309 EXTRAORDINARY WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT. IIISC. from this extraordinary testimony of the Holy Spirit, unless you find some considerable measure of those:s.aitc- tifying effects of them which I have described ; I havq6 granted that in particular seasons of trial when the.natu- ral spirits sink and fail, and temptations are exceeding strong, God may give this immediate testimony, on pur- pose to bear up the soul from sinking; yet we should not dare to trust such sort ofvehement impressions, and pro- nounce them divine, if we neither find any of the plain scriptural marks of the children of (od upon us, before or after these impressions. There is. great danger- of depending upon such raptures, if they leave no evident and lastingeffects of sanctification behind them. Where the Spirit shines with such a divine light, he will warm the heart with uncommon love, and the soul niust be consci- ous of some such rational evidence of adoption, such a love to God in the heart, as will effectually prove that God has first loved us. Perhaps this is one reason why some christians fall under so many doubts and fears, because they live more upon their inward sensations of joy, their transports of pleasure in religion, which they call the extraordinary witness of the Spirit, than they do upon the characters of the children of God, which should be written in their hearts, and by which they should endeavour to search out and to evidence their interest in the favour of God. 4. Let every believer walk humbly before God, in all the paths of holiness. Take heed lest at apy time you resist the blessed Spirit, in his sanctifying influences, lest he withdraw your comforts of every kind Be not de- ceived, for the Spirit of God will not be trifled with. If you sow to the flesh, after you have received any witness- ings of the Spirit, you may expect to reap desertions, sorrow, pains, and long mourning. Keep a conscience tender, and afraid of every sin ;" " grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of re- demption ;" Eph. iv. 30. 5. Wait on God in all his holy ordinances, and wait for the manifestations of his love. It is hi a regular at- tendance on the public and private duties of religion, that we may hope to meet with the witnessing, ,Spirit; there the principles of grace are wont to be awakened, and called forth into lively e.<ercise; and where your
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