Heaven on Earth, Discourse · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Shewing the difference between a true and a counterfeit Aſſurance, between ſound Aſſurance and Preſumption.
FIrſt, A ſound and welgrounded Aſſurance is attended with a deep admiration of Gods tranſcendent love and favor to the Soul in the Lord Jeſus: The aſſured Soul is often a breathing it out thus, Ah Lord, who am I? what am I that thou ſhouldſt give into my boſome the white ſtone of Abſolution,Revel. 2. 17. The white ſtone given among the Romans, was a ſign of Abſolution, and the black ſtone was a ſign of condemnation. when the world hath given into their boſoms onelyonly the black ſtone of Condemnation? Lord, what mercy is this, that thou ſhouldſt give me Aſſurance, give me water out of the Rock, and feed me with Manna from Heaven, when many of thy deareſt ones ſpend their days in ſighing, mourning and complaining for want of Aſſurance? Lord, what manner of love is this, that thou ſhouldſt ſet me upon thy knee? embrace me in thy arms? lodge me in thy boſome? and kiſs me with the ſweet kiſſes of thy bleſſed mouth, with thoſe kiſſes that are better then Cant. 1. 2. Pſal. 63. 3.wine, yea, better then life, when many are even weary of their lives, becauſe they want what I enjoy? Ah Lord, by what name ſhall I call this Mercy,Aſſurance is a wonderful Alchimy it changeth Iron to Gold, Ignominies to Crowns, and all ſufferings to delights. this Aſſurance, that thou haſt given me? It being a mercy that fits me to do duties, to bear croſſes, and to improve mercies; that fits me to ſpeak ſweetly, to judge righteouſly, to give liberally, to act ſeriouſly, to ſuffer cheerfully, and to walk humbly. I cannot, ſayes the aſſured Soul, but ſing it out with Moſes, Who is like unto thee, O Exod. 15. 11.Lord, amongſt the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holineſs, fearful in praiſes, doing wonders? And with the Apoſtle, O the height, the depth, the length and Eph. 3. 18, 19. Aſſurance of Chriſts love made Jerome admiringly to ſay, O my Saviour, didſt thou die for love of me alone, more dolorous then death, but to me a death more lovely, then love it ſelf? I cannot live, love thee, and be longer from thee.breadth of the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge. If the Queen of She…a (ſayes the aſſured Soul) was ſo ſwallowed up in a deep adm…ration of Solomons wiſdom, greatneſs, goodneſs, excellency, and glory, that ſhe could not but admiringly breathe it thus out, Happy are thy men, happy are theſe thy ſervants, which ſtand continually before thee, and that hear thy wiſdom; O then, how ſhould that bleſſed Aſſurance that I have of the love of God, of my intereſt in God, of my union and communion with God, of my bleſſedneſs here, and my happineſs hereafter, work me to a deep and ſerious, to a real and perpetual admiration of God!
Secondly, A wel-grounded Aſſurance doth alwayes beget in the Soul an earneſt and an impatient longing after, a further, a clearer, and fuller enjoyment of God and Chriſt. Pſal. 63. 1. O God, thou art my God, (here isDavid, though in a wilderneſs, ſeeks not for bread or water, or protection, but for more of God. Phil. 1. 23. Aſſurance) well, what follows? Early will I ſeek thee. My ſoul thirſteth for thee, my fleſh longeth for thee in a dry and thirſty Land, where no water is. The aſſured Soul cryes out, I deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt; And, Make haſte Cant. 8. 14.my beloved; And, Come Lord Jeſus, come Revel. 22. 17.quickly. O Lord Jeſus, ſayes the aſſuredThe aſſured Souls Motto is, O my God, when ſhall I be with thee, when ſhall I be with thee? Soul, thou art my light, thou art my life, thou art my love, thou art my joy, thou art my crown, thou art my heaven, thou art my all: I cannot but long to ſee that beautiful face that was ſpit upon for my ſins, and that glorious head that was crowned with thorns for my tranſgreſſions. I long to take ſome turns with thee in Paradiſe, to ſee the glory of thy Jeruſalem above, to drink of thoſe Rivers of pleaſures that be at thy right hand, to taſte of all the delicates of thy Kingdom, and to be acquainted with thoſe ſecrets andEpheſ. 3. 5. Col. 1. 26. myſteries that have been hid from all ages, and to be ſwallowed up in the full enjoyment of thy Bleſſed Self.
