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IS&
EXTRAORDINARY WITNESS
OF
THE
SFIRtT.
[rfIsc.
xtrA
go
on in
the
way
of
holiness,
rejoicing
in
'the Lord.
This
was one end
why
Christ has
given
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
my
joy
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
of
his
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 children
of
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
with
our
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