The Voice of the Spirit, Title page 1 – Dedication
The VOICE of the SPIRIT.
OR An Eſſay towards a Diſcoverie of the witneſſings of the Spirit by opening and anſwering theſe following weighty Queries.
Q. 1. What is the witneſſing worke of the Spirit?
2 How doth the Spirit witneſſe to a ſoule its Adaption?
3 Who are capable of attaining the witneſſings of the Spirit?
4. How may a ſoul know its injoyment of them?
5. By what meanes may a ſoule attaine them?
To which is added.
Roſes from Sharon or ſweet Experiences reached out by Chriſt to ſome of his beloved ones in this Wildernes.
By SAMUEL PETTO Preacher of the Goſpell at Sandcroft in Suffolke.
Iſaiah 59, 19.
When the enemy ſhall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord ſhall lift up a Standard againſt him.
LONDON: Printed for Livewell Chapman, at the Crowne in Popeſ-head-Alley. 1654.
To the Saints and people of God in and about Sandcroft, Grace and peace be multiplyed.
Dearely beloved in the Lord.
AS Jeſus Chriſt (by the appointment of the Father) hath purchaſed Redemption, brought in an everlaſting righteouſnes, and obtained eternall Salvation, for a certaine number of the race of fallen Adam; ſo, the bleſſed Spirit is deſigned by the Father and the Son, not onelyonly to make application of Chriſt, and to bring ſoules into the relation of Sons and Daughters thereby; but alſo, to beare teſtimony of their ſtanding in that bleſſed Relation. To encourage unto a waiting for, and to give a knowledge of, the witneſſings of the Spirit, is the deſigne of this Treatiſe.
And now (Deare friends) I beſeech you reſt not ſatisfied without a perſwaſion [from the Spirit of Adoption] that God is your Father. Give over carnall reaſonings, and give all diligence to make your Calling and Election ſure. Though you be under the hidings of Gods face at preſent,Iſa. 8.17. yet waite for the light of his Countenance, and the iſſues will be glorious. When Joſephs brethren were in their greateſt diſtreſſe, then Joſeph maketh knowne himſelfe to them. Gen. 45. v. 1.3, 4. So, when many charges and accuſations are brought in againſt you, and many ſeemingly hard paſſages are met withall, and that from Chriſt himſelfe, and your hearts are ready to ſinke downe loweſt, & your fears to riſe higheſt, yet then may your Aſſurance be neareſt.
Chriſt, your ſpirituall Joſeph (as with Reverence we may ſpeake it) will be able to refraine no longer, he cannot but cry out [I am Joſeph your Brother]. And if you injoy a teſtimonie of Divine love at laſt, you will not repent you of all your waiting: It will be as a cluſter of grapes from the Celeſtiall Canaan, that will give you a foreknowledge, how good the Land is.
This, will ſweeten your bittereſt cups, and your worſt conditions to you: this will be enough, that God is your Father.
Your hearts are now fearefull of medling with promiſes, and this is the language of your ſoules, it is true here are precious promiſes, but what is this to us? we know not whither we have any right to them or not: ſuch a teſtimony will aſſure you, that all the promiſes are yours, becauſe Chriſt is yours in whom all the promiſes are Yea, and Amen. Indeed when you want Aſſurance yet it is your duty by faith to take hold of promiſes ſutable to your conditions, but Satan hindreth oftentimes therein, when you cannot ſee your intereſt in Chriſt. Hereby alſo you will ſee your liberty for neare approachings unto God, and that with a holy boldnes, becauſe he is your Father, and may hope of being ſucceſfull in all your drawings neare to him.
Hereby you will have freedome from, or eſtabliſhment againſt many temptations, which a doubting condition expoſeth you to: you will not be ſo ready to have hard thoughts of God, or murmuring, diſcontented thoughts at his diſpenſations &c. as you have been. Hereby you will be rendred thankfull for your mercies, whereas now you are apt to Call the moſt ſpeciall mercies Common.
And that ſuch an abundant entrance may be adminiſtred to you, into the everlaſting kingdom, and that you may be filled with peace and joy in beleeving, even joy unſpeakable and full of glory, ſhall be the prayer of him, who is,
Sandcroft 4th Mo: 20th day. 1654. Yours in Goſpell Engagements, SAMUEL PETTO.