Thirdly, A wel-grounded Aſſurance is (uſually) ſtrongly aſſaulted by SatanThe Devil marcheth well armed, and in good array, ſaith Luther. on all ſides; Satan is ſuch a grand enemy to the Joy and Peace, to the Salvation and Conſolation of the Saints, that he cannot but make uſe of all his devices and ſtratagems, to amaze and amuſe, to diſturb and diſquiet the peace and reſt of their Souls. No ſooner had Jeſus Chriſt heard that lovely voice from Heaven, This is my Matth. 3. ult. & 4. 1, 2, &c.beloved Son, in whom I am wel-pleaſed, but he is deſperately aſſaulted by Satan in the Wilderneſs. No ſooner was Paul 2 Cor. 12.dropped out of Heaven, after he had ſeen ſuch viſions of glory, that was unutterable, but he was preſently aſſaulted, and buffetted by Satan. Stand up, ſtand up aſſured Chriſtians, and tell me whether you have not found theIſa. 25. 4. blaſt of the terrible one, to be as a ſtorm againſt the wall; Since the LordI verily think that they have very much cauſe to queſtion the truth of their aſſurance, who know not what it is to have their aſſurance aſſaulted ſtrongly by S…tan. ſaid unto you, be of good chear, your ſins are forgiven you. Have not you found Satan to play the part, both of the Lyon and the Woolf, of the Serpent and the Fox, and all to weaken your Aſſurance; and to work you to queſtion the truth of your Aſſurance, and to caſt water upon your Aſſurance, and to take off the freſhneſs and ſweetneſs, the beauty and glory of your Aſſurance? I know you have. His malice, envy, and enmity, is ſuch againſtSatan is that old Serpent, as John ſpeaks, Revel. 12. 9. He is as old as the World, and is grown very cunning by experience, he being a ſpirit of above five thouſand years ſtanding. Gods honor and glory, and your comfort and felicity, that he cannot but be very ſtudious and induſtrious to make uſe of all traps, ſnares, methods, and wayes, whereby he may ſhake the pillars of your Faith, and weaken and overthrow your Aſſurance▪ Pirates you know do moſt fiercely aſſault thoſe ſhips and veſſels that are moſt richly laden; ſo doth Satan thoſe precious ſouls that have attained to the riches of full Aſſurance. Aſſurance makes a Paradiſe in Believers Souls, and this makes Satan to roar and rage. Aſſurance fits a man to do God the greateſt ſervice, and Satan the greateſt diſ-ſervice, and this makes him mad againſt the Soul. Aſſurance makes a Saint to be too hard for Satan at all weapons, yea, toRom. 8. 32. ult. lead that Sun of the Morning captive, to ſpoil him of all his hurting power, to bind him in chains, and to triumph over him, and this makes his Hell a great deal hotter; and therefore neverLuther cryes out, I am ſet upon by all the world without and within, by the devil and all his Angels. wonder at Satans aſſaulting your Aſſurance, but expect it, and look for it. The Jaylor is quiet, when his priſoner is in Bolts, but if he be eſcaped, then he purſues him with hugh and cry; ſo long as the Soul is in bolts and bondage under Satan, Satan is quiet, and is not ſo apt to moleſt and vex it; but when once a Soul is made free, andJohn 8. 36. aſſured of his freedom by Chriſt, then ſayes Satan, (as once Pharaoh did) I Exod. 15. 9.will ariſe, I will purſue, I will overtake, I will divide the ſpoil, my luſt ſhall be ſatisfied upon them: I will draw my ſword, my hand ſhall deſtroy them. The experience of all aſſured Saints doth abundantly confirm this. Iſrael going into Egypt had no enemies, no oppoſition, but travelling into Canaan, they were never free.
Fourthly, A wel-grounded Aſſurance makes a man as bold as a Lyon, it makes him valiant and gallant forProv. 28. 1. Tanto pl… gloriae referemus quoniam eo plures ſuperabimus. The number of oppoſers makes the Chriſtians conqueſt the more illuſtrious, ſay Saints, under the power of Aſſurance, &c. Chriſt and his cauſe, in the face of all dangers and deaths. After the Holy Ghoſt was faln upon the Apoſtles, and had aſſured them of their internal and eternal Happineſs, O how bold, how undanted, how reſolute were they in the face of all oppoſitions, afflictions, and perſecutions! as you may ſee from the ſecond of the Acts (of the Apoſtles) to the end of the Acts. So Aſſurance had this operation upon Davids heart, Pſal. 23. 4, 6. compared, Surely, goodneſs and mercy ſhall follow me all the days of my life: Well David, but how doth this Aſſurance of yours operate? Why ſaith he, Though I walk through the valley of the ſhadow of death, I will fear no evil: So Moſes having an Aſſurance of the recompence of reward, he fears not the wrath of the King; for foreign. Was conſtant.he endured, as ſeeing him who is inviſible. Heb. 11. 26, 27. So in Heb. 10. 34. And foreign, Knowing that you have in your ſelves, foreign, a better being in Heaven, and an abiding one.ye took joyfully the ſpoiling of your goods, knowing in your ſelves, that ye have in Heaven a better and an enduring ſubſtance. O that Knowledge, that Aſſurance, that they had in their own hearts of enjoying in Heaven a better and a more enduring ſubſtance, made them bear cheerfully and gallantly, the ſpoiling of their worldly goods. Though the Archers, the World, the Fleſh, and the Devil, do ſhoot ſore at a Soul under Aſſurance, yet his Bowe will ſtill abide in ſtrength. Aſſurance will make a man to break a Bowe of Steel, to trample down ſtrength, and to triumph over all oppoſitions and afflictions. Colonus the Dutch Martyr, called to the Judge that had ſentenced him to death, and deſired him to lay his hand upon his heart, and asked him whoſe heart did moſt beat, his or the Judges. Aſſurance will make a man do this, and much more for Chriſt, and his Cauſe.
