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
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-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
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
is the Lords way of speaking to the soules of his people and hence it is called often the Word of God And it was the Word that David hoped in for his salvations Psal 119.81 82. He had the letter of a promise before v. 28. but this would not satisfie him unlesse the Lord would speake it over againe he must have it applyed to his inner man Say â—o my soule they were internall speakings he prayed for as if he had said Lord outward salvations would be nothing to me without inward feelings of thy favour in them O say to my soule i. e. raise thou an inward perswasion in my heart of my interest in thee say I am thy salvation i. e. not onely that he which beleeveth shall be saved but let me be particularized thy salvation and not onely that thou wise deliver me out of my distresses but say I not onely will be but am thy salvation He beggeth here the witnessings of the Spirit in the Word by an effectual application of it to his soule 3. From a beleevers right and title to such words or promises Christ is his and all the promises of the new Covenant his in Christ 2 Cor. 1.20 Yea promises directed to particular persons in Scripture when they are about things of generall concernement doe admit of a generall application and every beleever may lay claime to them as his that promise I will not faile thee or for sake thee is directed to Joshua Josh 1. v. 5. yet is applyed generally Heb. 13.5 And so generall promises are capable of a particular application unto every individual beleever Now if the Spirit did not apply them Christians should misse of that prosit and advantage which according to the intent of the promiser is to be reaped by them A beleever is adopted Isa 41.10 Ezek 36.25 hath God for his God hath cleane water sprinkled on him c. and the Word doth say thus much to him though in a more secret way in a language which he understood not The witnessing of the Spirit is but the uttering these things to the soule with a more audible voyce It is but like a Fathers telling his Childe of an estate which was really his own before So Christians have a propriety in such words or promises before and it is the office of the Spirit to give a knowledge unto beleevers of the things that are freely given them of God 1 Corin. 2.12 And so it will apply these as well as other words for the Gospell owneth no restriction or limitation as if some promises were to be applyed others not The whole Gospell is the voyce of the Spirit and so any word may be applyed for its proper end and therefore witnessing words as well as other 4. From the appointment of Divine promises for this very end to witnesse which must be by application from the Spirit the whole word is often called God's testimonie Psal 19.7 119. v. 2.22.24 c. Heb. 6.18 There are two Immutable things ordained on purpose to helpe us unto strong consolation and they are 1. Gods promise 2. His Oath v. 13.17 But how doe they bring in this Consolation it is by witnessing for ver 16. An Oath is said to be for confirmation and so the two Immutable things bring in this strong consolation as they serve for the ratification and confirmation to a soule of its interest in the blessings of the Gospell And they are of the same use to all the heires of promise that they were of to Abraham ver 17 18. To give them the same certainty of what they are heires to that he had And both the promise and the Oath must needs give testimonie by direct rather then reflex acts as the nature of them doe intimate By all which it appeareth that Gods promise and Oath both which are without us doe as properly conduce to the affording Assurance of our propriety in Christ and in the everlasting inheritance by him as any inherent graces or qualifications can doe Now as it was the application to Abraham of these two that made them witnessing to him Gen 22. v. 12.16 17. So there must be a superadded worke of the Divine Spirit making an application of them to particular soules as there was to Abraham else they cannot add a confirmation or bring in consolation to any heires of promise which are the ends they are intended for Argu. 3. From the number of Witnesses which the Gospel owneth 1 Joh. 5.8 There are three that beare witnesse on Earth Now if the Spirit should not give a distinct testimonie from water and bloud there were not three witnesses Indeed neither water nor bloud are sufficient alone to witnesse but the Spirit with water make but one witnesse and hence the water hath the denomination for the witnes and not the Spirit And the Spirit with bloud make but one witnesse and thence the bloud is called the witnesse and not the Spirit and therefore if the Spirit had not a distinct way of witnessing from its Concurrence with these there were but two not three witnesses And that water should be so distinct from bloud in the way of its testifying and that the Spirit should not be as distinct from them both is unconceivable