Ver. -7. the 17thChapter of St. J O H N. 85 3. 1 obferve it, to preis you to regard all thefe things. (I.) The Power of the Spirit, if you would profit in Chrift's School. The watering- Pot will do nothing without the Sun, nor the Word without his Teftimony. 1 Cor. 3. 7. So then, neither is he that plantcth any. thing, neither he that watereth, but God thatgiveth the Increafe. TheSpirit is to confirm Truth to you by way of Witoefs, and Argument. By way of Witnefs; i John 5.7. For there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father; the lVord, and the Holy -Goof. There is a fecret Perfuafion, efpecially when you are reading and hearing, that infinuateth it 111f with your Thoughts, doubtlefs this is the Word of God : Ads 16.74. Whole Heart the Lord opened, that Jhe attended to thefe things that were Token by Paul. Byway. of Argument 5 working fuch things, from whence you may conclude it is God's Word. )(Ain 8.32. re jball know the Truth, and the Truth (hall make ye free : When ye are freed from the bondage of Sin, then ye are enlightned to fee the Truth of the Gofpel ; by experience ye [hall know the Truth. - (2.) Take in the advantage of external Confirmation. By Miracles,Chrifi's Teflimo ny was made valuable to the Apoáles. -You have not only authentick Records, wherein thefe Miracles are recorded, which as an Hillory may be believed ; but the Telilmony of the Church, which hath experience of the Truth and Power of the Gofpel for many Ages : The Lives of the Godly, who are called God's Witnels, r Cor. 14. 26. The Providences of God in delivering his Church, in their miraculous Prefervations, Pfal. 58. r t. Verily there is a God that jedgeth in the Earth : Anfwers of Prayers grounded on the Word. Upon all thefe Grounds pradife upon this Truth, that Chrifl came out from God. (3) Chufe out to your (elves faithful Teachers, fuch as Chrill was, delivering the Word with Authority and Faithfulnefs to God and Men ; fuch as do not reek their own things, fear no Man's Face, and come with the powerful Evidence and Demonfiration of the Spirit. And indeed Minifersfhould be careful to manifeft themfelves to the Confciences of thofe with whom they deal, that they may have a Teftimouy of Chrf fpeaking in them, 1 Cor. 15.3. that he teacheth in and by them 5 they fhould be allured oftheir Doctrine, that Chrifl brought it out of his Father's Heart, not (peaking by rote like Parrots. I John I. a. That which was from the beginning, whichwe have heard, which we have 'ben with our Eyes, which we have looked upon, and our Hands have handled of the Word of Life 5 that which our Hearts have felt, that which we have not by rote, nor by guefs, but by experience 5 1 Tim. 6. 13. yefis Chrift witne d before Pontius Pilate a good Confiner,. 3. Obferve, Chrif 'sgentlenef in bearing with their Failings: Now they have known. It was a long time ere they could be gained to a fence of his Divine Power, therefore he chargeth them with hardnefs of Heart, Mark 6. 5 2. They con, fidered not the Miracle of the Loaves, for their Hearts were hardned. So, Mark 8.17. Perceiveye not yet, neither under- farad ? Have ye your Hearts yet hardned ? And now, in his Intereelliion to his Father,he wentioneth not their Hardnefs, nor the obftinacy of their Prejudices, nor their prefcnt Weaknefs, but their Knowledg, Now they know 5 they have beenob4fnate, but he co- vereth that, at leaft doth but imply it. How willing is Chrifl to fpread a Garment on our Nakednefs ! Paft Sins (hall not hurt us, when they do not pleafe us. When a Man turneth from Grace to Sin, then all his Righteoufnefs is forgotten; Ezek. 18.24. All his Righteoufnefs that he bath done diall not be mentioned : So he that turneth from Sin to Grace, or from Grace to Grace, ver. 22..411 his Tranfgrejons that he bath committed, they (ball not be mentioned unto him 5 it is all undone by Repentance and Reformation. How do Men differ from Chrill ! we upbraid Men with pact Failings, when they are repented of. It is hard to put off the reproach of Youth; when God inaketh them Vef- fels of Mercy, they will not fuller them to be Veffels of Honour 5 Hi homines invideani mihigratiam divinare. As the elder Brother upbraideth the reformed Prodigal, Luke 15. 3o. firm as this thy Son was come, which path devoured thy Living with Harlots, thou haft killed for him the fatted Calf. This is an envious Difpofition, and crofs to God; you go about to take off the Robes of Honour, which God hath put upon them, and to difpoil them, as the Spoufe was of her.Ornaments. 4. Obferve, What is the chief Obje£f of Faith; to believe the divine Authority and Commif ion ofChrift, and that his Power to difpenfe Salvation to the Creatures, was given him from his Father. There is a world o(Comfort in this. The Father being firft in order of the Perlons, is to be look'd upon as the offended Party, and as the higheft Judg. t. He
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