The Voice of the Spirit, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Of the Witnes [the Spirit] and the thing witneſſed, and wherein the witneſſing worke doth conſiſt.
HEre are many things conſiderable; as, 1. Who is the Witnes [The Spirit] This is cleare in the Text, Rom. 8.16. The Spirit it ſelfe—The truth of a teſtimony hath a dependance on the fidelity of the witnes: and ſo the Spirit who cannot lye, is appointed by Office unto this worke, that a ſoule might be infallibly aſſured of what is teſtified: were it any other, it might remaine under doubtings, and thinke it too good newes to be true, that it ſhould have God for its Father; and ſo be a joynt-heire with Chriſt in that exceeding, eternall Weight of glory. O but if the Spirit witneſſeth this, who is faithfull in all he ſaith, this may give a full Aſſurance of Son ſhip, or free it from thoſe fears, doubtings, jealouſies and ſuſpitions, which it hath laboured under about this queſtion. This proclaimeth the infinite condeſcention of the Spirit, that it ſelfe who is very God, ſhould ſtoope ſo low as to be a witnes in our matters, who are duſt and aſhes. That the Creator ſhould be a witnes to the creature, this is a high favour indeed.
And hereby this teſtimony is differenced.
1. From the Deluſions of Satan: hee is ready to beare falſe witnes to the ſoule, purpoſely to lead it into miſtaking Concluſions about its condition: and hearkening to his voyce is extreamely dangerous.
2. From the ſingle teſtimony of our Spirits: I doe not ſay that the Spirit doth witnes effectually without our Spirits: but the Text plainly maketh two [the Spirit] with [our Spirit]. So that if the Spirit of Adoption, by ſome acts peculiar to it ſelfe, be not in conſociation with cur Spirits, the teſtimony is moſt unſafe, dangerous, and deluding. O take heed of truſting the ſingle teſtimony of your owne treacherous Spirits in the bu ſynes of your ſoules for eternity: but if the Holy-Spirits hath fetched in your Spirits, and overcome them into a Concluſion of your Adoption, you may ſafely owne it, at the mouth of theſe two witneſſes.
2. What is the thing witneſſed, viz. the Son-ſhip of particular ſoules: the Spirit doth not onelyonly witnes the truth of ſome Doctrine of the Goſpell; it doth not onelyonly give a perſwaſion that all which receive Chriſt, or beleeve on his name, have authority to become the Sons of God, as Joh. 1.12. Not barely that ſome, that beleevers, but (ſaith the Text) that [we] even we are the children of God.
3. Wherein the witneſſing worke doth conſiſt, viz. In the Spirits giving manifeſtations, and working the heart into perſwaſions and concluſions of Adoption.
1. It doth not conſiſt onelyonly in affording ſuch operations as being meaſured by Goſpell rules doe give aſſertions or affirmations of Adoption: but an effectual witneſſing is here intended, ſuch as indeed cauſeth the matter to be eſtabliſhed, which is, to accompliſh the end of that witneſſing, as Matth. 18.16.
The Spirit eſtabliſheth the ſoule in a perſwaſion of God's Fatherly love through Chriſt. Rom. 8.38. I am perſwaded &c. and Job 19.25. I know my redeemer liveth. And hence it is made one end of our receiving the Spirit,1 Coriu. 2.12. that we might know the things that are given us of God, 1 Joh. 3.24. Hereby wee know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit, 2 Corin. 5. ver. 1.6. We know—that we have a building of God—& ver. 5, 6. Becauſe he hath given us the earneſt of his Spirit, therefore we are alwayes confident— So that, the Spirit witneſſeth, by giving a knowledge and perſwaſion of Adoption.
2. It doth not confiſt in its filling the ſoule with conſolation: many if they finde comfort by a word, then they thinke the Spirit hath witneſſed Adoption, elſe not: whereas, this witneſſing worke may be injoyed in a very diſconſolate condition. Job 19. v. 6, 7.8, &c. Here was but little comfort, and yet much aſſurance, ver. 25. and Matth. 27.46. There is a want of comfort [Why haſt thou forſaken me] and yet not a want of aſſurance; for, with the ſame breath he challengeth propriety in God twice over [My God, my God].
Indeed this bleſſed newes doth often fill the heart with joy unſpeakeable and full of glory; but, this conſolation is rather conſequential to the witneſſing of the Spirit, then that which giveth being to it. It is an effect of it, not an ingredient into it, more then other workes of the Spirit.
Teſtification is a different worke of the Spirit from conſolation.