The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, Treatise 1 · Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Paſt experiences improved for the comfort of thoſe that are gone through this work.
TO thoſe that have been under, and have happily gone through this work of the Spirit of Bondage, conſolation in two or three branches.
1 In that they may now ſtand on the farther bank of the River, on the farther ſhoar of the tempeſtuous ſea, and ſing Songs of Deliverance, as Moſes and Iſrael did, Exod. 15.
—Forſan & haec clim meminiſſe juvabit, Sayes the General, in a ſtorm to his fainting followers. With what delight do old men tell over the adventures and hazardous ſervices of their youth to their young ones? Thoſe things that are moſt hard and unpleaſant to undertake, are moſt ſweet and refreſhing to remember when we have gone through them. That that kept David mourning, that he had little heart to ſing (as we ſay) whilſt he was under it, becomes a great part of his Songs of praiſe when he is gone through it. See Pſal, 40. 116. &c.
2 Hereby they may ground themſelves very firmly in the aſſurance of their effectual calling, and converſion to God. Indeed, if this evidence from the manner and method of our converſion, becauſe of the earlineſſe of the work (as it may fall out) or by reaſon of the ſpeedineſs of our paſſage through it, cannot be eaſily diſcerned, it is ſufficient for our comfort, if God enable us to ſee the fruits and effects of grace; ſuch as hatred of ſin, love of holineſſe, and of every thing that promotes it, for its ſake, a precious eſteem of all Gods Saints, becauſe they are ſuch, &c. but the evidence that is drawn from b…th, is moſt full and ſatisfactory. As when a mans Title to Land is queſtioned, 'tis true, it is ſufficient to be able to prove that his evidence… are true, but that will be more cleared if he can alledg that they were ſealed at ſuch a time, in ſuch company, upon ſuch and ſuch conſiderations; circumſtances of an action being ſo many partial witneſſes to the reality of it. I have heard that a promiſe, though proved, is no ſufficient ground for a ſuit in Law, except the grounds and terms on which it was made, appear alſo.
3. Hereby they are aſſured (if the work have been deep and through, not only ſleight and ſuperficial, if it have been attended with a ſaving converſion of the ſoul to God) that they are perfectly delivered from it for ever after. 'Tis a buſineſs that is to bee gone through but o…c…, and when it is once over, there is no fear of its returning upon a man again. I mean, not that the ſoul may not come under bondage, and fear, and terrour again; if I ſhould, the experiences of moſt of the Saints of God would confute me in this particular. But here lyes the comfort: No after ſhakings to ſuch a ſoul are the Spirit of Bondage, as Iſhal ſhew more hereafter in the third Theſis or Propoſition of the ſecond part, concerning the Spirit of Adoption. And ſo they come not upon a man with Authority from God, but arreſt a man barely upon a counterfeit warrant, and a man is not bound to ſubmit to them. Thoſe cavils which ariſe afterward in ſuch a ſoul, are not the definitive ſentence of a Judg concerning a man, but the importune, and vexing, and litigious allegations of an Adverſary. Satan is a common Barreter, and he makes it his trade to find out flaws in the evidences of Gods Saints, and when he hath found, or pretends to have found any, he makes a great cry of a little wool (as we ſay) and like a clamorous and malicious accuſer, heightens every molehil to a mountain, and concludes heavily againſt a man. But what is all this to a mans quiet and peaceable poſſeſſion, if the ſpirit of God have diſcharged him the Court? And ſuch a one, after his Gaol delivery from the ſpirit of bondage, is for ever ſo diſcharged.