The Souls Union with Christ, Treatise · Pages 305-399

The Souls Union with Christ · Treatise · Pages 305-399

p. 305Eighthly, The laſt particular that the Spirit brings to the Souls remembrance, or doth or may reveal to it is this; That there are peculiar, near invaluable Engagements upon God himſelf, in reſpect of himſelf, to fulfil thoſe precious Goſpel-Diſcoveries to every Soul that ſhall embrace or accept them. The Lord out of his incomprehenſible wiſdom, hath ſo curiouſly contrived that Goſpel-love to loveleſs Sinners, that he hath ſweetly interwoven his own intereſt with their intereſt: And certainly the Lord hath revealed his own intereſt thus to be in the compleating of his Goſpel-love and mercy to loveleſs Sinners, that ſhall embrace him, on purpoſe to ſecure their wavering, unſtable Spirits, and to ſettle them in a more fulneſs of confidence in Chriſt, that their Spirits might be filled with joy and peace through believing. The engagements that are upon God himſelf, in reſpect of himſelf, to fulfil Goſpel-love and mercy p. 306to Sinners that ſhall embrace him, are divers.

1. The firſt Engagement upon God himſelf, in regard of himſelf, from whence Souls may have ſecurity, is this; That the Lord hath choſen every ſuch particular loveleſs Sinner as ſhall accept of his Goſpel-diſcovery, to be one of his own Family, and his own Houſhold. Hence you ſhall find in Eph. 3.15. That all Believers are called but one Family. And they are called the Houſhold of God, Eph. 2.19. And in Heb. 3.6. The whole Church is called The Houſe of Chriſt. Now what abundant ſecurity may the believing Soul receive concerning fulfilling Goſpel-diſcoveries, from the Spirits bringing to remembrance this Engagement of God in reſpect of himſelf, to fulfil Goſpel-diſcoveries.

1. From hence the Soul may behold through believing, God himſelf to be engaged to remove all Jars, Differences, Breaches and Diſagreements from himſelf and every Soul that ſhall accept thoſe Goſpel-diſcoveries. From thence the Soul may argue ſweetly within his own Spirit, againſt all Objections and Scruples concerning its Rebellion and Diſobedience, and ſay thus, Will not the God of Peace have peace in his own Family, in his own Houſhold?

2. From thence the believing Soul may behold the Lord engaged to compleat and perfect a work of Sanctification in his own Soul, if he will embrace the Goſpel-diſcovery, though he be altogether unclean, though he be polluted in the moſt ſuperlative degree. The Soul may argue within p. 307its own Spirit thus, Seeing every Soul that will embrace Goſpel-diſcoveries, is choſen to be one of the Lords Houſhold, his own Family, ſurely the Lords Family ſhall be all ſutable to himſelf.

3. Thence the Soul may diſcern the Lord to be engaged to communicate all ſutable love and mercy to his poor needy Spirit. The Soul may ſay within it ſelf, Seeing every Soul that ſhall embrace or accept Goſpel-diſcoveries, is choſen to be one of the Lords Family, ſurely there can be no proviſion wanting for the Family of God himſelf.

4. Hence the Soul may diſcern through believing, God to be engaged to accompliſh, perfect and compleat the whole work of Salvation, againſt all impediments whatever, if his Soul will embrace thoſe Goſpel-diſcoveries. The Soul may ſay within it ſelf, Seeing every Soul that will embrace the Goſpel-diſcoveries, is choſen to be of the Family and Houſhold of God, it is beyond the power of Hell and the corrupt heart, to deprive the Lord of any of his own Family.

2. A Second Engagement that is laid upon God in reſpect of himſelf, to fulfil Goſpel-diſcoveries unto loveleſs Sinners embracing him, is, That every particular deſpicable Sinner accepting Goſpel-diſcoveries is choſen by God himſelf to be one of his peculiar Children. According to that in John 1.12. As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the Sons of God. They are called Chriſts Brethren, John 20.17. Now what full compleat Security may every Soul through believing receive from thence!

And here firſt, I ſhall open to you what full Security p. 308Souls may have for the fulfilling every Goſpel-diſcovery to them.

Secondly, What ſecurity they may have of theſe Goſpel-diſcoveries being fulfilled to them, in every caſe that it is poſſible for them to be in, when the Goſpel-diſcovery ſhall come to them.

Firſt, We ſhall ſhew you what ſecurity Souls may have for the fulfilling every Goſpel-diſcovery to them, from the Engagement.

1. From hence the Soul through believing, may diſcern the Lord to be engaged to accept every forlorn Sinner that will accept theſe Goſpel-diſcoveries, into the neareſt union and conjunction of Love that is poſſible,

2. Hence it may behold the Lord engaged to receive its forlorn Soul into that near union of Love, though there is nothing that is amiable in it.

3. Hence it may behold the Lord engaged to communicate all fulneſs of love and mercy that the poor empty Soul ſhall be capable of, if it will accept theſe Goſpel-diſcoveries, If the Soul be choſen to be one of the Lords Children, it is choſen to be an Heir, Rom. 8.17.

4. The Soul may behold the Lord engaged to an everlaſting unchangeable continuance of all love and favour to it in its embracing theſe Goſpel-diſcoveries.

Secondly, Hence the Soul may have a fulneſs of Security for the fulfilling thoſe precious Goſpel-diſcoveries to it, in whatever caſe it is poſſible for any Soul to be in, to whom theſe Goſpel-diſcoveries come.

1. In caſe of deſperate wickedneſs, and great unworthineſs. In this caſe the Soul may have Security, p. 309and behold the Lord engaged in reſpect … himſelf, to fulfil thoſe Goſpel-diſcoveries to it, notwithſtanding his ſuperlative degree of wickedneſs, and higheſt unworthineſs. The Soul may argue thus, Will not a tender-hearted Father accept a poor rebellious Child to Amity, Love and Agreement with himſelf, though he have been rebellious in the higheſt degree?

2. In the caſe of the moſt horrible Temptations. The worſt the Soul can imagine of it ſelf in this caſe, is this; That through ſome accurſed wickedneſs it ſhould wilfully caſt away its own Soul, and join in League and Amity with thoſe infernal powers; and ſuppoſe this, yet from hence the Soul may diſcern the Lord engaged to fulfil all his Goſpel-diſcoveries of love and mercy to his particular Soul in this caſe, if he will accept thoſe Gopel-diſcoveries.

3. Hence it may have Security in the ſaddeſt damps, ſtraitneſs, and deadneſs, and indiſpoſedneſs that ever poſſeſſed any Soul in Prayer. The Soul may ſay, Suppoſe a tender-hearted Father ſhould have a beloved Child that is ſick and diſtempered, that he cannot ſo much as ſpeak to him for ſuccour, but look upon his Fathers face with watery eyes, with ſighs and groans, what thinkeſt thou, O my Soul, would not the deareſt pangs of compaſſion in the Father be working towards the Child?

4. Hence the Soul may have full Security for fulfilling Goſpel-diſcoveries into his boſom, though he be in that doleful ſtate of captivity to an unbelieving heart, void of all ſenſible viſible diſpoſitions in his Spirit. The Soul in this caſe may, and ought p. 310to argue within it ſelf thus; O my Soul, it is true indeed, thou haſt neither power nor diſpoſition in thee, to yield obedience to the precious Command of the ever bleſſed God, who commands thee to accept of love and mercy tendered to thy loveleſs Soul in the Lord Jeſus, but doſt thou think it poſſible that thy want of power to believe, ſhould prevent the Lords acceptance of thee into the boſom of his fatherly affection? Yea, I may add more in this caſe, from this engagement of God to fulfil Goſpel-diſcoveries, the Soul may behold him engaged to contribute believing diſpoſitions.

5. The Soul may have full Security concerning the fulfilling the Goſpel-diſcoveries to it ſelf, though it be in the caſe of ſlavery and vaſſallage to the moſt crooked, untoward, perverſe heart that ever dwelt in any Son or Daughter of Adam. It may thus ſay, O my Soul, is it poſſible for thy crookedneſs to have an influence upon the heart of the immutable unchangeable God, to blot out the Name that is written there from eternity, if thou wilt accept Goſpel-Diſcoveries?

6. The Soul from hence hath full ſecurity of the fulfilling all Goſpel-diſcoveries into his boſom, though it be in the ſaddeſt backſliding caſe from what his Spirit was once allured to, that ever any was guilty of, ſince the firſt Apoſtacy from God in the Loins of Adam. Now may it ſay, O my backſliding Soul, hath not the bleſſed Redeemer of poor loveleſs Sinners, ſaid in Luke 15. That the Bleſſed Father will run to receive ſuch a backſliding wretch as thou art? He will fall on his neck and kiſs him, and call to the Angels to rejoyce at his Return. And then may the Soul add, and p. 311ſhall not he that dwelt in the boſom of the Father from eternity, be credited by thy Soul?

3. A third Engagement upon God the Spirit may or doth remember the Soul of is, That every Soul that will and ſhall embrace the precious Goſpel-diſcoveries, is choſen from eternity into the Order of Royal Prieſthood, whereof Jeſus Chriſt himſelf is Head or High Prieſt. Thence we are ſaid to be Kings and Prieſts unto God, Rev. 16. And to be a Royal Prieſthood, 1 Pet. 2.9. Now from hence the Soul through believing, may diſcern God engaged to fulfill to the uttermoſt all the precious Goſpel-diſcoveries to every Soul that ſhall accept them.

1. Thereby God is engaged by his deareſt love to his own delight and contentment in the miniſtration of all his holy things here below, to make the perſon of every Soul that ſhall accept Goſpel-diſcoveries, to be compleatly acceptable and well pleaſing in his own eyes. The delight of the Lord in every act of his own Worſhip, hath its primary dependence upon the delight that the Lord takes in the Worſhippers, as in Mal. 1.10. Saith the Lord to them, I have no pleaſure in you, neither will I accept an offering at your hand: Their perſons were not amiable in Gods eyes, and therefore their offering could not be acceptable. And ſo it is ſaid, The Lord had reſpect to Abel, and to his Offering: It was through the reſpect the Lord had to Abel's perſon, that he had any reſpect to his Offering. So that now ſeeing the Lord hath predeſtinated every ſuch Soul accepting Goſpel-diſcoveries, to be a Prieſt to miniſter to himſelf in all his holy things, ſhould not the Lord make p. 312the perſon of every ſuch Soul compleatly acceptable in his own eyes, he muſt rob himſelf of all his Contentment and delight he ſhould take in all his holy things here below.

2. Hereby the Lord is engaged by his tender care of preſerving his holy things from pollution, to purifie, cleanſe and ſanctifie the moſt unclean polluted Soul that ſhall accept thoſe Goſpel-diſcoveries. Every approach to God with an uncircumciſed heart, was accounted by God a pollution of his own Sanctuary, Ezek. 44.7. And likewiſe the Lord accounts every approach to himſelf by an unregenerate and unſanctified heart, now in Gopel-times, to be a pollution of any Ordinance whatever that the ſoul maketh his approach to God in. This the Lord typically ſignified to his Church in its minority, in the manner of the conſecrating the Prieſts to himſelf that were to offer thoſe Legal Sacrifices, Lev. 1.6. When Moſes conſecrated Aaron and his Sons, he waſhed them; which ſignified the cleanſing of them from pollutions; the Lord intending to reveal this, that they were only ſanctified, cleanſed, purified hearts, who were ſutable to offer any Spiritual Sacrifice, that ſhould be acceptable in his eyes. Neither muſt you conceive this to be a bare revelation to Souls of what their hearts ought to be in their approach to God; but it is alſo a revelation what the Lord intended they ſhould be, through his mighty power working in their hearts. Now hence the Spirit may give the Soul full ſecurity, concerning the fulfilling Goſpel-diſcoveries to it, in its embracing and accepting them.

p. 3131. When the heart is ſtaggering and wavering, in regard of the want of all holy, enlivened, heavenly diſpoſitions in his Spirit, and finding uncleanneſs and filthineſs. The Spirit may here reveal the Lord to be engaged, that in caſe the polluted unclean heart of his ſhall accept Goſpel-Diſcoveries, it ſhall be ſanctified, cleanſed, purified.

2. When the ſtrength and tyrannizing power of any curſed Luſt is cauſing the Soul to queſtion whether love and mercy revealed for loveleſs ſinners, that will accept it, ſhould be made out to his Soul in his embracing it; The Spirit may here diſcover the Lord as well to be engaged in the Souls reliance upon him, to make him the Object of that love and mercy, to cleanſe his Soul from that curſed pollution, to deliver it from under the tyranny of ſuch a helliſh diſpoſition, as well as to be engaged to make out love and mercy to the Soul in any other kind whatever.

4. A Fourth Engagement the Lord hath laid upon himſelf for the fulfilling Goſpel-diſcoveries, is this; That every Soul accepting thoſe Goſpel-diſcoveries, is the peculiar choſen Veſſel of the Lords moſt ſuperlative mercies and compaſſions. This you may ſee in Rom. 9.23. That he might make known the riches of his Glory on the veſſels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto Glory. You may obſerve that every called Soul, that is, every Soul anſwering thoſe ſweet, Soul-melting invitations of the Goſpel of the Lord Jeſus, is here affirmed to be a Veſſel of mercy prepared by God himſelf from eternity for that very end. Now from hence the Spirit may give abundant ſecurity to the queſtioning p. 314ſcrupulous Soul, of the infallible fulfilling of all the Goſpel-diſcoveries to every Soul that ſhall embrace them.

1. Herein the Spirit may manifeſt the Lord to be engaged by his intire and infinite love, to his own glory and mercy, to redeem and deliver every Soul that is plunged into the moſt bottomleſs depth of ſin and miſery, if he will and ſhall accept thoſe pretious Goſpel-diſcoveries to it. So that the Lord through his own admirable contrivance of his deſign of love towards loveleſs forlorn ſinners, hath ſo intereſted himſelf in the perfecting of that pretious deſign, that he ſtands engaged as ſtrongly and powerfully to give perfect redemption and deliverance to loſt ſinners, that ſhall embrace Goſpel-diſcoveries, as he ſtands engaged to maintain and ſupport the honour of thoſe his glorious Attributes of his own mercy and compaſſion.

Now there are three things wherein the honour of the Lords mercy conſiſts.

Firſt, In the free workings of it towards the moſt miſerable objects, that are the moſt unworthy of any pitty and compaſſion that can be imagined.

Secondly, In the tranſcendency of its operations or motions.

Thirdly, In the infinite Almighty power of its workings, towards ſuch unworthy objects of it. Thats thus, it hath ſuch an Almighty power in it, not only to ſuccour and relieve thoſe periſhing undone ones in their miſery, but alſo to confer the higheſt degree of all happineſs upon them. Now the honour of the Lords mercy and compaſſion conſiſting in this; hence the Lord ſtands engaged by p. 315his deareſt love, to that honour of this his mercy, to give perfect redemption to the Soul, that is plunged in the moſt unfathomed depth of ſin and miſery, if the Soul ſhall and will embrace thoſe Goſpel-diſcoveries.

2. Hence the Spirit may manifeſt the Lord to be engaged, by the inſeperable properties of his Divine nature, to communicate a fulneſs of all mercy and compaſſion, to every Soul accepting thoſe Goſpel-diſcoveries. The Eſſential property of the Divine nature, is to be iſſuing forth the bottomleſs depths of perfection that are included in it, into the boſom of poor needy empty penurious ones. It is as natural to the Divine nature to be communicating of its own perfections, as it is natural for the Sun to ſend forth its own pretious raies: And then this being the very nature of the Eſſence and being of any good, by how much the higher the goodneſs of any thing is, by ſo much the more ſtrongly is it inclined and diſpoſed to the communicating of himſelf: So that goodneſs it ſelf in its perfection, being in the Divine nature; thence it is that it is the inſeparable property of the Divine nature to be communicating all its perfections, ſo far as they are communicable. Now thence the Spirit may cauſe the Soul to conclude, that ſeeing it is the property of the Divine nature to communicate all its perfections, (ſo far as they can be communicable) and alſo ſeeing every Soul embracing Goſpel-diſcoveries, is the proper object to which that perfection of the Lords mercy and compaſſion is to be communicated; thence the Spirit may cauſe the Soul to conclude, that the Lord ſtands engaged by the inſeparable property of his p. 316Divine nature, to make every ſuch Soul accepting Goſpel diſcoveries, to be the object of the higheſt mercy and compaſſion.

Now from hence the Spirit may give the Soul full ſecurity, of the fulfilling the Goſpel diſcoveries into his boſom, whatever objections it is poſſible for the wiſdom of Hell and the corrupt Heart to make againſt it: All the objections that are poſſible to be imagined, by the extract and quinteſſence of all Wiſdom that is enmity againſt God, ſay no more but this concerning the Soul, that it is a miſerable loſt undone Soul: If the Soul objects the ſuperlative height of his own wickedneſs, if I… object the long continuance in its wickedneſs, if it object the wretched contempt of mercy and love tendered, if it object the want of holineſs, the want of every good diſpoſition imaginable; if it object the moſt curſed crookedneſs and enmity of Heart againſt the bleſſed tenders of love, and begin to draw theſe concluſions from theſe premiſes; therefore ſurely Goſpel diſcoveries cannot be fulfilled into my boſom, if I ſhould rely upon the Lord for the fulfilling of them; yet the Soul in all theſe objections ſays but this one thing, I am a poor miſerable deſpicable wretch in the depth of miſery: Now then the Spirit may manifeſt to the Soul, that in its accepting thoſe Goſpel diſcoveries, it ſhall be the proper object of all mercy and compaſſions: So that God ſhall be engaged by the inſeparable property of his own nature, to let out his tranſcendent bowels of mercy and compaſſion, in their freedom of working towards the Soul, ſo as to fill it with the fulneſs of mercy and compaſſion: And thence the Spirit may convince the Soul, p. 317that either he muſt conclude that his finite miſery exceeds the infiniteneſs of the Lords mercies and compaſſions, or elſe the Soul muſt conclude that notwithſtanding all objections that can be imagined, yet in his accepting the Goſpel diſcoveries, they ſhall infallibly be fulfilled to the utmoſt into his boſom.

3. Hereby the Spirit may manifeſt the Lord to be engaged by all his ſweeteſt contentments, his moſt pleaſing delight that he naturally takes, in beholding the workings of his own perfections towards poor imperfect creatures, to ſupply every want that can poſſibly be imagined to be in any Soul. As it is the property of the Lords nature to be diſpenſing of his fulneſs to empty ones; ſo it is the Lords infinite delight to behold thoſe ſtreams of his fulneſs, running down in a ſutable way into their Souls. Now the Spirit may manifeſt the Lord to be engaged, by that his own contentment that he naturally takes in beholding his own perfections communicated unto others, to communicate all ſutable ſuccour, relief, help and comfort, to every ſuch Soul as ſhall embrace thoſe Goſpel diſcoveries.

