 1.4 Draw me it denoteth impotency and unaptnes in the soule for such a motion No running after Christ without drawings from him 2. They must be heart-drawings if the heart be wanting though a man performeth never so many duties yet he is destitute of the leadings of the Spirit Deut. 4. v. 29. 6. v. 5 10. v. 12. All love or service that findeth acceptance with the Lord is with all the heart i. e. with the ruling or prevailing part of it Rom. 7. v. 22 23. There is a Law in the minde i. e. powerfull obligations and engagements laid upon that towards Christ Rom. 6.17 The lowest duties require the heart to the right performance of them Eph. 6. v. 5 6. 3. The drawings of the heart must be Christ-ward A man may be furnished with eminent gifts and may have sutable assistances in the laying out of those gifts from the Spirit and yet may be without the leadings of the Spirit as Saul 1 Sam. 10.10 And Christ shall say depart from me to many that have prophesied and cast out Devils in his name Math. 7.22 23. A man may have preaching gifts and praying gifts yea wonder-working gifts and may lay out these to the admiration of others and all these are from the Spirit 1 Corin. 12. v. 8 9 10 11. and yet be without Son-ship and therefore without the leadings of the Spirit which witnes adoption Rom. 8.14 These are rather for the profit of others then for his that hath them Gifts exercised cannot suppresse corruptions in a mans owne heart and hence though they used their gifts yet they are called workers of iniquitie Math. 7.23 Gifts doe not carry out the heart towards Christ but graces doe And if in the improvement of preaching or praying gifts thy heart hath been carryed out Christ-ward though thou hast found more streightnings in expression then at other times yet thou hast injoyed the leadings of the Spirit Jerem. 30. v. 21. I will cause him to draw neer for who is this that engageth his heart to approach unto me Then a man is caused by the Lord to draw neer unto him in any services when there are reall engagements upon his heart towards God and such the Lord will owne as his v. 22. And ye shall be my people and I will be your God It a man hath had never so much enlargednesse in expressions in prayer yet if his heart hath not been under drawings towards Christ it is not witnessing Cant. 1.4 Isai 29.13 14. But if a duty hath been of advantage that way then thou hast had the leadings of the Spirit how meane soever the duty hath seemed to be Ephes 6.6 4. When it hath been enabled to owne the mediation of Christ and Gospel promises in its actings A mans heart may really goe out after some enjoyments and faine he would have these as riches freedomes from affliction c. he may pray earnestly for them and yet he may be without the leadings of the Spirit It is the worke of a faithfull Leader to carry a man in the right way and the Spirit is promised to speake from God to us for direction into the way we should choose Isa 30. v. 21. Thine ears shall heare a voyce behinde thee saying This is the way walke ye in it The Lord doth not account himselfe glorified by the best and most shineing services a soule can performe nor doth not accept of them if it dealeth not with him by the Mediatour Eph. 1.6 3. v. 12. 1 Pet. 2.5 To offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Many in words doe make use of Christ for acceptation with God but unles your hearts have been holden up and strongly drawne to make use of the name of Christ and the sufferings and intercession of Christ you have not the leadings of the Spirit And those that attaine unto this doe finde acceptance with God Joh. 14. v. 13 14. 15. v. 16.
16. v. 23. Coloss 3.17 And Gospell promises are the Caskets wherein the jewell Christ Jesus is layd up The Chariots whereby a soule may ride to that King of glory in triumph The Ships wherein it may imbarke it selfe and goe full saile to him for all the mercies it stands in need of 2 Pet. 1.4 2 Corin. 1.20 And when it heartily maketh use of Christ by these then it injoyeth the leadings of the Spirit of promise 5. When Spirituall things are those which the heart is most affected and taken up with and maketh out most after Rom. 8.5 They that are after the Spirit do minde the things of the Spirit i. e. minde them as if they had nothing else to minde or they minde these farre more then any other things They can see but little excellency in duties that others may highly esteeme of if they finde not the breathings of the Spirit in them Phil. 3. v. 3. We worship God in the Spirit They worshipped God in the flesh before in a carnall way but now in the Spirit Joh. 3. v. 6. What soever is of the Spirit is Spirit i. e. is Spirituall When the Spirituality of any wayes is the great attractive and drawing inducement to affecting of and walking in them When a soule doth so savour the things of the Spirit that there is a readines of heart to close with things because spirituall and never thinketh it selfe spirituall enough c. this argueth the leadings of the Spirit And hence beleevers are described by spirituality 1 Corin. 2.15 He that is spirituall i.e. a belee ever opposed to the naturall man v. 14. 6. When it is enabled to act for spirituall and Gospell ends in Gospell duties when it would not aime at selfe-advancement or its owne name and glory as they did Math. 6. v. 1.5 But when the great things it eyeth or would eye in all actings are the mortification of corruption and the attainement of Communion with God and Christ and increase of all grace growth in faith love selfe-denyal c. And when it seeketh for outward mercies in a subordination to these and in a way of subserviency to the interest and designes of Christ And when as the ultimate end of all it seeketh the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.31 Then it injoyeth the leadings of the Spirit and thereby hath its Adoption witnessed to it And thus I having discovered particularly How a soule may know that the Spirit hath witnessed Adoption 1. By it selfe 2. By Blood 3. By Water CHAP. XXI Ten Secondary Generall Evidences which accompany the witnessings of the Spirit in every one of those wayes of witnessing NOw I shall proceed to the Secondary Generall Evidences many of which if not all will accompany the witnessings of the Spirit in every one of those wayes of witnessing By temptation they may be sometimes interrupted yet not long whil'st a testimonie remaineth Evidence 1. When a soule injoyeth the witnessings of the Spirit it hath more then ordinary manifestations of that excellency which is in the things it is assured of If such a word as this cometh in a witnessing way the blood of Christ cleanseth thee from all thy sins The Spirit raiseth more then ordinary apprehensions of the blood of Christ It heard of its vertue and excellency before but now it can say not halfe was told me It highly prized it before but its estimation thereof is hereby heightned exceedingly Now nothing is comparable with the blood of Christ in its account So Psal 32.5 when he could say thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin then he could hold in no longer but cryeth out v. 1 2. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven Surely he accounted highly of forgivenesse before O but he had not such lively apprehensions of it untill it was witnessed to him v. 5. And now he writeth them blessed that have a partnership with him in this forgiving grace Evid 2. The witnessings of the Spirit fill the soule with unexpressible admiration of that Divine love which appeareth in and about its Adoption there were many passages between God and the soule which it passed over formerly and disregarded that now are brought to its fresh remembrance and that to heighten its admiration 1 Joh. 3.1 Behold what manner of love is this when they injoyed witnessings and could say we are the Sons of God when they had that hope of seeing God as he is and of being made like to him v. 2. Then their hearts were so full that they could not hold without broaching their apprehensions of this adopting love and admiration is forced to stand in the roome of expressions words are supplved with wondering Behold what manner of love Delusions may cause a man to wonder at his owne supposed freedomes from wrath and advancements to happines but Divine love is farre lesse admired then his owne advantage But where the witnessings of the Spirit are injoyed 1. A soule discerneth unexpressible love of good will in the first contrivance of its adoption it seeth that the wisdome of the creature would have been for ever non-plus'd if it had been left to that