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§.SeEa.7.
The third
meartes to dif-
cerne the
fpi-
rit,namclie
by
the
/r,
ices
thereof.
3
z
o
Hew to
difcerne
the
teffinto:_
y
of
the
fpirit
from
prefumption.
any
vrorthinefï'e in
our
felues,but from
Gods
free
grace and
vndeferued mercie, and from the righteoufneffe
and merits
of
Chrift
;
whereas
Satan
and
our ovine fleíh neuer
vie
fuch
reafons,
but
either
mooue
vs
to
a
bare
and vaine
opinion
Nvhich
hath no ground
at
all
but
(elfe
-loue, which maketh
men
eafilie
beleeue
that which they
delire
;
or
els
with
fome
arguments drawne from
fome
outward
common benefits,
beiowed
indifferently vpon
the good
and bad
;or lailly
from
a
pharifaicall
conceit
and
falfe
opinion
of
our owne
worthi-
nefhe
and deferts.
Lafllie,
the
teftimonie
of Gods
Spirit
is
knowne
and
dif.
cerned by the
effe6ts
thereof;
for after
that
it
bath
effe
&ual,
lie perfwaded
vs,that
we are
ele6ed
&
the
Beare
children
of
God,we
are
tnooued thereby
to trutl
whollie
in
God,and to
loue him
as
our
gratious
father; from
which
loue
proceedeth
a zeale
ofhis
glorie,and
a true
hatred
of
finne,becautè
there-
by
our heauenlie father
is
difhonored
and
difpleafed
with
vs
and
a
true loue and
heartie endeuour
of
imbracing
holineffe
and
righteoufneffe,,becaufe thereby our gracious father
is
glorified and
well pleafed
with
vs.
If
therefore
thefe
effe6ts
and fruites follow this
perfwafion
ofGods
loue and our ele-
¿lion,
wee
may bee allured
that
it
is
the
Spirit
of
God which
Both perfwade
vs;
but
ifwee
haue no
fuch
truft
and
affiance,
no
fuch
loue
of
God,
no zeale
of
his
glorie, no hatred
of
Pinne,
no
loue
nor
delire
of
embracing
righteoufneffe,
but
retnaine
as
carnali,
worldlie,
and
prophane
as
euer
we were,
then
let vsbragge
as
much
as
wee will
ofour
perfwafion
of
Gods
loue and
our
ele
&ion, yet
it
is
moll certaine
that
this
perfwafion is
not
wrought
in vs
by
Gods
Spirit,
but that it
is
a
vaine
conceit
and
fond opinion which proceedeth from
felfe
-loue,
carnall fecuritie,and fond
prcfumption,which
in
the
end
vanifhing
away
will
kaue
vs
in
defpairc.
C[iAP.