SscT.I. TheDoïIrineanlufefrdase(fofsigns. 49 SERMON X. Further proving the La'rfulneß and Obligation of proceeding byivayof Signs, andAnfnvering many Doubtsabout them. a. C ox. 13. 5. Examine your felves, prove your own (elves, &c. Here remain more places of Scipture to prove the lawfulneffe andobligati- on alfo ofproceedingby wayof frgns, butbecaufe there are different Ex- pofitionsof them, I (hall rank them inthe order of controverted places, which probably at leaft confirm this truth. Rom.$. r6. And the firft is Rom.$.16. The Spirit it [elf bearethWitnefeWithourfpirit, that We are thefens of God. In which words we mayobferve theAuthour of the tefti- mony, the manner, and the objeet of it. TheAuthor is faid tobe The Spirit it fell', where the Apollo makes itno Prefumption or Arrogancie for thepeople of God, to call God Father, becaufe they are encouraged and emboldened here- unto by theSpirit ofGod. It is not a delufion from the Devil, but an Affurance from Gods Spirit. In the next place there is theManner of the Teftimony, it is aconjoined Teftimony, not a Ongle Witneffe ; Therefore it is Paid wraseeaP&, it witneffeth with. It is true, Grotius takes the word, though compounded, for a limpie, miu:eve. for,..tneh, alledging two places for a parallel, r Cor. x.17. I Cor.x 2. where the Apoftle fperketh of the Confcience bearing Witneffe, but rhefe Texts arenot cogent,for the confcience in teffifying doth witneffe with ano- ther, which is God, and therefore it is called o,a Hd + "e fo that the witneffe of the confcience is not a OngleTefiimony. It being therefore tobe underltoodof a yoint- Wirnejfe, the Queftion is, What is the other partner that is joined with Gods Spirit inthis aftion? SomeundellanSthe fpirit ofamannot tobe the co- witneffer, but the fubje51 only receiving the Teflimony, and they render it thus, The Spirit beareth Wítrejjè to ourffiris, not with our fpirit, and then, force make the joint-witneffe tobe Chrift, that as verf,r o. the Apofile had affirmed, Chrift dwelleth in us, then his Spirit, and that theSpirit made us tocry Abba Fa- ther; fohere, theSpirit, with (brill, and theFather alfofuppofed, as ifit were the fame with that a 7ohn 5.7. There are three that bear Witnefe in heaven. But others referee it to that Voice caufed in us byGods Spirit, and that is to beunder- ftood ofthe gift of Regeneration. Thus Chryfeflone, The Spirit of God, by or in that gift, which hebeliowerhonus; and in this fenfe it willbe all one whether we tranflate it, to or Withourfpitit. So then the meaning is, The Spirit of God bearethWitnefe unto to, with thofe gifts and graces thatare the fruit of the fame Spirit. So that he fpeaks not of fuch an immediate Teftimony, as the Prophets had in their vifions, when they heard God fpeak immediately to them, but me- diately by and with our fpirits, being enlighrned and fanetified : So that al- though the Spirit ofGodbe thealone Author ,,fthis Affurance,yetit is in unor- dinary way by thefruits ofthe Spirit. Now the b,, i:', ofGodmay be conceived H witnef-
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