5oS Book IV. JL.oolttng unto 'jjcfu.s. Chap. 2. ::ea:, 4 . cation of corruption, and the attainment of communion with God and Chritl: . and · the increafe of all Grace, Faith, Love, Patitnte, Meeknefs, Self-denial, r;Y·c.' or if it feek for outward mercies, it feeks tl_1em m a fubordination to thefe, and· in a way of fubferviency to the interefl and defigns of Chr!!l : in all things whether outward or inward, it feeks the glory_ of God, ~s the ultimate end. And in rhefe particulars con– lifts the leadings of the Spirit of Chnl1. Rom. &. 16. _7. The Spirit of Lluifl is a wirneffing Spirit. The Spirit it [elf beareth IVitne{s 1 John 5· ~~- wtth our [pmt that we are the chddren of God: and every one that believeth h~tth the wimefs within himfelf. But of this two queftions. I. What is this wirneffin<> work of theSpirit? 2. Howdoththe Spirirrhuswitnefs? for the firfl, Ianfwer." r. In general; Wirnelling is a giving in fame evidence upon our knowledge now the matter in quefiion fiandeth, that thereby.others may be afcenained of the truth Dent. 19-'5· of the thing: .At the mouth of two or three witnejJes fha/1 the matter be eft•blijhed; John 8. 17. rhefe words Clm[l Cited, and fatd, It u Wrttten m your Law, that the tejlimony of two men u trm; net _but that it was. certain in it felf before~ but that now by rhe rdbmony of two 1t rs rendred certam unto rhofe that qudhon the fame· rhis is wirneffing. ' 2. In fpecial ; .The witneffing of the Spirit is an office of rhe Spit:it, whereby it ~orks the fo~l tnto a knowledge,_ perfwafion '. or. conclufion of tts acceptation mro_ favour wnh God tn Chnfl. Now the Spmt wttnefferh etther objedively, or efficrenrly. I. Objedively ; When it only affords fuch fpecial operations as have an aptitude to afcertain the foul, bm do not afcerrain; rhus many a rime the Spirit comes and brings in fuch , and fuch afferripns or affirmations of our adoption, as if they were bur duely obferved, might manifeft the fame; but we over-look thefe evidences, we John 3• 11 : will not bear what the Spirit fpeaks to us; We jpeak.. that we k/zow ( faith Chrirl) and tejlifte that we havefcen, but Y• rec•ive not our witnefs: fo may the Spirit complain, I have ttftifitd to yoH thAtwhich I know, I_h~ve {aid that ye were ,.h,/dr~n of God, but ye h11ve not received my w•tne{s; doubtlefs tt rs a finful negleCI: not to yteld attention umo the voyce of the Spirit, and yenhe Spirit in this way may be refi!l:ed. 2. E_fficiemly; and if the Spirit wime_fs thus, _it canno_t be refi~ed; in_ rhis ~ay the Sptnt cauferh the foul to conclude of res adopuon by tts fpeak~gs to Jt : tbrs is not onely the afferrions or affirmations of our adoption, but the affurances of our fouls Rom. 8. 3 8. that we are adopted. I am perfwaded, faith the Apofrle, and I k_now that wy Redeemer Job 19. 25. liveth, faith {ob. And hereby we k._now that he abideth in m, by the Spirit which he bath 1 John 3· 24· given m. But-- 2. How doth the Spirit thus witnef• ? I anfwer, I. Immediately. 2. Me– diately. x. Concerning the immediate refrimony of rbe Spirit there is fome conrroverfir: Antinomians would have no other refrimony'but this; all other evidences (fay they) are deceiving evidences; or if nor deceiving, yet to make ufe of them it were but to ligbt a c,andle to the Sun; for what are the graces of the Spirit in comparifon of the Spirits own tefiimony? and it m'ay be the running inro this extream barb caufed others abfolutely to deny any fuch reftimony; or at lea!I: to fay, for thefe enthufiafms o> ir1J:ira– tions, let them boaff of them that have them, we /z!tow no Jisch thing. Metlunks amrddle ~etwixr both rhefe (as it is prQved by others) i• morl confonant to truth; for neither can I rejeCI: the graces of fanCI:ification from being grounds of our affurance; neither dare I deny but there is fomerhing of the work of the Spirirs cetl:rmony which is an immediate work. Let u' hear what others fay of it--- FOld of the Certainly there is a work, wherdn the Spirit ads as in illumination , and inSpirir. fuGon of good motions into us, wherein by a fecrw influence upon the. heart. he quiets and calms rhe troubled _foul c~ncermn~ rrs condmon by .hr~· own rmmedrate power, without any grounds from Scr_t~rure wahour, or g_races wnhtn. . There is a threefold work of the Spua; firtl:, to conve1gh and plant grace m the rar.yl on Job foul. 2. To ad and help us to exercife the graces which are planted there. 3. To ll1ine chap. lOo upon and enlighten thofe graces_: this, Iall work the Spirit fulfills two wars; firll by arguments and inferences, wluch rs a medrare work. 2, By prefence and mfluence which is an immediate work; this the Apoftle calls, witnefs-bearing; Tf:e:c are thr:e that bear witnefs in Earth, the Spirit , and W~ter, and Blood; the Spmt brrngs m the wirnefs of Water and Blood, which is his mediate work, but befides and above rhefe
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