Fifthly, A wel-grounded Aſſurance of a mans own eternal Happineſs and Bleſſedneſs, will make him very ſtudious and laborious to make others happy. Pſal. 66. 16. Come and hear all ye that fear God, and I will tell you what he hath done for my ſoul. I will acquaint you with the ſoul-bleſſings, with the ſoul-favors, that God hath crowned me with. I was darkneſs, but he hathEph. 5. 8. 1 Cor. 1. 30. made me light; I was unrighteouſneſs, but he hath made me righteous; I wasCol. 2. 10. Iſa. 1. 6. Epheſ. 5. 26, 27. Cant. 4. 7. deformed, but he hath made me compleat; I was full of ſores, and ſpots, and blemiſhes, but he hath waſhed me, and made me all fair without ſpot or wrinkle. I have found the want of Aſſurance, I now ſee the worth of Aſſurance; I have long ſought Aſſurance, and now I finde the ſweetneſs of Aſſurance: Ah it is ſuch a Pearl of price, it is ſuch a Beam of God, it is ſuch a ſpark of glory, that makes my Soul a rich amends for all its waiting, weeping, and wraſtling. So when it pleaſedGal. 1. 15, 16. foreign, In me. God to call Paul by his grace, and to reveal Chriſt in him, and to him, Ah how doth he labor, as for life, to bring others to an acquaintance with Chriſt, and to an acceptance of Chriſt, and to an Aſſurance of Everlaſting Happineſs, and Bleſſedneſs by Chriſt! After Paul had been in Paradiſe, he makes it his2 Cor. 12. all to bring others to Paradiſe. So the Spouſe in the Canticles having aſſuranceCant. 5. 10—ult. & 6. 1, &c. of her intereſt in Chriſt, how doth ſhe labor by all holy and heavenly Rhetorick and Logick, by all the ſtrains of love and ſweetneſs, to draw the daughters of Jeruſalem to a ſight of Chriſt, and to an aſſurance of the love of Chriſt! When a Beam of Divine light and love had ſhined upon Andrew, John 1. 40, 41, 42.he labors to draw his Brother Simon to the Fountain of all light and love; and when Philip had but a caſt ofVerſ. 43, 44, 45, 46, 47. Chriſts countenance, his pulſe beats, and his heart calls upon Nathaniel, to come and ſhare with him in that loving kindneſs that was better then life.
The conſtant cry of Souls under the power of Aſſurance, is, Come taſte and Pſal. 34. 8.ſee how good the Lord is. Ah ſinners, ſinners, his wayes are wayes of pleaſantneſs, Prov. 3. 17. 1 John 5. 3.and all his paths are peace; his commands are not grievous, but joyous; his yoke Matth. 11. 30.is eaſie, and his burden is light; not onelyonly for keeping, but alſo in keeping of Pſal. 19. 11.his commands, there is great reward. Aſſurance will ſtrongly put men upon winning of others by counſel, by example, by prayer, and by communicating their Spiritual Experiences to them. Aſſurance will furniſh a man with will, skill, and experience, to confute all thoſe falſe reports that vain men frequently caſt upon the Lord, and his ways. It will make a man proclaim to the world, That one Pſal. 84. 10.day in the Lords courts is better then a thouſand years elſwhere; That there are more glorious joyes, more pure comforts, more abiding peace, more royal contents, more celeſtial delights, in one dayes walking with God, in one hours communion with God, &c. then is to be found in all things below God. And by theſe, and ſuch like wayes, Souls under the power of a welgrounded Aſſurance, do endeavor to make others happy with themſelves. A Soul under Aſſurance is unwilling to go to Heaven without company; he is often a crying out, Father bleſs this Soul too, and crown that Soul too: Let us to Heaven together, let us be made happy together.
Sixthly, A wel-grounded Aſſurance of Gods love, and of a mans Everlaſting Happineſs and Bleſſedneſs, will exceedingly arm and ſtrengthen him againſt all wickedneſs and baſeneſs. No man loaths ſin, and himſelf for ſin,Ezek. 16 60, 61, 62, 63. as ſuch a man; no man wars and watches againſt ſin, more then ſuch a man; no man ſighs and mourns,Rom. 7. 22, ult. bleeds and complains under the ſenſe of ſinful motions, and ſinful operations,Luke 7. 44. ult. more then ſuch a man. Every ſtirring of ſin makes a man that is under the power of Aſſurance, to cry out, O wretched man that I am, who ſhall deliver me from this body of death! Pſal. 85. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will ſpeak; for he will ſpeak peace unto his people, and to his Saints: And let them not turn again to folly, or as the Hebrew will bear, And they ſhall not return to folly. Gods ſpeaking peace to his people, fences and fortifies them againſt folly and vanity.
