278 s An Epofition upon tion and Son -chip, even of our right to the kingdome of heaven,that moft glo- rious inheritance. Alto it is a cafe ofim- portance and weight, becaufe it doth behoove and import men very much to know how they hold their earthly in- ,heritance;it muff needs then greatly concerne Gods children to have ready their evidences of their heavenly inheri- tance. Againe, it is a very hainous of- Lfence for any Chrillian to call God Fa- ther, and not to, fide afluredly that he ishisChild;butofcuftome and in hy pocrifie, with his tongue onelyand not in truths which is faire more grievous and dangerous,then ifone fhould coun- terfeit hinofelfe the ton of an earthly King,which yet is a capitali crime : and yet furthermore it is of great confe. quence and ule,for it will flay & fireng- then the heart in foule- temptation and conflift. Alfo it willquickento a chear- full performance of duties : and lafily,it will nourifh hope and patience in al af- fli &ions. For one being perfwaded of Gods love, the n followes ready fervice, confident prayer, and patient hope. T t td. Now tell us Porn whence we are to fetch the full and f rme refolutionofthie cafi ? St t.From the witnefs which the holy Spirit Both beare to our fpirit, or from the witneffe of Gods Spirit,and of our fpirit. Read it either to our, or with our fpirit,itcommeth tnuch to one ef- fea,onely this ods, that it implieth but one witneffe to our fpirit, if we read it Lour fpirit :] but importeth two, if we read to fpirit, [ andwith oar fpirit.] T i M. What is meant by the fame fpirit, and what doe ye call the'witnefe of it ? S'r L. By fame fpirit is meant the fpirit of Adoption, fpoken of in the former verfe, even the holy Spirit ; it doth give teflimony to Gods children, of their owne Adoption, and the wit- neffe of the fpirit,is a motion of a foule reftingfteadilyonthe mercies of God through Chrift,infpired and ftirred up by theSpirit. T s si. How and after what fort doth the holy Spirit beare this witneffe to belee- vers, thasGodis their Father ? S r L. Thefe two wayes ordinarily, Asin2(.r- tín..Mar b../t.,that fained him. elfe to be EalYata 6. Chap.8. (not by extraordinary revelation)) but firft by that cry(mentioned before) flir- red up in the hearts of the faithful by the Spirit, which moving them effe &ual- ly to call God their Father with filial! & childlike truft in his goodnefs, hereby they areaffured oftheirAdoptien.None can fay, Iefus is the Lord, but by the Spirit of God, c Cor. 12.6. Likewife none can 'truly call God his Father, but by the motion ofthe fpirit of Adoption. Whofoever therefore in their prayers, can call God their Father in truth, they may thereby be perfwaded that he is fo, feeing the fpirit of Adoption is peculiar to Gods fons ,as in verfe 54. we have learned. Thus Cbrfoffome expounds and declares this witneffe, of the cry of the heart engendred by Gods Spirit. Se- condly, the fpirit beareth witneffeby a pra &icke Syllogifine, or reafon framed thus:Every beleever istheChild otGod, and (hall be faved. This isthe fain of the Gofpell. But I am a beleever : this is the worke of the Spirit,making every faith- full perfon to know and fede this in himfelfe,a Tim. i.'<3.aCor.a.t o. f here- fore IamtheChildofGod,andPall be fa- . 0 °th. ?red in heaven. This concluhon is the te- flimony of the fpirit upon the former prensiles. Thus thefe two Servants of the Lord Par,euo, and Perkins, expound and declare this witneffe of the Spirit. T r u. By what reaffirm can ye prove, that this witneffi of the holy Spirit cannot de- ceive ur ? S t t., Firft, becaufe it is the fpirit of truth, which cannot lye and deceive, Lohn 14. 17. Titus i. 2. Secondly,this holy Spirit fearcheth all things,even the deepe things ofGod.1 Cor.2.io.Third- ly,he is Lord of all, and therefore war° thy of credit and beleefe. Ifa man, or Angell, or Archangel!, fhould preach unto us this Adoption, we might doubt of it : but feeing the Spirit, who is Lord of all,doth witnes it, what place is there ofdoubting,faith Cbryfoffoníe? T ñ M. Eut bow may a godly Cbriffian difeerne obis witnefje of Gods Spirit, from the delufton of Satan,and from the prefnmp- tion of Hypocrites and wicked men? S t L. By the(e wayes : Firft, by the I. Propof thon, a.Afknp. Lion.
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