-- ¡- _ .,l.r V'- Verle 6. tl ífile gtrnarts: 7 'N. 279 The troth, the grounds and reafons of the witnçs, alto it throughly perfwadeth; and gi- poweaand. which are not mans own merit, or veth not only a bare teflimonyy I Cor.2. mercy of Cod the common graces, or outward bleffings, 12.Ephef.1. I y, I 8. 17oh.3.24. promfifer, but they bethetruth,powerandmercy T I M. What is" the flood witnefeof caufe me to be,/ good of God the Father ;alto the merits of our Adoption? hope. Chrift the Son,and the works and fruits S I L. Gods Spirit is the firft, and Bernard. of this Spirit of Adoption. Thefe are our Spirit is the fecond. fuch fires grounds, as cannot pollibly T i t. Butfeeinn our hears know not the fail him,who refis on them. Secondly , mindeofGod, and they be "deceivable above by the manner of the teftimony, which meefure,how can this be a meet witneffe is certain and firm, as an earnefl or feat S I L. Indeed our flony hearts fuch putting us out of doubt, Eph.s.13.let- as they be by nature are blinde and de- ling the confcience in fuch quiet and ceittul : but our flefhy hearts which we found tranquillity,as far differeth from have from grace are not fo ; for our nuntbneffe and deadneffeof hypocrites, hearts, as they are renewed by the Spi and of civil men. Thirdly, by the cf- rit of God, doth know the winde and lett tsofthisteflimony,asi.Ardentpray- good will of God towards us, & bears er, 2.Sincere love of God and our bre- a fincere and infallible teftimony of it thren for his fake, 3. Willing and con, unto us. For it is written, The Spirit of Nut obedience to Godward unto man which is in him, knows the things of which,we may joyn thefe fix means fol. man, I Cor. 2. i I. Alto if our hearts do lowing, as good helps to difcry this not condemn us,we have boldneffe to. difference.Firft,prefumption is natural wards God,I Joh. 3.2I.Burit were not from our birth, but this teftimony of .poffible that we fhould have boldneffe the Spirit is fupernatural,and is not in and confidence towards God, if the te- us befòrethe grace of converfion. Se- flimony which our hearts beareth us, condly,this teflimony arifeth from the were doubtful and wavering, and not ufe of hóly means,as hearing, reading, certain and firm. Sacraments, &c. and is thereby confir- T What is then meant here by our med;whereas prefumptlon is from fe- Spirt ? curity, and not from the ufe. ofmeans, S I L. Not our foul, as it is a nato- which prefitmptuous perlons negle &. rail part of man,but ourregenerate and or contemn. fanaified confcience and 'affeflions. In Thirdly,prefumption ismotconfi- which fenfe the, word Spirit isufed den t,never doubting or making quefti_ by Paul,' Cor.i4.15. r 7hef.5.23.. on ofele &ion or,falvation. This tefti- It was well therefore obferved of mony ofthe Spirit, is much affaulted one certain learned and judicious Wri- with doubts and fears more or leffe, at ter, that this text faith not, that the one timç or other as in Job, and David. Spirit beareth witneffe to our fouls, Therefore he that faith, I never doub- but to our fpirit. ted, I thank God I have alwaies had a TIM., let the fanhlification ofoar con- ftrong belief; he fpeaks from prefum- feience,ir altogether very imperfea and weak, ption. Fourthly,prefumption is ever and therefore fhould rather caul us to joyned with woridlinefs & prophane- doubt ofour Adoptiou,then to certifie and af- . neffe: but this teftimony is never five- fare us ofit ? red from a defire to live holily and righ- S i L.Theimperfe&ion ofourrege- teoufly. Fiftly, prefump ion prefumes neration, doth and may make the wit. of Gods love,in'the time of Gods bene- netTe ofour Spirit leffe throng and fidl, fits only, but in adverfity vanifheth. but'no whit hindreththecertaintyofic, This teffimony is confiant and perma- wch. arifeth not fomuch from the mea- nent,in adverfity as well as in profperi- fure,as from the truth ofour fanbìified ty. Laftlÿ,this teftimony of the Spirit, defires and affeaions : even as a childe commeth by the application of faith ; may be laid to walk and go ,certainly. B b and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=