247 / 772
Eon'
to
dáfeense
the
ternonieof
the
fpiritfrom
prcft`rmp
604
.1
r
9
on them,their
vaine
perfwafion
vanifheth
away,and
nothing
rernaineth
but doubting,
which in the
end
bringeth
them
to
utter
defperation.
But
here
the tempter will
take
occafion
to
difcourage
the
weak Chriflian,
and to perfwade
him
that
he
hath
mot
Gods
fpirit,feeing
he
doth
not
feele in
himfelfe
this
firme
perfwa-
fion
ofGods
loue and
his
eleélion
and
faluation.
To
which
we
are
toarifwer,that Gods
fpirit
doth throughly
perfwade,
although not at
all
times, neither
in
our prefent
fenfe
and
feeling
;
for
immediatelie
after
our
conuerfion
when
we are
newlie regenerate,
and like new
borne babes
in
Chrifçthe
motions
ofthe
fpirit
are
but
weake in
vs,aud we are riot
skil-
full in vndcrf}anding
this heauenlie
language
of
the fpirit,
wherewith
we haue
been
altogether vnacquainted
;
but
the
fpirit waxing
lironger
in
vs,
and we
growing to
a
ripe age
in
Chrifi,
Both crie in
our
hearts,Abba father,
and teí
}ifieth
to
our
fpirits
that
we
are
the
formes
of
God;
which
we
then
be-
ing better
acquainted with
this heauenly fpeech,do well
vn-
derliand,and
are
throughlyperfwaded thereby.And fecond-
1
,when the poore Chriffianwho
hath
receiued
a
great,tnea-
ure
ofthe
fpirit
is
exercifed
in
the
fTirituall confliCI,
the hi-
deous
noife
ofSatans temptations which
like Cannon
--fhot
found
in
his cares,
and
the
tumultuous outcries
ofhis
owne
paffions doe
fo
diflurbe and wholly
poffeffe
him, that
he can
not
heare the voice
ofthe
fpirit
perfvading
him
that
hee
is
the
child
ofGod
;
till the skirmifh bee pall and
the
noire
of
temptations
ceafed,and then againe
as
in
former times bee
heareth to
his
comfort
the
fpirit
ofGöd
per
<f
wading
him
of
Gods
loue,and-hereby
bee
is
againe
affiired
thereof.
So
that
wee
are
not to iudge
ofthe
hauing
of
Gods
fpirit in
the
time
ofour
Chriflian
infancie and fpirituall
nonage, nor yet
ac-
cording to
our relent
fenfe in
the time
of
temptation,
but
when
wee are
come
to
per
k&
age, and
when
the
con
is
of
temptations
is
cea
e
.
Secondlie,
the teflimonic
ofGods
fpirit
erfvadin
vs
of
his lone and
our ele6tion,is
knowne by the manner whereby
wa et
vs
:namel
,it
er
wadeth
vs
heaeo
ithargu-
ments grounded
upon
Gods word,
and
dxawne
not front
any.
g
P
f
P
fì
fd
F
g
f
d h
f
y
The
prrfrafiot
oftbegirit nrt
ala
aies
elf
iu
oA.r
fcn(e
and
feeling.