5. A fifth engagement the Lord hath laid upon himſelf, to fulfill Goſpel diſcoveries is, That every particular Soul that ſhall and will embrace Goſpel diſcoveries, is the peculiar choſen object of the Lords higheſt, moſt unſpeakable, everlaſting delight and contentment. Thence it is that the Word reveals that the Lord taketh ſuch infinite pleaſure in his own, as in Pſal. 147.11. The Lord taketh pleaſure in thoſe that fear him, in thoſe that hope in his mercy: I pray obſerve it, in this is comprehended p. 318every Soul that doth in the loweſt degree embrace Goſpel diſcoveries: This manifeſts that the Soul that doth in the moſt trembling timerous way, but reach out a feeble Hand of hope to lay hold upon that rich mercy tendered in the Lord Jeſus to it, is the object of the Lords pleaſure and contentment, even thoſe Souls that are far from drawing any concluſion, only they caſt out the anchor of hope, and venture their loſt periſhing Souls upon the rock of mercy that is diſcovered in the Lord Jeſus.

1. The Spirit may reveal them to be the object of the higheſt moſt ſuperlative everlaſting delight and contentment; that is, the object of the higheſt delight that God takes in any object out of himſelf: The ſame ſuperlative delight that the Father takes in Jeſus Chriſt as Mediator, he takes in the Soul united to him.

2. Every ſuch Soul is deſtinated to be the object wherein the Lord would as it were concenter together in one, all the bleſſed motions of his own delight and contentment. Jeſus Chriſt myſtically conſidered, that is, conſidered with his Body of holy Angels, and Souls of thoſe that were loſt ſinners united to him, is the very center wherein all the lines of the Lords delight and contentment meet perfectly together in one: Now every Soul embracing Goſpel diſcoveries, being taken into the perfect unity of the myſtical Body, becomes through its union into the myſtical Body, as it were a part of the center wherein all the lines of the delight of God meet together.

There are four kinds of the Lords delight, that every ſuch Soul that embraceth Goſpel diſcoveries, is the choſen object of.

p. 3191. Every ſuch Soul is the choſen object of all the higheſt everlaſting delight of God, that he takes in the letting out his love in its perfection towards any thing without himſelf. The Lords moſt natural peculiar delight is in love, becauſe his Eſſence and being is love. Now every ſuch Soul is the choſen object of the higheſt perfection of love, conſidered as one of that myſtical Body: Hence it is ſaid, Zeph. 3.17. He will rejoyce over thee with joy, he will reſt in his love; that is to ſay, he will take ſatisfaction and contentment to his own Soul in loving of thee; for indeed delight is nothing elſe but love in reſt, as deſire is love in motion.

2. Every ſuch Soul ſo conſidered, is the object of all the moſt ſuperlative delight of God, that he takes in the actual communication of his goodneſs. It is ſo natural for God who is goodneſs it ſelf, to be communicating his goodneſs to others, that his Soul is filled with pleaſure and contentment, in the letting forth of his goodneſs.

3. Every ſuch Soul embracing Goſpel diſcoveries, is the object of all the delights and contentments that the Lord takes in himſelf, in the contemplation of the tranſcendent glory of his own ſupereminent excellency. Now there are no other objects than that myſtical Body of Chriſt, that are the objects of any of the delights of God, that he takes from the contemplation of his own ſuperlative glory, ſeeing his own excellencies that he contemplateth upon, are no other then he communicateth to that myſtical Body; So that all the delight, pleaſure and contentment that the Lord can receive from the pretious views of the brightneſs of his own glory, when he looks out of his p. 320own boſom, it muſt ariſe only from that myſtical Body; and ſo conſequently the myſtical Body, being looked upon but as one, with one ſingle Eye, every Soul in that myſtical Body, may in the ſame ſence be ſaid to be the object of all the delight of God.

4. Every ſuch Soul as ſhall and will accept Goſpel-diſcoveries, is the peculiar object of all the delights and contentments of God, that he takes from the contemplation of the reſult of the myſtical workings of his own wiſdom, in the diſpoſing of all things from the creation of the World, to its final diſſolution. It is the property of God to reflect as it were upon the workings of his own attributes, as he did upon the whole world when he had made it, to behold how good it was, that he might delight himſelf in beholding the workings of his own excellency. Now the Lord only beholds the reſult of the admirable workings of all his attributes, in that myſtical Body of Chriſt: And ſo conſequently the myſtical Body only, is the object of his delight that he takes, in the reſult and iſſue and conſequence of the working of all his attributes. Now the Spirit may and doth reveal from hence, that there are firm engagements laid upon God himſelf, to fulfil whatever the Goſpel diſcovers to every Soul that ſhall embrace him.

I. Hence God is engaged by his expreſs Love to the content and ſatisfaction of his Soul, to let out his Love in the moſt abſolute, compleat, perfect, divine, unſpeakable workings of it, to every loveleſs ſinner, that doth embrace and accept Goſpel-diſcoveries. So that from hence conſequently the Lord ſtands engaged.

p. 321Firſt, To let out his love to work freely with out motive, incentive, or argument inclining his love, to work towards every ſuch Soul embracing Goſpel Diſcoveries. The freedom of the working of his love towards ſouls, is one of the Divine Glorious Perfections of love, and ſhould that be wanting, ſome degree of the Lords own delight and contentment, that he hath reſolved to receive from every ſuch ſoul to himſelf, muſt alſo be wanting.

Secondly, Thence the Lord ſtands engaged to let out his love wonderfully, beyond the comprehenſion of Men and Angels.

Thirdly, Thence he is engaged to let out the Diſcoveries of his love, to ſuch ſouls as ſhall embrace Goſpel Diſcoveries, fully, and compleatly, to the ſatisfaction of the ſoul.

Fourthly, From hence alſo the Lord is engaged to let out his love, to work infinitely without meaſure, to every ſoul that ſhall embrace theſe Goſpel Diſcoveries. The love of God is but God himſelf, and therefore works not according to its perfection, till it works infinitely. Now from hence,

1. Here is full ſecurity that the ſpirit may give any doubting Soul, concerning the fulfilling of the Goſpel Diſcoveries into his boſom, in his embracing of it, when the ſoul doth doubt becauſe of the indiſpoſedneſs of his ſpirit, to any duty that the Lord requires of him, and becauſe of his inability to thoſe duties.

2. Hence the ſpirit may give full ſecurity to the Wavering Unſtable ſoul, who ſtands trembling leaſt he ſhould preſume, in caſting his Forlorn Loveleſs ſoul into thoſe everlaſting arms of Love, becauſe of the abominable Perverſeneſs, and Crookedneſs of his Heart againſt God in all things.

p. 3223. Hence the Spirit may give ſecurity to any wavering Soul, whoſe hands as it were ſhake and quiver, and dare not with any confidence graſp the bleſſed tender of Union and Communion with the Lord through Chriſt, becauſe of his wretched abuſe of the precious working of the Lords love towards him in Chriſt already.

II. Hence alſo the ſpirit may reveal the Lord to be engaged, by the ſame deareſt love to his own delight and ſatisfaction, to diſpoſe every ſoul that ſhall embrace Goſpel Diſcoveries, into a capacity for the injoyment of neereſt, moſt abſolute, intire Communion with himſelf. Under this particular, the Spirit may reveal the Lord to be engaged to theſe three things.

1. To remove all the oppoſition unto Communion with him, that remains in any heart, to Suppreſs, Overpower, yea to Heal all the Crookedneſs, and all the Averſeneſs of any Heart embracing Goſpel Diſcoveries.

2. Hence the ſpirit may reveal the Lord to be engaged to infuſe into the Soul ſuch Diſpoſitions, as ſhall be fully, compleatly ſutable to his own nature, ſo as to make ſo bleſſed a concurrence, between his own pureſt nature, and the Souls Corrupt nature; as that there ſhould be nothing in the nature of God himſelf oppoſite to the Souls Diſpoſition, nor nothing in the Souls Diſpoſition or nature oppoſite unto God.

3. In this the Spirit may reveal the Lord to be engaged to heighten, or elevate and enlarge the faculties of the Soul, that are to receive thoſe Communications and Influences from God. Now what abundant ſecurity may the Spirit give to p. 323any ſoul that trembles to embrace Goſpel Diſcoveries, againſt fears!

1. What ſecurity may the Spirit give to Souls, fearing to give credit to thoſe Goſpel Diſcoveries, becauſe of the Averſeneſs and Contrariety of their Spirits unto Communion with God! Hence the Spirit may ſay to every Soul without exception, that ſhall embrace Goſpel Diſcoveries, it is a choſen object of the higheſt eternal delight of God, in the Communication of his goodneſs.

2. Hence the Spirit may give full ſecurity unto the Soul againſt all fears, becauſe of the Unſtableneſs, and Fickleneſs of his Heart, in any degree of Communion once attained.

3. Hence the ſpirit may give ſecurity fearing that the Goſpel Diſcoveries may not be Graſped and Embraced by the ſoul, becauſe of the Straitneſs and Narrowneſs of his Heart, void of all Thirſtings and Longings, yea of all Deſires. The Spirit may hence declare the Lord to be engaged, by his love to the pleaſure of his own Soul, to enlarge every ſuch Heart to a kind of infinite Capacity for Communion.

III. Thence the Lord is engaged by his infinite Valuation and Eſtimation of the delightful Contemplation of his own Tranſcendent Excellencies (as they ſparkle forth from the creatures) to effect the neereſt, moſt intire Union of likeneſs that is poſſible, between himſelf and every ſuch Sinner that ſhall embrace Goſpel Diſcoveries. The Lord ſtands engaged by this, to make every ſuch Soul a Partaker of his own ſpotleſs Purity, and Holineſs, yea to make it Participate of his Divine Nature, of his own life, ſo as the ſame life that dwells in himſelf, and that p. 324himſelf lives by, ſhould alſo dwell in every ſuch Sinful Soul embracing thoſe Goſpel Diſcoveries. Nay the Engagement is ſo Invincible, that if the Lord ſhould not Communicate the higheſt degree of his Communicable Perfection to every ſuch Loveleſs Forlorn Sinner, as ſhall and will embrace Goſpel Diſcoveries, he ſhould bereave himſelf of that ſweeteſt Pleaſure and Contentment, that his Soul takes in the Contemplation of the Beams of his own Glory, ſeeing every ſuch Soul is the choſen object, in whom the Lord determins from eternity to delight himſelf, by the ſparkling forth of his own Glory through it.

VI. A ſixth Engagement that God hath laid upon himſelf to fulfil Goſpel Diſcoveries is this, That every unlovely Sinner that ſhall embrace them is prepared from Eternity by the Lords infinite Wiſdom, to be an Orient bright ſhining Pearl in the all beautiful Crown of the Lords accidental Glory. Miſtake me not, the mighty Sun of the Lords infinite eſſential Glory, cannot admit either of Augmentation or Diminution, I mean, either of Leſſening or Increaſing its Tranſcendent Brightneſs: But the Lords accidental Glory, that is to ſay, the manifeſtation and Diſcovery of thoſe precious Beams of his eſſential Glory, may and do admit of Eclipſes and Overſhadowings, and alſo of an increaſe and augmentation in their Brightneſs and Excellency. Now every Forlorn Soul that ſhall embrace Goſpel Diſcoveries, is laid as it were as a precious Golden Thred, in that rich Broidered Robe of that Glory, that the King of Heaven Cloaths himſelf with, to make himſelf Glorious in the eyes of Saints and Angels. This is clearly manifeſted in Iſa. 43.6, 7, if you compare it with p. 325John 1.12, Bring forth my Sons and Daughters, ſaith God, whom I have Created for my Glory; Now they are only thoſe that receive the Lord Jeſus tendred in the Goſpel; To as many as received him, even to them that believe in him, to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God. And hence you ſhall obſerve, that the people of God are not only ſaid to be Created for his Glory, but they are called his glory, Iſa. 46.13. Nay more, they are called the Crown of the Lords Glory, Iſa. 62.3. Nay further the Lord looks upon them as his Ornament, Ezek. 7.10. And hence alſo they are called the Portion of God, Jer. 12.10. Yea hence the Scripture declares the Saints in Heaven to ſhine as the Stars in the Firmament, Dan. 12.3. In regard they ſhall be very Bright Shining Pearls that ſhall ſtand in the Crown of the Lords Honour. Now there are three reſpects, wherein every ſuch Unlovely Sinner embracing Goſpel Diſcoveries is one of the ſet Pearls that ſhine forth in the Crown of the Lords Glory.

1. In regard the All beautiful Unparalleld Crown of the ſuper added Honour of the Lord Jeſus, is Compoſed of all thoſe Souls that ſhall embrace thoſe Goſpel Diſcoveries. Thence it is, that ſuch Goſpel Embraces are called the Glory of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 8.23. And thence it is that the Church (which is the Company of thoſe) is called the fulneſs of Chriſt. Eph. 1.23. Now the Honour of Jeſus Chriſt, through the perfect Unity between the Father and the Son, is alſo the Fathers Honour; and ſo conſequently every ſuch Soul being one of thoſe Beautiful Flowers in the Garland of Chriſts Honour, he becomes alſo one of thoſe rich Diamonds wherewith the Crown of the Fathers Glory is richly beſet. According to that in p. 3261 Cor. 3.22, 23. where the whole Glory that Jeſus Chriſt attains as he is Mediatour, is revealed to be Terminated and ended in the Fathers Glory. [All is yours] That is, all things are finally for your ſakes; Or rather all things have a natural tendency through the Everlaſting Decree of God, unto your good. And [ye are Chriſts] That is, and all you by vertue of the ſame Decree, have a natural tendency to all the good you attain unto, the good of Jeſus Chriſt: All the Glory that is put upon you, hath a natural tendency unto the Glory of Jeſus Chriſt, to make up the perfection of his Glory. And then obſerve, and ſaith he [Chriſt is Gods] That is, all the Good, the Glory, the Honour that Jeſus Chriſt attains, through his being the Center wherein all your good meets all that meets in the Father; that is all his Honour tends only to the exalting of the Fathers Honour.

2. In regard the brighteſt Beams of the Fathers eſſential Glory are manifeſt in every ſuch Soul. The Lord from before the Foundations of the World were laid, made choice of thoſe Souls to be as ſo many Chriſtal Glaſſes, through which the Beams of his Incomprehenſible Eſſential Glory ſhould ſhine forth.

Firſt, In every ſuch Soul is manifeſt, the infinite Unſearchable depths of the Fathers Divine Wiſdom. The manner of the Fathers Diſpoſing of thoſe ſouls, to ſuffer them by the free working of their own Wills to loſe themſelves, and bring themſelves under the Power of everlaſting Wrath and Indignation, and then his Wiſdom in contriving a way to ſave the Honour of his own Juſtice, and the Redemption of thoſe Poor, Loſt, Periſhing Souls, ſo wonderfully, to make the Honour of Mercy and Love and Juſtice to p. 327meet together in one, to make Mercy and Juſtice kiſs each other, is that which will be the matter of Admiration to all thoſe Inhabitants of the Sacred Palace of Heaven to all Eternity.

Secondly, The Brighteſt Beams of his unſpeakable, unconceivable love appear, and are manifeſted to every ſuch Soul. The higheſt perfection of Love that ever the Lord manifeſted, is in Loving ſuch Unlovely, Forlorn, Loathſome Souls as theſe, and that alſo while he Rejected and Diſregarded Creatures far more Glorious according to their firſt Creation.

Thirdly, The Almighty Power of the Lord is alſo Gloriouſly manifeſted in every ſuch Soul, in that he ſhould create anew thoſe Loveleſs Sinners that were oppoſite to their own new Creation, I mean their own Regeneration. Therein indeed did Power appear, in that the Lord did raiſe the Soul from the loweſt degree of Enmity, into the neereſt Union with himſelf, and that againſt all the Oppoſitions that Hell can make, and againſt all the Powers of the Soul it ſelf, when both concur together againſt God.

Fourthly, The Glorious Independency of the Lords Will, in all the Motions and Operations of it, is manifeſted abundantly in every ſuch ſoul. The Freedom of the Lord in all his ways, doth not ſhine forth ſo clearly in any of the Works of God, as in that Pretious Myſtery of his Election, in making of the ſame lump one Veſſel to Honour, and another to Diſhonour, there being no Engagements, no Motives to incline his Pretious Will either this way or that way.

3. Every ſuch Soul is a ſet ſhining Diamond in the Crown of the Lords Honour, In regard it is deſtinated from Eternity, to ſtand as a conſtant clear Chriſtal p. 328Glaſs, through which the Lord would manifeſt the Tranſcendency of his own perfection unto all Eternity. And it is through thoſe Communications of the Father unto the Soul, that the Fathers Glory is diſcovered, and thence it is that the Brightneſs of the Fathers Glory ſhall be ſhining forth Reſplendently unto all Eternity in every ſuch Soul. Now we are to conſider what full ſecurity the Spirit may give from hence to every ſuch Soul, concerning the Infallible fulfilling of all Goſpel Diſcoveries to the utmoſt, into its Boſom that ſhall embrace them.

1. From thence the Spirit may reveal to the Soul, that the Lord ſtands engaged by the Inſeparable Diſpoſition of his own nature, (which naturally tends to his own Glory) to Compleat and Perfect an Union between the Lord Jeſus, and every Loveleſs Sinner that ſhall embrace Goſpel Diſcoveries. The Crown of the Fathers Glory being but the Iſſue and Reſult of the Glory of the Lord Jeſus, and then the Glory of Chriſt having its full and ſole Dependance upon the compleat Union of all thoſe with himſelf, that ſhall embrace the Goſpel, thence the Father ſtands engaged to Perfect and Compleat that Union between Chriſt and all thoſe Souls, ſeeing his natural Diſpoſition doth neceſſarily incline him, to be compleating the Crown of his own Glory.

2. The ſpirit may reveal to the Soul, that the Lord ſtands engaged by the property of his own precious Nature, to Love Compleatly and Perfectly every Goſpel Embracer, without the leaſt Dependance upon any thing in the Soul, or any thing to be done by the Soul. Now what abundant ſecurity may every Soul, Trembling and Fearing leaſt the Lord p. 329ſhould not be willing to accept it into Union and Communion with himſelf, receive from hence againſt all his fears!

