We are to

ourfelves

by the marks

foul, when expecting no fuch thing. There are many more mysteries in this fecret intercourfe with our heavenly father, which believers fometimes fee, taste and feel, and which no pen of the learned can reprefent, as they deferve. And it is not fit, that the fpirit of man should be unacquainted with these things fince it is admitted as a witness of his ftate: for, tho' this is not the lot of all the children of God, nor the cafe, at all times, nor indeed frequently'; yet they, whofe lot it has, at any time, been, are certainly children of God.

XXXV. After our fpirit is well inftructed about examine all thefe things, it is further neceffary it make a strict fcrutiny concerning itself, and, as under the eye of an omniscient God, diligently fearch every particular without diffimulation, or difguife; to fee whether these things, which, we faid, were the marks or characteristicks of the children of God, are to be found in us: as alfo whether, at any time, we have experienced, in prayer, or other exercifes of devotion, the peculiar favour of the most gracious God, exciting, inflaming comforting, and carrying heavenwards our otherwise dull and drowfy hearts. For when our spirit discovers these things by evident indications, then it confidently teftifies, that we are the children of God, reprefents that truth to our minds, and gives us to know it, and enable us to fay, this I know, for God is for me, Pf. 56. 9.

To which

XXXVI. These things, indeed tend greatly to the teftimony confolation of God's children: but when, both by that of the fcripture and experience, they know, that our heart Holy Spi- is deceitful, and that they are affured by the wisest

is added

rit.

of kings, that be that trufteth in his own heart is a fool, Prov. 28. 26; and as they would not wish to be deceived in nothing less than in this, which of all others is of the greateft moment; then at length they entirely acquiefce, when to the teftimony of their own Spirit is fuperadded that of the spirit of God.

This is what David wrestled for by earneft prayer with God, Pf. 35. 3, fay unto my foul, thou art my falvation.

XXXXII. That teftimony is given principally in Its nature this manner: first, the fpirit of God makes thofe explained. boly habits, which, we faid, were the diftinguishing marks of the children of God, and which at times are often involved in much darkness, and covered with much rubbish and filth, to fhine with clearness in their foul, and, as it were, readily prefent themfelves to the contemplation of the mind, when examining itself. And then excites our fpirit, otherwise ready to faint, to the diligent obfervation of the things in our mind, both tranfacted in and by it, enlightens the eyes of the understanding with fupernatural light, to prevent our being deceived by what is fpecious rather than folid, or our overlooking thofe things, on the observation of which our confolation depends. There is moreover a certain internal impulfe, which no human language can explain, immediately affuring God's beloved people of their adoption, no lefs than if they were carried up to the third heavens, and had heard it audibly from God's own mouth; as the Apostles formerly heard in the holy mount a voice from the excellent glory, 2 Pet. 1. 17. Laftly feeing no teftimony is ftronger than that which is proved by facts, the fpirit of God does not leave himself without witness in that respect; for he excites generous motions and the sweetest raptures in believers, and delights them with confolations for ravishing and extatical, and even exceeding all thought, that they cannot confider them, in any other light, but as fo many teftimonies of their adop

tion.

of its divi

XXXVIII. Nor is there any reafon to apprehend, Has in it the children of God will, in this cafe, fuffer them- the marks felves to be impofed upon, or admit, for à teftimony of the Holy Spirit, what is a lie and mere illufion of the deceiving fpirit. For, in this voice of the 14 VOL. II. Q

fpirit

nity.

Comforts

only hearts, first brok

en.

comforts.

fpirit of God, there is so much clearness, majesty and efficacy, whereby it penetrates, with an irresistible power, into the bottom and inmoft recefs of the heart, that they, who have been accustomed to that voice, can easily diftinguish it from all others. The world, certainly, cannot receive this fpirit, feeth him not, neither knoweth him, John 14. 17: but Chrift's sheep. know the voice of their shepherd, John 10. 4. And when it founds, not fo much in their ears as in their hearts, they joyfully exclaim, this is the voice of my beloved, behold! he cometh, Cant. 2. 8. As formerly in extraordinary appearances, God gave fuch clear indications of his majefty to the prophets, as to leave no room for doubt; fo in like manner, the Spirit the comforter irradiates the minds of the elect with fuch beams of light, that they can eafily diftinguish him from the fpirit of darknefs. But, as the proper found of any voice cannot be diftinguished but by the hearing of it; fo thefe things are only to be learned by experience.