The Aſſurance that Joſeph had of his Maſters love, armed him againſt the laſcivious aſſaults of his luſtful Miſtreſs; and will not Divine love that is ſtronger then death, do thisCant 8. 6, 7. and more? Aſſurance makes a man ſay to his ſins, as he to his Idols, get you hence, for, What have I any Hoſea 14. 8. compared with the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. verſ….more to do with Idols? So ſayes the aſſured Soul, away pride, away paſſion, away worldly mindedneſs, away uncleanneſs, away uncharitableneſs, &c. For what have I any more to do with you? Aſſurance makes the Soul ſpeak to ſin, as David ſpeaks to ſinners, Pſal. 119. 115. Depart from me ye workers of iniquity; for I will keep the Commandments of my God: So ſayes the aſſured Soul, depart from me, O my luſts, for I have taſted of the love of God, and I have given up my ſelf wholly and one…y to God, and I cannot but keep the Commandments of my God. The Jewiſh Rabbins report, that the ſame night that Iſrael departed out of Egypt, towards Canaan, all the Idols and idolatrous Temples in Egypt, by Lightning and Earthquakes, were broken down: So when Chriſt and Aſſurance comes to be ſet up in the Soul, all the Idols of Satan, and a mans own heart; are caſt down, and caſt out as an abomination. Sound Aſſurance puts a man upon purifying himſelf, even as Christ is 1 John 3. 2, 3.pure. The aſſured Chriſtian knows, That it is dangerous to ſin againſt light, that it is more dangerous to ſin againſt love, that it is moſt dangerons to ſin againſt love revealed and manifeſted. God may well ſay to ſuch a Chriſtian, Is this thy kindneſs to thy friend? To ſin under Aſſurance, is to ſin againſt the Bowels of Mercy, it is to ſin againſt the choiceſt Remedy, it is to ſin againſt the higheſt Hopes of Glory; and this will certainly provoke God to be angry. 1 Kings 11. 9. And foreignthe Lord was angry with Solomon, becauſe Vaiithannaph in Pihil, to ſhew that the Lord was greatly angry with Solomon, the Root, foreign ſignifies properly to ſnuff with anger. It notes ſuch anger, as appeareth in the paleneſs of the face, and ſnuffing of the noſe.his heart was turned from the Lord God of Iſrael, that had appeared to him twice. To ſin under Aſſurance, is to ſin in Paradiſe, it is to ſin under the flaming ſword, it is to ſin in the Suburbs of Heaven; it is to run the hazard of loſing that favor that is better then life, of that joy that is unſpeakable, and full of glory, and of that peace that paſſes underſtanding. To ſin under Aſſurance, is to caſt reproach upon Chriſt, to grieve the Spirit, to wound Conſcience, to weaken your Graces, to blur your Evidences, to uſher in Calamities, to imbitter your Mercies, and to provoke the Tempter to triumph over your Saviour. Verily, that Aſſurance is but preſumption that works men to play with ſin, to be bold with ſin, to make light of ſin, to walk on in wayes of ſin: Such Aſſurance will never bring a man to Heaven, it will never keep him from dropping into Hell, yea, it will double his damnation, and make him the moſt miſerable among all damned, miſerable, forlorn ſpirits. Ah Lord! fromThis made Auſelm ſay, That he had rather be thruſt into Hell without ſin, then go into Heaven with ſin. ſuch an aſſurance deliver my Soul, and give me more and more of that Divine Aſſurance that makes ſin to be more hateful then Hell, and that makes the Soul to be more careful to avoid the one, then it is fearful of falling into the other.
Seventhly, A wel-grounded Aſſurance is alwayes attended with three fair Handmaids, or with three ſweet Companions:
The firſt is Love. O! the Aſſurance1. Handmaid. of Divine Favor doth mightily inflame a mans love to Chriſt. Mary Magdalen Luke 7.loved much, Chriſts love to her drew out her love very much to Chriſt. Aſſurance makes the Soul ſing it out with that ſweet Singer of Iſrael, I will dearly love thee, O Lord, my Pſal. 18. 1.ſtrength. Lovers know not how toforeign from foreign To love intimately and dearly, as a tender mother loves the fruit of her womb. keep ſilence; lovers of Chriſt are full of gracious expreſſions. Magnes amor is eſt amor; Love is the attractive Loadſtone of love. It is impoſſible for a Soul not to love Chriſt, that knows he is beloved of Chriſt. Chriſts love conſtrains the Soul to love, not by forcible, but loving neceſſity. Praxiteles exquiſitly drew Love, taking the pattern from that Paſſion which he felt in his own heart. A Believer cannot finde the heart of Chriſt to be beating towards him, but his heart will ſtrongly beat towards Chriſt. Divine love is like a rod of myrtle, which as Pliny reports, makes the Traveller that carries it in his hand, that he ſhall never be faint or weary of walking or loving. Love alone over-powereth all power. Love is the Diadem, none but the Queen muſt wear it. Love is the Wedding Garment, none but the Spouſe can fit it. Love is a Loadſtone to draw, as well as a fire to warm; he that doth not love Chriſt, was never aſſured of the love of Chriſt.
