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INWARD. WITNESS, TO
CHRISTAINITY.,
[SER
-M.
III.
him this blessed
resurrection:
It
is
above
and
beyond
nature,. it
is
a miracle
of
grace,
and
none
but. God
could work
it.
And
this
is
what
I
call the
inward
witness
of
the Spirit
Of
God
to
the
truth of
the
gospel,
at
least
in
these
latter
ages
of
christianity..
The outward and
more
visible
tes-
timony
of
the
spirit
consists
in
those sensible
miracles
that
were
wrought,
and
those wondrous
gifts
of
healing,
of
tongues,
&c.
that
were
bestowed. on
the
first
Chris-
tians, Rob.
ii.
4.
Rom.
xv.
19.
But
the
spirit's in-
ward testimony
is
the
constant
miracle
of
regeneration
and
converting
grace.
This
witness, in my
opinion,
bas
been dishonoured
by
too
many
protestants,
when
they have explained
it
merely
by
inward
impulses,
and
vehement impressions upon
the
mind,
without
the con-
duct
of
reason..
This has tempted the profane world to
çall
our
devout
efforts
of
christian
piety
mere enthusiasm
and
.wild
imagination,
the
.flashes
of
a-
kindled
blood
and vapours,
that
are
puffed
about
with every
wind:
But
when
the.testimony
of
the spirit
is
explained,
in
the
manner
I
have described,
it
,must
approve itself
to all
the sober and reasonable
part of
mankind.
Here let
us
stand
still
and
consider;
how
great and
divine
a
power
was
necessary
to
make this mighty
change:
on the
heart of
a
poor, ignorant,
guilty, sinful
creature,
and
establish
him a
saint
in
peace and purity.
It
is
not
every
one.
that
hears
this same
gospel,
that
obtains the
same salvation, and
that
feels.
the
same glorious
change;
and
many
a.true
christian must
confess, how
long they
sat
under
the
same ministry:
and instructions
before
their
hearts were brought to
love
God,
or
renewed
to
.
an
heavenly
life: Thus their
experience teaches
them,
there
was
an almighty
virtue
and
`efficacy
at last
attended
this
gospel, which
made
it
more powerful
in
one
day,
or
week,
or
month,
than it.had been
in
whole years
before.
There
was
a quickening
spirit,
that
accompanied the
voice
of
the
word, and gave them
life,
while the word
called-.
them to arise from the dead. And this
is
-yet
more gloriously evident,
when
such
chances have
been
wrought.
on
sinners
in an
hour
or two: They went
to
bear
the
gospel,
poor;
lame, blind;
senseless
,
and
_tltóughtless
of
God-and-
eternity and they
were
awaken-
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