XXXIX. But the fpirit of God does not ufually comfort the elect with fuch glad tidings, unlefs their hearts are firft broken by a long continued acknowledgment of their fins, and a deep fenfe of their misery, Ifa. 61. 1, 3. and 57. 15, 18. Generally a boisterous wind goes before the reading of mountains, and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord, and an earthquake and a fire, before the ftill fmall voice is heard. 1 Kings 19. 12. This balm is poured only into the broken heart, P. 51. 8.

Sanctifies XL. And the fouls of the elect are never refreshed as well as with the fweet confolation of the spirit, but they are, at the fame time, inflamed with the love of God and excited to the vigorous exercife of ftrict religion. The fame fpirit, who is the comforter, is also, by the fame act, the fanctifier, Pf. 51. 12, 13. Nor can it be otherwife. When the foul is affured by the Spirit himself of the infinite love of God towards him,

ho.

he bursts out into a flame of mutual love, breaking out into the warmeft thanksgivings; faying, "Lord, "haft thou honoured me, in a manner fo extraor"dinary and undeferved, that thou takeft me for "thy fon! Haft thou thyself declared this fo "familiarly unto me, by fhedding abroad thy love "in my heart by the Holy Spirit, which thou hast "given me! and fhall I not love, worship, honour "and obey thee to the utmost of my power? O! "that I was emptied of every thing elfe, that I "might be filled only with thy love!" and this is an undoubted token of the Holy Spirit, when the man, who rejoices in foul, is, at the fame time, become more ardent in love to God, and more cheerful in his worship. The fpirit of the flesh and of hell, with its deceitful allurements, intends every thing elfe befides this.

XLI. We have indeed delivered these things, in Conclu a very imperfect manner, on this myftical fubject, fion. which is the marrow of internal chrifttianity; which that the Holy Spirit himself may inwardly teach+ those who are confecrated to God, and exhibit to their eyes, ears and tafte, we ardently pray. So be it Lord Jefus! AMEN.

†The author's words are, Naziræos fuos doceat teach his Nazarites, but as that founds harsh in English, I therefore have expreffed his meaning by a paraphrafe.

Holiness I.

the ornament of God's

T

CHA P. XII.

Of Sanctification.

HE Apoftle Peter, 1. Pet. 2. 9. has, in very high terms, declared, that the chofen, the regenerate, and the adopted Sons of God, are children. A HOLY NATION. And this holinefs be ng really' the moft excellent ornament of the houfe of God,' PL.. 93. 5, is a fubject, which ought not be pafs'd' over in filence, efpecially as it is none of the least of the promises in the covenant of grace, that God will be the fanctifier of his people Ifrael.

Its nature to be

learned

II. In order profitably to explain the nature of fanctification, we must confider, not fo much the from the etymology and import of the Latin word, as of the wordsufed Hebrew wp, and Greek yarn, yswoúm;, àyιáoμà, and by the dér, with words of the like original, as most Holy Spi- frequently made ufe of by the facred penmen. It will be proper therefore, to enquire more diftinctly firft, what is meant by holiness, and then, what by fanctification.

rit.

The Elect

parated

III. The word holy in fcripture is afferted firft called ho- of whatever is feparated from a promifcuous and ly, 1. be- civil, but especially, from a profane ufe: In this cause se- fenfe even the elect are called boly, as being feparated from the from the profane world, Lev. 20. 26, and ye shall be profane holy unto me, because I have fevered you from other people, that ye fhould be mine. 2 Cor. 6. 17. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye feparate faith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. It is no lefs true of the myftical, than of the literal Ifrael, that they are a peculiar people, whofe laws are divers from all people Eph. 3.

world.

Balaam's

8.

IV. Balaam has beautifully prophefied of them, teftimony Numb. 23. 9. Lo! the people shall dwell alone, ing lfrael, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Ifrael

concern