IS& EXTRAORDINARY WITNESSOF THE SFIRtT. [rfIsc. xtrA go on in the way of holiness, rejoicing in'the Lord. This was one end why Christ hasgiven us the characters of his disciples in scripture, that when we find them in our own hearts we might rejoice. This was part. of the de- sign of his farewel- sermon to his apostles, wherein some of these characters are described. See John xv. 11. These things have I spoken unto you, that myjoy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. The blessed Spirit, in the same discourse, is promised as a Comforter and we ought to walk in the light ofhis con- solations. It is the most evangelical and the most con- straining method of his grace, when he carries on his sanctifying work by the influence of peace and joy ; and it is one of the glories of a christian, that the,joy of the Lord is his strength, to fulfil all the duties of righteous- ness. DISCOURSE XII. TIIE EXTRAORDINARY WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT. ROMANS viii. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the childrenof God. THE SECOND PART. IT is great and divine, condescension, that the blessed God should ever take any of the children of wrath, and make them the children of his love : But he condescends yet farther, when he sends down his own Spirit to give us notice of our adoption, and to acquaint us withour high and holy privilege. The common and ordinary method whereby the Spirit of God bears witness that we are his children, is by draw-. ing out our own spirits to search and enquire into the filial and holy °dispositions which he himself has wrought in our hearts, and by assisting our consciences in this enquiry. Thus by his gentle, easy, and insensible influ- ences upon our souls, he leads us on in a rational manner
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