to finde out a way for its owne recovery and it admireth that God should so love the world as to send his Son his onely Son on this errand Joh. 3.16 and upon viewing that it cannot but say what manner of love is this 2. It findeth a love of compassion in his many strivings with it whil'st it was in a naturall condition this light of the Spirit helpeth it to looke a great way back and it seeth the walkings and tender-hearted workings of God towards it there how he at such and such a time allured perswaded and wooed it when it was in the midst of its rebellions against him and though it went on frowardly and in the stubbornenes of its heart yet he iterated his invitations againe and againe and O saith the soule that he should not give over and say that his Spirit should strive no more with me what manner of love is this 3. It vieweth his love of delight which is discovered in its Adoption and wondreth at that also Beleevers see infinite condescension there in regard of their owne unworthinesse and so cannot but cry out with the Apostle 1 Joh. 3.1 What manner of love is this that we who were enemies and fought against the Lord of glory We who were full of deformity and in our blood cast out to the loathing of our persons that we should be called the Sons of God O height depth length and bredth of this love If we had been made but as hired servants it had been an unspeakable priviledge but to be owned as Sons this is farre beyond it What manner of love is this Evid 3. Witnessings of the Spirit procure sorrow and selfe-correction for unkindnesses offered to the Lord the soule seeth how love wrought in the bosom of God towards it in such dealings as it put mis-interpretations upon before and had
touch-stone or rule for tryall see Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them 1 Cor. 14.37 If any man thinketh himselfe a Prophet or spirituall let him acknowledg that the things I write unto you are the Commandments of the Lord. Act. 17.11 Though the Spirit doth give evidence to it selfe especially in the more immediate way of witnessing and acteth so irresistibly as the soule whil'st that work continueth cannot be otherwise perswaded yet all the improvements of this immediate testimonie are to be tryed by the written Word of God i. e. both that faith which receiveth it and those effects that follow it or those operations it hath in and upon the soule and the ends it aimeth at If these be not according to the Gospel account it a delusion though the perswasion be very strong Isa 8.20 Gal. 1. v. 7 8. 6. v. 16. It is dangerous with Zacharias from an unbeleeving suspition upon non Scripturall grounds to doubt yet it is a duty with Mary for information to enquire How shall I know Luk. 1.18 19 20.34 35 38. Though your confidences continue yet you are to weigh them afterward in the ballance of the Sanctuary But that I may clearly resolve the doubt I shall proceed by these steps 1. A power of judgement and discerning or a certaine knowledge whither any and what workes have passed upon the heart is attaineable and ordinarily granted unto soules This may appear 1. From the Lords requiring selfe-examination 2 Cor. 13.5 Examine your selves whither you be in the faith prove your selves Now what is that but to looke into the heart and take a surveigh of that purposely to gaine a knowledg what the state is This duty cannot be performed with fruit or advantage if there were not a possibility to be ascertained by enquiring what the soule hath mett withall and so the end of it would be lost so 1 Cor. 11.31 The knowledge of the heart is necessarily required to make water or blood effectually witnessing for without that there is no ground for an act of judgement to passe upon 2. From clear Scriptures 1 Cor. 2. v. 12.15 The Spirituall man judgeth all things Ezek 16. v. 61. 1 Cor. 14.25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest 3. From Experience Christians that at some times through temptation are ready to deny such dispensations of God towards them yet at other times can make large narrations of many passages they have met withall They can declare how and in what manner the Word hath wrought within them and yet such soules under miserable questionings of their interest in Christ still It is out of doubt with them and they are beyond questioning whither they have been under such workings or no but here they sticke they know not wither these be witnessings or not Beware therefore of harbouring any imagination that either the deceitfulnesse of thy own heart or the counterfeit workings of Satan should render it impossible for thee to attaine a knowledge of thy owne heart or of what workes have passed upon that This conceit raised by Satan keepeth many a soule on this side Assurance a great while 2. The works that have passed upon thy heart being discerned thou mayest examine and measure them by the written word whither they be speciall or common if thou be'st ready to doubt and question whither these be sufficient to testifie adoption or not by renewed recourses to the Word thou mayest finde what they are whether they be such as that calleth graces or not c. It is said of the Chymicks that they will so counterfeit gold that no touch-stone can discover it Satan hath a great deale of Chymistry he hath many things like graces as faith hope humility c. which are not those graces and therefore it behoveth the most confident soules often to try their grounds and here is a touchstone the written word that will never faile this will discover his most glistring counterfeit coyne 3. A knowledge or reall discerning that those speciall workes have passed upon the heart is enough to render infallibly assured of the Spirits witnessing or may give a certainty that a right judgement is passed upon the condition You may undoubtedly know that it is the Spirit which witnesseth if you can clearly see know or finde that those workes are wrought in your hearts which are warranted in the written word to be witnessing for the Spirit onely can create them there and hence they are called fruits of the spirit Gal. 5.22 This is a great perplexing thing to many a Saint could it but see that the Spirit were the author of a work that it hath been under then it could conclude of its Adoption from it whereas there are common workes of the Spirit which a Saul a Judas a reprobate may have and therefore barely the proceeding from the Spirit is not enough But it is necessary to know that the work thou hast experience of is a testimony as well as that the Spirit is the agent There are many workes of the Spirit which cannot be denominated testimonies of Adoption Now for the Spirit to bear witnesse plainly importeth these two things 1. The giving of a testimony 2. That the Spirit is the giver of it If thou best wrought into a perswasion of Adoption by the application of a word there is a testimony and if thou can'st finde that the Spirit hath raised this that is sufficient And if blood be so applyed as it is warranted to be a witnes and so for Water then the knowledge that they come from the Spirit with that is evidencing When works are of such a nature as they doe witness adoption it was my scope and drift to discover in the foregoing Questions In those I have endeavoured to difference the speciall workes of the Spirit from those counterfeit works whereby Satan and mens own treachourous hearts do prevaile to the deceiving of them As the Spirit doth evidence its owne presence in the immediate way of witnessing so the speciall nature and Qualitie of the workes themselves may ascertaine thee that they come from the Spirit in the testimony of Water and Blood If thou can'st descry those operations within thy selfe they may assure thee that the Spirit is their Author and that thy heart hath not deceived thee in thy Conclusions about thy Adoption and hence 1 Joh. 5.10 He that beleiveth hath the witnesse within himselfe Some might enquire How shall we know that the Spirit and none else is the Witnes to us the Apostle answereth He that beleiveth beleeving doth evidence the inhabitation of the Spirit If the grounds of thy judgement be certaine then the act of thy judgement must needs be infallible that is true or false according to the truth or falsenesse of the grounds The act cannot be tryed without another act of judgement so there would be no end and
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