3. From this conſideration the Lord ſtands engaged, by all his tender reſpects to the bright Shining Splendor of his own Imperial Crown to Beautify and Adorn every Forlorn Sinner Embracing Goſpel Diſcoveries, with the moſt Gliſtering Beams of his own Matchleſs Perfection, that can be comprehended by any Finite Creature. Now Goſpel Embraces being choſen by the Lord from Eternity, to be the precious matter whereof he will Compoſe that his everlaſting Crown of Glory, whereby his Honour and Majeſty ſhould Glitter forth before the eyes of Saints and Angels, brighter than ten Thouſand Suns in their Strength; Thence if every Goſpel Embracer ſhall not be Beautified and adorned with the moſt Sparkling touch of Perfection that they are Capable of, the Bleſſed Majeſty of Heaven ſhould become negligent of Dignifying himſelf with the Brightneſs of Majeſty and Honour, through the Tranſparent Brightneſs of his Imperial Crown of Glory. And therefore according to this,

1. The Scripture reveals, that the Celeſtial Glory and Surpaſſing Excellency, wherewith every Goſpel Embracer ſhall be Adorned and Beautified, doth Tranſcend and go beyond all Comprehenſion of Finite Brains and Created Underſtandings: According to that in 1 Cor. 2.9. Eye hath not ſeen, nor Ear heard, neither hath it entred into the Heart of Man, the things which God hath prepared for thoſe that love him: Mark what the Apoſtle affirms; He affirms that the Sublime Myſterious Workings of Heavenly Wiſdom about Goſpel Embracers, was never Comprehended p. 330yet with any finite brain by any mortal heart: and O how infinitely unconceivable then are the workings of that heavenly wiſdom in themſelves! Alas what the Goſpel reveals of them, is but like a ſmall reflection of the Sun beams to the Sun it ſelf, It is but a ſmall grain to a golden Mine, it is but a drop of the bucket to the great Ocean: O then how great an exaltation of ſuch unlovely Sinners to moſt ſuperlative perfection and unconceivable glory, muſt needs be the effect of ſuch a depth of heavenly divine wiſdom being imployed about them from eternity! This depth of the myſtery of divine wiſdom about Goſpel embracers was never fathomed by Angelical Underſtandings, 1 Pet. 1.12. which things the Angels deſire to look into, ſaith the Original foreign Into which things the Angels earneſtly with all their ſtrength and intention of mind deſire to look into: The word ſignifies ſuch a looking into things, as to ſtoop down with the head, and bow down with the body, that it might be the thing it looks upon to diſcern it fully. It is the ſame word the Apoſtle uſeth, John 20.11. concerning Mary Magdalen, ſhe ſtooped down and lookked into the Sepulchre, that ſhe might ſee narrowly into the thing.

(2.) The Scripture reveals more particularly, that moſt unconceivable perfection, moſt celeſtial glory, ſhall be put upon the perſons of Goſpel-embracers in every part, power and faculty that belongs to them.

I. According to this Engagement of God, he reſolves that the very bodies of Goſpel-embracers ſhall be beautified, and indued with moſt tranſcendent, bright, ſhining glory, with almoſt incomparable perfection. That one Scripture is enough to clear it out, p. 331Phil. 3.21. He ſhall change our vile body, that it may be faſhioned like unto his glorious body. O how did the quinteſſence of all perfection meet together in the glorious body of Chriſt! You may remember in the Transfiguration of Chriſt, which was but a glimpſe of his beauty and glory, the hearts of Peter and John were amazed, their Souls were raviſhed to behold it, they were tranſported beyond themſelves, and began to cry out, let us make Tabernacles, Let us dwell here to behold this Glory for ever: But how much more tranſcendently excellent is the Glory of the Body of Jeſus Chriſt, now he is exalted to all Glory! And yet the Bodies of Goſpel Embracers muſt be like his Glorious Body.

1. All Privative Perfection ſhall be put upon them. An everlaſting Exemption and perfect Freedom from all Defects and Imperfections, all Infirmities and Deformities, all Pains, Perplexities, Miniſtries, ſo as there ſhall be no neceſſity of the Aid and Aſſiſtance of their fellow Creatures, to ſupport and uphold, to relieve and Refreſh them as there is here below, but their Bodies ſhall be like Angels. Mat. 22.30.

2. The Scripture reveals that there ſhall be moſt admirable Poſitive Perfection put upon them; Immortality it ſelf: their lives ſhall be extended to duration, equal with the Life of the eternal God, they ſhall run Parallel with the Life of God in the longeſt lines of Eternity. 1 Cor. 15.54. This mortal ſhall put on immortality.

3. They ſhall be indued with Incorruptibleneſs. They ſhall in a manner be made impaſſive, not being made capable of any paſſion, by any corrupt quality. 1 Cor. 15.42. It is Sown in Corruption, it is Raiſed in Incorruption.

p. 3324. They ſhall be indued with almoſt Incredible Angelical Power, Potency, Might and Strength. They ſhall be made every way ſutable to the deſire of the Souls themſelves, and made ſutable for he Soul to act in the higheſt way, in the moſt Sublime way of Operation, without Wearineſs, without Interruption, without Intermiſſion, They ſhall be able to bear the infinite weight of Glory, the leaſt drop whereof they are not able to bear for the preſent.

5. The body ſhall be indued with moſt excellent ſpirituality. 1 Cor. 15.44. It is Sown a Natural Body, it is Raiſed a Spiritual Body: They ſhall not be turned into ſpirits, but the Body ſhall be made ſo ſpiritual, through the fulneſs of the ſpirit in it, that it ſhall be as ready to the Bleſſed Will of God in every thing, as the ſoul it ſelf that ſhall be purely Holy: And alſo it ſhall have a Wonderful Nimbleneſs, and Agility, and Activeneſs, to be able at the ſouls deſire, to move hither or thither with moſt Incredible ſpeed.

6. The Scripture reveals, the very Perfection and Quinteſſence of Beauty it ſelf, ſhall be put upon the Vileſt of the Bodies of the Goſpel Embracers. 1 Cor. 15.43. It is Sown in Diſhonour, it is Raiſed in Glory, it is Sown in Weakneſs, it is Raiſed in Power: There ſhall be the exacteſt Form and Feature, the Perfection of Comlineſs and ſweet Proportion, a moſt admirable Congruent Symmetry of all the parts, there ſhall be the ſweeteſt pleaſing mixture of the lovelieſt Colour of Red and White, there ſhall be a continual actuating to the Life both theſe Colours and Parts, ſo as they ſhall be Preſerved in a perpetual Orient Freſhneſs; yea the Materials of Beauty, through the Unſpeakable Chearfulneſs of the Heart p. 333within, and through the admirable excellency that the Soul ſhall be raiſed to, ſhall be ſo actuated to the very Life, that the very Beauty of the Body ſhall Sparkle and Glitter, as Bright as the Brighteſt Gliſtering Beam of the Sun in the Firmament, Dan. 12.3.

II. The Scripture reveals the higheſt perfection to be put upon their Souls. It were a work infinite and endleſs to ſearch into the various, glorious excellency and faculties, wherewith every Soul embracing Goſpel-Diſcoveries ſhall be endued: Our capacities are narrow here concerning the Soul, we know little of it and of its Original, yet thus much we may affirm of it from the Scripture, that every faculty of the Soul ſhall be adorned with the moſt ſuitable perfection and excellency that it is capable of: The underſtanding ſhall be extraordinarily and ſupernaturally irradiated with the higheſt illumination, the largeſt comprehenſion: The Will ſhall be extended to the moſt perfect operation towards God himſelf, all the motions of it working in their perfection terminatively upon God alone, which indeed is the very perfection of holineſs: So as the height of the Souls perfection ſhall be every way anſwerable, and proportioned to the ſuperexcellent glory, wherewith their bodies ſhall be indued and adorned.

III. From what the Scripture reveals concerning the beautifying the body with ſuch high perfections, and the beautifying of the Soul alſo, I may add a word by conſequence: That a moſt admirable, unſpeakable glory, ſhall appear in the perſons of thoſe Goſpel-embracers, when a body filled with ſuch perfection, and a ſoul raiſed in a manner infinitely higher, ſhall be united into one, to make up one perſon: O what p. 334Honour and Majeſty will ſhine from the very countenance of ſuch a Perſon! When Stephen ſtood before the Face of the Councel, through a ſweet Viſion of Heaven opened, his Countenance appeared like the Face of an Angel: But O what Beams of Majeſty, Honour, Beauty, and Glory, will Glitter from the Perſons of Goſpel Embracers, when they ſhall be Inhabitants in the Palace of Heaven it ſelf! Now all this admirable Perfection, wherewith every Sinner Embracing Goſpel Diſcoveries ſhall thus be Cloathed, is but the Effect and Conſequence of the Pretious, Eternal Determination of God, to make every Unlovely Sinner Embracing Goſpel Diſcoveries, to be as one of the Diamonds that ſhould ſtand to glitter in the Crown of his own Glory.

7. There is a Seventh Ingagement, that the Spirit alſo may reveal the Lord to have laid upon himſelf, in reſpect of himſelf, to fulfill all Goſpel-diſcoveries into the boſom of every unlovely Sinner that ſhall embrace him, and that is this; every ſuch unlovely ſinner, that ſhall and will accept the Goſpel-Diſcovery, is choſen from Eternity to be a Royal Inhabitant of the Sacred Palace of the Empyrean Heaven, there to attend the Majeſty of Heaven perpetually, to behold the Brightneſs of his Glory and Majeſty. When the Lord who from Eternity ſubſiſted only in himſelf, did pleaſe from the Motions of his own Will alone to create a World, to be a goodly Theatre wherein he would manifeſt his Power, Bounty, Goodneſs, and Love, then did that Bleſſed Majeſty pleaſe to Compoſe on purpoſe that Vaſt Empyrean Heaven, and to Beautify, and Adorn it with the moſt Exquiſite Excellency, and Tranſcendent Glory, to make it ſhine with the Brighteſt Beams of p. 335Majeſty and Glory, that it might be a Sacred Palace for himſelf, wherein he reſolves to Communicate himſelf moſt Beatifically, to the Nobleſt Creatures, Elect Saints and Angels, and wherein he purpoſeth to diſcover the moſt Tranſparent Beams of his unſpeakable Majeſty and Glory that ever Creature ſhould behold: Now in like manner the Lord alſo determined, that every of the Souls of Mankind, (whom he foreſaw ſhould fall into a periſhing loſt condition) accepting union and Communion with himſelf, ſhould be one of his Houſhould Servants, admitted into his Bleſſed Preſence-Chamber, in whom he would delight himſelf, by Revealing his Incomprehenſible Glory. Hence it is that you ſhall find in Scripture, that the Kingdom is ſaid to be given to thoſe Goſpel Embracers. Luke 12.32. And hence it is that the Saints are ſaid to have an Inheritance Incorruptible, that Fadeth not away, 1 Pet. 3, 4. And hence it is alſo that every Goſpel Embracer is ſaid to be an Heir of Heaven, Rom. 8.17, And Heirs of a Kingdom. Jam. 2.5. All theſe Scriptures Compared together, abundantly evidence, that every ſuch Goſpel Embracer, is choſen to be a Royal Inhabitant of the Sacred Palace of the Empyrean Heaven. Now that they are choſen to dwell there on purpoſe, that they might attend, and behold the Beauty of his own Majeſty and Glory, this is abundantly evidenced from many Scriptures; Chriſt himſelf ſpeaks it in John 17.24. Father I will that they whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my Glory which thou haſt given me. Now the Glory of Jeſus Chriſt is ſo Interwoven with the Glory of the Father, that they cannot be the Beholders of the Glory of Chriſt, except they p. 336be alſo Beholders of the Glory of God the Father. And again in that 1 John 3.8. Now we are the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be, but we know that when he appears, we ſhall be like him, for we ſhall ſee him as he is. So that from theſe Scriptures joyntly conſidered, we may conclude,

I. That every Goſpel Embracer is choſen, to behold the Brightneſs of his Majeſty and Glory, by beholding the Divine Eſſence it ſelf.

1. He is choſen to behold the Bleſſed ſweet Simplicity, and Indiviſible Unity of the Godhead. To diſcern the Lord, and to ſee him to be as one moſt Pure Simple Act.

2. Every Goſpel Embracer is choſen to behold the Sacred, and Secret Myſtery of the Holy Trinity. To behold that one Indiviſible Eſſence of God, conſiſting in three manner of ways; To ſee three Subſiſtences and but the ſame Eſſence.

3. Every ſuch Soul is choſen to behold the Eminency of the Divine Eſſence. They are choſen to behold a Tranſcendency of all Imaginable Perfection that ever their eyes beheld, to be Compriſed in that one Divine Eſſence with abſolute Perfection.

4. They are choſen to behold the Divine Eſſence, in all its moſt Glorious Operations. They are choſen to be admitted into the Preſence-Chamber of the Divine Majeſty, ſo as to behold all the Records of Heaven.

II. Every ſuch Soul is choſen perpetually to behold the Brightneſs of his Majeſty and Glory, in Beholding the Glory of Jeſus Chriſt as Mediatour.

p. 3371. They are choſen to behold the admirable Myſtery, of the Union of the Divine Perſon to the Humane Nature. That which is now an Inexplicable Myſtery to the Believers Eye, ſhall then by Gods chooſing them to behold his Glory, be Diſcerned.

2. It is choſen to behold all the bright Beams of Glory, that appear in the Myſtical Union of ſo many Loſt, Rebellious, Sinking, Periſhing Souls, to the Lord as to one Head.

3. Every ſuch Soul is choſen to behold the Tranſcendent Perfection of the Secret Love of the Lord Jeſus, to ſuch Unlovely Sinners, while they were altogether Loveleſs, while they were altogether Abominable, matter of Loathing to his pure Eyes.

III. Every ſuch Soul is choſen from Eternity, to attend upon the Royal Majeſty of Heaven in his Sacred Palace, that they may behold his Glory in the Brighteſt manner.

1. He is choſen to behold thoſe bright Beams of Majeſty and Glory, in a poſitive way.

2. It is choſen to behold the Beams of his Tranſcendent Majeſty and Glory in an immediate way. There will be no need of Speeches to Repreſent the Lord to our Underſtandings, as there is now.

3. It is choſe to behold the Brightneſs of the Lords Majeſty and Glory, in a Simple Pure way. Not relatively, or by Relations, as Goſpel Embracers for preſent behold the Light of the Lords Glory: As when we conceive of the Glory of the Majeſty of Heaven, we conceive of him as the moſt abſolute Monarch of Heaven and Earth, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; This is but Relation, but p. 338we ſhall then ſee the Lord in a ſutable way, even as he is.

4. It is choſen to behold them fully. Not to behold the Reflection only, but the Sun it ſelf of Glory.

5. It is choſen to behold them everlaſtingly. Hence the Soul may diſcern God to be engaged, by his higheſt Relation of his own Eternal Contentment, to perfect both Union and Communion, between himſelf and every Unlovely Sinner, that ſhall and will accept Goſpel Diſcoveries, ſeeing every ſuch Soul as ſhall accept Goſpel Diſcoveries, is Deſigned by himſelf from Eternity, to be one of his Royal Attendants in his Sacred Palace, that ſhould behold the Brightneſs of his Majeſty and Glory.

Now before I can paſs from this ſecond work of the Spirit upon Souls; There are Five or Six things that every Soul of us muſt remember, leaſt we misunderſtand the manner of the Spirits irradiating the Goſpel unto Souls.

I. We muſt obſerve, That the Spirit of the Lord doth in a different manner, cauſe theſe Glorious Beams of Divine light, to ſhine forth from the promiſe into dark Souls. The Spirit in this Bleſſed work of Irradiation of the Goſpel unto dark Souls, doth to ſome reveal only ſome of thoſe Pretious Soul Raviſhing Beams of Light, that you have heard opened; To others he cauſeth more abundance of thoſe Pretious Beams of Light, to ſhine into the heart: And from hence, various Souls have various Degrees of this aſſurance of Faith, and various Degrees of Joy and Peace ſlowing forth from that aſſurance of Faith.

p. 339II. You muſt alſo obſerve concerning this work of Irradiation of the Goſpel, That the Spirit doth manifeſt thoſe Beams of Divine Light from the Goſpel, in different Degrees of Clearneſs unto Souls.

III. You muſt alſo obſerve, that the Lord doth in a different degree continue the manifeſtation, and Irradiation of the Promiſe or of the Goſpel unto different ſouls. I ſpeak ſtill of thoſe ſouls that do receive through the ſpirits Irradiation of the Goſpel, ſome aſſurance unto their Faith of their union with Chriſt.

IV. You muſt alſo underſtand, that the ſpirit doth reveal the ſubſtance of all this Heavenly Light, the Sum and Compendium of all that you have heard, and cauſe it to ſhine into ſouls from the promiſe. This the ſpirit doth cauſe to ſhine into every ſoul, that attains unto any degree of aſſurance of Faith: Though the ſpirit works variouſly, in regard of the clearneſs of revealing what it doth reveal, and variouſly in regard of the time and continuance of its manifeſtation of that Heavenly Light unto ſouls, yet thoſe pretious Beams of Heavenly Light, that the ſpirit cauſeth to Glitter forth from the promiſes unto ſouls, are of neceſſity to be revealed unto every ſoul that attains unto any aſſurance of Faith.

V. We muſt obſerve, that the ſpirit of the Lord doth out of his own infinite Wiſdom, ſelect the particular truth of the Goſpel, whereby he will aſſure any particular ſoul of his union with Chriſt. Though thoſe particular Beams of Divine Light mentioned, be in the ſubſtance revealed to the Faith of every ſoul to whom the ſpirit gives union, yet the particular wherein the ſpirit makes the Brightneſs, the Glory, the Luſtre, the ſatisfying and Over-powering Glory p. 340of thoſe Beams of light to appear to the ſouls eye, theſe are ſelected by the Wiſdom of the ſpirit it ſelf, though it is but the ſubſtance alſo, or the effect of thoſe particulars, whereby we have revealed thoſe Beams of Divine Light to you.

VI. You muſt obſerve, that the ſpirit doth reveal or manifeſt, all the bright ſhining of Divine Light from the promiſe, at one and the ſame moment to the ſoul, when it draws forth the ſouls Faith unto acts of aſſurance. The ſpirit may be Inſtructing the dark ſoul many Years, in the Pretious Myſtery of the Goſpel of Chriſt, before it raiſeth the ſouls Faith unto aſſuring acts, and may be increaſing the ſtrength of the ſouls confidence gradually, in every Ordinance in all thoſe years; But yet wherever the ſpirit draws out the God believing Diſpoſitions, that it hath infuſed into any ſouls, to act by way of fulneſs of confidence, then the ſpirit preſents all this Pretious Light of the Goſpel at once, and gives the ſoul one Glorious view of it.