The ſecond Handmaid or Companion2. Handmaid. that attends a wel-grounded Aſſurance, is Humility. David under AſſurancePſal. 22. 6. foreign the Hebrew word Tolagnah, that is here rendred Worm, ſignifies a very little worm which a man can hardly ſee or perceive. cryes out, I am a worm and no man; Abraham under Aſſurance cryes out, that he is but duſt and aſhes; Jacob under Aſſurance crves out, that he was leſs then the leaſt of all mercies; Job under Aſſurance abhors himſelf in duſt and aſhes; Moſes had the honor and the happineſs to ſpeak with God face to face, he was very much in Gods books, in Gods favor, and yet a more humble Soul the earth did never bear. The great Apoſtle Paul, under all the revelations and glorious manifeſtations of God to him, counts himſelf leſs then the leaſt of all Saints, Ephe. 3. 8. That is Preſumption, that is a deluſion of the Devil, and no ſound Aſſurance, that puffs and ſwels the Souls of men, that makes men prize themſelves above the market, above the value that God hath put upon them.
The third Handmaid or Companion3. Handmaid. that attends Aſſurance, is, holy Joy; Ah this Aſſurance cauſes the ſtrong waters of Conſolation to overflow the Soule; Aſſurance raiſes the ſtrongeſt joyes in the Soul, Luk. 1. 46, 47. And Mary ſaid, My ſoul doth magnifie the Lord, and my Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour. When a man comes to be aſſured that God is his Savior, preſently his Spirit rejoyces in God; this truth is held forth by three Parables in that of Luk. 15. So in that of 1 Pet. 1. 8, 9. Whom having not ſeen, ye love, in foreign to dance and leap for joy, foreign, glorified already, they have heavens happineſſe before hand.whom though now ye ſee him not, yet bebeleeving, ye rejoyce with joy unſpeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the ſalvation of your ſouls. O the Joy, the Joy, the inexpreſſible Joy that attends a wel-grounded Aſſurance! Aſſurance raiſes a Paradiſe of delight in the ſoul, In quibus operamur, in ill is & gaudemus, ſaith Tertull. In what things or perſons we act, in thoſe things we rejoyce; a Chriſtian (under the power of Aſſurance) works all his works in Chriſt, in him therefore, and in him alone, he rejoyceth.
Eightly, and laſtly, A welgrounded Aſſurance ſometimes ſprings from the Teſtimony and Witneſſe of the Spirit of God. The Spirit ſometimes witneſſes to a Beleevers ſpirit that he is born of God, that he is beloved of God, that he hath union and communion with God, & that he ſhal reign for ever with God, Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit it ſelf beareth witneſs with our foreign That ſame ſpirit. The Spirits work is not foreign, but foreign to witneſſe together with our Spirit, that is to confirme and ratifie what ou… ſpirits have aſſerted concerning our Adoption. &c.ſpirit, that we are the children of God. The Spirit it ſelf witneſſeth, not onelyonly the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit, but the Spirit it ſelf witneſſeth together with our own ſpirit that we are the children of God. Sometimes the Saints have two Witneſſes joyning their teſtimonies together to confirm and eſtabliſh them in theſe bleſſed and glorious Truths, that they are the Sons of God, and Heirs of Glory: And this is their honor, as well as their comfort, that the bleſſed Spirit ſhould bear witneſs at the bar of their Conſciences, that they are the Sons of God, 1 Cor. God ſometimes aſſures his people of heaven aforehand.2. 12. Now we have received not the ſpirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God; That is, that we may know our Election, Vocation, Juſtification, Sanctification, and Glorification. A man may receive many things that are freely given of God, and yet not know them till the Spirit comes and makes them known to the ſoul.
Queſt. But you may ſay to me, how ſhall wee know the whiſpering of the holy Spirit from the hiſſing of the old Serpent? how ſhall we know the report, the witneſſe, and teſtimony of the Spirit of Chriſt, from that report, witneſle, and teſtimony that the old Serpent deludes and deceives many by, in theſe daies wherein he moſtly appears in his Angelicall Robes?
I Anſwer, you may know the whiſpering Anſw. of the Spirit, from the hiſſing of the old Serpent, &c. by theſe following things, which I deſire that you would ſeriouſly conſider, as you tender the peace, and ſettlement, the ſatisfaction, conſolation, and ſalvation of your own ſouls.
Firſt, The Spirit of Chriſt doth not witneſſe by any outward voice, as GodMatth 3. ult. Luk. 1. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. did from Heaven of Chriſt; nor by an Angell, as to the Virgin Mary; but by an inward, ſecret, glorious and unſpeakable way, he bids Beleevers be of good chear, their ſins are forgivenMatth. 9. 2. them, as Chriſt ſaid to the palſie man in the Goſpel. And this truth is to be ſolemnly minded againſt thoſe poor deceived and deluded ſouls inQuakers and Ra…ters. theſe daies, that would make the world beleeve, that they have had ſuch and ſuch glorious things made known by an outward audible voyce from Heaven; It is much to be feared that they never found the inward, the ſweet, the ſecret, the powerful teſtimony and report of the Spirit of Chriſt, that boaſt, and brag, and reſt ſo much upon an outward teſtimony. In 1 King. 19. you read of a great ſtrong wind that rent the Verſ. 11.Mountains, and brake in peeces the Rocks: but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Verſ. 12.Lord was not in the fire; And after the fire Verſ. 13.there was a ſtill ſmall voyce, and the Lord ſpake to Elijah in that ſtill ſmall voice. Ah Chriſtians! the Spirit of the Lord makes not a noiſe, but he comes in a ſtill ſmall voice, as I may ſay, and makes a ſoft and ſecret report to the ſoul, that it is beloved, that it is pardoned, and that it ſhall be for ever glorified.