lead me in the way everlasting then the defectiveness of thy knowledge is such as is common to thee with the choycest Saints and be assured that no secret sin hath dominion over thee but thou art an haire of the everlasting kingdome for Joh. 17.3 This is life eternall to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Object 4. I have found a great impression made upon my Spirit by a word or promise but upon a serious search I cannot Conclude whither it be from Satan or a testimony of the divine Spirit What am I to do in such a Case Answ 1. Observe what duty thy present condition calleth for and walk up to that that impression may be but a forerunner of the mercy which is a coming Hab. 2. v. 3. The vision is for an appointed time thou must waite for it and at last it will come and will not tarry Thou mayest be as succesfull in pressing forward towards what is before as in pondering upon what is past or present Christ did often speake in parables and the interpretation came afterward Christ warmed the hearts of his Disciples in his talking with them and expounding the Scriptures to them but yet they knew not that it was his voyce untill they came up to some other duties Luk. 24. v. 29 30 31 32. 2. Conclude not either way upon slighty grounds if it were the voyce of the Spirit and thou callest it the voyce of Satan thou offerest a great unkindnes to the Spirit if it were from Satan and thou callest it the voyce of the Spirit thou deceivest thy owne soule Better to leave it dubious then to Conclude either way unsafely Yet having sufficient grounds neglect not the Conclusion 3. Be carefull to make some improvement of it for Christ and against Satan Say thus with thy selfe this dispensation hath a great stampe upon it whither it be by the finger of the Spirit or not I cannot tell I will see if it may not be of advantage towards the exercise of some Gospell graces as faith patience humility If thou can'st not tell but Christ may have said to thee I am thine be sure thou makest use of this towards selfe-resignation let thy heart answer this voyce and eccho back againe Lord I am thine Zech. 13.9 And here Satan will loose ground though it should be he that spake to thee If Christians did sooner breake off those distracting perplexing thoughts about that Question Whither those workes they have felt proceeded from Satan or the Spirit of Christ when it lieth darke and did seeke to finde out his name that spake unto them by pursuing gracious resolutions not to let him goe untill they had obtained a blessing O how might they be freed from a great many of those tossings feares faintings unsettlements which they labour under If they did improve such dispensations to the contradicting the ends of Satan Gen. 32. v. 26 27.30 they might at last see God as it were face to face and so the issues would be glorious CHAP. XXIII Of the meanes to the attaining strengthening and preserving the witnessings of the Spirit Qu 5. BY what meanes may the Witnessings of the Spirit be attained strengthened and preserved in a soule Answ 1. Waite for the Spirit the Lord is free and ready to afford it unto those he hath owned as his Children Luk. 11. v. 13. How much more shall your heavenly Father give the holy Spirit to them that aske him Here is the great reason that so many Christians are so much without Assurance because they looke so little to the Spirit for it Neither promises nor graces without the irradiations of the Spirit can be effectually witnessing 1 Cor. 2. v. 10.12 A true Dyall hath an aptitude to give the houre of the day but unles the Sun shineth you can know nothing by it so it may be day-light with your soules and you may have precious graces that have an aptitude to witnes Adoption but they cannot doe it without the shineings of the Spirit upon its owne workes in your soules It is reported that the Sabine Stone is of a darke duskish colour till it be sprinkled with oil Plin. part 2. p. 588. and then it will burne of a light fire so graces and experiences are of a duskish colour till the oil of the Spirit be powred on them and then they will burne forth with brightnes so as to witnes unto soules their Adoption And therefore this Direction must run through all those that follow 2. Maintaine a firme perswasion that it is your duty to seeke after the witnessings of the Spirit Some account it their duty to live in a doubting and questioning Condition and are apt to thinke they should sin if they should seeke for Assurance others breath out sad complaints for their being without it and yet looke not upon the seeking after it under the notion of duty Whereas they ought to be very studious about that as well as other duties 2 Pet. 1.10 Give diligence to make your calling and election sure It is not barely a permission but an injunction and so it will be an act of disobedience and your great sin to neglect the pressing after Assurance 3. Beware of those things that tend to keep off from Assurance 1. Beware of supposing it impossible to attaine it many labour under discouragement from hence and thereupon seeke but little after it That it is attaineable see Isai 45. v. 24. 63. v. 16. 2 Cor. 5. v. 1.6 2. Beware of limiting the Lord to your time some would faine injoy it but they tie up the Lord to this duty and that time and will not wait his ley sure for it 3. Beware of grieving the Spirit Ephes 4.30 If you have any motions from the Spirit O cherish improve follow up these for if the Spirit suspendeth its operations you will be at a losse indeed for Assurance 4. Beware of yeelding to carnall and unbeleeving reasonings many dispute themselves into unbeliefe but he Psal 42.5 reasoneth his own heart out of it Why art thou cast downe O my soule 5. Beware of nourishing any sin Heb. 10. v. 22. Let us draw neer with a true heart in full Assurance of faith but how shall we doe that having our hearts sprinkled from an evill Conscience What is an evill Conscience but one justly accusing for or charging with sin and there is no way to be delivered from that evil Conscience but by a heartie application of the blood of Christ for remission and putification that is the blood of sprinkling 1 Pet. 1.2 Many set poreing upon and complaining of some corruptions and that because of these they are without Assurance but if you would have full Assurance then seeke to be sprinkled from them by the blood of Christ 6. Beware of spirituall sloath and carnal securitie Heb. 6.11 Shew the same diligence to the full Assurance of hope 2 Pet. 1.10 Negligence is a great enemy to
my heart was melted into the stillâ—nes of this voice and of those things which I did see I was formed into them I found a nullifying of selfe and my heart was much desiring he might be glorified how he would and my heart crucified in a way of subjection and quiet submission that I did see a solid contentment enough yea my heart was withall commanded to be quiet I saw that Gods glory was his owne and he could give it out how he would and the soule is to rest in the still voice and the lesse it resteth in it selfe the more it giveth glory to God The Lord assured me that he had rebuked Satan and the earth should be a quiet habitation and also my heart I saw what power God had to dissipate sin and cast it out of my soule and I found the nullifying of all earthly affections I was affected with nothing on earth I did behold the glory of God I did manifestly see abundance of glory in this ministration Yet not so much to raise my affections But rather committed to my understanding as I apprehended it then to my affection I did understand that it was God 2. Concerning the patience of God and how it doth differ from that in the creature I saw how pure it was and without all mixture in him and that he was free from all such passions and hurryes as the creature is subject to and so I discerned his transcendency above all Creatures Also I was made capable at that time of those Scriptures that formerly I could not understand my objections were removed by comparing Scripture with Scripture that were cast in those that heretofore seemed to disagree were reconciled and made one and all the Scriptures were confirmed to me to be one truth Many Scriptures that were darke and mysticall were made cleare to me which before I knew nothing of and the interpretations very spirituall My memory will not admit to discover what I met withall this way As When a mans wayes are pleasing to the Lord his enemies shall be at peace with him Another seemed to be quite contrary viz. When they kill you they shall think they doe God good service These were reconciled thus When they persecute yet in their Consciences they shall Justifie Their being at peace was in regard of their Consciences not that they should be at peace as men contrary but though