351 That theholy Scriptures*ereinditedby Çodsf rrit- a.Cor,z.to.iz flandeth the fpirit ofGod, whichfearcheth all things, men the deeps things ofGod; whi:h j irit isgiuen onto vs that r,ee might kyOT the thingsn-h ch are gitsenvnto vs ofGod: as it is z.Cor. 2.10.12. So our Sauiour promifeth to fend a Comforterveto Ioh.t á,7.I3. vs,euen thejpirit oftruth, mho (hall leads vs inalltruth, as it is Ioh.16.7.13. And indeede who is more fit then the fpirit of God to confirme vs in the afíìtranceofthat truth, which hee himfelfe bath indited and infpircd ? or who canbctter iudge ofthe things ofGod then the fpirit cfGod ? who canbetter informevs in this truth thenhewho is the fpirit oftruth?And therefore ifwe haue the tef}imonie ofGods fpirit invs, wee fhall needc no other w'itneffe; nor any reafons inuentedby mans wit, to confirme vs in this truth, that the Scriptures are thewordofthe euerliuingGod. Gods :r:t er- For whofoeuer arc indued with Gods fpirit, doe alfo by fvvad tbvs of their owne experience fenfibly feelebythe effe&s and opera- ibis truth by tion of the Scriptures in themfelues, that they arc not the eurovvne fee" word or inuention ofmortali man, but the wordof the Al- lingatrd e)pe tnightie andmof}wifeGod: for when theyperceiue that the rience. eyes of their vnderf}anding are illuminated, which before wereblind and full ofdarkneffe; that their will is inclined to theobedience ofGods commandements, 'which before was flubborne and rebellious; that their heart isbecome loft and tender,fo as like the heart of lofias it melteth at the preach- ing oftheLaw, which beforewas obdurate and tlorehard then the Adamant; thát their confçience.which was dead and feared, is now readie to checke and controls them when they commit any finne, and to allow and approue all good a6tions,that their affeSions are call in anewmould, fo that whereas heretofore they lowednothing but theworld and worldly things,now their loue is fixedon the Lord and thofe things that are aboue; and wherasnothingwasmore odious in former times then vertue andgodlinefle, nothing more pleafing then finne and the delights thereof, now contrari wife, nothing is more lothfome then finne, nothingmore fweete and delightfull,then obedience toGods commande- ments ; and when they further confider, that thisgreat alte- ration ismade in them onely by the hearing ofGods word preached,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=