¢62 EXTRAÓRDÌNARY WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT. CDISC. XtÍ. this very morning I awoke out' of a most ravishing and delightful dream, that a wonderful and copious stream of celestial' rays, from the lofty throne of the divine Ma- jesty, did seem to dart into my open and expanded breast. I have often since, with great complacency, re- flected on that very signal pledge of special divine favour, vouchsafed to me on that noted memorable day ; and have with repeated fresh pleasure, tasted the delights thereof. But what of the same kind I sensibly felt through the admirable bounty of mÿ God, and the most pleasant boinforting influence of the Holy Spirit, on October 22, 1704, far surpassed the most expressive words my thoughts can suggest. I then experienced an inex- pressibly pleasant melting of heart, tears gushing `out of Mine eyes for joy that God should shed abroad his love abundantly through the hearts of men : and that for this verypurpose mine own heart should be so signally pos- sessed of andby his Blessed Spirit ; Rom: v. 5." Besides this instance of so sedate, so rational, and so jildieious a person, there have been many others of our pious fathers in England, but especially, as 1 said before, in the church of Scotland, have enjoyed such divine visits, and given very sensible evidence that the Holy Spirit is not utterly withdrawn from men even as to his extraordinary influences. If any thing could be added to this testimony of Mr. Howe, it should be the instance of Mr. Flavel, the fa- iovs practical divine in the west of England, who in his treatise of the soul of man, gives us this account of him-. self, but with his name concealed : " That, in a journey on horseback, the fell into a divine meditation, wherein he had such tokens of the love of God, and his interest in the divine favour manifested to him, that greatly sur- passed all the rational and inferential evidences that ever he had ; though he was known to be a close walker with God, and an eminent saint, and a lively preacher of the blessed gospel of Christ." 1 VIth Consideration. There have been several learned and judicious divines, who have declared their firm belief of such extraordinary manifestations and witnessings of the Blessed Spirit ; which belief has risen from their acquaintance with the scriptures, and their observations
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