PART III. of gracious AfeHions. I27 like to this, as he can to that holy and divine Ef£ea, or Work of the Spirit of God, which has been now fpoken of. $ Another Mr. Shepard is abundant in militating againft theNotion of Men's knowin; their good. Eftate by an immediate Witnefs of the Spi- rit, without judging by any Effect or Work of the Spirit wro't on the Heart, as an Evidence and Proof that Perfons are the Children of God. Part I. p. 134. '' Knowing your Elee7ion of " God. How fo ? Immediately ? Some Divines think Angels " fee it not fo, and that it's peculiar to God fo to do ; but me- " diately ; for our Word came in Power, and in much Afurance, " to make you enlarged for God, to turn you from Idols, unto " God, , &c - - -". Again in the fame Page " It's Heaven to S' cleave to him in every Command ; it's Death to depart (rein any Command. Hereby know we that we are in him. If it were poiiible to afk of the Angels, how they know they ate not Devils, they would anfwer, the Lord's Will is ours. So t ' here, how do you know you have nOt the Nature of Devils, " and fo in a State of Devils, bound there 'till the Judgment of the great Day ? Becaufe God bath changed our vileNatures, " and made our Wills like unto his glorious Will ". And p. 135. " The Major is the Word, the Minor Experience, and " the Conclufzon the Lord's Spirit's Work, quickening your " Spirits to it. Now, fay fome, how do you know this ? 46 Thus you may be miftaken ; for many have been deceived " thus. Grant that ; and fhall a Child not take Bread when " 'tis given him, tho' Dogs fnatch at it ". And p. 137. " If you look to a Spirit without a Work, whit$ you do feek Confolation, you cannot avoid the Condemnation of the be Word. You fay the Spirit has fpoken Peace to you ; but 66 do you love Chrift ? I look not to that ; but to the Spirit. " Why, the Word faith, He that loves him not let him be .Ina- " thema. So, is the League between your Sins and your Souls " broken ? Anl. I look not to that. Why, 'fohn faith, He " that committeth Sin is ofthe Devil. Are you new Creatures ? " I look not to that. Why, the Word faith, unlefs you be born " again, you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God ". Page 176, 177. " A Man faith, I havcChrift ; and fo have not they. " I afk, where is the Spirit ? You have the Deed ; where is- the Seal ? You have the Teftator ; where is the Executor ? CG The Spirit in you ? Yes, I have it ; it has witneffed Chrift " is mine. Anf. It has witneffed ; but what has it wrought ? Where is the Power of his Death, killing thy tufts ? Where "" is
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