and soundeth very harsh I conclude therefore that the same use which water or bloud are of The Spirit witnesseth with bloud and with water but besides the Spirit hath a distinct witnessing by way of enlarging the soule with joy in the soules apprehension of Gods Fatherly love The Spirit doth not alwayes witnesse unto us our condition by force of argument from sanctification but sometimes immediately by way of presence as the sight of a friend comforting without helpe of discourse Dr. Sibbs Saints Sealing when they witnesse the same the Spirit is of when that witnesseth And as they have something distinct from each other from whence when discerned a conclusion is drawne of interest in Christ so the Spirit hath some peculiar acts or operations of its owne distinct from both which effectually beget the same perswasion which they doe though in a more Immediate way then if it were by Inferences from such promises as they attain it by Object But by Spirit is not meant here the Holy-Ghost but our Spirits they are the third witnesse Answ It must needs be understood of the Divine Spirit 1. Because the Divine Spirit is a witnesse on earth Rom. 8.16 and so the enumeration of Witnesses on earth were not full if that were not intended 2. Because the scope of the Apostle in this Chapter is not to advance our Spirits but the Divine Spirit as the witnesse on earth 1 Joh. 5.6 It is the Spirit that beareth witnesse because the Spirit is truth and hereupon he numbreth the witnesses ver 7 8. ver 10 He that beleeveth hath the witnesse in himselfe which argueth that his designe is to assert the Holy-Spirit to be a witnes on Earth for he doth
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
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
person and not by another So if it were onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Spirit witnesseth then it might be by a proxie gifts and graces but seing it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Spirit himselfe this argueth it to be a peculiar worke of the Spirit requiring its own more Immediate presence Faith which is a grace may receive the testimonie but the Spirit giveth it and not graces in his stead else it should not be himselfe properly but graces for him As Water i. e. Sanctification is called a witnesse 1 Joh. 5.8 when graces testisie although it is the Spirit that causeth them to doe it yet the graces have the denomination for the witnes So here the Spirit himselfe is the witnes rather then graces though graces may be used about this as the Spirit is about the other And hence after the Apostle had told them of the usefulnesse of mortification and Conduct v. 13 14. for the clearing up of Justification and Adoption yet he foreseing that they might question their injoyment of these as well as their Justification therfore he addeth this as the highest meanes for knowledge which may hold when all others fayle The Spirit himselfe Argu. 2. From the aptitude of many written words or promises by application to witnesse I account it very unsafe to draw up such Conclusions from a Scripture cast in as it hath no naturall tendency to enforce neither in its scope or sence directly nor by consequence neither in the letter of it nor by application This mistake too many labour under in these dayes When they be dubious about what is their duty if a word cometh into their minds although it tendeth not to resolve the doubt looketh not the least that way yet that word is made a rule for action and the decider of the Controversie Whereas if it be applyed by the Spirit it is intended for some other use or end and not for the determination of a matter which is no wayes concerned in that Scripture For the Spirit doth not speake barely in letters syllables or words of Scripture but as these expresse things which are agreeable to the minde of Christ A man may be prophane and yet use the words of Scripture and Satan often commeth with an It is written Matth. 4.6 But there are many Scriptures of a witnessing nature which cannot be denyed this use Here are two things to be confirmed 1. That there is an aptitude in some Scriptures to witnesse 2. That the Spirit doth make application of these and that for such ends 1. That there is an aptitude in some Scriptures to witnesse or that they misse onely application from the Divine Spirit to make them witnessing to a particular soule I shall give a few instances amongst many for the clearing this truth Isai 41.10 Feare not for I am with thee I am thy God Isai 43. v. 25. I even I am be that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine owne sake I will not remember thy sinnes Matth. 