Thirdly the ſpirit of the Lord proceeds from Illumination of the ſoul, and Irradiation of the Goſpel to the ſoul, to Conviction.The Spirits Conviction of the Conſcience. From the Powerful Efficacy of that Divine light, infuſed into the underſtanding, and the Precious Concurrence of the ſweeteſt light of manifeſtation of the Goſpel unto the Light Inherent, ariſeth a Powerful Inward Conviction of the Conſcience: According to that in John 16.9, 10. The Spirit ſhall reprove, and convince the World of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment: It ſhall [Convince the World of Righteouſneſs,] that is, of free Juſtification of Deſpicable, Forlorn, Guilty Sinners, through p. 341the Lord Jeſus alone. This Conviction of the ſoul or of the Conſcience, it is a clear Unqueſtionable, and Infallible Demonſtration, given by the ſpirit to the doubtful ſoul, of the Lords Will, that even that his particular Forlorn, Worthleſs, Stubborn ſoul, ſhall be received into the neareſt union with himſelf in Chriſt. Or rather it is a Commanding Power of the Spirit of God, exerciſed upon the ſoul, whereby it conſtrains it to receive that clear Infallible Demonſtration, that the Bleſſed Word of God gives of the Lords Will to receive his Stubborn, Rebellious, Unworthy Soul, into union with the Lord Jeſus. Indeed by the Spirits Illumination, and the manifeſtation of the Goſpel to the Soul, there is a moſt Unqueſtionable Demonſtration given, of the Lords Will to accept any one particular ſoul to be one with him, if he will accept him: but in the Work of Conviction is moſt properly the Mighty Overpowring work of the ſpirit upon the Mind and Conſcience, conſtraining it to receive the Demonſtration. Conviction is properly the ſilencing all Cavils, Doubts, of Contradictions of the mind, againſt any truth propounded, and a making of it undenyable to it, that it dare not make any objection, or raiſe any one Cavil more, to what the Lord propounded to his particular Loveleſs ſoul, but to ſit down ſatisfied, and confeſs the truth of what the Lord propounded to him, to confeſs that it is the Will of the Bleſſed God indeed, that it ſhould be one with himſelf in the Lord Jeſus, and enjoy everlaſting Communion with him. There is a neceſſity of the Spirits thus convincing the Soul, beſides its Illumination and its Irradiration of the Goſpel to it, and that in two reſpects.

p. 342Firſt in reſpect of the Mind, or Underſtanding.

And Secondly in reſpect of the Conſcience.

Firſt, In reſpect of the mind. The Power of Corruption hath ſo Captivated the Mind and Underſtanding, that both the Illumination of it, and Irradiation of the Goſpel unto the mind would be Ineffectual, ſhould not the ſpirit ſtrike in to make up the ſouls Conviction. There is a four fold Diſpoſition in the Mind, that doth cauſe a kind of neceſſity of this Conviction of the ſpirit, beſides the Irradiation of the Goſpel to the Mind.

I. There is a Wretched Unteachableneſs, that naturally poſſeſſeth all our Minds. There is not only Darkneſs poſſeſſing the mind, but an oppoſition againſt the receiving Light. Now in reſpect of this Diſpoſition of our minds naturally, we are unapt to receive any thing the ſpirit reveals, ſhould there not be a further Power and Efficacy of the ſpirit upon the Heart.

II. There is a moſt Superlative incredulity that remains in our minds. The God of the World hath blinded the mind. 2 Cor. 4.4, not by a privative extinction of Light infuſed (that is beyond the Devils Power) but by a poſitive darkneſs, a poſitive Ignorance, by perſwading the minds of all to believe other Principles, ſuch as contradict thoſe bleſſed Principles of Divine Truth. Now in reſpect of this Incredulity that poſſeſſes our Minds, there is a neceſſity that the Spirit ſhould have a further work upon the ſoul than bare Illumination, and Manifeſtation of the Goſpel to the ſoul.

p. 343III. There is an Indiſpoſition in our Minds, to receive any thing that they cannot Comprehend. Now all the Glorious Diſcoveries in that Myſtery of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt being Incomprehenſible, thence the mind would receive none of thoſe Pretious Diſcoveries, though the Spirit did Irradiate the Goſpel of the Lord Jeſus to it, if another Mighty Power of the Spirit ſhould not come in upon the Heart, to Convince the Soul of it.

IV. There is an abſolute Enmity in the mind againſt thoſe Divine Truths. Rom. 8.7. The Carnal Mind is Enmity againſt God. Now this Curſed Enmity dwelling in the Unregenerate part, makes its conſtant Oppoſition with all its Power and Strength, againſt all that the Spirit reveals; And ſo all the Pretious Diſcoveries of the Goſpel of the Lord Jeſus to the Mind would be ineffectual, ſhould not another Mighty Power of the Spirit come in to Conquer the Curſed Enmity, and to Conſtrain the Soul to receive thoſe Demonſtrations of the Will of God, to receive the Loveleſs Soul into union with himſelf as a thing undenyable.

Secondly there is a neceſſity of it in regard of the Conſcience alſo.

The Conſcience is a Regiſter, Might and Power, placed by the Lord in the Underſtanding,What Conſcience is. to record all the Motions of the whole Man, and to Diſcover the Equity or Iniquity of them, and to determine of them either with the Soul, or againſt the Soul. Now the Conſcience is alſo ſo Corrupted, that there is a neceſſity of this Conviction of the Spirit, beſides this Illumination and Irradiation, for the mind and Conſcience is defiled, Titus 1.15.

p. 344Now there are two that are the moſt eminent Works of Conſcience.

I. To Diſcover the Equity or Iniquity of any thing Propounded to the Soul to be done, or of any thing that is done by the Soul. Now in this the Conſcience is dreadfully Corrupt, here the Conſcience calls Iniquity Equity, and Equity Iniquity, calls Good Evil, and Evil Good, naturally in a great meaſure. Now thence there is neceſſity of this Conviction of the Spirit alſo, in regard the Conſcience will never determine that it is good for the Soul, to receive thoſe Pretious Diſcoveries of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt to it, unleſs the Spirit Overpowers the Corrupted Conſcience, and Convince it of the Equity of receiving it.

II. The ſecond act of Conſcience is, to determine of any thing that is already done by the Soul. Its work is to Accuſe, and Excuſe the Soul, both in its doing of things, and after the doing of them. Now Conſcience is ſo dreadfully Corrupt naturally, that like a Corrupt Judge, or a Bribed Judge, it accuſeth when it ſhould Excuſe, and Excuſeth when it ſhould Accuſe, it Frees the Guilty, and Condemns the Innocent. Now in reſpect of this Corruption of the Conſcience, though the Spirit of the Lord doth Illuminate the Soul in part (for its never higher) and then preſent the Goſpel to the Enlightned Underſtanding, and gives clear Manifeſtations of the Lords Will, to admit the Soul into Union with himſelf in Chriſt; yet the Corrupt Conſcience will never determine with the ſoul, to Excuſe the Soul in receiving thoſe Pretious Diſcoveries of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt to it, but would and will perpetually Accuſe the Soul as a Preſumptuous Wretch, unleſs the Spirit p. 345of God ſhould exerciſe this Convincing Power upon the Conſcience, even after the work of the Irradiation of the Goſpel to the Soul. So that this work of the Spirit in Conviction, draws clear unqueſtionable Demonſtrations for the ſoul from the Goſpel, to prove that it is an Infallible certainty, that it is the Lords Will to accept that Particular Deſpicable, Forlorn Sinner to be one with him; and it conſiſts alſo in the Commanding Power of the Spirit of God upon the Determination, whereby it ſilenceth all Cavillings of the Soul, and puts a Holy Conſtraint upon the Mind and Conſcience, to receive that Determination as True and Undenyable: So that the Spirit maketh him to confeſs with his own Mouth, that it is the Will of the Bleſſed God, that even this my Forlorn, Loathſome, Deſpicable, Unlovely Soul, ſhould be one with himſelf for ever. This is the Spirits Conviction, which is the third work of the Spirit upon the Soul, towards the drawing forth its Faith by way of aſſurance, or by which the Spirit doth proceed, to give the Soul a full aſſurance of his Union with Chriſt.

There is a fourth effect of the Spirit of God upon Hearts, for revealing to them their Union with Chriſt Certainly and Infallibly,The Spirits Excitation. ſo as to give the Demonſtration, and that is the Spirits Excitation of the Habits of Grace formerly Infuſed, into their proper and peculiar Exerciſe. Now here you muſt obſerve, the Spirit doth not Quicken, Inliven, and Actuate all kind of Gratious Diſpoſitions Infuſed into the Sanctified Soul, in any immediate Revelation; aſſuring its Faith of his Acceptance into Union with the Lord; For indeed the Souls aſſurance p. 346unto Faith, doth not properly ariſe from any of the actings of thoſe Holy Diſpoſitions that are Infuſed into it, but proceed only from the right Apprehenſion of the good Will of the Lord in Chriſt unto Loveleſs Sinners: For indeed the Spirit in this work of Excitation, as it ſtands in Relation to the aſſuring the Soul through Believing, of his Union with Chriſt, hath only and peculiarly, the Believing Diſpoſition that was Infuſed into the Soul, at Chriſts firſt Comprehending the Soul, for its proper Object, and as Exerciſing Influences chiefly flow down from that believing Diſpoſition: Now the Spirits Excitation of the Believing Diſpoſition, doth neceſſarily follow the three former effects of the Spirit upon Hearts, in regard all theſe effects of the Spirit upon the heart, are but preparative to this fourth effect, for indeed it is this fourth effect, which is the Spirits drawing forth Believing Diſpoſitions into act, which is the Formality of Aſſurance, or Aſſurance it ſelf: The other only are abſolutely neceſſary Preparatives unto the aſſurance, they are Preparations indeed both Privatively and Poſitively; But they are but Preparations.

Firſt, Theſe three acts of the Spirit are Preparations privatively, by preventing all Impediments and Obſtructions, that hinder the Soul from acting Faith by way of aſſurance.

I. The firſt work of the Spirit which is its Illumination, that doth privatively prepare the Soul for the aſſuring act of Faith,

1. By preventing the Soul from bottoming its Confidence upon the Sands. Before the Bleſſed work of Illumination, ſouls miſtake the right Bottom of their Confidence of the Lords accepting them into p. 347Union with Chriſt, and ſo conſequently caſt out the Anchor of their Souls, upon the ground of their own Humiliation for Sin; another time upon the Quickenings and Enlargings of their Hearts, through the Sanctifying Spirit, and ſo Conſequently never entertain the leaſt Confidence of the Lords accepting of them into Union with Chriſt, any further then they can diſcern thoſe Quickning Enlargeth … Inlivenings of that Sanctifying Spirit in their Hearts.

2. That doth prepare privatively for the aſſurance, by Preventing the Soul from ſeeking in a falſe manner after the attaining of Confidence upon a true bottom. Before the Spirits full Illumination, the Soul commonly miſtakes, about the manner of caſting out an Anchor of Confidence upon that true ground, as conceiving there is no right manner of any Souls caſting himſelf with Confidence upon the Lord, unleſs the Soul doth firſt diſcern himſelf to be a Beleiver.

II. The ſecond work alſo of the Spirits Irradiation of the Goſpel unto Souls, is to prepare privatively for the aſſuring of the Souls Faith of his Union with Chriſt. Through the Spirits Irradiation, all Miſapprehenſions about the Tender of Union with Chriſt with the Soul are removed.

III. By the Spirits Conviction the Soul is prepared Privatively, for the aſſuring his Faith of his union, and that three ways.

1. By removing of the Contrariety of the reaſoning that poſſeſſeſs the Soul. Before the Spirits Irradiation of the Goſpel in ſome Degree, and Conviction of the Conſcience by that Irradiation, the Heart is haled hither and thither, by an Apprehenſion of reaſoning that always dwells within him: The Heart ſometimes Inclining to a Dreadful Concluſion, that p. 348the Lord will never accept of his Forlorn Soul into Union with the Lord Jeſus: Another time again inclined to believe, that the Lord is willing to accept even his Soul into Union with Chriſt: Now by the Irradiation of the Goſpel to the Soul, and the ſpirits Conviction of the Conſcienee, the Contrariety of Reaſoning in the ſoul is removed; The Reaſons for accepting the ſoul into Union with the Lord Jeſus, bearing more weight with the ſpirit, than all the Objections and Contradictions that Hell, and the Corrupt Heart can make againſt it; So that the ſoul diſcerns more ground to imagine, that the Lord is willing to accept his ſoul into Union with Chriſt, than he diſcerns ground to think the contrary.

2. Through the ſpirits Conviction, the Uproar and Tumult in the ſouls Affections are Allayed and Helped. Through the Contrariety of reaſoning in the ſoul, all the Affections are put into a Tumult and Rage: When one kind of reaſoning Prevails, then one kind of Affection works ſtrongly, and when contrary Reaſonings prevail, then contrary Affections work as highly.

3. The ſpirits Conviction that is annexed to the ſpirits Manifeſtation of the Goſpel, doth prepare for the ſouls receiving aſſurance unto his Faith of his Union with Chriſt by removing the Diſtraction that poſſeſſes the ſouls thoughts. As the Affections commonly are in a Confuſion, ſo the thoughts alſo, the mind is conſtant in nothing elſe but unconſtancy, ſtaying, or fixing upon nothing. Now this being a great Impediment to the ſouls receiving aſſurance unto his Faith of his Union with Chriſt, the ſpirit privatively to prepare the ſoul for it, removes this Diſtemper.

p. 349Secondly they are Preparations poſitively alſo.

I. The ſpirits work of Illumination, that doth prepare the ſubject for aſſurance. It is through that Illumination that the ſoul is diſpoſed into a poſſible condition, and a capable condition, to diſcern that everlaſting Rock of Ages, whereupon the Confidence of the ſouls union with Chriſt ſhall be caſt.

II. The ſpirits Irradiation, or Manifeſtation of the Goſpel, doth alſo prepare poſitively for the aſſuring the ſoul of his union with Chriſt, in regard that prepares the very matter of aſſurance. That Diſcovers the true ground, whereupon the ſoul may be Confident of his Acceptance into union.

III. The third work of the ſpirit which is Conviction, that prepares the ſoul for receiving the aſſurance unto his Faith of his union with Chriſt, by applying the matter of aſſurance particularly unto ſouls. It is the ſpirits manifeſtation of the Goſpel, that Diſcovers the ground whereupon ſouls may be confident of their acceptance into union with Chriſt; It is the ſpirits Conviction, that makes particular application of that ground of Confidence. Thoſe three former works of the ſpirit are only Preparative unto aſſurance, the Formality of aſſurance is ſtill behind: Therefore the ſpirit comes with this fourth work, which is the Exciting and Stirring up this believing Diſpoſition into Exerciſe.

Therefore now we muſt open to you what this Excitation of the Spirit is, and what the particular acts of the Spirit upon the ſoul are, that are Included under this work of the ſpirits Excitation of the believing Diſpoſition unto its Operation.

p. 350The Spirits Excitation is a Gracious, Free, Extraordinary Concurrence of the ſpirit, with the believing Manifeſtation,What the Spirits Excitation is. formerly Infuſed into the Soul. Or it is a Precious, Powerful influence of the ſpirit, upon the believing Diſpoſition. The Holy Diſpoſition that Inclines the Heart Habitually to believe, is as it were the Seed of aſſurance Sown in the Heart, but there muſt be the Concurrence of the Spirit with the Seed, or the Influence of the Spirit upon the Seed to make it Fructify, ſo as there ſhall be an act of aſſuring Faith in the Soul. So that this Excitation of the Spirit, or the Spirits ſtirring up the believing Diſpoſition, is but a Continuance of that Holy Influence into the Soul, that was begun at the Souls firſt paſſive Union with the Lord Jeſus, whereby the Holy Diſpoſition that was then Infuſed, is Maintained, Preſerved, Increaſed, Actuated and Enlivened.

Yet to open this more particularly.

I. I ſay it is a Gracious Concurrence of the Spirit with the believing Diſpoſition. I do not call it a Gracious Preſence of the Spirit, becauſe the Spirit takes up its Everlaſting Habitation in the Heart, at that paſſive Union between the Soul and Chriſt, that is, when it firſt Comprehends the Soul; and the Habitation of the Spirit may be ſaid to be equal at all times in the Soul, but its Conveyance of Grace into the Soul is not always equal.

II. This Excitation of the Spirit to the believing Diſpoſition, is a Gracious and Free Concurrence of the Spirit with the believing Diſpoſition. Free, not only as other Holy Motions of the Spirit in the Heart are free, which is in reſpect of their ſole Dependance p. 351upon the free good Will of God to a Loveleſs Sinner; But it is a free Concurrence of the Spirit to the believing Diſpoſition, in regard of the Lords abſolute freedom that he Exerciſeth in Vouchſafing this unto Souls. That I may ſpeak the more clearly, you muſt conceive there is a Two-fold Influence of the Spirit into believing Souls. The firſt is an abſolutely neceſſary Influence: The other is a more Free Arbitrary Influence. The abſolute neceſſary Influence is Two-fold.

Firſt, That that's abſolutely neceſſary to Maintain the Life of a believing Soul.

Secondly, That which is abſolutely neceſſary to Maintain the Growth of a believing Soul.

1. The Influence of the Spirit that is abſolutely neceſſary to Maintain the Life of the Believing Soul. Every Creature that hath any Life, hath ſome Maintenance for that Life, which Maintenance being withdrawn, the Creatures Life would decay: However do not miſtake me, every Living Creature muſt have ſome kind of Influence, from the firſt Being of Beings to maintain its Life: As the Angels have a more immediate Spiritual kind of Influence from God. Now that that the Wiſdom of the Lord hath Determined, ſhould Maintain the Spiritual Life begotten in a believing Soul, is the Influence of the Holy ſpirit into the ſoul. Now this abſolutely neceſſary Influence is that which is never wanting to any one Believing ſoul: The Covenant of Grace that the Lord freely paſſeth to the believing ſoul, lays an Engagement upon the Bleſſed God, to maintain the Influence of the Life of the ſoul; So that the Bleſſed God of Heaven and Earth is no more at Liberty, in that he is Bound and Obliged to Maintain that Life p. 352he begets in a believing ſoul; According to that in Jer. 32.40. I will put my fear in their Hearts, and they ſhall not depart from me; they ſhall never dye again a ſpiritual death.