Secondly, The teſtimony and witneſſe of the Spirit of Chriſt is onelyonly gained & enjoyed in holy and heavenly waies, as you may clearly ſee by comparingActs 10. 4. Dan. 9. 20. 21, 22. Iſa 64. 5. Act. 10. 44, &c. the Scriptures in the margent together. The Spirit of the Lord is a holy ſpirit, & he cannot, he wil not make any report of the love of the Father to the ſoule out of a way of holineſſe. Verily all thoſe glorious reports that many boaſt they have met with, in ſinfull waies, in wretched and ungodly waies, are from the hiſſing of the old Serpent, and not from the whiſperings of theYet this age hath many ſuch Monſters. Spirit of Grace. I think it is little leſs then blaſphemy, for any to affirm, that the bleſſed Spirit of Chriſt doth make reports of the love and favour of God, to perſons walking in waies of wickedneſſe and baſeneſſe.
Thirdly, The teſtimony and witneſs of the Spirit of Chriſt, is a clear, a …ul, a ſatisfying teſtimony and witneſſe, the ſoul ſits down under the home reportsJohn 14 17. 1 John 3. 24. of the Spirit, & ſaith, Lord it is enough, the ſoul being full ſits down and ſweetly ſings it out, My beloved is mine, and Cant. 2. 16. & 7. 10.I am his, I am my wel-beloveds and his deſire is towards me. The Lord is my portion Pſal. 16. 5. Pſal. 73. 25.and the lot of mine inheritance. I have none in Heaven but thee, neither is there any on earth that I deſire in compariſon of 2 Tim. 4 8.thee. Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteouſneſs. Make haſte my beloved, Cant. 8. ult.&c. Such power, majeſty, and glory attends the glorious teſtimony of the Spirit of Chriſt, as ſcatters all clouds, as reſolves all doubts, as anſwers all objections, as ſilences the wrangling ſoul, &c. If the teſtimony of the Spirit of Chriſt were not a ful ſatisfying teſtimony, it could never fill the ſoule with ſuch joy as is unſpeakable and full of glory, and with ſuch peace as paſſes underſtanding; if the teſtimony were not ſatisfactory the ſoul would ſtill be under fears and doubts, the heart would ſtill be a wrangling and quarrelling, I may periſh, and I may be undone, I may have the door of Mercy ſhut againſt me, &c. If you bring news to a condemned perſon that the King hath pardoned him, and that he will receive him to favor, and confer ſuch and ſuch dignity upon him, yet this doth not quiet him, nor ſatisfie him, till he knows it is the Kings act, till he is ſatisfied in that, he cannot ſay it is enough, he cannot be chearfull, hee cannot be delightful. &c. But when hee is ſatisfied that it is the Kings act, that the King hath certainly done this, and that for him, then he is ſatisfied, and then ſighing and mourning flies away, and then he rejoyces with joy unſpeakable. So it is with a beleeving Soul under the teſtimony and witneſs of the Spirit of Chriſt.
Fourthly, Though the Spirit be a witneſſing Spirit, yet he doth not alwaies witneſs to beleevers their adoption, their intereſt in Chriſt, &c. There is a mighty difference between the working of the Spirit, and the witneſs of the Spirit; There are often times many glorious and efficacious works of the Spirit, as Faith, Love, Repontance,Iſa. 50. 10. Holineſſe, &c. where there is not the witneſs of the Spirit. David at that very time had the Spirit. andPſa. 50. 10, 11, 12 many ſweet workings of the Spirit in him, and upon him, when he had by ſin loſt the witneſs and teſtimony of the Spirit. Though the Spirit of the Lord be a witneſſing and a ſealing Spirit, yet he doth not alwaies witneſsJob 23. 8, 9. 1 Joh. 5. 13. Pſa 88. Pſa. 77. Mich. 7. 8, 9. Iſa. 8. 17. and ſeal up the love and favor of the Father to beleevers ſouls, as you may ſee by the Scriptures in the Margent, and as the experience of many precious Chriſtians can abundantly evidence. All beleevers do not ſee alike need of this teſtimony, they doe not all alike prize this teſtimony, they do not all alike obſerve it and improve it, and therefore it is no wonder if the Spirit be a witneſſing Spirit to ſome, and not to others: You do but gratifie Satan, and wrong your owne ſoules, when you argue that certainly you have not the Spirit becauſe he is not a witneſſing and a ſealing Spirit to your ſoules. Though it be the office of the Spirit to witneſs, yet it is not his office alwayes to witneſs to beleevers their happineſs and bleſſedneſs: The Spirit may act one way & in one room of theA man may be a doing in one Room, when he is not in another: So is the Spirit in the heart of a Saint. ſoul, when he doth not act in another; ſometimes the Spirit works upon the Underſtanding, ſometimes upon the Will, ſometimes upon the Affections, ſometimes upon Faith, ſometimes upon Fear, ſometimes upon Love, ſometimes upon Humility, &c. Our hearts are the Spirits Harps; If a man ſhould alwaies touch one ſtring in an Inſtrument, he ſhould never play various tunes, he ſhould never make pleaſant muſick; no more would the Spirit, it he ſhould be alwaies a doing one thing in the ſoule; therefore he acts variouſly, ſometimes he will ſhew himſelfe a quickning Spirit, ſometimes an enlightning Spirit, ſometimes an humbling Spirit, ſometimes a rejoycing Spirit, ſometimes a ſealing Spirit, and alwayes a ſurporting Spirit, &c.