9.2 Son be of good cheare thy sins be for given thee neither is this meant as to the present disease onely for Christ intended to give others a knowledge hereby of his power to forgive sins as v. 6. So Ezek. 36.25 I will sprinkle cleane water upon you ver 26. A new heart will I give you ver 27. I will put my Spirit within you ver 28. I will be your God Surely the Lord would not speake in such a particular way to men thy God and thy sins if he intended not their particular Assurance by the application of such words of the things spoken and that eyther of these have an aptitude to witnesse Adoption is undenyable What can satisfie a soule if this will not for the Lord to say I am thy God Is 41.10 If the Spirit doth but speake this over againe to our Spirit it is enough And to cleare it further 1. There are many assuring promises of speciall mercies which are consequential to Adoption Now these must needs have an aptitude by application to give Assurance of our interest in that which it a necessary Antedent as Isai 41.10 I will strengthen thee I will uphold thee 2 Cor. 12.9 My grace is sufficient for thee Heb. 13.5 I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 2. There are many Scriptures that directly tend to remove the grounds of a soules doubting of its Adoption as if it questioneth its interest in Christ because it is exercised with such heavy afflictions these Scriptures tend to remove that doubt Heb. 12.6 Whom the Lord loveth be chasteneth Rev. 3.19 As many as I love I rebuke and chasten If the variety or violence of temptations which it hath mett withal be the ground of its doubting it may finde releife from Heb. 2.18 Hebr. 4.15 Christ was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin he was free from sinne yet was not free from temptation and so Christians may not look for exemption from temptation who abound with sin Yea it is expressely said we are tempted If the feeling strong workings of corruption puts the soule upon questioning its condition that may minister helpe that Paul an eminent Saint groaned under the same burden Rom. 7.15 yea he cryeth out with bitter lamentation ver 24. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death And thus many Scriptures have an aptitude to witnesse for it is their proper effect when applyed by the Spirit to remove such doubtings of Divine love as arise from such Causes which oftentimes are the onely obstacles in the way to Assurance 2. That the Spirit doth make application of such Scriptures unto particular soules and that for such Ends may appeare 1. From their aptitude to Witnesse that word Isui 41.10 I am thy God bringeth in God as speaking to a particular soule and telling it of its interest in himselfe it hath a witnessing voyce in the very letter of it and so carrieth evidence with it that this is its proper designe And that the Spirit doth apply words for the proper ends they so clearely point at is undeniable especially when the thing pointed at is undoubtedly a worke of the Divine Spirit as witnessing is 2. From a parity of reason the Spirit applyeth other words for those ends which they aptly serve to None will deny but that it may and doth reprove declineing Christians for leaving their first love by such a word as that Revel 2. v. 3.4.11 Or threaten lukewarme soules by Revel 3.16 Or convince carnally confident soules of the sadnes of their condition by Revel 3. v 17.22 And by the same reason it should apply the aforementioned Scriptures in a witnessing way unto doubting soules and hence when David was besieged and surrounded on every side with troubles and the Lord seemed to keepe silence he even putteth words into the mouth of God Psal 35.3 say thou i. e. by thy Spirit in some word or promise for this
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
3. At another time being againe brought to the enjoyment of God after long shutting up that of David came to minde I was as a weaned Childe I was weaned from all things from repute amongst men from outward Comforts c. and stayed much upon the Lord. I apprehended it was the Lords end in Desertion to make way for establishment and to render unblameable before God and our Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus with all his Saints FINIS THE CONTENTS THe words opened and the point raised from page 1. to p. 7. Qu 1. What is the Witnessing worke of the Spirit Ans It is a worke whereby the Spirit by some manifest and speciall acts and operations of its owne doth raise a perswasion in a soule by the Word or Gospell of its Adoption opened in many particulars from p. 7. to p. 25. Qu 2. How doth the Spirit witnes to a soule its Adoption Ans 1. The Spirit witnesseth more immediately by it selfe p. 25. That the Spirit hath such a distinct way of witnessing from Water and Blood is proved 1. From the Apostles ascribing it to the Spirit himselfe p. 27. 2. From the aptitude of many written words or promises by application to witnesse p. 28. 3. From the number of witnesses which the Gospell owneth p. 36. 4. From the experience of the Saints p. 38. Ans 2. The Spirit witnesseth by Water i. e. Sanctification p. 41. Proved diverse wayes Qu Whither a soule can injoy any other testimonie when Sanctification lieth darke p. 45. Ans 3 The Spirit witnesseth by Blood i. e. the blood of Christ as usefull to Justification p. 47. Qu. 3. Who are capable of attaining the witnessings of the Spirit p. 50. Ans Weake beleevers are capable of attaining them Severall things are premised and then it is proved 1. From the Spirits being given to all beleevers as a witnes p. 56. 