through the vilenes of Nature they have malice against you yet in their Consciences they shall justifie and acquite you and fall downe and say God is in you of a truth So 1 Cor. 2.15 He that is spirituall judgeth all things yet he himselfe is judged of no man i. e. The Lord giveth him a judgement of all things in himselfe and he can judge what is of the Spirit and what is not and another cannot judge him about his having a Spirit of judgement given him And it was brought in that it was the same Spirit I now felt that Spirit that did write the Scriptures And it was brought to minde thus these are the things that thy heart did glow and pant after though understandingly thou did sh ot expresse it I was heretofore in a sad condition my life was a life of begging when should I praise the Lord I begged for understanding in the mysterie of the Covenant and sometimes this was brought in that this spirituall understanding which the Lord did give me into the Scriptures this was that I prayed for it was an answer of these things And by the temptation that did follow this is that thou did'st pray for c. I did remember it was given in so Many other Scriptures were brought in which I cannot recall After in the day I had something of what I thus injoyed in the night and I would then have recollected and have considered what it was but I could not my heart fainted and presently I fell into a cold sweat I could not review or recollect for a Quarter of a yeare It pleased the Lord to bring to minde severall discoveries to the Apostles in what manner the Lord did reveale himselfe to them Job 33.15 16. Isai 32.3 4. and concerning Job And the eyes of them that see shall not be dimme And the tongue of him that stammereth shall be ready to speake plainly Such Scriptures were brought to mind with the meaning of them and accordingly that I should speake plainly and that I should clearly understand the Spirits working from every other thing that it was from God And for the Certainty of it I did see and could not doubt of it that the very administration was given to me which was given to the Apostles and Saints of old Yet it was rather committed still to my understanding then to my affection Another night againe waking I had other Scriptures in the new Testament opened to me in the same manner as before Joh. 17. v. 11.21.23 I understood that to be one with Christ was to have our will melted into the will of Christ and it was that I now felt and I did see the thing to be of infinite glory to have our hearts melted into the glory of God Another was Math 26. v. 29. I will not drinke henceforth of the fruit of the Vine untill that day when I drinke it new with you in my Fathers kingdome The wine is that Comfort and wonderfull refreshment which is injoyed and that which I had was a symptome and tast of that wine that I should ever drink in the kingdome of heaven and it was wonderfull for the present This was in the night in the day againe I went on in feare astonishment I thought in the morning what it should be and the end of it I considered whither it were the powring out of the Spirit which the Scripture speaketh of and I could not tell what it should be I could never pray for it distinctly and so I had it not in that way it was above what my heart could conceive of before I hid it and so I could not pray for it This againe put me into melancholy and my heart fainted yet I was not able to recollect for the probation or tryall of what I mett withall whence it came c. Onely the Lord did discover to me some of his ends in these things Now I had feares that I should never be fitt for my Calling againe and there was no agreeablenes or sutablenes between me and any Creature But though my Spirit was full of trouble yet I had a staying thought that the Lord would fit me for my calling or let me die That word was cast in Math. 9.17 Men doe not put new wine into old bottles else the bottles breake I see it was because of the oldnes of my vessell that I was under such fears but the Lord assured me that he would beare me up to the thing that he should declare unto me and make me able to beare his enlightenings and he did
bid me be of good cheere Another night I had many hard places of Scripture very spiritually declared unto me In the day againe I was troubled and had a kinde of weaknes and dread on my Spirit But one time I did willingly take a little contentment in the creature and there came a terrour that I went about to resist the Spirit and astonishment came and I resolved that I would take heed of yeelding to any such thing any more and that I would attend unto what should be given in In the Concluding of all The witnessing of Adoption by the Spirit it was brought in to me thus What thou hast seen and beheld it was the Lord and God justifying of thee thou hast seen his infinite and invincible power thy heart hath been kept up and it is made sure to thee that it was the Lord thou knowest it was he and none else it was irresistible Now it is done I have sealed thee up to the day of redemption and caused thee to set to thy seale that I am true thou knowest it was God and hast sealed to it Now goe forth into thy Calling and attend upon it keep thy minde intent upon it and see thou dest not dishonour me And I did so and found some stirrings of corruption temptation assaulting which I did not before onely feare and dread Now the hardship came that day I had as hard a day of it as ever in my life then Satan set on me with violent temptations and I was darke this ministration withdrawne I had it no more that day and my heart was sad Tempta 1. I was tempted that now my earthen vessell should be broken and I should be distracted c. and I had brought it upon my selfe and thus brought it because I had sought of God that he would reveale the Covenant of grace to me and teach me c. and in the former ministration it was given in this is that thy soule desired Some busines was to be done and I did forget and it came upon me do'st thou not see thou hast lost the use of reason had'st not better have been in a low condition But you would be taught of God And 1. I was much affrighted that day and full of feares 2. My heart was so darke that I could not reason the case with Satan for then I might have told him he was a liar for I desired understanding in the mystery of the Covenant that my heart might goe in a right way to Christ But I could not reflect but wholly attend to Satan And Satan gave me Impulsions to goe read and try to pray suggesting to me thou hast nothing to pray thou hast seen God and needest not faith c. 3. Yet I kept this all alongst that God was my Father and though I was distressed yet not in the least teares of perishing Satan could never shoote one arrow to make me thinke it was not of God And in the ministration it was given in that sin was Commanded out that it might not be mingled with his worke and no battery ever should be made against it I knew I was safe for eternity 4. Yet I considered with my selfe had it not been for me to have dyed and was ready to say with Peter Depart from me Luke 5.8 for I am a sinfull creature it was a sorrow to my soule that I had so much because I knew not how to behave my selfe under it I entreated the Lord to shew me Jesus that was fittest for a mortall creature to looke upon and presently I fell into a mighty trembling but immediately recovered my selfe thus the will of the Lord be done and was quieted againe as to that 5. The Lords day approaching some of the family wished me to goe out to heare and I desired every Ordinance but by the tediousnesse of the weather I was then prevented and being at home in this darke condition all alone I resolved to set upon duty yet had no matter but to spread my misery before the Lord. I did excuse my selfe thus Lord thou hast been a wonder-working God in my soule I entreate thee teach me and shew me Jesus in whom I have beleeved Thou hast troden the wine-presse alone and that for me thou hast freely layd downe thy life and that for me thou hast promised that those which keep the word of thy patience thou wilt keep them in the houre of temptation Lord thou knowest this is the houre of my temptation I have neither faith nor feeling As thou hast made me passive in injoying so now make me passive in beleeving And I rehersed these words three times The Lord rebuke thee the Lord rebuke thee the Lord rebuke thee 6. Christ succouring in temptation I found immediately an invincible power bearing up my heart to cast helpe upon one that is mighty Jesus Christ and so evidently and certainly that one should sooner