2. The abſolute neceſſary Influence of the ſpirit, is that which maintains the Growth of the believing ſoul toward Perfection. Now that Influence of the ſpirit alſo, the Lord hath abſolutely engaged in the Covenant of Grace, to communicate at all times to a believing ſoul, in regard he hath engaged to perfect the likeneſs of Jeſus Chriſt in every believing ſoul, and therefore the ſpirit doth continually iſſue down life from the head of the Lord Jeſus, into every believing ſoul which is a Member unto that Head: every Member receives from the Head continually ſome kind of vertue. Now both theſe Influences of the ſpirit being abſolutely neceſſary, though they be free originally, yet the Lord having paſſed his promiſe to ſinners embracing the promiſe, he ſtands obliged to Communicate thoſe Influences of the ſpirit continually. But now this other Influence is a free Influence in another manner; It is not abſolutely neceſſary to the Life nor Growth of the ſoul, in this manner that we are now ſpeaking of, and therefore the Lord is not engaged to Communicate it unto the ſouls of his People, but he ſtands at his own Liberty, to Diſpence it to whom he will, to ſend this Exciting ſpirit into what ſoul he pleaſes out of the number of all believing ſouls. So that it may in an eminent ſuperlative manner, be ſaid of this Exciting work of the ſpirit to the believing Diſpoſition, what Chriſt ſaith of the Breathing of the ſpirit in general, that the ſpirit breatheth where it liſteth; It is meerly according to the good pleaſure of the Lord, that any believing p. 353ſoul partake of this Exciting work of the ſpirit to the believing Diſpoſition.

III. You muſt obſerve in the Deſcription, That it is a Gratious, Free, and Extraordinary Concurence of the ſpirit with the believing Diſpoſition infuſed. There is an ordinary Exciting Influence of the ſpirit to the believing Diſpoſition: no Gratious Diſpoſition Infuſed would ſhew forth any of its Operation, did not the ſpirit Concur with the Gratious Diſpoſition, and ſo conſequently there would be no Operation of Faith at all: Now in regard there are conſtant Operations of Faith in every believing ſoul, in the courſe of his Converſion, in one degree or other, therefore it muſt needs be concluded, there is an ordinary Concurrence of the ſpirit, into the believing Diſpoſition that is in every believing ſoul: But this Exciting Influence into the believing ſoul that I now ſpeak of, is not that ordinary, but it is extraordinary; It is an abundant Breathing of the ſpirit upon the believing Diſpoſition, mightily drawing it forth into Exerciſe in its full Strength and Power, cauſing the believing Diſpoſition to be Victorious, and Triumph Gloriouſly over all Doubts, Objections, and Queſtions. This is the ſpirits Excitation of the believing Diſpoſition infuſed into the ſoul.

Now we may conceive that there are three Particular acts of the ſpirit on the ſoul, that may be included under the ſpirits Excitation of the believing Diſpoſit…on in the ſoul, which do all tend unto the Full, Powerful, Mighty Excitation of the believing Diſpoſition in the ſoul unto exerciſe.

I. It affects the Heart ſweetly with the Pretious Divine Light Diſcovered unto the ſoul, by the Manifeſtation of the Goſpel to it. The light of truth p. 354Diſcoveries affects not the Heart any further, than the ſpirit concurs with the Light Revealed. Now,

1. The ſpirit cauſeth the ſoul to be filled with a Holy Complacency, in beholding the Pretious Divine Light that the Goſpel Reveals.

2. The ſpirit moves an inſatiable Thirſt in the ſoul, after the continuance of that Pretious Divine Light ſhining from the Goſpel, into his Poor Obſcure Heart.

3. The ſpirit melts the Heart by the beholding that Light that the ſpirit puts into it, ſo as the Heart is made moſt pretiouſly Tender, and Pliable, and Flexible to the Bleſſed Will of God in every thing.

2. The Spirit impels, conſtrains the Soul to believing ſtrongly. The Lord rules in the heart of believers by the Royal Scepter of his Word, but not as the Word is barely revealed unto a Soul in the letter of it, but as the Word is brought into the heart by his own Spirit. And therefore when the Spirit ſways not the Scepter of the Word in their hearts, the word looſeth its Imperial Royal Authority that it hath over the Soul, and ſo the Soul lies not under ſo ſtrong an Obligation to any Duty, as it doth when the Spirit brings the Word to the heart.

3. The third Act is the inabling the ſoul powerfully to believe: According to that in Phil. 2.13: By him we receive both to will and to do, that is, both the diſpoſition, and the Act of the Diſpoſition, both an inward bent of Spirit to believe, and power alſo to act that Diſpoſition, This is that mighty Power that works in thoſe that believe, Eph. 1.19. So that the Soul that could only Believe waveringly, that it was the Lords will to receive his deſpicable, loveleſs Soul into union with the Lord Jeſus, ſhall by the powerful ability p. 355of the Spirit infuſed into the Soul by the Spirit, be able to receive it fixedly, to believe it undoubtedly, unqueſtionably, without the leaſt inconſtancy for the preſent, that the bleſſed God of Love, will out of his own free love, accept his deſpicable loveleſs Soul into the neareſt union with the Lord Jeſus, and himſelf through him. That is the exciting work of the Spirit.

There is now the fifth and laſt work of the ſpirit unto ſouls for that end to be opened, which is the ſpirits Atteſtation to the ſoul,The Spirits Attestation. that is to ſay his Witneſſing unto the ſoul that it ſhall be certainly, Infallibly, in its Cleaving to Lord Jeſus, admitted into Union and Communion with him. It is the good pleaſure of the Lord, not only to ſhew the immutability of his Counſel concerning believing ſouls, and the infallibility of their acceptance into Union and Communion with the Lord Jeſus in their ſouls cleaving to him; but it is alſo the good pleaſure of the Lord to ſhew more than Sufficiency, the Unchangableneſs of his Counſel to ſuch ſouls: According to that Pretious place. Hebr. 6.17. The Lord willing more abundantly to ſhew the Immutability of his Councel: Ex Abundanti as Beza Tranſlates the Original; The Lord having a Pretious good will to ſhew, in a way more and beyond what was neceſſary to believing ſouls, the Impoſſibility of their ſouls failing of Union and Communion with the Lord Jeſus in their cleaving to him, he doth therefore now add his Bleſſed Spirit to be the Comforter of Believing ſouls, not only in a Degree that is neceſſary for them, (for which end all thoſe four former Effects of the ſpirit upon ſouls were appointed) but the p. 356Lord appoints the Spirit to be a Comforter beyond what is neceſſary: And therefore after the Spirit hath given to Believing ſouls, a clear Evidence of their Acceptance into Union with the Lord Jeſus, ſo as thereby the ſpirit had filled their ſouls with ſtrong Conſolation; Yet the Lord appoints the Spirit to add a higher work, which is its Atteſtation. This Atteſtation of the Spirit is that you ſhall find Eph. 1.13. In whom alſo after that ye Believed, ye were Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promiſe: Or as the Word may be rendered, In whom Believing ye were Sealed, which Imports the neer Conjunction of theſe two Bleſſed works of the Spirit, or the immediate following of the Spirits Atteſtation, upon the Spirits Excitation of their Souls to Believing. And this work of the Spirit is that you find alſo in 2 Cor. 1.21, 22. Now he that Eſtabliſheth us with you in Chriſt, and hath Annointed us, is God, who hath alſo Sealed us, and given us the earneſt of the Spirit in our Hearts. And this you ſhall find alſo. Eph. 4.30. Grieve not the Spirit of God by which you are Sealed unto the day of Redemption. And ſo Rom. 8.16. The Spirit it ſelf beareth Witneſs with our Spirit tha… we are the Children of God. Now leaſt any ſhould queſtion whether the Spirit doth thus work in a Witneſſing way, it would be neceſſary to clear the Interpretation of moſt of thoſe places from ſome other Gloſſes that are Frequently put upon them. It is true ſay ſome, the Scripture ſpeaks of the Sealing work of the Spirit unto Souls, but the meaning of the Spirit of Truth is only, that by Graces and Holy Diſpoſitions, that the Spirit Communicates unto Believing Souls, it doth confirm Souls in the certainty of their Acceptance into Union with Chriſt: So that by the p. 357receiving of the Spirit by Belive…s, ſpoken of in the Scripture of Truth, is only meant Believers receiving the Precious Working of the Spirit in their Hearts, in Holy Habits and Dipſoſitions.

For Anſwer, I muſt acknowledge that by the Spirit is frequently meant in Scripture, the Holy Diſpoſitions infuſed by the Sanctifying Spirit into Believing Souls. And I muſt acknowledge alſo, that the Graces or Holy Habits infuſed by the Spirit in Believing Souls, are ſpoken of as Witneſſes unto Souls of their Union with Chriſt: And indeed it is queſtionleſs that an effect may Witneſs its own proper cauſe: And the Scripture ſpeaks expreſly, that the works of God are Witneſs of God, Act. 14.17. And ſo Chriſts works were Witneſſes of his Godhead, John 5.36. Yet this is not that which is primarily intended in the former Scriptures by the Spirits Sealing the Believing Soul, which may appear to you by two or three Reaſons.

I. In regard the Spirits Sealing the Believing Soul, is declared to follow the Souls act of Believing in order of Nature. As in Eph. 1.13. In whom after ye Believed ye were Sealed. Or, In whom ye Believing were Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promiſe. Now all the Pretious Holy Habits, that the Sanctifying Spirit Infuſes into any Soul, are in order of Nature Infuſed before there is any Believing act in the Soul: Though the Believing act in a Believing Soul may be Contemporary (that is at one and the ſame time) yet the Infuſing of all the Holy Habits and Diſpoſitions into the Soul, muſt be conceived to have a precedency in order of Nature, before there can be a Believing act. I confeſs ſome (and thoſe learned ones too) have imagined, that the Sanctifying Spirit p. 358ſhould work as an external agent, an outward agent upon the Soul in the firſt act of Believing, and then take up its Habitation in the Soul through the Souls Believing in the Lord Jeſus. But reaſon it ſelf is ſufficient Confutation of thoſe Imaginations. Reaſon will tell us of an Impoſſibility of a man meerly Unregenerate, to put forth an act meerly Spiritual; Reaſon will tell us an Habit or Diſpoſition muſt go before there be an act, a Tree there muſt be before there can be fruit; And then alſo the Spirits Sealing of the Believing Soul being declared to follow, at leaſt in order of nature, the Souls Believing, it cannot be that by the Spirits Sealing ſpoken of in theſe Scriptures, ſhould be meant the Infuſion of the Spirits Graces into the Soul: it muſt be ſomething beſides the Graces Infuſed.

II. All kind of Holy Habits or Diſpoſitions, that are Infuſed into any one Believing Soul, are Infuſed in order of nature before the Souls Believing. Now if the Spirits Sealing were only the Infuſion of the Spirits Grace, then every Believing Soul ſhould have the ſame Seal of the Spirit, whereas experience brings Teſtimony enough to the contrary.

III. The Spirits Sealing mentioned in thoſe former Scriptures is Attributed in a particular manner to the perſon of the Spirit, The Spirit it ſelf beareth Witneſs with our Spirits: It doth not ſay only, the Spirit, which might have been meant the Graces of the ſpirit, but the ſpirit it ſelf, even by a perſonal act the ſpirit atteſts to us that, we are the Sons of God. So it is alſo in Eph. 1.13, 14. In whom alſo after ye Believed, ye were Sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promiſe, which is the earneſt of our Inheritance. It is Tranſlated Which, but it is moſt agreeable to the Original, to p. 359ſay, Who is the earneſt of our Inheritance; The relative being in the perſon of the ſpirit, not the Gifts of the ſpirit. So that it ſtands as an Undoubted Truth, that the Lord doth add unto Believing ſouls for their abundant Conſolation, even a Witneſs from his own Bleſſed ſpirit of their admittance into Union and Communion with the Lord Jeſus in their cleaving to him, beſides all thoſe other Bleſſed neceſſary works of the Bleſſed ſpirit upon their ſouls.

Now I muſt further Obſerve, that this Atteſtation of the ſpirit doth not pertain peculiarly and ſolely unto Faith, as having reference unto Faith only, and to the begetting of aſſurance of Faith; But by Divine Appointment this Witneſs of the ſpirit pertains alſo to ſenſe, to ſpiritual ſenſe, or ſpiritual Knowledge, and doth beget aſſurance of Sence and Feeling, as well as it begets aſſurance of Faith; Yet there is ſuch a ſweet Mixture in this Bleſſed work of the Spirits Atteſtation, that it doth at one and the ſame time raiſe the ſoul to aſſurance of Faith, and Aſſurance of Senſe and Feeling: And indeed ſuch is the nature of the ſpirits Atteſtation, that it never bears Witneſs to the ſouls Faith in any meaſure of clearneſs, that the ſoul in its Cleaving to the Lord Jeſus ſhall be admitted into Union and Communion with Chriſt, but the ſpirit bears Witneſs at the ſame time to the ſouls ſence, that it is actually admitted into Union and Communion with Chriſt. Yet becauſe we are ſpeaking at preſent of the manner how the ſpirit doth firſt reveal to the ſouls Faith certainly, and infallibly his Union with Chriſt, and ſo aſſure the ſouls Faith of Union, we muſt firſt ſpeak of the ſpirits Atteſtation unto the ſoul in reference unto Faith. Though we muſt alſo for opening the full work of Atteſtation, p. 360open the manner of the ſpirits Atteſting to the ſouls Sence and Feeling.

For the opening the firſt, the ſpirits Atteſtation in Reference unto the ſouls Faith, to aſſure Faith of its Union,The Spirits Atteſtation unto Faith. I ſhall open to you two things.

Firſt, Thoſe Reſpects in which the Lord doth appoint the ſpirits Atteſtation to be added to all the former works, as a Redundancy of his Mercy and Love to the Deſpicable ſoul.

Secondly, We ſhall open what the ſpirits Atteſtation to the ſouls Faith is.

For the firſt, There are four or five Reſpects, why the Lord adds this work of Atteſtation to the ſouls Faith, after he hath perſwaded the ſoul to believe thus powerfully with Confidence.

I. In reſpect of the Multitude of fears that remain in the Believing Soul, after the cleareſt Evidence of the Goſpel unto the ſoul, and the moſt full perſwaſion of the ſoul by the ſpirit to Believe. There are three kinds of fears that ſtill remain in ſome degree, both in the Seed of them, and in the Fruit of them, though none of them remain in their abſolute Dominion.

1. There is both the Seed and Fruit of Slaviſh Fear. Though through the Mighty Exciting Power of the ſpirit, following the ſpirits Irradiation and Manifeſtation of the Goſpel to the ſoul, it is raiſed to a fulneſs of Confidence, of the Lords Acceptance of his ſoul, into Union and Communion with the Lord Jeſus in his Cleaving to him, yet there is not a perfection of Confidence; And it is only perfect Confidence that begets perfect love, and only perfect Love that caſts out Slaviſh Fear.

p. 3612. There is a pure natural fear that ſtill remains. The matter of Believing is of ſuch high concernment, that the very remembrance of it ſtrikes the ſoul with ſome natural fear; It is the venturing the pretious Immortal ſoul for Eternity, and unleſs there were a Perfection of Confidence, a ſoul cannot be void of fear.

3. There is a Spiritual Holy fear that remains alſo in the Believing ſoul, after the ſtrength of Believing. The ſouls Viſion of Union and Communion with Chriſt, Inflames the Believing Souls Heart with Love unto Union and Communion: And proportionable to the degree of the Souls Love, ſo is the Souls fear; That is to ſay, the Soul fears the loſs of Union and Communion, in the ſame degree wherein he loves Union and Communion, and this fear is exceeding prone to go beyond its Bounds, and to ſuſpect the loſs of it, where there is no cauſe of Suſpition.

II. The Lord adds this Atteſting work of the ſpirit to ſouls, In regard there is a natural Diſtruſt that in ſome degree remains in every Believing ſoul, though raiſed to a fulneſs of Confidence. There is not only an Indiſpoſition naturally in the ſoul, to give Credit to the Bleſſed Word of the Majeſty of Heaven, by reaſon of its Inability, fully to comprehend the reaſon of the Lords fulfilling ſuch a Word into his Boſom; But alſo there is a natural Diſpoſition in dwelling in every ſoul, that Inclines the Heart ſtrongly to give the Bleſſed Majeſty of Heaven the Lye, to diſtruſt that Bleſſed Record that the Lord bears of his own Son.

p. 362III. There is a Holy Jealouſie that poſſeſſeth every Believing Soul, leaſt his Corrupt Deceitful Heart ſhould Delude him. Every Believing ſoul is ſo conſcious to himſelf, of a Multiplicity and Variety of Couzening Deluding Tricks, that his Corrupt Heart hath put upon him from time to time, as it dare not truſt its Heart when it deals moſt Plainly and Uprightly. Now from this Holy Jealouſie, there ariſeth a Difficulty to ſettle and Eſtabliſh the Heart, and to free it from all Wavering in its Conſcience: Now in reſpect of this, the Lord adds this work of the ſpirits Atteſtation, that the ſoul may have a full Satisfaction, that there may be no inward Misgivings of Heart, in its Confidence of the Lords acceptance of it into Union and Communion with the Lord Jeſus, in its Cleaving and Adhering to him.

IV. There is a natural Unconſtancy, that poſſeſſeth every ſuch Believing ſoul in ſome degree. Ever ſince the Heart of Man was drawn from that firſt Bleſſed Center, it hath naturally been Unconſtant in all its Reſtings: Now from this Unconſtancy of the ſpirit, the Heart is exceeding prone to have its Confidence ſhaken when the ſpirit hath raiſed it to a high Degree; And in reſpect of that the Lord Vouchſafeth to add the work of Atteſtation, for the perfect Eſtabliſhing of the Wavering Soul.

V. There is all the Concurrent Rage of Hell Imployed, againſt every Soul attaining that Confidence of his Acceptance into Union and Communion with the Lord Jeſus in his Adhering to him. Now ſhould there not be a Witneſs from Heaven, or greater Authority in the ſouls Apprehenſion, than any Dictates of the Counſel of Hell, the Believing ſoul would ſoon call in queſtion the Pretious Word of the Majeſty of p. 363Heaven, and Incline to give Credit to the Dictates of Hells Counſel. Therefore in reſpect to this, leaſt the Believing ſoul through this means, ſhould be Robbed of that Pretious Joy and Peace in Believing, that the Lord intends, the Lord hath Determined that his Bleſſed ſpirit ſhould become the ſouls Comforter, by way of Atteſtation to bear Witneſs to the certainty of the ſouls Acceptance into Union and Communion with the Lord Jeſus, in the ſouls Cleaving to him, that ſo the Witneſs of Heaven might be of higher Authority to the ſoul, than all thoſe Curſed Lying Dictates of Hell frequently propounded to that Believing ſoul.

Now the ſecond thing to be opened is, what this Atteſtation, or Witneſs unto the ſouls Faith is?What the Spirits Atteſtation unto Faith is. I conceive that this Atteſtation unto Faith, is a Pretious Beam of Heavenly Light, darted into the Underſtanding, whereby the ſpirit clearly Demonſtrateth to the Believing ſoul, the Lords Approbation of the ſouls act of Believing or Confidence, and that with ſuch an unſpeakable Divine Authority, as is irreſiſtable by the ſoul, ſo that hereby the ſoul is Eſtabliſhed in a Plerophery, or more than a fulneſs of Confidence.

