DISCOURSE XII. 300 Samuel Clark, has written in the defence of this extraordinary witness of the Spirit, and describesit thus : " When the Spirit of God, without consideration of, or reflecting upon, any of those gracious qualifications he has formerlywrought in the soul, does, by his own immediate power, imprint this persuasion upon the heart, Thouart a child of God ; and by an inward and secret, yet powerful voice, doth say to the soul, Thou art a believer, thy sins are pardoned, or to that purpose;; and so satisfies the soul concerning its state and condition. I proceed in the second place, to consider the special sea- sons and occasions wherein such favours have been bestowed on men. L The Spirit of God has in a more immediate manner, made extraordinary impressions of the 'love of God on thesoul, when persons have been called to great and difficult services in the church, or to uncommon sufferings for the sake of Christ. St. Paul was in labours more abundant, and in sufferings above measure, beyond the rest of the apostles ; he had need of eminent support : Hewas assured by a vision, that he was a chosen ves- sel : He was taken into heaven before-hand, and had asight and taste of unseen futureglories, to encourage his zeal and patience; 2 Cor. xii. And if we read the history of the martyrs, even in later as well as in ancient times, we canhardly forbear to believe this truth, when they have exulted under a sense of divine love, in the midst of racks and flames. 2. When the temptations of some humble souls have been extraordinary, and their afflictions above measure, pressing and overwhelming ; when the hurry and tumult of their spirits hath not suffered them to recollect in a calm and rational way, the evi- dences of their adoption, the Spirit of God may see fit to give a saint such a divine cordial to keep him from sinking. When a christian has been long contesting with doubts and darknesses,, and beenoppressed with many fears, the blessed Spirit has some- time let a sudden light into the heart, and with or without some word of scripture, has given surprising consolation., Mr. S. Clark tells us of a'minister, who having been under a spirit of bondage many years, and now even ready to die in that condi- tion, when Rom. viii. was begun to be read to him, a little before his last gasp, stopping at ver. 1. There is thereforenow no con- demnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after 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 case of some holy souls in their dying hours, or when just departing from the body, they have, as it were, entered into V 3
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