DISC. XII.] EXTRAORDINARY WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT t'9. ing been under a spirit of bondage many years, and now even ready to die in that condition, whenRom: viii. was . begun to be read to him, a little before his last gasp, stopping at ver. 1. There is therefore now no condemna- tion to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not af- ter the flesh, but after the Spirit : " Stay, said he, I never saw so much in those words in all my days, though I have read them often,. as I see now.", This seems to be an instance of the sudden and extraordinary influence of the Holy Spirit in his enlightening grace, as well as his witnessing and comforting power. This has been"the caseo' some holy souls in their dying hours, or when just departing from the body,- they have, as it were, entered into the world öf sight before they have left this world of sense, and flesh, and blood ; or rather, heaven itself bath entered into their spirits. 3. When christians of the first rank of piety, have been warmly engaged in most lively acts of devotion, in fervent and holy prayer, and they have been brought near to heaven in the frame of their spirits, they have had a divine foretaste of the joys of the upper world, and an assurance given them of their own interest there- in. Daniel .had been engaged in fervent and zealous intercession for the church of God, when a heavenly messenger was sent to acquaint him, that he was " a man greatly beloved ;" Dan.. ix. 23. Or, 4. Perhaps the Spirit of God may think it necessary to uphold some poor weak christians of the lowest rank of understanding, by some immediate impressions of the love Of God, when he sees that their love to God is great and sincere, but they are so unskilled in the exer- cises oftheir rational powers, that they hardly know how to compare their hearts with the, scripture, and pass a determinate judgment on themselves. Such weak crea- tures, it may be, could never come to any settled hope Or peace, without such divine condescensions; and especi= ally if they are under some special temptation, which gives a confusion or darkness to their thoughts. Thomas was but a weak believer; he knew not how to build his faith of a risen Saviour on what Christ him- self had foretold, or on the testimony of his brethrén3 which were sufficiently just, and rational foundations for his faith : Therefore, ingreat condescension to his weak. v4
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