perswade me that a man which I see and have conference with is not a man then that I did not see Christ by faith I did see my selfe taken as out of the Lyons den and my heart triumphing in Christ that from this houre I could read and pray without trouble and feed upon Christ I had another ministration in the night discovering the difference between legal sorrow and Gospel sorrow and I was put into a condition fit to beare it and my heart was melted into that Gospel sorrow but I am not able to declare particularly how it was with me here for a world Tempta 2. After this Satan did assault me very strongly with this temptation that I did Idolize the Scriptures From the first of these discoveries was taken with the Scriptures because all was conveyed by them to me I received it that the Scriptures were the word of God from what I had seen before but now I knew it from the certainty of the Spirit and its making my heart one with the Scriptures and now it was suggested that I made an Idoll of them and upon that I fell into a mighty trembling and feare for it came very suddenly In a little space I had sweet refreshments and distillations of the Spirit Helpe against temptation that came in thus Not the letter but the Spirit that wrote the Scriptures And my heart was quieted againe Tempta 3. Another came that I did Idolize the Son of God for I was afraid of God and was taken up in beleeving on Jesus I was trembling and in a sweat and a great hurry upon this And O had it not been better that I had died and I feared I should never be rid of them Answ After a little space it was given in that the Father Son and Spirit is one pure Essence and Christ being in the forme of God Phil. 2.6 thought it not robbery to be equall with God And the Word was made flesh and was with God and was God And the Son of God assuming our nature became a
fit Mediatour for the soule to come to God by and he is to be honoured as God and that temptation went away and I had not any of the like nature after But I was tempted to doubt of the Resurrection of the body and what should be enjoyed hereafter and I was put upon it to prove whither Christ was in heaven in his humane nature and for the present I had not the Scriptures at hand nor could not finde wherewithall to answer them but it pleased the Lord to stay my heart up with this that he was my Father and I should be quiet with what he would provide It doth not become Children to enquire what riches or inheritance shall be given it is enough that God is their Father and this was till I had Scriptures to helpe me And one Scripture that did refresh me was Joh. 12. v. 23.24 The houre is come that the Son of man should be glorified verily verily I say unto you except a corne of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit By that I did see that Christ was the graine cast under the clod being sowne bringeth up more with him and so I did see the resurrection of the body in the resurrection of Christ And concerning Christ I had reliefe from that Scripture The man Christ Jesus And as the Scripture was brought in I did see Satan continually throwne out by the Word of God Now Concerning the Effects of it how I have continued for two or three yeares since I can give it thus 1. I have found my life wonderfully sweet over ever before in a stated setled condition from my union with Christ that whatever I want or whatever condition I be in I can goe to him freely as to a Father 2. Whatsoever my faith is kept up hanging on Christ for in a way of prayer I have it given in or granted 3. When faith doth not act then my soule is in a condition as without life but if I can feed on Christ and by fresh acts relie on him I can sit downe under his shaddow with great delight 4. Yet I know I have a body of sin and I finde much weaknes in my selfe but my life is not made uncomfortable hereby because I have recourse to Christ that is my shield and have him made over to me 5. Yet I have streights and wonderfull feares for a little time such things are darted in if I should loose the presence of God what would become of me it would be worse then ever and am troubled that I should be inordinate in desiring the joy of the Spirit 6. In all these things Christ is helping of me in every conflict that though I desire to follow him in every ordinance yet to the praise of his grace be it spoken I have a fountaine to goe to and one to bring me out of every such condition and I have immediately a supply given in and in this grace I now stand Tempta I was once since in a mighty feare from hence how if I should sin what should become of me then and I shall one day fall by the hand of Saul though not to loose my soule yet to loose this presence of Christ by some sin or other This was my temptation That night I was sad and on my first waking my heart was in a kinde of heate or wonderfull glowing and this presented to me in a way of enlightening I am wounded I am wounded And upon the enlightening I fell into weeping I considered what it was and the very thing did fill my heart with sorrow and joy and I considered that Scripture Zech. 12.10 They shall looke upon him whom they have pierced and mourne and Zech. 13.6 One shall say what are these wounds and he shall answer those with which I was wounded in the house of my friend Upon this there was a cleare enlightening that I knew this was the heart of Christ rowling towards sinners God justifying and Christ dying and he was wounded by me in a way of questioning his continuance with me yet he called me his friend and thus he was wounded in the house of his friend I knew not where the Scripture was at first but was certaine that it was spoken of Christ and the heate of spirit did continue with me till I found the Scripture I searched and at last found it and understood the meaning of the Chapter and saw it must be meant of Christ and so I found that it was the voyce of Christ to my soule And my life still is sweet how long it will be so I know not but I know he that hath kept may keep still And though I be vile and the least of all Saints when in this sense of my weaknes I can looke on the free tenders of Christ I am supported because all my fullnes and riches is layd up in him And since this condition though I have pride and unbeliefe and finde abundance yet I have not found it so prevailing as before It is rather in my members then in my minde my heart is broken off from the love of all sin and it is my greatest affliction And I finde Christ crucifying the flesh in me that I am not in every duty so bowed under as before but Christ maketh me a Conquerour over sin and Satan dayly 7. I could not retaine those enlightenings any longer then I had them nor when they were withdrawne was there the least ability in me to recover them againe 8. I perceived that my astonishment did often arise from the coming in of things so suddenly but when I saw my condition was not contrary to Scripture but agreeable to it then my heart was quieted And under those discoveries if newes had come that I should be torne in pieces or met with fire and faggot I could not have been senfible of it 9. In all these discoveries I had nothing but came with this As it is written and so I did wonderfully esteeme and value the Scriptures and my heart was wonderfully set against those that pretend to Revelations without or not agreeable to or against the Scriptures 10. I found a resolution to attend on Christ in all his appointments and a sutablenes in my Spirit to the meanest of them 11. There was drawne out a greater love to the Saints then ever 12. I had violent impulsions to declare it and set a day apart to praise God but I found it was of Satan The Lord perswaded me thatit was onely concerning my selfe and was witnes enough of it selfe needed no proving and I understood that as Mary Luk. 2.19 I should keep these things ponder them in my heart and remember the still voice and take no care the Lords glory is his owne and he will vindicate it how he pleaseth and when he would have me speak of it he would fit me a season to doe it Qu How doe you know that these
