The Voice of the Spirit, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of the witneſſing worke of the Spirit: or what it is for the Spirit to witneſſe unto a ſoule its Adoption.
Qu: 1. VVHat is this witneſſing worke of the Spirit? Or what is it for the Spirit to witneſſe unto a ſoule its Adoption?
Anſw. It is a worke whereby the Spirit doth that towards the clearing up unto a ſoule of its Adoption, that a witnes doth amongſt men for the deciſion and determination of a matter dubious and uncertaine.
Now, the uſe of a witnes is, to give in evidence upon knowledge, how the matter in queſtion ſtandeth, purpoſely to aſcertaine others thereof. Deut. 19.15. Matth. 18.16. The end of witneſſing is expreſſed to be, that a matter may be eſtabliſhed or confirmed and made to ſtand as firme and true, by that record which is given in. And hence, Joh. 8.17. The teſtimony of two men is true. i. e. is to be received as a ſufficient evidence, and may free from doubting. It was certaine in it ſelfe before, and by the teſtimony it is rendred certaine unto thoſe that queſtioned it. And, when the Spirit by ſome operations, doth what is equivalent unto this, then is witneſſeth. The ſpeakings of the Spirit are in a way ſutable to it ſelfe who is the ſpeaker, and to the ſoule which is ſpoken to, and therefore by operations, not by voyce.
And the Spirit witneſſeth
1. Objectively.
2. Efficiently.
1. Objectively: when it affordeth ſuch ſpeciall operations, as have an aptitude to aſcertaine the ſoule of its Adoption. There are ſome ſpeciall and remarkeable Concurrences of the Spirit, which by a due obſervation, might manifeſt adoption, and carry with them the force of affirmations and aſſertions thereof. But many overlooke theſe evidences, and will not heare what the Spirit ſaith unto them. A ſoule may remaine without a knowledge of its Son-ſhip, after the Spirit hath thus witneſſed, if its record be not received. So Rev. 22.18. I teſtifie unto every man that heareth the words — and yet every man to whom he speaketh this, doe not beleeve what is aſſerted. Joh. 3.11. Wee teſtifie—and ye receive not our witnes. It is but a teſtimony propoſed or offered, and is not effectual unleſſe received.
And, if nothing further were intended in the Text, yet it were a Mine with much ſpiritual treaſure layd up in it. Severall things of great importance ariſe from this. As,
1. Hence, a knowledge of Adoption is attaineable: it is the very end of the Spirits witneſſing to aſſure thereof. It is not to render God more aſſured who are his Children, he knoweth who are his. Nor to make Adoption certaine in it ſelfe; that muſt be, before it can be witneſſed. But, its ſcope, drift and deſigne is, to leave us aſſured or perſwaded of it. And that it ſhould never attaine its end in this, when it is ſo ſucceſſull in other workes, how unconceivable a thing is it?
2. Hence, it is a duty of great concernment to receive that teſtimony which the Spirit offereth: may not the Spirit complaine unto many Chriſtians, as Chriſt did? Joh. 3.11. So, I have teſtified that you were the Children of God, and you have not received my witnes. Doubtles, it is a ſinfull neglect in thoſe that are ſpoken to, not no yeild attention unto the voyce of the Spirit which ſpeaketh. It is urged as a choyce duty, and enforced by a powerful argument, 1 Joh. 5 9. If ye receive the witnes of men, how much more is a divine teſtimony to be received, which is farre greater? and it is the witnes of the Spirit he intendeth, ver. 6.8.10.
Chriſtians reckon it a ſmall matter to deny the appearances of Goſpell grace, and to call the ſpeciall operations of the Spirit, deluſions of Satan: O but hereby, you not onelyonly hinder your owne peace, comfort and eſtabliſhment, which might come in at that doore; but, which is farre worſe, you grieve the Spirit of God alſo, Eph. 4.30. I may ſay to ſuch as Iſai. 7.13. Is it a ſmall thing for you to weary, grieve, and diſquiet your owne Spirits, but will you grieve the Spirit of my God alſo? Its ſad enough that carnal men deny attention to the voyce of the Spirit, O let not Chriſtians make it ſpeake in vaine alſo, or miſſe of its end in ſpeaking to them.
But, I ſuppoſe this is not all which the Text aymeth at, or intendeth. Therefore.
2. The Spirit witneſſeth efficiently: it cauſeth the ſoule to conclude of its Adoption, by its ſpeakings to it. As Calling, doth often expreſſe not onelyonly an Inviting to a participation of Goſpel grace, but the ſoules anſwering thoſe Invitations, which is effectual Calling, Rom. 8.28.30. 2 Theſ. 2.14. So, witneſſing expreſſeth an effectual, efficacious witneſſing. And, that this is intended in the Text may appeare.
1. From the Context: the ſcope of the Apoſtle is, to give a knowledge of this, who are in Chriſt, & ſo have freedome from condemnation, ver. 1. And this he cleareth, v. 5.9.13, 14. But leaſt they ſhould doubt or queſtion, whither they found a mortification of ſin by the Spirit; or injoyed the leadings of the Spirit or not. In the laſt place he addeth this as the higheſt, ſureſt, and moſt infallible meanes to helpe a ſoule unto a ſight of its intereſt in Chriſt. ver. 16. The Spirit it ſelfe witneſſeth with our Spirit &c. The other workes are of a witneſſing nature, but this is beyond all other helpes; this maketh the other evidencing, and giveth ſights of freedome from condemnation, and of our Sonſhip. So that the Context favoureth this interpretation.
2. From the words of the Text: the Spirit is ſaid to witnes with our Spirit. Its teſtimony, irreſiſtibly overcometh our Spirit. i.e. or Conſcience, it cauſeth them to conclude theſame thing; and ſo there is a joynt-teſtimony. Some times the Spirit uttereth its voyce, and our Spirits hold off: but our Spirits are fetched in and made uſe of in this way of witneſſing, which is intended in the Text; both agree in this numericall Concluſion [That we are the Children of God] and ſo it is an efficacious witneſſing.
I might cleare it from what followeth, ver. 33.38. and from other Scriptures, which call the perſwaſion, or Concluſion of the thing which is witneſſed, a witneſſing, as Luk. 4.22. All beare him witnes. i.e. Concluded the ſame thing with approbation and allowance. But I ſhall proceed to a deſcription, which will further diſcover what it is for the Spirit to witnes.
It is for the Spirit by ſome manifeſt,What it is for the Spirit to Witnes. and ſpecial acts and operations of its own, to aſcertaine a ſoule by the word or Goſpell of its Adoption. Or, it is for the Spirit by cleare irradiations, and other effectual operations with the word, to worke a particular ſoule (by direct or reflexive acts) into a knowledge, perſwaſion, or Concluſion of its acceptation into favour with God.