There are four things in this Deſcription that you muſt obſerve.

I. This Atteſtation unto Faith is a Pretious Beam of Heavenly Light, darted into the Underſtanding. That is the nature of the Witneſs: This is (as commonly called by Divines, and▪ Chriſtians) a ſecret Voice, or a ſweet Whiſpering of the ſpirit: And thence many have ſadly Miſtaken, and Conceived p. 364that Witneſs to be ſome ſtrange kind of Revelation by a Voice from Heaven; But indeed it is therefore ſpoken of, as a ſecret Voice, becauſe it is a ſecret Beam of Heavenly Light: And thence it is rightly called the Witneſs of the Spirit of the Lord, Witneſſing with our Spirits that we are the Sons of God: Witneſs, that is, bear Record, give a Teſtimony; Now to give a Teſtimony is to declare a thing Verbally: Now indeed in this reſpect, it is not unfitly called the Voice of the Spirit; for a Voice is nothing elſe but an Expreſſion of the inward Conception of the mind by words: Now by this ſecret Beam of Heavenly Light, darted into the underſtanding, the ſpirit of the Lord doth ſecretly expreſs the mind of God.

II. This Atteſtation or Witneſs of the ſpirit unto Faith, is ſuch a Beam of Heavenly Light as doth Clearly, and Infallibly, and Unqueſtionably, Demonſtrate or Manifeſt to the ſoul, the Lords Approbation of his act of Believing, or of his act of Confidence. All the Unquiet Toſſings and Agitations, and Perplexing Waverings of ſouls, from what occaſion ſoever, they have their Original in ſome kind of Doubting, whether it be according to the Bleſſed Will of God, that their Forlorn, Deſpicable ſouls, ſhould be ſo Confident of their Acceptance into Union with the Lord Jeſus, in their adhering to him: Now therefore the Light that the ſpirit caſts into the Underſtanding, is on purpoſe to clear, and make it out of all doubt to the ſoul, that it is Infinitely pleaſing to the Bleſſed God, that even that particular ſoul ſhould be ſo Confident of his Acceptance into Union with the Lord Jeſus. That is the matter it ſelf that the ſpirit doth Teſtify to the ſoul, or the Teſtimony it giveth.

p. 365III. You muſt obſerve in the Deſcription, That this Atteſtation of the Spirit is ſuch a Beam of Heavenly Light, that ſo clears to the Believing Soul, the Lords Approbation of his act of Believing, or his act of Confidence, that it carrieth along with it an Inconceivable Divine Authority. It is ſuch a Beam of Light as hath ſuch an Impreſſion of the Majeſty of the Bleſſed God upon it, that it is impoſſible for the Heart to make Reſiſtance.

IV. Obſerve in the Deſcription, that it Eſtabliſheth the Soul in a Plerophery, a more than a fulneſs of Confidence, a Triumphing Confidence. That is the peculiar Inſeparable effect of this Teſtimony that the ſpirit gives, it fixeth the Wavering Unconſtant Soul. This is the Spirits Atteſtation unto Faith. Now we ſhall come to the Spirits Atteſtation unto Sence; But there is an Objection will be caſt in, that muſt firſt be opened, whereby the depth of this Unſpeakable Myſtery may be ſomething more Unfolded.

Obj. Some Soul may ſay, If the Spirit giveth no other Teſtimony to the Soul than this, That his particular Soul ſhall be Certainly and Infallibly Accepted into Union and Communion with the Lord Jeſus, in his Adhering to him, and Produce no other Confidence in the Soul than this, that I, even I, this Unlovely Soul of mine, in Adhering to the Lord Jeſus ſhall Infallibly have Union and Communion with him to all Eternity, then ſaith the Soul, even after the Witneſs of the Spirit unto the Soul, it may remain doubtful of its Union with Chriſt ſtill, ſeeing by this Teſtimony of the Spirit unto Faith, the Soul is not aſſured of his own Cleaving and Adhering unto Chriſt, and p. 366ſeeing the certainty that the Spirit giveth, by the Teſtimony to the Souls Faith of his Union with Chriſt, hath its whole Dependance upon the certainty of the Souls Cleaving and Adhering unto Chriſt.

Anſ. 1. For Anſwer to this Grand Objection,

Firſt, When this Teſtimony of the Spirit is given unto the Souls Faith, and he is aſſured that his particular, Unlovely, Forlorn Soul, ſhall certainly and Infallibly be accepted into union with the Lord Jeſus in his reſting upon Chriſt for union, it is not then poſſible that there ſhould be any Solid Ground for that Believing Soul, to queſtion his own Cleaving and Adhering unto Jeſus Chriſt unto all Eternity. And that will appear in two things.

I. In regard there is a ſufficient ground revealed to the Soul, that hath this Teſtimony of the Spirit unto his Faith, of his Confidence of his Everlaſting Cleaving unto Chriſt, as there is of the Lords Acceptance of his Soul into Union and Communion with him in Adhering to him. The promiſes of the Covenant of Grace that are tendred in the Lord Jeſus, do as perfectly and as clearly, contain and include in them ſtrength to inable Souls to Embrace and Accept thoſe Promiſes, as they do contain in them a fulneſs and alſufficiency of Love and Mercy for thoſe Souls that do Embrace them. The Lord that hath ſaid, It is my Will that ſuch Periſhing, Sinking, Deſpicable Souls as will accept my Tender, ſhall be one with me through the Lord Jeſus, and have Everlaſting Communion with me, hath alſo ſaid, p. 367will Allure and draw your Hearts to Embrace and Accept according to my Will, this Union and Communion with me in Chriſt that I freely tender you. According to Jer. 31, 32, 33. This ſhall be my Covenant, I will put my Law in their inward parts, and Write it in their Hearts: That is to ſay, I will infuſe ſutable Diſpoſitions into the Hearts of all the Embracers of the Lord Jeſus, to Incline, Diſpoſe, and Inable them to fulfil all my Revealed Will in ſome Meaſure and Degree. So that the Soul hath as ſure a Word Revealed to it to depend upon, from whence may ariſe a Confidence in it, that the Lord will Inable him to Cleave and Adhere Everlaſtingly to Chriſt, as it hath a Word whereupon his Soul may Depend, and may be Confident, the Lord will accept him into Union and Communion with him in Cleaving unto Chriſt.

II. In regard that very Confidence that the Spirit doth produce in the Soul, of its Infallible Acceptance into Union and Communion with him, is the very act of Cleaving and Adhering unto Chriſt. There are four particular acts of the Soul, Included under this Confidence of the Souls Acceptance into Union with Chriſt in its Cleaving and Adhering to him.

1. In this is Included the Election of Union with Chriſt, by the Will of the Soul. Now this is but the receiving of Chriſt that the Goſpel requireth; To as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God, John 1.12. Now the conſent of the Will to cloſe with Chriſt in Union and Communion that is tendred to it, is the very Receiving of Jeſus Chriſt.

p. 3682. In that very act of Confidence there is Included the Souls Credence, or giving Credit to the Word of God. When the Soul is Confident of the Lords Accepting of it into Union and Communion with him, in the Souls Cleaving and Adhering to him, it is only becauſe of ſuch a Word of Promiſe from the Mouth of Chriſt, to which the Soul giveth Credit, or which the Soul Believeth.

3. In this act of Confidence there is a Reſignation of the Soul wholly unto Chriſt. Such as that which is ſpoken of in 2 Tim. 1.12. I know whom I have believed, and I am Perſwaded that he is able to keep that which I have Committed unto him: That is to ſay, I know whoſe Word it was that I gave Credit to, and that I was ſo Confident of the Truth of, That I leaned my Soul upon the Truth of that Word for its Everlaſting Happineſs. So that then in this act of Confidence, there is Included that Mutual Interchangable Covenanting, that the Word of the Lord requires from Souls in Accepting the Lord Jeſus Tendered.

4. In this very act of Confidence there is Included a full Dependance of the Soul upon Chriſt, a hanging the Soul upon the Faithfulneſs of Jeſus Chriſt and his Word. So that indeed all the acts that the Goſpel Requires from Souls are Included in this one act of Confidence that is produced by this Teſtimony of the Spirit to the Souls Faith: Now the act of the Souls Confidence, being alſo the act of its Cleaving and Adhering unto the Lord Jeſus, and the Souls Cleaving and Adhering unto Chriſt being Gradually as ſtrong, as the act of its Confidence of Accepting into Union and Communion with Chriſt, in his Cleaving to him; Thence it appears that there can p. 369be no ſolid ground of the ſouls queſtioning his own Adherence unto the Lord Jeſus, when the ſpirit gives this Teſtimony forementioned unto the ſouls Faith, and produceth … Confidence in the ſoul, of his Acceptance into Union and Communion with the Lord Jeſus in Adhering to him. In this very thing lies the whole Myſtery of aſſurance unto Faith; The very Confidence that the ſpirit begets in the ſoul, of the Lord Jeſus his Accepting it into Union and Communion with him in Cleaving to him, the very act of Confidence is the act of the ſouls Cleaving to him.

Anſw. 2. Secondly I Anſwer further, that whenever the Spirit by its Teſtimony to the ſouls Faith, doth beget that Confidence in the ſoul, that the Lord will Accept it into Union with himſelf, in his Adhering to him, then the ſoul cannot queſtion his own Adhering unto Chriſt, any more than he queſtions the Lords Acceptance of his ſoul into Union and Communion with him in his Adhering to him. The ſpirits Teſtimony unto Faith is or ſuch a nature, that it doth equally beget a Confidence in the ſoul, of his Everlaſting Cleaving unto Chriſt, to the Confidence that it doth beget, of the Lords Acceptance of the ſoul into Union with himſelf in the ſouls Adhering to him. And that will appear in three things.

I. In regard the ſpirits Atteſtation unto Faith, is concerning the truth of the whole Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, or of all the promiſes. The ſpirit in the Irradiation of the Goſpel, clears that it is the Lords Will to have the whole Glorious work of the Union of Loveleſs Sinners with the Lord Jeſus, to have its ſole dependance upon himſelf; So that it manifeſts p. 370Believing Strength to inable the ſoul to Cleave and Adhere to the Lord Jeſus, fully to be tendered in the Covenant of Grace, as well as Union with Chriſt himſelf is tendered: Now then the ſpirits Atteſtation, which follows this Irradiation of the Goſpel, is as large as its Irradiation work, I mean, the ſpirit doth in a Judicial, Authoritative way, Witneſs the truth of all thoſe Goſpel Truths Revealed to the ſoul: So that the ſoul cannot poſſibly reſiſt that Determination, that the ſpirit gives into its Boſom. Now then there being the ſame Witneſs of the ſpirit unto the ſouls Faith, that the Lord will inable it to Cleave and Adhere to the Lord Jeſus, that there is unto its Faith, that the Lord will Accept into Union and Communion with himſelf in Chriſt, every ſoul that will Adhere to him; Thence it cannot be that a ſoul ſhould more queſtion his Adhering unto Chriſt, than he ſhould queſtion the Lords Acceptance of him into Union, through his Adhering to him.

II. In regard the ſpirits Excitation of the Believing Diſpoſition into Exerciſe, is General and Univerſal. Now there being ſtrength to Inable the ſoul to Adhere unto Chriſt tendered, as well as Union with Jeſus Chriſt is tendered, and the ſpirits Exciting work being thus General and Univerſal, it cannot be but the Heart ſhould be Eſtabliſhed in the conſtant Expectation of the one as of the other; To be as Confident of the ſouls everlaſting Cleaving unto Chriſt, as of his Acceptance into Union with Chriſt, upon his Cleaving to him.

III. In regard the ſpirit doth Adjoyn a Teſtimony unto the ſoul, that it doth Cleave unto Chriſt, to its Teſtimony that it gives to its Faith, that it ſhall p. 371be admitted to the Lord Jeſus infallibly, in cleaving unto him. The Spirit is ſo bleſſed a Comforter, that it ſends down living ſtreams of refreſhing, both to faith and ſpiritual ſenſe: when it hath once teſtified to the ſouls faith, that unqueſtionably and infallibly, that particular ſoul ſhall be accepted into union with the Lord Jeſus, in his embracing of him; it then alſo teſtifies to the ſoul, that it hath embraced Chriſt, and that the ſoul is already actually inſtated in union and communion with him. Now having opened the ſpirits atteſtation unto the ſouls faith:The ſpirits atteſtation unto ſenſe. The ſecond act of the atteſtation of the ſpirit, is it's atteſtation unto the ſouls ſpiritual ſenſe: in this we muſt open three things to you.

Firſt that there is ſuch a witneſs of the ſpirit to the ſouls ſenſe and feeling, beſides the former Record that it gives unto Faith.

Secondly, In what reſpects this witneſs of the ſpirit is added unto the ſpirits witneſs unto the ſouls faith.

Thirdly, what this witneſs of the ſpirit to the ſouls ſenſe and feeling is.

Firſt, that there is ſuch a teſtimony of the ſpirit unto ſenſe and feeling, may appear from that one place alone, Rom. 8.16. The ſpirit it ſelf beareth witneſs mith our ſpirits, that we are the ſons of God: this holds forth, that there muſt be a witneſs of the ſpirit unto the ſoul, above and beſides thoſe holy diſpoſitions, or precious gracious habits that the ſpirit doth communicate unto ſouls, and therefore that there is ſuch a witneſs of the ſpirit unto faith. Now from hence appears, that there is ſuch a witneſs of the ſpirit unto the ſouls ſenſe and feeling, p. 372in that the ſpirit is ſaid to give a particular teſtimony unto particular ſouls, of their actual union with the Lord Jeſus. The ſpirit witneſſeth with our ſpirits that we are the ſons of God; that we, it is not only a determinating ſentence, that the ſpirit paſſeth upon the truth of what the Goſpel reveals in general, unto every ſoul that ſhall embrace him, for that is only thus, that thou or thou, or that particular ſoul in his accepting the Lord Jeſus tendered, ſhall infallibly be one with Chriſt; (which is ſtill a teſtimony unto faith) but the Scripture ſpeaks it plainly, the ſpirit gives teſtimony of their ſouls real accepting of Jeſus Chriſt tendered. The ſpirits teſtimony of ſaith could be only thus much, to witneſs from the promiſe, that this or that particular ſoul, ſhall be adopted to be a Child of the Bleſſed Majeſty of Heaven, in his accepting the Lord Jeſus tendered: But this teſtimony is a witneſs to the particular ſoul of it's actual adoption already, that we are the ſons of God, therefore this muſt be a teſtimony of the ſpirit unto the ſouls ſenſe and feeling, in regard the proper object of faith, is to receive what is promiſed, not receive what is done.

2. The ſpirit is ſaid to be a Co-witneſs with believers ſpirits, that they are united unto Chriſt, and adopted ſons and daughters of God through their union with Chriſt.

Saith the Original, the ſpirit doth bare witneſs together with our ſpirits; ſo that the ſpirit is ſaid here to bear witneſs to the ſoul, of the ſame things that the ſouls own ſpirit (that is the renewed underſtanding, or the ſanctified Conſcience) bares witneſs to: Now the renewed conſcience p. 373in the believing ſoul, can only bear witneſs unto the ſouls ſenſe and feeling; and therefore the ſpiris witneſſing the ſame thing, that the renewed conſcience in a believing ſoul doth witneſs, it muſt needs be, that this witneſs of the ſpirit muſt be a witneſs to the ſouls ſenſe and feeling.

III. It appears from the peculiar office, to which the ſpirit of the Lord is deſtinated. The ſpirit is appointed to be the comforter, the moſt ſuperlative eminent comforter: now ſhould not the ſpirit witneſs unto the ſouls ſence and feel…ng ſpiritually it's union with Chriſt, it could not comfort in the higheſt manner. There are three degrees of ſpiritual comfort.

1. A ſouls appehenſion that union and communion with the Lord Jeſus, is tendered to his deſpicable loſt ſoul. There is a degree of comfort from the poſſibility, that his poor loſt ſinking ſoul may be admitted into union and communion with Chriſt; but alas this is weak.

2. There is the ſouls actual embracing this union with the Lord Jeſus tendered. There is infinite ſweetneſs and peace in that very believing act of the ſoul, though as yet there is no ſenſibleneſs in the ſoul of that his own believing, and ſo no ſenſibleneſs of his union with Chriſt.

3. Which is the Top Stone of the Souls Conſolation, and that is the ſenſibleneſs of the ſouls union with the Lord through believing. Now if the ſpirit ſhould not give ſuch a witneſs to the believing ſoul as this, to witneſs to the ſouls actual cloſe with Chriſt, in union and communion, the bleſſed ſpririt who is ſent from the Lord Jeſus, on purpoſe to be a comfort to believing ſouls, ſhould p. 374not comfort in the higheſt manner, he ſhould not be the moſt eminent comforter.

II. The ſecond thing to be opened, is the reaſons of the additions of the ſpirits teſtimony unto the ſouls ſenſe and feeling, to the teſtimony that it gives to the ſouls faith. There are five or ſix reaſons of it;

I. To prevent the ſouls receiving that determination of its corrupt conſcience concerning its everlaſting eſtate. In all the various actings of conſcience, as a Law, Witneſs and Judge, it is corrupted by vertue of our firſt Tranſgreſſion; ſo that in whatſoever ſtate the ſoul remains, when its conſcience worketh according to its natural diſpoſition and inclination, it bears falſe witneſs, and paſſeth falſe judgement: Now therefore doth the Lord vouchſafe to add the ſpirits teſtimony of the ſouls union unto ſenſe and feeling, that the falſe ſentence that conſcience paſſeth upon the ſoul, might not be received by it. There are three reſpects wherein the Lord vouchſafeth to add the ſpirits teſtimony to ſenſe unto the the teſtimony it gives to faith,

1. The depravedneſs and perverſeneſs of conſcience in its teſtimony.

2. The unavoidableneſs of the ſouls hearing that teſtimony that conſcience gives, when the ſoul is once alive through the life of Jeſus Chriſt.

3. The readineſs of the ſoul, naturally to concur and agree with the teſtimony of corrupted conſcience, while it bares witneſs againſt Faith.

The reaſon is evident, in regard the ful bent of the ſpirit ſtands to judge of all things according to ſenſe and reaſon. Now therefore the Lord adds this teſtimony of the ſpirit unto ſenſe and p. 375feeling, to give matter for conſcience to build a new judgement upon, concerning the ſouls everlaſting eſtate.

II. The Lord addeth the teſtimony of the ſpirit unto ſenſe and feeling, to its teſtimony unto faith, that the evidence of the ſouls union unto Chriſt, might every way counterpoiſe the evidences that the ſoul hath received of its ſeparation from Chriſt.

There are three evidences unto a ſoul of his ſeparation from Chriſt, and this teſtimony of the ſpirit unto ſenſe and feeling, doth parallel the ſoul with a ſufficient evidence of his union with Chriſt, anſwerable to thoſe three evidences of the ſouls ſeperation from Chriſt.