things proceeded from the Divine Spirit and were not Delusions of Satan Answ 1. I know it was of God by the evidence the Spirit did give of it selfe in its owne testimonie 2. By Gods faithfulnesse in his promise 3. There was then given me a review of my former experiences of the Lords workings in reference unto Conversion and of passages since and I had a certainty of all those workes that they were true and from the Spirit 4. My weaknes in naturall parts and incapacitie of my selfe for such things doth make it conspicuous that all this is from the Lord. 5. By the Effects which this worke hath produced upon me I am since looking for participations and fruitions of Christ and seeking for Sanctification and transformations and this is my busines and I finde corruption is not prevalent as before but so soone as I goe to the Lord Christ for transformations I have them Experiences of J. M. Concerning beleeving 1. BEing in a great streight not knowing which way to get out it pleased God to cast my eye upon a promise which was sutable to my present streight yet did I not finde such lively strength in it as to deliver me but I was enabled to lay my condition and the promise together downe at the feet of the Lord and found much quietnes of Spirit thereupon 2. Being once troubled about the difficulty of beleeving I had such a hint as this that I should view the promise i. e. looke againe and againe and venture upon it it may be I shall not speed in obtaining that which the promise holdeth out to me yet however I will as duty injoyneth me it being the great Commandement to beleeve put it to the tryall and stay upon it abide and continue to roule and repose the whole weight of all my wants upon the promise and I saw plainly that though I did so yet I did miscarry As 1. I looked at the matter of the promise more then upon the promiser ex gr I looked at comfort and deliverance that should come in by the promise more then at Christ himselfe 2. I did come desirous to obtaine what the promise held out yet was not thankfull for what I had already received as in this promise I will take away the stony heart and give you an heart of flesh I came to the promise as one that had nothing at all of it and it pleased the Lord to suffer such a frame of heart upon me as I apprehended my heart was altogether stony hereby shewing me my evill for I should have blessed God for any measure of softnes of heart which he had bestowed on me 3. I came to the promise in my owne strength I had this apprehension as God hath given the promise so the Spirit of promise also to apply it and going to it I should as a poore empty nothing creature look in the strength of the Spirit to apply it I have found that whil'st I have been beleeving a quiet waiting Gods time for the performance of promises and not making such hast as the unquietnes and over-eager hastines of my Spirit hath put me upon at other times 3. I have had such a sight of God as to make the creature and all its power rage actings c. to be as nothing 4. I have been for a time as bold as a Lion and have not met with such failings of heart as at other times 5. Hearing a Christian in private utter these words faith worketh by love I had a very sweet apprehension that our faith eying the sweet love of the Father and the deare tender love of the Son did gather strength thence and worke effectually by the strength of that love 6. Being brought to a great stand by reason of the actings of some corruptions in me and almost beaten off from beleeving that was brought to minde with comfort and encouragement to the worke of faith Joseph went and asked the body of Christ boldly so I should venture by beleeving on a crucified Christ 7. At another time being exceedingly low by reason of some corruptions breaking forth I came into the society of some godly people and hearing one in prayer mention this concerning Christs Intercession If there were one moment wherein the people of God were not presented to the Father in the blood of Christ it were very sad with them I found faith recovering a little hence as one that hath received a wound doth begin to recover out of the swouning fitt it cast him into 8. Soone after my faith being as it were a bleeding and languishing it was thus revived my thoughts are not your thoughts nor my wayes your wayes I had an extraordinary light into that Scripture at that time which did set me a breathing after the Lord. 9. Being once through extraordinary buffetings of Satan brought to such extremity that I fell into such kinde of thoughts as these were it not better for me to give over and never minde any thing of God more is it a duty for me to beleeve should I not be in great peace if I did at once cast off all This came to relieve me If need be ye are in heavines for a moment Now you have sorrow but I will see you againe and ye shall rejoyce and your joy shall no man take from you Thus was my faith a little revived againe The very next day I was more sadly set upon then ever and then this consideration Abraham beleeved God upon the greatdst disadvantages and so gave glory to God so ought I now and hereby a way was made for my escape Concerning Temptation I being sadly tempted and finding Satan buffeting me violently partly upbraiding me for former sins and partly putting me on to sin I was in great perplexity insomuch that I was constrained to cry out by reason of the bitternes of my soule and also to call in the helpe of a Christian friend to pray with me he was much affected with my condition himselfe having been under such temptations I would have beleeved but could not I would have put away thoughts of temptation but could not the temptation grew stronger and stronger my heart was broken by reason of sorrow yet for a time marvellously kept up to strive I saw I could not hold out and was ready to yeeld and give over the combat But I found the Lord coming in for my helpe in a needfull time when I was without strength I apprehended the power of Christ very sensibly set against the power of the Devill and he began to give ground I had sustained many hundred charges concerning the odious nature of my sinne and the sad curse denounced against the same After a little retreate of the enemy I began to take a little boldnes but never with more trembling and despairing in my selfe or more cleaving to Christ as a Conquerour I could then truely say my rejoycing is in another and I have no confidence in the flesh And 1. I
saw I conquered yet triumphed in Christs Conquest 2. Never could I so pittie those that are tempted as then 3. Never more sensible of spirituall sins then at this time I apprehended it a great evill for a poore wretch to cherish the pride of his heart by wearing gay cloathes c. O but how was this comparable to the sin of priding ones selfe in the precious graces of the Spirit 4. Whereas before it had been a great pollicy of Satan to turn mine eye from himselfe and his actings to poore Instruments vassals of his owne now I could looke at himselfe and set my selfe in the sirength of Christ against him 5. I could with an holy contempt looke upon all the designes of Satan and of his instruments 6. I was exceedingly filled with the praises of God especially that he should take such an advantage of the Tempter and make so good a Conclusion of so unhappy a beginning 7. I was much stirred up to make an improvement of the temptation and that thus by crossing the Devils maine drift in the temptation which was to draw my soule into a greater distance from Christ now I laboured to get and keep neerer to him 8. I was fitted and prepared for some speciall service even by the temptation which was soone after to fall upon me And I have observed these things concerning Temptations further 1. I have observed that when I have had largest discoveries of the grace of God in the Gospell when I have dwelt most upon the thoughts of it and most applyed it then presently some desperate temptation hath assaulted me or sett upon me and the enemy hath made this advantage of it This cometh by your looking so much to the grace of God doe you not see what effects come of it were you not more restrained c. when you looked more to the Covenant of workes 2. I observe that the enemy striketh at faith by every temptation ex gr after some slip or fall what you a Childe of God how can it be and give such way to temptation 3. The Tempter hath in my experience appeared to be a lyar and full of malice many hundred times in his temptations 4. I have observed that Satan hath fastened the same temptation upon severall parties at one and the same time ex gr I have had a strong perswasion that such and such were offended at me and by conference it happened that they have had the same apprehensions fastened upon them concerning me and so there hath been mutuall strangenes and shuning society each with other 5. When the adversary hath a designe to tempt to such or such an evill he maketh way for it beforehand ex gr ke knoweth that when such parties meet together there will be an occasion for passions to stirre he will cast in somewhat