Fifthly, The teſtimony and witneſs of the Spirit, is a ſure teſtimony, aTitus 1. 2. John 14. 17. 1 Cor. 2. 10▪ 1 Joh. 4. 1, 2, 3, 4 ſure witneſs, the Spirit is truth it ſelf, he is the great ſearcher of the deep things of God, the Spirit of the Lord is the Diſcoverer, the Confuter, and Deſtroyer of all falſe ſpirits. The Spirit is above all poſſibility of being deceived; he is omnipotent, he is omniſcient, he is omnipreſent, he is one of the Cabinet-Councel of Heaven, he lies, and lives in the boſome of the Father, and can call them all by name upon whom the Father hath ſet his heart, and therefore his teſtimony muſt needs be true. It is a ſurer teſtimony then if a man ſhould hear a voice from Heaven pronouncing him to be happy and bleſſed. You may ſafely and ſecurely lay the weight of your ſouls upon this teſtimony, it never hath, it never will deceive any that hath leaned upon it. This teſtimony will be a rock that will bear up a ſoul, When other falſe teſtimonies will be but a reed of Egypt, that will deceive the ſoul, that will undoe the ſoul; As I am afraid many in this deluding age have found by ſad experience.
Sixthly, The teſtimony of GodsI do not ſay that the teſtimony of our ſpirits is always accompanied with the teſtimony of the Spirit; No, for a Beleever hath often the ſingle teſtimony of his own ſpirit, when he wants the teſtimony of the Spirit of Chriſt, and the ſingle teſtimony of his own conſcience, wil afford him much courage and comfort, 2 Cor. 1. 12. Yea, it wil make a paradiſe of delight in his ſoul, &c. Spirit is alwayes accompanied with the teſtimony of our own, theſe may be diſtinguiſhed, but they can never be ſeparated; when the Spirit of God gives in witneſſe for a man, his own ſpirit doth not give in witneſſe againſt him. Look as face anſwers to face, ſo doth the witneſs of a Beleevers ſpirit anſwer to the witneſs of the Spirit of Chriſt, Rom. 8. 16. The Spirit witneſſeth together with our ſpirits that we be the Sons of God. Now if our own Conſciences do not teſtifie firſt, that we are Sons and Heirs, the Spirit doth not teſtifie, for the Spirit beares witneſs together with our ſpirits; St. John is very expreſſe in 1 Joh. 3. 21. But if our hearts condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. But if our hearts condemn us, God is greater then our hearts, and knoweth all things, 1 Joh. 5. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. And there are three that bear witneſs in Earth, the Spirit, and the Water, and the Blood, and theſe three agree in one. The Spirit doth witneſs eminently and efficiently, but Water and Blood materially, and our ſpirits and Reaſon, inſtrumentally. By the Spirit we may underſtand the Holy Ghoſt, by whoſe ſtrength wee lay hold on Chriſt; and all his benefits; by Water we may underſtand our Regeneration, our Sanctification; and by Blood we may underſtand the blood and righteouſneſs of Chriſt, that is imputed and applyed by faith to us; and theſe three agree in one, that is, they doe all three of one accord teſtifie the ſame thing.