2. From the extensivenesse of the promise p. 59. 3. From cleare Scriptures p. 60. 4. From the Lords requiring of them selfe-examination p. 61. Qu. 4. How may a soule know whither it injoyeth the witnessings of the Spirit or not p. 63. Qu. 1. How may a soule know whither the Spirit hath witnessed its Adoption to it in that more immediate way p. 64. Ans 1. The Spirit it selfe doth primarily evidence the proceeding of its owne witnessing acts from it selfe p. 67. Proved by diverse arguments Ans 2. The Secondary Evidence of the more immediate testimonie is faith p. 81. Object When is a word received by faith or when doth faith evidence a testimonie to be no Delusion p. 82. Answered in foure particulars to p. 88. Proved that Assurance is a Certainty of Divine faith from p. 88. to p. 94. How the testimonie of the Spirit is differenced from those flashes of joy c. that unbeleevers may have under the word from p. 94. to p. 98. Qu 2. How may a soule know that the Spirit hath witnessed its Adoption by blood Ans 1. From the New Covenant or free promise p. 98. 2. From cordial acts of faith p. 99. 3. From its preferring that blood before all other things p. 102. 4. From the renuntiation of what soever standeth in competition with the blood of Christ in the uses it serveth to p. 104. 5. From its freenes in choosing and accepting of the blood of Christ p. 107. 6. From the strength of drawings that way p. 110. 7. From its feeling the efficaciousnesse of that blood p. 111. Qu. 3. How may a soule know that the Spirit hath witnessed its Adoption by Water i. e. Sanctification p. 112. This Question is divided into two Qu 1. How may a soule know that its heart is separated from sin or that sin hath not dominion over it p. 115. Foure distinctions are premised There is a difference 1. Between the indwelling of sin and the reigning of sin ibid. 2. Between the Soveraignty of sin and the Tyranny of sin seaven differences are layd downe ibid. 3. Between an habituall frame of heart towards sin and an occasionall falling into sinne p. 117. 4. Between infirmities and grosser enormities p. 118. What sins are to be reckoned of infirmitie Answ Sin hath not dominion over a soule when it chooseth freedome from or consenteth with all its heart upon Evangelicall accounts to part with sin p. 121. 1. When the choice is free without coaction ibid. 2. When it is universall without limitation p. 123. 3. When the choice is absolute without condition p. 124. 4. When there is a Conflict between the flesh and the Spirit p. 125. 5. When there is a mortification of sin p. 127. 6. When there is irreconciliable opposion against sin ibid. 7. When it is upon spirituall and Evangelicall accounts p. 128. Opened in six particulars to p. 132. 8. When sin is in subjection p. 132. Qu Whither it be possible to retaine Assurance after falling into sinne Answered in five particulars from p. 134. to p. 137. Qu How may one know that his heart is separated to God and Christ Ans 1. From his esteeming of God and Christ above all other things p. 137. 2. From his spending his highest desires and endeavours after attaining Communion with God in Christ p. 138. 3. From his willingnes to part with all other things at Christs Call or for his sake p. 139. 4. From the carriage of his heart under his withdrawings ibid. 5. From his enjoyment of the leadings of the Spirit ibid. Qu When doth a soule injoy the leadings of the Spirit Answered in six particulars from p. 140. to p. 150. Ten Secondary Generall Evidences that a testimonie of Adoption is from the Spirit from p. 150. to p. 164. Foure Objections Object 1. Seing Satan counterfeiteth the workes of the Spirit and the heart is so deceitfull how should I know that I have passed a right judgment on my condition Answered from p. 164. to p. 172. Object 2. But my heart hath deceived me in other matters and therefore I feare I am deceived in all Answered from p. 172. to p. 174. where are layd downe foure Symptomes of delusions Object 3. But may there not be some sin I am ignorant of harboured in my soule that may render me deceived in passing judgement on my owne condition Answered from p. 174 to 176. Object 4. But I have found a great impression by a word and I cannot tell whither it be from the Spirit or Satan what am I to doe in this Case Answered from p. 176. to 178. Qu. 5. By what meanes may the witnessings of the Spirit be attained strengthened and preserved Ans 1. Wait for the Spirit p. 178. 2. Maintaine a perswasion that it is thy duty to seeke after them p. 179. 3. Beware of those things that tend to keepe off from Assurance p. 180. 4. Be much in selfe-examination p. 181. 5. Be much in the observation of Gods dealings with your owne soules p. 182. 6. Be often renewing acts of faith ibid. 7. In all importunities with God for Assurance make use of arguments drawne from God himselfe p. 186. 8. Seeâ—e for much inward acquaintance with the written word p. 187. Severall rules about making use of Scriptures and about the hintings and givings in of words from p. 188. to p. 195. 9. Hold fost the doctrine of perseverance p. 195. FINIS