before which shall exceedingly moove such passions as anger revenge c. 6. I have frequently found that the enemy will cast in such and such thoughts as of blasphemy against the Lord c. and then labour to perswade me that I am such a one and so maketh way for further temptation 7. I have been much stirred up to bewaile and mourne over such corrupt affections and to strive against them and to goe to the death of Christ by faith for power to subdue them to watch also and Covenant against them c. but all on a sudden they have been revived and if temptation have prevailed then they have been improved thus What overtaken againe after all this it is impossible you should be pardoned 8. I have often observed that the tempter will alwayes improve his successes if he gaine but a little ground he followeth on with renewed force with much fury assaulting with violent impulsions and taketh advantage upon yeelding as you have yeelded so farre and why not altogether Concerning Corruption 1. I have thought it was matter of praise that the Lord would discover and convince me of any Corruption within my heart and have found joy at such times as discoveries have been made thereof because the Spirits discoverie is in order to the subduing of it 2. I have observed that a soule is made sensible of his utter inability to subdue it before the Lords time is to have it subdued insomuch as if he shall mourne over it beg strive wrestle against it yet it may see as it were a reviving and it may be it may sometimes much revive before some notable wound is given to it 3. I have found that I have striven against it in my owne strength Concerning the Spirits working 1. This I have alwayes observed in discoveries from the Spirit that Scripture is most true Joh. 16.14 He shall take of mine and shew it to you and so glorifie me Looke as the Son doth put the honour upon the Father in all that he doth so the blessed Spirit of God together with his teachings leaveth such a frame of heart as it is admiring of Jesus Christ O how beautifull is he at such a time to the poore beleever 2. I have observed the soule is more looking upon it as it doth bring Comfort then as it doth glorifie Jesus Christ and that may be one reason why the sense of it is so soone gone 3. I have taken notice that a little before some notable discovery of the Spirit some violent temptation is cast in which Satan would indispose the soule by for the receiving what is a coming but it pleaseth the Lord by such meanes to put the soule into some capacity for such an in-come Concerning hindering the worke of the Spirit I have had apprehensions that I resisted the Spirit these wayes 1. By diverting those holy motions i. e. turning them out of my thoughts or turning my thoughts some other way 2. By owning them as if they were my owne 3. By poreing too much upon the difficulty that lieth in my way to the performance of that which the Spirit mooveth me to 4. By thinking the Lord beholden to me for the entertainment of them or doing the thing which the Spirit doth moove me to Concerning Desertion 1. Being once under dreadfull apprehensions by reason of withdrawings and the violent temptations which followed immediately thereupon I was forced to cry out in much bitternes of Spirit with an audible voyce Lord helpe me c. and suddenly a passage which in the publique ministry of the word I had heard a little before was brought to minde with much Comfort from the speech concerning Ephram I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himselfe whence it was observed That Christ doth sometimes when his people cannot keep pace with him but through negligence have lost fight of him as it were stand still hearing their mournfull cries and then runs and taketh them up againe and so I thought it was with me 2. After some time of desertion meeting with a sweet returne I had very high and reverend thoughts of God and was more valuing his presence then ever before
freedome from condemnation ver 1. And this he cleareth v. 5.9.13 14. But least they should doubt or question whither they found a mortification of sin by the Spirit or injoyed the leadings of the Spirit or not In the last place he addeth this as the highest surest and most infallible meanes to helpe a soule unto a sight of its interest in Christ ver 16. The Spirit it selfe witnesseth with our Spirit c. The other workes are of a witnessing nature but this is beyond all other helpes this maketh the other evidencing and giveth sights of freedome from condemnation and of our Sonship So that the Context favoureth this interpretation 2. From the words of the Text the Spirit is said to witnes with our Spirit It s testimony irresistibly overcometh our Spirit i.e. or Conscience it causeth them to conclude thesame thing and so there is a joynt-testimony Some times the Spirit uttereth its voyce and our Spirits hold off but our Spirits are fetched in and made use of in this way of witnessing which is intended in the Text both agree in this numericall Conclusion That we are the Children of God and so it is an efficacious witnessing I might cleare it from what followeth ver 33.38 and from other Scriptures which call the perswasion or Conclusion of the thing which is witnessed a witnessing as Luk. 4.22 All beare him witnes i.e. Concluded the same thing with approbation and allowance But I shall proceed to a description which will further discover what it is for the Spirit to witnes It is for the Spirit by some manifest What it is for the Spirit to Witnes and special acts and operations of its own to ascertaine a soule by the word or Gospell of its Adoption Or it is for the Spirit by cleare irradiations and other effectual operations with the word to worke a particular soule by direct or reflexive acts into a knowledge perswasion or Conclusion of its acceptation into favour with God CHAP. IV. Of the Witnes the Spirit and the thing witnessed and wherein the witnessing worke doth consist HEre are many things considerable as 1. Who is the Witnes The Spirit This is cleare in the Text Rom. 8.16 The Spirit it selfe The truth of a testimony hath a dependance on the fidelity of the witnes and so the Spirit who cannot lye is appointed by Office unto this worke that a soule might be infallibly assured of what is testified were it any other it might remaine under doubtings and thinke it too good newes to be true that it should have God for its Father and so be a joynt-heire with Christ in that exceeding eternall Weight of glory O but if the Spirit witnesseth this who is faithfull in all he saith this may give a full Assurance of Son ship or free it from those fears doubtings jealousies and suspitions which it hath laboured under about this question This proclaimeth the infinite condescention of the Spirit that it selfe who is very God should stoope so low as to be a witnes in our matters who are dust and ashes That the Creator should be a witnes to the creature this is a high favour indeed And hereby this testimony is differenced 1. From the Delusions of Satan hee is ready to beare false witnes to the soule purposely to lead it into mistaking Conclusions about its condition and hearkening to his voyce is extreamely dangerous 2. From the single testimony of our Spirits I doe not say that the Spirit doth witnes effectually without our Spirits but the Text plainly maketh two the Spirit with our Spirit So that if the Spirit of Adoption by some acts peculiar to it selfe be not in consociation with cur Spirits the testimony is most unsafe dangerous and deluding O take heed of trusting the single testimony of your owne treacherous Spirits in the bu synes of your soules for eternity but if the Holy-Spirits hath fetched in your Spirits and overcome them into a Conclusion of your Adoption you may safely owne it at the mouth of these two witnesses 2. What is the thing witnessed viz. the Son-ship of particular soules the Spirit doth not onely witnes the truth of some Doctrine of the Gospell it doth not onely give a perswasion that all which receive Christ or beleeve on his name have authority to become the Sons of God as Joh. 1.12 Not barely that some that beleevers but saith the Text that we even we are the children of God 3. Wherein the witnessing worke doth consist viz. In the Spirits giving manifestations and working the heart into perswasions and conclusions of Adoption 1. It doth not consist onely in affording such operations as being measured by Gospell rules doe give assertions or affirmations of Adoption but an effectual witnessing is here intended such as indeed causeth the matter to be established which is to accomplish the end of that witnessing as Matth. 