Seventhly, The witneſs of the Spirit is ever according to the Word; there is a ſweet harmony between the inward and outward teſtimony, between the Spirit of God and the VVord of God. The Scriptures were2 Pet. 1. 20, 21. all indicted by the Spirit, and therefore the Spirit cannot contradict himſelfe, which he ſhould do, if he ſhould give in any teſtimony contrary to the teſtimony of the word. It is blaſphemy to make the teſtimony of the …pirit to contradict the teſtimony of the Word. The Spirit hath revealed his whole mind in the Word, and he will not give a contrary teſtimony to what he hath given in the Word. The Word ſaith, they that are born again, that are new Creatures, that beleeve and repent, ſhall be ſaved: But thou art born again, thou art a new Creature, thou beleeveſt and repenteſt; therefore thou ſhalt be ſaved ſaith the Spirit: The Spirit never looſeth, where the Word bindeth; the Spirit never juſtifies, where the Word condemnes; the Spirit never approves, where the Word diſapproves▪ the Spirit never bleſſes, where the VVord curſes. InDeu. l 3. 1, 2, 3, 4 the Old Teſtament, all Revelations were to be examined by the VVord, Iſa. 8. 20. To the Law and to the Teſtimony, foreignif they ſpeak not according to this Word, it is becauſe there is no light (or no morning) in them. So in that of John 16.We are not only blind but lame too, therefore the Spirit ſhall lead us to the knowledge and practice of all neceſſary ſaving truths. 13. The Spirit ſhall lead you into all truth, for he ſhall not ſpeak of himſelfe, but what he ſhall hear▪ that ſhall he ſpeak. Here the Holy Ghoſt is brought in as ſome Meſſenger or Ambaſſador who onelyonly relates things faithfully, according to that he hath in charge. Such as look and lean upon the hiſſing of the old Serpent, may have a teſtimony that they are happy, againſt the teſtimony of the VVord; But where ever the Spirit of Chriſt gives in his …eſtimony, it is ſtil according to the VVord. Look, as Indenture anſwers to Indenture, or as the Counterpaine exactly anſwers to the principall Conveyance, there is Article for Article, Clauſe for Clauſe, Covenant for Covenant, word for word: So doth the teſtimony of the Spirit exactly anſwer to the teſtimony of the VVord.
Eighthly, It is a Holy witneſs, a holyNil niſi ſanctū à ſancto spiritu prodire poteſt, Nothing can come from the Holy Spirit but that which is holy. teſtimony, it is formally holy, it is originally holy, it is effectually holy. Nothing makes the heart more in the love, ſtudy, practiſe and growth of holines, then the glorious teſtimony of the Holy Spirit; and the more clear & ful the teſtimony is, the more holy and gracious it will make the Soule. Nothing puts ſuch golden Engagements upon the ſoul to holineſs, as the Spirit ſealing a man up to the day of Redemption, as the Spirits ſpeaking and ſealing Peace. Love, and pardon to the Soul, Pſal. 85. 8. 1 Cor. 15. 31. 2 Cor. 5. 14. Nothing makes a man more careful to pleaſe Chriſt, more fearful to offend Chriſt, more ſtudious to exalt Chriſt, and more circumſpect to walk with Chriſt, then this teſtimony of the Spirit of Chriſt. Verily, that is not the bleſſed whiſpering of Chriſts Spirit, but the hiſſing of the old Serpent, that makes men bold with ſin, that makes men dally with ſin, that makes man a ſervant to ſin, that breeds a contempt of Ordinances, a neglect of holy Duties, a careleſneſs in walking with God; And from thoſe hiſſings of the old Serpent, O Lord, deliver my Soul, and the Souls of all thy ſervants that put their truſt in thee.
Ninethly and laſtly, Aſſurance is a Jewel, a Pearl of that price, that God onelyonly beſtows it upon renued hearts. The Spirit never ſets his Seal upon any, but upon thoſe that Chriſt hath firſtRevel 2. 17. Ezek. 36. 25, 26, 27. compared. printed his Image upon: God gives to none the white ſtone, but to thoſe from whom he hath taken the heart of ſtone. Chriſt never tells a man that his Name is written in the Book ofLuke 10. 20. Life, till he hath breathed into him Spiritual Life. Chriſt never ſayes, Son be of good chear, thy ſin is pardoned,Luke 5. 18, 19, 20. till he hath firſt ſaid, Be thou healed, be thou cleanſed. Chriſt never gives a man a new name, that isIſa. 56. 5. 2 Cor. 5. 17. better then the names of Sons and Daughters, till he hath made them new Creatures. Of Slaves Chriſt firſt makes us Sons, before we cry Abba Rom 8. 15. Epheſ. 2. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.Father. Of Enemies, he firſt makes us Friends, before he will make us of his Court or Counſel. Chriſt will never hang a Pearl in a Swines ſnout, nor put new Wine into old Bottles, nor his Royal Robes upon a leprous back, nor his Golden Chain about a dead mans neck, nor his gliſtering Crown upon aEpheſ. 1. 13. Traytors head. The Spirit never ſets his Seal upon any, but upon thoſe that Chriſt hath firſt ſe… as a Seal upon hisCant. 8. 6. heart. The Spirit onelyonly bears witneſs to ſuch as hate ſin as Chriſt hates it, and that love Righteouſneſs as ChriſtPſal. 45 7. loves it, that hate ſin more then Hell, and that love truth more then life. A Soul ſealed by the Spirit will pull out right eyes, and cut off right hands, for Chriſt; ſuch a Soul will part with a Benjamin, and offer up an Iſaac, for Chriſt. And this is to be ſeriouſly minded againſt thoſe deceived and deluded Souls, that remain yet in their blood, and that wallow in their ſins, and yet boaſt and brag of the Seal, and of the witneſs and teſtimony of the Spirit.
And thus I have ſhewed you the difference between the whiſperings of the Spirit, and the hiſſing of the old Serpent, between a true teſtimony and a falſe.