1. There is the bleſſed word of the Majeſty of Heaven, determining that every Son and Daughter of Adam, is by merrit and deſert everlaſtingly ſeperated from the Lord Jeſus, and actually the firſt moment of his Being, void of union and communion with Chriſt.

2. There is the evidence of the ſouls work.

The contrary, oppoſite, rebellious working of the ſoul againſt Chriſt, doth evidently declare that there is no union between Chriſt and any ſoul naturally: as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 John 3.8. He that committeth ſin, (that is, with full purpoſe and bent of ſpirit, with a full determination of his judgement and will) is of the Devil.

3. There is the teſtimony of conſcience founded upon theſe contrary workings of the Heart unto Chriſt that a ſoul is ſeperated from Chriſt. Now in oppoſition to theſe three, the ſpirit gives teſtimony unto faith, that even ſuch a particular deſpicable loſt ſinner, ſhall infallibly in his cleaving to the Lord Jeſus, enjoy p. 376everlaſting union and communion with him: And then the Spirit adds this Teſtimony alſo unto ſenſe and feeling, whereby he makes the Soul diſcern even from the moving and working of his Heart towards the Lord Jeſus, that he is actually united to him; and from thence Conſcience cannot but bear witneſs, that the Soul is actually united unto Chriſt.

III. The Lord doth vouchſafe to make a ſuper-addition of the Spirits Witneſs to ſenſe, that the whole bleſſed word of God might ſweetly concur together, in bearing Witneſs to the Souls union with the Lord Jeſus. As for example, that word in 1 John 4.13. Hereby we know that God dwells in us, and we in him, (that is, that we have union and communion with God in Chriſt) becauſe he hath given us of his Spirit. This vvord bears not Teſtimony to the Souls Faith of its union vvith Chriſt, but it bears Teſtimony unto the believing Souls ſenſe that is united, vvhen the Soul is ſenſible that the Spirit is conveyed from God into its Boſom. Likevviſe that other vvord in 2 Cor. 13.5. Examine your ſelves, whether you be in the faith, prove your own ſelves, know ye not your own ſelves, how that Jeſus Chriſt is in you, (that is to ſay, that the life, and grace, and holineſs of Jeſus Chriſt is communicated to you, that Jeſus Chriſt acts and vvorks in you, and through you) knovv ye not this, except ye be Reprobates? Novv this Word bears no teſtimony to the Souls faith of its union vvith Chriſt, becauſe the indvvelling of Chriſt in the Believing ſoul, is not the object of Faith, but the object of ſpiritual ſight.

IV. The Lord adds the teſtimony of his ſpirit p. 377unto the ſouls ſenſe, that believing ſouls might receive the earneſt of their everlaſting union with the Lord Jeſus here below, according to that, Eph. 1.13. Ye were ſealed with the Holy ſpirit of promiſe, which is the earneſt of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchaſed poſſeſſion. So in 2 Cor. 1.22. Who hath alſo ſealed us, and given us the earneſt of his ſpirit in our hearts. The earneſt imports two things.

Firſt, That the Lord giveth the ſoul part of his everlaſting portion before hand.

2dly, That the Lord gives that ſmall portion as a pledge to aſſure the ſoul of the enjoyment of the full inheritance. Now in the ſpirits teſtifying unto ſenſe, the ſouls union, the ſpirit doth clearly manifeſt the very entrance of the ſoul into union, and its participation of ſome degree of union with Chriſt already, in regard it diſcovers ſome of the graces of Chriſt to be actually inherent in the ſoul.

V. The Lord ſuperadds the teſtimony of the ſpirit unto ſenſe, unto its teſtimony unto faith that he might effect the fuller degree of conformity to his whole will in the ſoul. Two commands are impoſſible for the ſoul to yield a perfect obedience to, without this Teſtimony of the ſpirit to the ſouls ſenſe, of his union with Chriſt.

Firſt, The command of examining and proving the ſoul whether it be in Chriſt, and all commands of the like nature, that enjoyn the ſoul to examine whether this, or that fruit of the ſpirit be in the ſoul? whether love to God, or love to the Brethren be in the ſoul or no? There can be no effectual obedience to any command of that nature, without the ſpirits teſtimony to the ſouls ſenſe, of p. 378his union with Chriſt, in regard it is the proper and peculiar Office of the ſpirit only, to diſcover all its pretious workings to the ſoul, to be in the ſoul.

Secondly, The command of perpetual rejoycing in the Lord, could not be effectually obeyed without the teſtimony of the Spirit unto the ſouls ſenſe. Though indeed believing be the primary original of all ſpiritual joy, yet the ſouls ſenſe of its believing, is a neceſſary adjunct to make up the perfection of that ſpiritual joy.

VI. The Lord adds the teſtimony of the ſpirit to the ſouls ſenſe of union with Chriſt, to his teſtimony to faith, that the believing ſoul might be filled with joy unſpeakable, and full of glory. All thoſe glorious portions of the Lords word, whereby believers are deſcribed by the pretious habits of grace infuſed into their hearts, would be as ſo many ſtrong holds for the powers of Hell to fortifie in againſt the Believers ſoul, and would be turned by the policy of Hell into condemning ſentences againſt the ſoul, ſo as the precious Tower of the ſouls conſolation would be always battered, the ſweeteſt ſtreams of comfort would always meet with one interruption or other, in their flowing down into the boſom of the ſoul; did not the Lord add the teſtimony of his ſpirit unto ſenſe.

What the Spirits witneſs is unto ſenſe.The third thing to be opened is, what the ſpirits atteſtation to the ſouls ſenſe, and feeling of his union vvith Chriſt is. It is a precious, ſecret, immediate, clear, and authoritative irradiation of the ſouls believing act, or confidence, cauſing the truth, ſincerity, and uprightneſs of the heart in believing, to ſhine ſo reſplendently, that p. 379the ſoul in the act of believing is made ſweetly conſcious to it ſelf, that it doth rightly believe: whence the renewed Conſcience determines boldly, that the ſoul is everlaſtingly one with Chriſt.

That I might the more perſpicuouſly unfold this work of the ſpirit, we ſhall take the deſcription in peices, and open it in parts.

Firſt, You are to underſtand in the deſcription, the act of the ſpirit in this teſtimony unto ſenſe. The act is an act of irradiation, a cloathing the Believers ſoul with a tranſparent glory and brightneſs. In a word, it is but a precious beam of Heavenly light, that the ſpirit caſts upon the act of believing, for indeed it is nothing elſe but light to faith, and light to ſenſe, that is the original of all the comfort to believing ſouls. There are three acts to be obſerved concerning this irradiating work of the ſpirit.

I. It is an immediate irradiation; Nay it proceeds from that bleſſed ſpirit ſo immediately, that nothing can concur with the ſpirit in caſting that pretious light upon the ſouls believing act.

(1.) It is ſo immediate, as none of the precious Ordinances of the Lord can properly be ſaid to effect, or produce inſtrumentally, this precious manifeſtation of the ſouls believing act to it ſelf. Though it is frequently, yea conſtantly, through ſome precious Ordinances, that the ſpirit doth vouchſafe, thus to irradiate or manifeſt to the believing ſoul, the truth of his own believing act, yet it is not by vertue of any of theſe Ordinances.

(2.) It is ſuch an immediate work of the ſpirit upon the ſoul, that demonſtrations either from the antecedent or conſequent, from the cauſe, or p. 380from the effect of believing, hath no place here. Though it is certain, there may be infallible demonſtrations drawn by a believing ſoul, from the effect of his believing, that his heart was true, ſincere, and upright in believing, yet the Spirit doth ſo immediately manifeſt this believing act, in the truth, ſincerity and uprightneſs of it, to the believing ſoul, that it doth not ſend the ſoul to this or that work, to ſee what holineſs, or ſtrength of love or affection unto Chriſt, nor what readineſs of heart to all obedience to the will of God, were the conſequence of his believing, but the bleſſed ſpirit doth immediately in the very moment of the ſouls acting that believing act, caſt a beam of Heavenly light upon that very act, that there is evidence enough in the act it ſelf, that the act is a true believing act, according to the evidence of the Lords revealed will.

3. This act of the ſpirit is ſuch an immediate act, that the ſpirit uſeth not the aſſiſtance of the diſcurſive power of the mind, to collect from the deſcription of true Believers in the word, that his act of believing is upright and ſincere, according to the Lords will. It is certain, that in the ſpirits irradiation of the ſouls believing act, it doth diſcover clearly, infallibly, and unqueſtionably, all the properties whereby believers are deſcribed in the word, to be in the ſoul alſo, yet in this that is properly called the witneſs of the ſpirit unto ſenſe, in its manifeſting the believing act of the ſoul, it doth not make the diſcurſive power in the mind, the inſtrument whereby the ſoul ſhould compare together his own believing act, and the deſcription of the true believing act that the Lord requireth in the word, ſo as thence to collect by diſcourſe, that the believing act is true.

p. 3812dly. It is a clear act, full of perſpicuity and tranſparency. The ſpirit in this irradiation caſts as clear a light upon the ſouls believing act, to make it diſcover it ſelf, as the rational ſoul doth caſt a natural light upon its own natural act; ſo that it is proportionably evident to the ſoul, that his ſoul doth believe, as it is evident that the ſoul liveth, or that the ſoul wills, or that it hath a being.

3dly. The act of the ſpirit in irradiating the ſouls believing act, is authoritative, irreſiſtibly powerful. This beam of light that the Spirit caſts upon the believing ſouls act, hath ſuch a commanding power included in it, that it even commands the be…; yea, it commands undeniably, ſo as it is not poſſible for the believing ſoul to ſhut its eyes, but it muſt ſee.

II. The ſecond thing to be obſerved is, the object of this act of the ſpirit in its teſtimony unto ſenſe. The object named in the deſcription is, the ſouls believing act or confidence. That is to ſay, the very act of credit that the ſoul giveth to the bleſſed word of God, teſtifying that it is his will that that particular loveleſs ſouls ſhould adhere & cleave to the Lord Jeſus to be one with him & to have communion with him; and likewiſe teſtifying, that in the ſouls giving credit to that word o… God, it ſhall everlaſtingly enjoy union and communion with the Father, and the Son and Spirit. Now there are 4. things obſervable under this to prevent miſtakes.

I. You muſt obſerve, that it is only the preſent believing act, that is the object of the Spirits manifeſtation, or irradiation. The Spirit doth not caſt thoſe beams of Heavenly light upon the ſouls former and paſt acts of believing, though they have been multiplied, but only upon the preſent p. 382momentany act of believing, that the Spirit hath drawn forth from the ſoul, by its manifeſting of the Goſpel, and revealing the tender of union and communion with Jeſus Chriſt to the deſpicable ſinner, in its Glory and Brightneſs.

II. You are to obſerve, that the believing act of the ſoul is only the principal and primary Object of the ſpirits irradiation or manifeſtation. So that the ſpirit caſts beams of Heavenly Light upon no other act in the believing ſoul at preſent, but only upon that act commonly, the ſpirit doth at the ſame time ſo cloath the act of Love, with ſuch a Glorious ſplendor and brightneſs, as that's alſo viſible in the ſame moment to the believing ſoul, that it ſeeth unqueſtionably his Arms of Love graſping the Lord Jeſus, as well as he ſees the truth of his own confidence in the Word of Chriſt, that he will admit him into union and communion with him.

III. You muſt obſerve the vertue of the ſpirits irradiating, or manifeſting this believing act to the ſoul. The Vertue of it is to diſcover the Truth, Sincerity and Uprightneſs of the heart in believing.

1. The Truth and Sincerity; To make it unqueſtionable and Undeniable to the believing ſoul, that his Wretched, Corrupt heart doth not delude nor deceive him, but that his heart doth rely with ſome degree of ſtrength, and embrace the Lord Jeſus tendring union and communion to the ſoul.

2. It makes apparent the uprightneſs, that is, the ſtrait Conformity of the heart in ſome degree, to the rule and command of believing.

p. 383IV. You may obſerve here, how the ſpirit is the earneſt of the ſouls everlaſting inheritance, or of the ſouls everlaſting union and communion with Chriſt. It is only as the ſpirit doth irradiate the ſouls believing act to it ſelf, that it becomes the earneſt of the ſouls inheritance; That is, that it becomes as a ſmall portion given by the Bleſſed Majeſty of Heaven to the ſoul in hand, in Teſtimony that it ſhall injoy the full inheritance. The ſpirit is ſuch an earneſt in irradiating the ſouls believing act three ways.

1. In regard the ſpirit manifeſts its own preſence in the believing ſoul, by its irradiating the ſouls believing act, in diſcovering to the believing ſoul, that it doth uprightly according to the Will of God believe. It doth diſcover Holineſs to be infuſed into the ſoul, and ſo conſequently diſcover it ſelf to have taken up its Habitation in the believing ſoul. So that the believing ſoul, by the ſight that the ſpirit puts into the believing act, making it Viſible to his own eye, diſcerns the preſence of the holy ſpirit in his heart; and thus indeed there is a pretious earneſt given to the ſoul of his everlaſting union and communion with the Lord Jeſus.

2. In regard the communion between Jeſus Chriſt and the ſoul, by the ſight of his believing act, appears to the ſoul to be begun. The ſoul diſcerns Jeſus Chriſt and himſelf to be partakers of one and the ſame life, by diſcerning infallibly the truth of his own believing act.

3. In regard it enters the ſoul into the very fruition of union with Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo becomes indeed a firſt Fruit of Heaven, gives it actual poſſeſſion of that higheſt bleſſedneſs that ſanctifyed ſouls ſhall poſſeſs in Heaven. The fruition of it conſiſts in two things.

p. 384Firſt, In the certain knowledge that it hath of union and communion with Chriſt.

Secondly, In the ſenſe of the ſweetneſs and comfort of union and communion with Chriſt.

Nothing though it be poſſeſſed, can be ſaid to be enjoyed, unleſs the party poſſeſſed of it hath a ſenſe of the ſweetneſs and comfort of the good that he is poſſeſſed of.

III. The third thing obſervable is, the effect of the manifeſtation, or the enlightning of the believing act in the ſoul. That is a pretious, ſweet conſciouſneſs in the believing ſoul in his very act of believing, that he doth rightly believe, It is by the ſpirits irradiation of the pretious Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt to the ſouls underſtanding, that the ſoul diſcerns by faith the boſom of that bleſſed Redeemer, the Lord Jeſus, ready to receive his loveleſs, periſhing, ſinking ſoul, into the neareſt union and communion with him: ſo likewiſe by the ſpirits irradiation of the ſouls believing act, the ſpirit makes the ſoul ſee alſo as clearly, that it doth, as it were, creep into the open boſom of the love of the Lord Jeſus.

IV. The fourth and laſt thing obſervable in the deſcription of the ſpirits witneſs to the ſouls ſenſe of its union and communion with the Lord Jeſus, is the inſeparable adjunct, or concomitant teſtimony of the ſpirit unto ſenſe. That's the determination of the renewed Conſcience in the believing ſoul, that he is everlaſtingly one with Chriſt. This is properly the effect of the ſpirits teſtimony unto ſenſe, whereas the light of every Grace (though they be luminous Bodies, and proceed from the ſpirit of light) is ſuch a ſmall light in it ſelf, that unleſs there be an addition by the Spirit unto p. 385ſenſe, it ſhines not apparently to the believing Soul; and therefore the infallible teſtimony of the Believers own Spirit, or of his renewed Underſtanding or Conſcience, is but the conſummation, or the conſequent of the Spirits irradiating the Souls believing act; yet it is inſeparable from it; no ſooner hath the Spirit witneſſed to the Souls ſenſe, that it is one with Chriſt, but the renewed Conſcience anſwers alſo, Thou art one with Chriſt. The witneſs of the Believers Spirit, or of the renewed Conſcience is but the Eccho of the witneſs of the Lords own Spirit, according to Rom. 9.1. My Conſcience bearing me witneſs in the Holy Ghoſt. It is the Spirit, as it were, that puts words into the mouth of renewed Conſcience; it doth but anſwer what is the voice of the Holy Spirit, as the Eccho anſwers our voyce. Now when the Spirit hath witneſſed unto the Souls Faith, that in its cleaving to the Lord Jeſus, his Soul ſhall be infallibly admitted into Union and Communion with him, and in that witneſs hath drawn out the believing diſpoſition to act in its ſtrength, and then caſts a brightneſs and ſplendor upon the believing act, that it ſhineth thus apparently in the Souls eye, yea ſo apparently, that the renewed Conſcience bears witneſs that the Soul doth rightly believe; then doth the Soul ſay with thoſe in 1 John 4.16. I know and believe the Love that the Father of the Lord Jeſus bears to this my Loveleſs Soul; then is the poor wavering Soul eſtabliſhed and ſetled as upon an everlaſting Rock, the Rock of Ages.

Then, 1. All the beginnings of Hell in his own Spirit are paſt. All the condemning Sentences p. 386of Conſcience that he was wont to hear every day, are obliterated and blotted out; I mean, ſo long as the teſtimony of the Spirit thus continues, all the Frowns of Conſcience are gone.

2. All tormenting Fears are baniſhed. The inward perplexity, anguiſh and vexation that perplexed the Soul, through the fear of his everlaſting ſeparation from the Glory of the preſence of the Majeſty of Heaven, all ceaſe; and there is a bleſſed Calm poſſeſſes the Soul, and then the Soul is brought like a weather-beaten Ship, into the ſweeteſt and moſt commodious Haven of reſt.

3. The Spirit of Glory poſſeſſeth the believing Soul. Then is its contentment in union and communion with the Lord Jeſus infinite, unſpeakable, then doth it rejoyce, yea triumph in the Lord Jeſus, Rom. 5.3. Thus through this teſtimony unto Senſe, added to the teſtimony unto Faith, the Soul is even ſet down with one foot, as it were, into the great City of the King of Heaven, ſweetly expecting his full fruition of that tranſcendent Glory that it ſolaceth it ſelf in the ſweeteſt expectation of, till time ſhall come that Faith and Expectation ſhall ceaſe, and Sight and Viſion ſhall only take place. Thus you ſee what the ſealing-witneſs of the Spirit is unto Senſe. There are now ſome Cautions that of neceſſity muſt be given to you, believing Souls, to prevent any ſad Miſtake about this great Myſtery.

