Chap.2.Secc.4. Looking tmto !fe(rtJ. Book. IV. Par t.V. 887 fijGod: the particle for Jargues mortification to appertaine unto th.e leadings of the Spine. There is in the Saints a conftant op~ pofition between the works of the flefh, and the works of the Spirit; now when the works ofthe fleili are kept uaderneath, Gal.;.1711g., and prevailed againft, thm a foul enjoyeth the leadings of the Spirit. I know fuca oppofitions are not in any but Saints; carn· al me;would wonder that any iliould complaine for want oi flrength unto duties, why, they can eafily come up to them, and be in the exercife of them. but alas! this arifeth either from Satans not .molefting them' in the performance of dutie, bccaufe they look not beyond che extcrnaLPart of it ; or from their own infenG.blenelfe of the working of t!orruption, when yet it doth a\9: : only a gracious heart findeth that ifit be not ftrengthned by a power beyond its own, it cannot ad: any grace, or-performe ahy dutie as acceptable to God; and hence the Apoftle prayes, thllt thry might be ftrengthned with might by his Spirit in the inner E h , ,. . p ., ,l.,, man. ) 4· It is an enabling of the foul to ad: in Gofrel-duties for Gofpel ends; when the Spirit leades, the foul ne1 er aymes at felfe~advancement, it never looks at its own name and glory, as they did, in Mat.6. r ,5. but it eyes in all its ad:ings the mortifi~· cation ofcorruption, and the attainement of .communion wirn God and Chr' ft, and the increafe of all grace, faith, love, patience, meeknelfe, felfe-denyal, &c. or if it ieek for outward mereyes, it feeks them in a fubordination to thefe, and in a way of fubferviency to the iritereft and defignes ofChrift: in all things whether ou ward or inwa"d, it feeks 'the glory of God, as the ultimate end.. And in thefe particulars confi!ts the leadings ofthe Spirit ofCh!ift. . r 7· The ~pirit of Chriil: is a witndiing Spirit. The Spirit it Rom.s.16 Jelfe betmth witneffe with our fpirit that we are the children ofGod: 1 ]oh,5-1o: a:nd every one that beleeveth hath the witneffi within himfelfe. But of this two qlidlions. I. What isthis witneffi ng work of the Spirit ? z. How doth the' Spirit thus witneO'e? for the firft. Ianfwer. r . In ge1eral; witn~ffing is a giving in fome evidence upon our knowledge how the maw~r in que!tion ftandeth, that there· by others may be afcertained of the tru~ of the thing: at the . mouth oftwo Qr three witne/es fha(l th~ matter be ef111blijhed; theie D~ut. T9,i 5; words
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