II. ueionr,andCaferofConfcience Chap. it , think they have it not , and others that have it not , think they have it. nfw. Firfl, try it by the qualificationsof the perfons allured ; as, 1, Haft thou been troubled in confcience with feares about thy natural condition , and thy foul kindly humbled in thee : The fpirit ofbondage goes before the fpirit of Adoption, Rom. 8. 15, 16. with v`ldatth. II. 23. Eta; 61. i, z. 2. Hath thy humbled b_oken heart been furnifbed with laving faith. Firlf we bcleeve, and then we are fealedwith the holy Spirit of promife, Ephef. 1.13. 3. Flash the Spiritbeen given to thee ? we mut} firflhave the Spirit, before we can know the things that are given us ofGod, I (or. 2.12. Secondly , by the grounds and caufes ofaffurance , which are 1. Divine teflimony by audible voice, as ChriftBu[ this was extraordinary, 9. 2, 6. Luke 5. zo, 23. and 7.470 48. and 23. 42, 43 is not new tobe expe&e.d. 2. The lively exercife offaith, refle&ing on its own a&s , and feeing it felfe beleeving : and thofe a&s are , t. Dire& : and thefe again, either receptiveof Christ: as, ]oh. Liz. or operative from, and byChrift received , as 14ús15. 9. Rom. 5.1. Gal. 5.6. a. Reflexive, when faith looks back upon its own a &s thus receiving Clint}, and thus afing. So Paulknewwhom he had beleevtd , 2 Tim. I. I2. The teftimony of our own renewed and fan&ified confcience , ac- cording to the Word of God , witneffing our food eflate : The fpirit ofman is the candle ofthe Lord, &c. Prov. 2o. 27. Tells us what's in us , 1 Corinth. 2. io, II, la. 4. The teflimony of the Spirit ofGod purpofely given us to this end, 1 Job. 3. 24. and 4. 13. I Cor.2.1z. the Spirit lithe authourof our affurance : I.As a feal, Eph, f.1.13. fealingus afterwebelieve, as v. 14. 2. As an earneflof our inheritance , Ephef. t. 14. 3. As a joynt witneffe with our fpirits, Rom. 8. 16. clearing up our spiritual evidences, and enabling us to difcern them, as I Cor.2.9. &c. I Joh.2.27. Thirdly,by the fruits, and effe&s of it whereby its diflinguiffied from prefum- ption s as I. True affurance mightily provokes to felf-purifying , to holineffe in heart and life ; as , t John 3. 2, 3. whereas prefumption emboldens in firne. 2. It flints up fervent delires , and longs after the Gofpel of Chrift ; they long for the fincere milk of the word, fu h either, 3. But it not all, tion bree eds difaffe&ion to it , Pfalme 5o. 16,17 he fincere milkeof the word, or not in reference to growth. 3, It makes thefoule incomparably todelire communion with God and Je- fus Chrif}, as we fee in the Church, Cant. 2.6,7, 16, 17. with Cant. 3. s. to 6. and 5. a. and 6.4. How doth Davidmourn for want of the fence hereof?and pray for it ? `Pfal. 5s.8, 12. But prefumption knowsnot what communionwith Chrif} means. 4.. It notably engageth thofe that have it to ferve, and honour God in their places to the uttermoft. God affures Jofhuah, that hewill never leave him nor forfake him, Jolh. 1.5, 6. and Jo uah refolves,that whatever others do , he, and his heufe willferve theLord, JJofh.2415. fo in `Paul,1 Cor:5. 14, 1. in, David, Pfalme 118. 28. But prefumption contemner God , Job 21. 14, .I 5... 5. True affurance fingularly fupports and comforts the heart 'in deep- eft tribulations : as we fee in Job, chap.19. 25, &c. and maul, 2Cos. Ìh.
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