Caution. 1 Firſt therefore you muſt underſtand, That though the fulneſs of the Souls infallible p. 387certainty of his union with the Lord Jeſus, doth depend upon this atteſtation of the Spirit unto his Faith and Senſe; yet the Lord doth vouchſafe much comfortable evidence to many believing Souls of their certain and infallible union with the Lord Jeſus, to whom he doth not ſend this bleſſed Spirit, thus to avouch and atteſt to their Souls their Union with Chriſt,

1. The Spirit may and doth; by thoſe four former precious effects upon the believing Souls, eſtabliſh their Souls in a ſweet Soul-chearing, Soul-reviving confidence of the Lords acceptance of them into union with Chriſt. There is the whole Materiality of the Spirits witneſs, of the Souls evidence unto Faith and Senſe, before the Spirits atteſtation unto Faith and Senſe; though the Spirits witneſs is the Formality, as I may call it, its that which gives the being of the Souls evidence both to Faith and to Senſe, yet you muſt obſerve the certainty of the union principally belongs to the Souls Faith,

2. Whatever degree of evidence unto the Souls ſenſe and feeling any ſuch believing Soul doth enjoy, before the witneſs of the Spirit unto Faith and Senſe, the witneſs unto Senſe is exceedingly weak, imperfect and unſatisfying to the believing Soul. Now the Soul conceiveth that he doth feel his heart rightly anſwering that precious tender of union, immediately again fearing that that wretched curſed heart of his doth but delude and deceive him.

3. You muſt obſerve, that this comfortable evidence that the Spirit doth vouchſafe to many p. 388believing Souls, of their union with Chriſt, it is frequently an addition unto Faith only, and to Faith principally. And indeed this is very common, that the Lord doth vouchſafe thus a comfortable evidence unto Faith, when his bleſſed pleaſure is to withdraw all evidence of union from the Soul's ſenſe and feeling. This was the caſe of that bleſſed head of all believing Souls, the Lord Jeſus, Mat. 27.46. Saith he, My God, My God. Here was a clear evidence that vouchſafed to the Faith of the Lord Jeſus his certain and infallible union with the bleſſed Father; but the evidence unto Senſe was totally wanting: Why haſt thou forſaken me?

4. You muſt note alſo, that this comfortable evidence of union with Chriſt, that the Lord doth vouchſafe to many believing Souls, to whom he doth not ſend the Spirit to atteſt their union, is never an evidence to the Senſe of thoſe believing Souls, without an evidence unto their Faith. Though the evidence unto Faith hath no ſuch dependance upon the evidence unto Senſe, but it may conſiſt without it, yet the evidence of union unto the Souls ſenſe, hath an entire and full dependance upon the Souls evidence unto Faith, that it cannot conſiſt without it. The very matter or original of the Souls evidence unto Senſe of his union with Chriſt, is the believing act, the Souls reliance upon the truth and faithfulneſs of the Lord Jeſus to fulfil his bleſſed Word, offering reconciliation unto every unlovely Sinner that will. Now without evidence unto Faith of that Souls particular admiſſion into union with the Lord Jeſus, that believing act is p. 389never drawn forth in the believing Soul.

Caution 2. Secondly, You muſt underſtand, That there is much variety in this teſtimony of the Spirit, both unto Faith and unto Senſe. It doth witneſs in a various manner, to believing Souls their union with Chriſt.

1. There is much variety in the Spirits teſtimony unto believing Souls of their union with Chriſt in the full perſpicuity and clearneſs of the Spirits teſtimony. The Spirit ſpeaks both to Faith and unto Senſe, only by a ſecret reſplendent Beam of heavenly Light, and that Beam of heavenly light hath various degrees of Brightneſs, wherein it ſhines in a various manner, unto various believing Souls: To ſome believing Souls that precious Beam of heavenly light ſhines with ſuch an orient tranſcendent brightneſs, with ſuch tranſparent heavenly Glory, that no Curtain of Darkneſs or Diſtruſtfulneſs, or Unbelief, or ſinful Jealouſie, can keep out the virtue of that precious Beam; but to ſome other believing Soul, that precious Beam of Light to Faith, or light to Senſe, ſhines only like a Beam of the Sun through a Key-hole, when the Door remains ſhut ſtill. There is a threefold degree of its clearneſs and perſpicuity, that may be collected from Rom. 5.1, 2, 3. where a threefold effect of it is mentioned.

1. There is ſuch a teſtimony as procureth reſt and peace to the toſſed, perplexed, believing Soul. That's laid down in the firſt Verſe; Being juſtified by Faith, we have peace with God.

2. A ſecond degree, We rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God. There is a kind of joy and contentment in the Souls reſt.

p. 3903. Sometimes the teſtimony is ſo clear and perſpicuous, as it produces a holy triumph and glorying in the believing Soul; verſ. 3. Not only ſo, but we glory in tribulation alſo. Yea this ful perſpicuity and clearneſs of the Spirits teſtimony, is that which procures ſuch a general Triumph of the Soul, that it doth not only triumph over all external evils, as being more than a conqueror over perſecutions and tribulations; but the heart in that moment alſo triumphs over all temptations, even all the evil workings of natural diſtruſt and unbelief in his own Spirit.

2. There is alſo a variety in the teſtimony of the Spirit, both unto Faith and Senſe, in regard of the permanency and continuance of the Teſtimony. To one believing Soul the Spirit bears witneſs of union, by a precious beam of heavenly light ſhining to Faith's eye, and by ſweet holy Rayes caſt upon the Souls believing act, but theſe are but like a flaſh of Lightning, ſhut up again in a moment; but to another believing Soul, the Spirit renders this teſtimony unto Faith, and unto Senſe, in an abiding way.

3. There is a variety in the teſtimony of the Spirit unto believing Souls, in regard of the frequency of its renewing the ſame Teſtimony. To one believing Soul the Spirit will teſtifie again and again; upon every occaſion, the Spirit will ſtep in very opportunely, when the Soul is at a pinch, and renew its Record; to another believing Soul, to whom the Spirit vouchſafes alſo the ſame Teſtimony, it ſhall be rarely, and for a moment.

Caution 3. Thirdly, You muſt underſtand, That p. 391whenever the bleſſed ſpirit doth avouch and atteſt moſt fully to a believing ſoul its union with Chriſt, this teſtimony doth not always actually abide in the believing ſoul, without interruption and intermiſſion. This heavenly Light, that the ſpirit of light and wiſdom vouchſafeth to a believing ſoul, may like Elijah's fiery Chariot, mount the ſoul to the third Heavens for a ſeaſon, yet it muſt come down again; though Paul be wrapped up into the third Heavens, yet he muſt not abide there while he remains in the fleſh: Though Peter might have a ſoul-raviſhing view of the glory of the Lord Jeſus for a ſeaſon in the Mount, yet he muſt not have a Tabernacle there.

There are four or five reaſons, why it is the bleſſed pleaſure of the Majeſty of Heaven, that the teſtimony ſhould not actually abide in the believing ſoul.

I. That there might be a difference between Heaven and Earth.

II. That the Lord might have his honour in believing ſouls, in his predeſtinated way. The prime and principle way wherein the Lord hath determined from Eternity, to have honour from his Saints, while they are here below, is from their believing his Majeſty upon his bare word, 2. Cor. 5.7.

III. That there might be a conſtant, lively, experimental ſenſe of the ſouls abſolute dependance upon the Lord ſtill, for the evidence of his union.

IIII. That the Lord might inſtruct all others the better, by his dealings with ſome believing ſouls.

God inſtructs weak believers in this, that the evidence of union is not eſſential unto union.

p. 392V. That the glory of the precious Saints may be Vailed and hid, and this may be in judgement to the world, that they may ſtumble at the Saints, and judge them diſpicable fools, that ſpend their time in ſadneſs and melancholy.

Cau. 4. Fourthly, there is a fourth cauſion, and that is this, that the efficacy of this bleſſed Record, that the ſpirit gives to a believing ſoul, of his union with Chriſt, ought to continue when the Record it ſelf doth not actually continue. The Record of the bleſſed ſpirit is the judicial ſentence the ſpirit caſts upon the ſouls final eſtate, and therefore ought to be totally definitive, never to be called in queſtion by that believing ſoul, but the ſoul for ever after, even in the ſaddeſt interruption of that bleſſed ſpirit ought to ſay, though I do fall, I ſhall ariſe, though I have no viſion of the ſweeteſt face of my Redeemer, yet I ſhall ſee him face to face, when I ſhall be altogether like unto him. It is infinite ſinfulneſs, for that believing ſoul, ever to call in queſtion the love of the bleſſed Majeſty of Heaven, after the ſpirit hath thus avouched it to the ſoul.

Thus you have heard in ſome meaſure the grand queſtion opened, which is, how a ſoul may certainly and infallibly know, that he is united to the Lord Jeſus. I ſhall now come to anſwer to the ſecond queſtion, which is this;

Que. 2. How Souls that conceive themſelves to have received certain and ſatiſfying evidence of their union with the Lord Jeſus, may konw certainly and infallibly, that their evidence of this union with Chriſt received is only from God, and not a diabolical Enthuſiaſm, or Inſpiration, or a deluſion p. 393by the Divels tranſlation of himſelf into an Angelical glory?

Now for the clearer explication or unfolding this queſtion, there muſt be divers things premiſed.

There be four things I muſt premiſe concerning thoſe diabolical inſpirations.

And there are Four things concerning the manner of the Souls trial of his evidence received, whether it be a deluſion, or whether it be from the Lord in Chriſt.

Pre. 1. Firſt, I muſt premiſe, that all the dimenſions of the implacable malice of the infernal powers, is directly ſet a… work againſt every believers evidence of his union with the Lord Jeſus. The darkning the pretious evidence of the Souls union is in a manner the Center wherein all the Helliſh deſigns that are practiſed againſt a believing ſoul meet together in one.

All the fiery darts that he ſhoots from his Helliſh Quiver againſt Believing ſouls are intended to batter down the Tower of ſtrong confidence of the Lords acceptance of his Soul into union with the Lord Jeſus. His moſt curſed inſinuations into any believing heart, alluring to any corruption intentionally tends towards the darkning the light of the Lords countenance that ſhines upon the believing ſoul; certainly the Devils acting with ſo high a hand againſt the Apoſtle Peter, that cauſed him to deny his bleſſed Lord and Maſter, the Lord Jeſus, intentionally ended in this, to overthrow his confidence in Chriſt, and therefore Chriſt tells him, he had prayed for him that his faith fail not. Nay, the bleſſed head of all believing ſouls, the Lord Jeſus himſelf (who was a perfect example and pattern to p. 394all believing Souls in temptation) he was encountred withal in this way by the grand Adverſary the Devil, the Devil made his cloſe and ſtrongeſt battery againſt his confidence of the hypoſtatical union between the Father and him; therefore ſaith he, if thou be the Son of God, command theſe Stones to be made Bread. And in like manner, all the powers of Hell are in a particular manner employed againſt every Believers evidence of his union with Chriſt, and therefore he eſpecially endeavours to ſtrike down their faith. Whence it was that the Apoſtle was chiefly over the Devil in that particular, 1 Theſ. 3.5. Saith he, I ſent to know your faith, leaſt by ſome means the Tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. Indeed there are many reaſons why the peculiar malice of Hell ſhould work in all its ſtrength againſt believers evidence of their Union with Chriſt.

I. In regard the faith that is neceſſarily drawn forth into exerciſe with ſtrength and power, upon receiving evidence of the ſouls union with Chriſt, is a peculiar object of the Devils malice. And that in Three reſpects.

1. That faith which is drawn forth into exerciſe, is the moſt direct oppoſite of the Devil, it is the Devils grand Adverſary. In that lieth all the ſtrength of the believing ſoul, againſt all the Devils encounters: It is the Shield that quenches all the Devils fiery darts, Eph. 5.6. It is that whereby the ſoul reſiſts the Devil till he gains the conqueſt, and puts that infernal Adverſary to flight, 1 Pet. 5.9.

p. 3952. In regard it is the moſt triumphant Conqueror over all his Army, that he calls in for his aſſiſtance againſt the believing Soul. This is the victory whereby we overcome the World, 1 John. 5.4. That is, all that either within or without the Soul ſhall concur to the drawing it from obedience to the Lords will.

3. That faith that is neceſſarily drawn out into exerciſe, upon the receiving the evidence of the union, is that which gives the Lord his moſt peculiar glory and honour of his precious truth: By this the believing Soul ſets to his Seal that God is true, John. 3.33. Now the Devils peculiar malice being againſt the bleſſed Majeſty of Heaven, thence his malice is againſt this faith, that is drawn out into exerciſe upon the Souls receiving evidence of union with the Lord Jeſus.

II. In regard the joy and comfort that is the unſeparable conſequence of the Souls receiving the evidence of his union, is another peculiar object of the Devils malice. Envy works infinitely in the Devils boſom, upon the ſight of ſuch unſpeakable joy as poor believing Souls are filled with; ſeeing Angels whoſe nature are more glorious, are lef… abſolutely deſtitute of joy and comfort. Now from theſe workings of envy, hatred works alſo infinitely and unſpeakably in the Devils boſom, againſt the evidence of the Souls union with Chriſt.

III. The believers evidence of his union with the Lord Jeſus, being the peculiar work of the bleſſed Spirit, of neceſſity muſt be the peculiar object of the Devils malice, there being ſuch a diametrical oppoſition between the Devil, and that bleſſed Spirit. Every work of that bleſſed Spirit is infinitely p. 396abominated by him: And thence this evidence of the Souls union is the particular object of the Devils malice, in regard it is the Office of the bleſſed Spirit to be the comforter of thoſe believing Souls.

IV. In regard the believing Soul, through that evidence of his union with the Lord Jeſus, hath ſome kind of fruition and enjoyment of Union and Communion with the Father through Chriſt. The Soul doth not only poſſeſs Union and Communion, but hath the knowledge of it, the ſweet and comfort of it, and thats the fruition of Union and Communion. Now the Union of Souls with the Father through Chriſt, is the moſt proper object of all the Devils envie and malice.

5. The very firſt-born power of his malice works againſt the Believers evidence of his Union, in regard Believers through their enjoyment of that evidence of their Union with Chriſt, do hold forth the moſt orient brightneſs of the Lords grace & love in Chriſt. Now the Lords peculiar delight being in receiving the honour of his love from poor deſpicable worms; thence the Devils malice works infinitely againſt the Souls receiving evidence of his union with the Lord Jeſus, becauſe it works infinitely againſt the Lords receiving his own intended glory.

Secondly, I muſt premiſe, That all the moſt profound policy, ſubtilty, and craft of all the Princes and Rulers of the Region of darkneſs, is employed in that moſt curſed inſinuation to a believing Soul, that the evidence of his Union with Chriſt, received either to faith or ſenſe, is but a diabolical deluſion. The policies of Hell all concur together p. 397in its ſtrength in this temptation or inſinuation to a believing ſoul that his evidence is but a deluſion.

I. In regard by the Devils prevailing in this temptation, he leads the Soul in the moſt extricable labyrinth, that there is no poſſibility by all the diligence the ſoul can uſe to evade or eſcape, and find the way out. The Soul once paſſing a Sentence againſt his own evidence, that it is nothing but a fancy, or a helliſh deluſion, he is loſt in a wood as it were of fear and perplexity, of queſtions and ſcruples, he is then caught indeed in the Devils thicket, in the bryars that are of Hells own planting. There is nothing then left to clear the Souls way (I mean if the actual evidence of that Souls Union be ſuſpended) until a renewed actual evidence of the ſame Spirit comes to the Soul: There is no way left for the Soul wherein it is poſſible for it to make a tryal of his own eſtate; The Soul can make no proof from the light of his own Grace, that light muſt be ſuppoſed to have been diſcovered to the Soul in its union received, that being rejected, no other light can manifeſt Grace to be in the Soul.

II. In regard the prevailing in this temptation grieves the very Comforter himſelf, it wearies the Spirit of the Lord, whoſe Office is thus; To reveal to the Lord its acceptance into union with Chriſt, it cauſeth the Soul to make a direct oppoſition againſt the bleſſed Comforter. So that now in the Devils prevailing in this inſinuation, he no… only leaves the Soul in a moſt inextricable labyrinth, but provokes the bleſſed Spirit of the Lord to withdraw himſelf, and to withhold all renewed beams of light from that believing Soul.

p. 3983. In regard the prevailing of that temptation would bereave the Soul (at leaſt of the fruition and benefit) of all that's paſt over to the Soul in Chriſt. If that temptation take hold upon the Spirit, that the Soul draws that concluſion, that his evidence is a deluſion, then all the boldneſs and freedom of acceſs to the Throne of Grace for ſupply, is vaniſhed in a moment: In a word, by the prevailing of this, the Devil in a manner ſnatches the believing Soul from among the number of the Friends of the Almighty, and ſets him among the poor ſtrangers; by the prevailing of this, he ſnatches the believing Soul from among the Veſſels of honour (I mean in the Souls apprehenſion, and in regard of the Souls enjoyment) and places it among the Veſſels of diſhonour, it makes the the Soul diſclaim all intereſt, right and title to any mercy and love.

4. In regard the prevailing of this inſinuation with the believing Soul, doth reduce or bring back the believing Soul, and make it liable and ſubject to the power and force of all other curſed inſinuations from the Devil. The prevailing of this ſuggeſtion brings the Soul under the force of all thoſe temptations that his Soul was formerly delivered from, all the temptations grounded upon the Souls unworthineſs, all that were grounded upon the Souls long continuance in ſin.

Pre. 3. Thirdly, Every believing Soul that hath received the evidence of his union to faith and ſenſe, muſt expect all the rage, power, and ſtrength that Satan can afford, to be employed againſt the Soul, to darken and obſcure that evidence.

1. All the powet of Hell is employed to ſuggeſt p. 399falſe reaſonings, carnal ſenſual arguments into the mind of that believing ſoul.

2. All the power in the corrupted Conſcience of that believing Soul, is and will be employed to accompliſh that deſign, to perſwade the believing Soul that the evidence of his union received, is but a diabolical deluſion. His power in the corrupted Conſcience will be employed to edifie and ſtir it up to bring in falſe Accuſations againſt the believing Soul.

3. His whole power and ſtrength will be employed in ſtirring up paſſions, and diſordered tumultuous affections in that believing Soul. Any believing of fear and terror, the Devil will foment and nouriſh, and by his mighty power over thoſe paſſions and affections, make ſuch a confuſion and tumult, as if the Soul and Hell were to come together immediately.

The Devil will employ his power over the affections themſelves, and his power upon the humours of the Body, through which thoſe paſſions and affections work. The Devil upon the very ſuggeſtion, that the Souls evidence of his union is a deluſion; will exerciſe his power ſo upon the humours of the Body, as to diſpoſe the Body to a timerous trembling, it may be almoſt every joynt ſhaking, upon the imagination it may be deluded, and then nouriſh and augment, by bringing in renewed accuſation upon accuſation, againſt a believing Soul. So that all the falſe reaſonings of the mind, and the falſe accuſation of the conſcience, hath a more power upon the Soul in regard of the diſpoſition of the body, and the working of the affections.