DISCOURSE XII. 313 ment of the world, to suffer the devil so exactly to counterfeit the works of his own Spirit, as to leave na marks or evidenceswhere- by to distinguish them from the impostures of Satan. Truth and holiness are the objects of the devil's hatred ; and though hemay transformhimselfin some particulars into anangel oflight, yet he brings alongwith him some peculiar evil badge, whereby he maybe known or distinguished : And if christians will be sin- cere and honesty watchful and diligent, to examine not only the present impressions, but the succeeding effects of such sort of assurances of their adoption, together with earnest prayer to be kept from all delusions, I can hardly think that God will suffer his own people to be imposed upon in a matter ofsó sacred importance. The fourth thing I proposed, was to mention briefly some characters of this extraordinarywitness of the Spirit, wherein it differs from the ordinary witness. 1. The extraordinary testimony of our adoption is a more sensible and strong impression upon the soul ; which seems to be distinguished in itself from the more slow,' successive, and ra- tional'operations of the human faculties. The spiritofa ehristian searching out his own interest in the love of God, exercises his reasoning powers, lays down these propositions : He that believes in Christ, or he that loveth God, is a child of God. Again, I believe in Christ, or I love God : And then it infers this conclu- sion ; therefore I am one of his children. Now the Spirit of God in his ordinary and usual influences, does so gently, so seçretly, and in such a con-natural manner, assist these opera- tions of the soul, that it seems to be all our own wont ; and the influences of the Spirit are seldom sensibly distinguished from the operations of our own faculties ; and we learn, that we have the assistance of the Holy Spiritherein, rather by the doctrine of scripture, andby its sanctifying effects, than by any powerful sensations of a superior influence on our souls : Butin the extra- ordinary witness the case is otherwise: for the superior and ex-. ternal influenceappears strong and. sensible. The Holy Spirit impresses the conclusion, or the assurance of our adoption, with power upon the soul, without any successive deduction ofit from anyforegoing propositions, sets it in a bright light, and persuades the soul to believe it. 2. This extraordinarywitness is usually short and sudden, the other is more durable ; this is only a cordial to encourage us in an hour of danger, or support us in a fainting season ; the other is our common food, and our daily refreshment, It has been said ofthis favour ; it is rara hora, brevis mora : A visitsel- dom bestowed, of short continuance. 3. The ordinary witness of the Spirit ofGod with our spi- rits, proving our regeneration and adoption in a rational way,
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