18.16 The Spirit establisheth the soule in a perswasion of God's Fatherly love through Christ Rom. 8.38 I am perswaded c. and Job 19.25 I know my redeemer liveth And hence it is made one end of our receiving the Spirit 1 Coriu 2.12 that we might know the things that are given us of God 1 Joh. 3.24 Hereby wee know that he abideth in us by the Spirit 2 Corin. 5. ver 1.6 We know that we have a building of God ver 5 6. Because he hath given us the earnest of his Spirit therefore we are alwayes confident So that the Spirit witnesseth by giving a knowledge and perswasion of Adoption 2. It doth not confist in its filling the soule with consolation many if they finde comfort by a word then they thinke the Spirit hath witnessed Adoption else not whereas this witnessing worke may be injoyed in a very disconsolate condition Job 19. v. 6 7.8 c. Here was but little comfort and yet much assurance ver 25. and Matth. 27.46 There is a want of comfort Why hast thou forsaken me and yet not a want of assurance for with the same breath he challengeth propriety in God twice over My God my God Indeed this blessed newes doth often fill the heart with joy unspeakeable and full of glory but this consolation is rather consequential to the witnessing of the Spirit then that which giveth being to it It is an effect of it not an ingredient into it more then other workes of the Spirit Testification is a different worke of the Spirit from consolation CHAP. V. Of the wayes and meanes how the Spirit doth accomplish this witnessing worke in many particulars 4. IN what wayes or how the Spirit doth accomplish this witnessing worke In the Description the Spirit is said to witnesse 1. By its Operations within 2. By its Word without 1. The Spirit performeth the Office of a witnes by operations within the soule we are not to expect any apparitions of the Spirit in any visible shape to the eyes of our bodyes or any audible voyce from heaven to our outward ear 's
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
shineth upon its owne workes againe then it can owne God in the same dispensations that it cast away Psal 77. The Prophet was in great affliction and distresse ver 2. My snare ran in the night and ceased not my soule refused to be comforted And as a Remedy 1. He remembred God v. 3. i.e. called to minde how gracious and mercifull the Lord is and this in stead of easing did aggravate his sorrowes 2. He recollected former experiences ver 5. I considered the dayes of old i.e. what the dealings of God had been with me how gracious he had been to me formerly and he thought to have mitigated his griefe this way but the light of the Spirit was wanting and so in stead of asswaging this heightneth his trouble that he is rushed almost upon a brinke of desperation ver 7.8 9. Will the Lord cast off for ever will he be favourable no more hath he forgotten to be gracious But he hath a second remembrance of Gods dealings of old v. 10 11. and is cheered up by them could admire God in them againe v. 13. There was a great darknes upon his old experiences ver 5. and then they were wounding to him but the Spirit shineth upon the same ver 11. and then they tend to healing So that when the beames of that Sun are afforded then a soule may trace the footsteps of the Almighty from one particular to another and say God was here to succour me under this temptation to support me in this condition to sanctifie to me this dispensation though I was not aware of it and then Graces within may be witnessing else not 2. That Sanctification is a darker evidence then the other this water is many times muddy There is so much imperfection in it such stirrings of corruption yea prevailings even in the best of the Saints as Rom. 7. that this evidence is often darkned and blotted and hath but a moon-light in it There is a perfection in the other witnesses though there may be imperfection in their witnessing but here is much weaknes in the witnes it selfe of water which affordeth more cause of questioning it Object But may or can a soule injoy any other testimony by the Spirit or bloud when water i.e. Sanctification lyeth dark Ans 1. A certainty that Sanctification is wanting speaketh an incapability of having Adoption witnessed any way to a man for the want of that doth infallibly evidence a want of Adoption 1 Joh. 2. v. 3 4. 1 Joh. 3. v. 8 9. He that committeth sin i.e. liveth and walketh in sin and is addicted and given up to the service of it he is of the Devil ver 4. for he that is borne of God cannot sin Such are expressely excluded from the inheritance of Sons 1 Cor. 6. v. 9 10. Neither fornicatours nor Idolaters nor Adulterers nor theeves nor covetous nor drunkards nor revilers nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdome of God nor no unrighteous ones ver 9. Whereas all that are adopted are heires of that Kingdome Rom. 8.17 Luk. 12.32 And this may cast the carnal confidences of multitudes in these dayes who are without restraining grace and yet pretend to assurance who live in prophanenes and those very sins afore-mentioned and yet are confident of their interest in the kingdome of God which is expressely to give the Holy-Ghost the lye 1 Cor 6.10 which saith they shall not enter If it can on Scripture grounds be concluded that a man is destitute of faith or repentance c. then it is certaine that he hath no testimony from the Spirit of Adoption 2. But Sanctification may be inevident or lie darke and yet the Spirit or bloud may witnes Adoption A man may not be able clearely or distinctly to discerne his Sanctification it may be clouded and be very obscure to him and yet the Spirit or bloud may testifie his interest in Christ 1 Sam. 12. ver 20.22 Jer. 3.4 He may be able by the light of the Spirit to see acts of faith put forth upon the bloud of Christ and these are witnessing Rom. 3.25 Rom. 5. v. 1.9 10.10 And the Spirit and bloud are the highest witnesses and so afford the clearest evidences of Adoption 3. Yet a man may and ought by Consequence Conclude of his Sanctification when ever the other witnesses are afforded as in a darke day a man may conclude that the Sun is up though he cannot see it so a man seing acts of faith on the bloud of Christ may conclude he is sanctified though he cannot see his owne sanctification and the not drawing this Conclusion is the occasion of many feares dejections disquietings and discomforts in the soules of many Sainte CHAP. VIII Of the Spirits witnessing by bloud Ans 3. THe Spirit witnesseth by bloud 1 Joh. 5.8 i.e. the bloud of Christ by which we have Redemption Remission Justification Heb. 9.22 Eph. 1.5 Matth. 26.28 Revel 5.9 The righteousnesse of Christ and his bloud are all one and hence Rom. 5.9 We are justified by his bloud and ver 18. Justified by his righteousnesse Now that this bloud doth performe the office of a Witnesse is evident 1. Because it is called a Witnes and that in way of distinction from water 1 Joh. 5 8. 2. Because bloud is usefull to such speciall ends as are peculiar to those in Christ as Justification Rom. 5.9 Eph. 1.5 2.13 Coloss 1.20 Hebr. 10.19 1 Cor. 11.25 3. Because the application of this bloud is by faith which hath an aptitude to make it witnessing we are not to imagine that this bloud can witnes unto any particular soule its Adoption without it be appropriated and applyed by some speciall acts which many in the world want because many obtaine not Adoption or salvation by it Rom. 2. v. 5 6 7 8 12. 2 Thess 1. v. 7 8. And without such acts it would witnes it to all the world as well as to any one in it Now it is the office of faith to make that generall of Christs shedding his bloud for the redemption reconciliation of sinners to be of particular advantage to a soule Rom. 3.25 It is the bloud that Justifieth Rom. 5.9 And therefore bloud is called the witnesse and not faith But seing it is received by faith that may discover when it is applyed and so may make it witnessing and hence he that beleeveth is said to have the witness within himselfe 1 Joh. 5.10 And we are said to be Justified by faith Rom. 3. v. 28.30 4. v. 2 3.16 5.1 Gal. 2.16 And there is an inseparable connexion made between faith and salvation Joh. 3.16.36 Mark 16.16 Rom. 10. ver 9 10. All which prove that bloud which bringeth in those priviledges hath a power granted to it to witnes Much therefore are they mistaken that take Sanctification and inherent Qualifications to be the onely witnessing things you see the bloud of Christ which is without us given imputed or applyed to us is also a witnesse