berm. CL,X(X. to the Truth of the ÿofpel. 455 doubt not, but that with relation to his Teftimony it is, that the Apoflle faith; he was juffifted in the. Spirit, i Tim. 3. 16. Great it the myflery of Godlinef God was manifeff in the flefh, jullifed in the Spirit. That is, the miraculous Power of the Spirit which appeared in him, and did accompany his Do&rine, did juftifie him to the World, and vindicate him from being an Impoflor and Deceiver: From all which it appears, that the Teftimony which the Holy Spirit gives to Chrift and his Do&tine, was the Miracles which he and his Apoflles wrought by the Spirit of God : and if we will take our Forms of fpeaking fromScripture; this is that which may moil properly be call'd the Teflimony of the Spirit to the truth of the Gofpel. But I deny not but betides this outward Evidence, which the Spirit of God gives to the truth of the Gofpel, with refpe& to which, the Faith of the Gofpel is in a peculiar manner attributed to the Spirit' of God, there is likewife an inward Efficacy and Operation of the Spirit of God upon the minds of Men. Therefore, Secondly, Faith is in a peculiar manner attributed to the Spirit of God in re- fpe&: of the inward Efficacy and Operation of the Divine Spirit upon the Hearts and Minds of thofe who, fincerely and effeZtually believe and entertain the Gofpel ; 1 fay who fincerely and effe&ually believe and entertain the Gofpel ; that is, who fo believe and entertain the Gofpel as to obey it, and comply with it in their Hearts and Lives. For I doubt not but that there is fo much Evidence for the Truth and Divine Authority of the Gofpel, as is in it.felf fufftcieñt, without any peculiar Operation, of the Spirit of God, to filence all Oppofers, and to convince them fo far as that they cannot have any fufficient reafon to disbelieve it : but withal, I do not think, that this Faithcloth become an abiding and ef£eecual Per- fwafion in any Perfon, without the fpecial Operation of the Holy Ghoft. Now that the Spirit of God can work this effef ual Perfwafion in the mind of Man, cannot be doubted by any Man who confiders the vafl Power and Influencewhich the Spirit ofGod, whomade our Souls, and knows the Frame of them, 'can'hava upon the mind of Man : all the difficulty is about the manner of it ; how this Faith is wrought in usby the Spirit of God. Now altho' it were fuflicient for us to know the thing, rho' we were ignorant of the manner how it is done, and we might very well refl fatisfied in this; that the Spirit of God works this Faith in us, tho' we did not know how it does it ; yet becaufe many have taken upon them to flare and determine the particular manner how. is is done, it will be re-, quifite, in order to the reifying force mifiakes about it, to enquire mote par- ticularly into this matter. Now all the ways that have been afïigned, or which, I think, we can eafily imagine, may be reduced to one of thefe fix heads: When we fay the Spirit of God works Faith inus, we mull conceive it to be done force or all of thefe ways. r. By flrengthning the Faculty, that is, railing and enablingour underflanding to yield affent to theGofpel. Or, 2. By enlightning and difcovering the Objcêl, That is, the conclufion to be believed. 3. By propounding to us the Arguments, or Evidence whereby we may be per-, fwaded of it. Or, 4. By holding our minds intent upon this Evidence, till it have wrought its Effè& upon us. Or, 5. By removing the Impediments which hinder our affent. Or, 6. By farthering and helping forward the Efficacy of this Perfwafion upon our Hearts and Lives, That the Spirit can work Faith in us, any, or all thefe ways, fo far as they are confiflent with one another, I make not the kaft doubt For what Man whobelieves the infinite Power of the Divine Spirit, can make the leafl queflion, whether it can raite and heighten our Faculties above their natural and ordinary Pitch ? or whether it can difcover an Obje& to us, with the greateft clearnefs and fatisfatlion ? or whether it can offer to our Minds the bell Argu- ments, and the higheft Evidence that a thing is capable of? or whether it can hold our Minds intent upon the conuderationof any thing ? or whether it can remove all Hindrances and impediments ? or whether it can make the Perfwafion of any truth
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