The Voice of the Spirit, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Shewing who are capable of attaining the Witneſſings of the Spirit.
Qu: 3. VVHo are capable of attaining the witneſſings of the Spirit? Anſw. 1. OnelyOnly beleevers are in a capacity to injoy ſuch a teſtimonie from the Spirit: for, onelyonly they are adopted, Joh. 1.12. 1 Joh. 3.1. Gal. 4.26. Ye are the children of God by faith. There muſt be adoption, before it can be witneſſed to a ſoule that it is Adopted; elſe there is a bearing falſe witneſſe, which cannot (without blaſphemie) be charged upon the Spirit of truth, who is the witneſſe, 1 Joh. 5.6.
That ſome eminent beleevers may and doe attaine the witneſſings of the Spirit is evident, Rom. 8.16. Job 19.25. 2 Tim. 1.12. And often we reade of Confidence and Aſſurance.
2. Weake beleevers are capable of attaining the witneſſings of the Spirit about their Adoption: this poſition is queſtioned by ſome, yet becauſe the denyal of it doth directly tend to raiſe diſcouragement in their way to ſeeking after it (becauſe it is in vaine to attempt things impoſſible) and ſeing the very knowledge of a poſſibility of attaining it, is very comfortable, and the thing it ſelfe much more: hence I thought good to offer ſome reaſons, which for the preſent, ſatisfie me, that it is not a priviledge intended by Chriſt, onelyonly for the talleſt Cedars in Chriſtianity, or thoſe that are ſtrong ones, but alſo ſuch as are weake in the faith, have this Legacy bequeathed to them by the will of Chriſt.
Yet before I lay downe my grounds, I ſhall premiſe ſome things, which will make way for them.
Prem: 1. The witneſſings of the Spirit may be attaineable, and yet not be attained: Chriſtians are without much of that ſweete Communion which they might injoy with the Lord Chriſt; he knocked, called, & cryed to the Spouſe, Open to me my ſiſter, my love— Cant. 5.2. But ſpiritual ſloth, and carnal ſecuritie ſhut the doore againſt him, and he withdrew himſelfe, ver. 3.6. Here fellowſhip with Chriſt was not attained, and yet was attaineable. I doe not undertake to prove that every weake beleever doth injoy effectual witneſſings (though much might be ſaid for that) but I am onelyonly to prove that they are attaineable, even by babes in Chriſt. If they choake, ſmother, and quench the motions of the Spirit, that (if followed up and cheriſhed) might have been witneſſing; and through negligence about the uſe of meanes, or temptations &c. may goe without them, yet this ſpeaketh not their incapacity for the injoyment of them.
2. I ſhall endeavour to prove that thoſe which are really weake; not onelyonly, in gifts and naturall abilities, but even in graces alſo; yet, are in a capacity to attaine the witneſſings of the Spirit: and therefore, it is very dangerous for men to deſpaire of them, becauſe they are weake in their owne apprehenſions; ſeing, they may miſ-judge about their meaſure, and may be ſtrong in the grace of Chriſt; and however, reall weaknes affordeth not matter of diſcouragement.
3. The witneſſings of the Spirit may admit of degrees: as its operations are at one time more potent, conſpicuous and manifeſt then at another, ſo may the ſoules perſwaſion of its Adoption be, which are raiſed by theſe.
The appearances of the Spirit at one time may be ſo glorious, and its actings ſo powerfull; as, all doubtings, feares, or queſtionings about its ſtate may be cruſhed, ſuppreſſed, and baniſhed, that if men and Angels ſhould labour to bring under a contrary perſwaſion, yet it durſt not, it could not ſubſcribe to them. Rom. 8.38, 39. Yet, at other times they may not be ſo cleare, or irreſiſtible, but liable to quenchings by ſmaller meanes. I ſhall not at preſent aſſert that witneſſings in thoſe high degrees are attaineable by weake beleevers: theſe may ſeeme to be too ſtrong meates for them to beare. But, that they are capable of freedome in ſome meaſure from their doubtings, and of attaining ſome degree of perſwaſion that Chriſt is theirs, this I am to prove.
The rich mans window may be wider then the poore mans, and ſo the Sun may make his houſe more lightſome, that the things within it, may be more clearely diſcerned there: but the poore man may really injoy the beames of the Sun, and know that they come from it, and may ſee what is in his houſe, as well as he. So, the pooreſt Saint may know that the Spirit hath ſhined in his heart, as well as others, that are beholden to it, for brighter beames then he hath been acquainted with.
4. An eminent meaſure of grace is of great advantage towards Aſſurance: 2 Pet. 1. v. 5, 6.8.10. Therefore this affordeth no encouragement unto any to content themſelves with that meaſure, which they are come up to. Nay, the witneſſings of the Spirit will be furtherances, and provocations unto grow'th in grace, if really injoyed, Rom. 13. v. 11, 12. But yet, a high meaſure of grace is not ſo neceſſary to Aſſurance, but that a weake beleever (in the uſe of meanes) may actaine it, as well as other mercies, that concerne him in his well-being.
5. I deny not, that a weake Chriſtian at ſome particular times may hinder himſelfe of ſuch a mercy: but this is common to him with eminent Saints: for, they may (by nouriſhing ſome curruption) weaken, if not looſe, theſe witneſſings of the Spirit, when they have injoyed them. Pſal. 51.8.12. Theſe are extraordinary hindrances, I am to prove an ordinary capacity. Neither doe theſe, ſo incapacitate, as to forbid ſeeking after witneſſings: for, David when upon ſuch an occaſion, he had loſt the joy of his ſalvation; yet, with that intermediate duty of Repentance and pleading for cleanſing. Pſal. 51. v. 2.7. he beggeth alſo that his joy might be reſtored, v. 12.
6. I am not about to prove the duration of theſe witneſſings, but the capability of weake beleevers to attaine them, how little while ſoever they laſt: I doe not aſſert their having ſuch a conſtant certainty of ſalvation, as ſhould perpetually put them beyond doubtings: the multiplicity, and variety of temptations which they are ſubject to, and their weaknes, and unskilfulnes to reſiſt the tempter, may occaſion a ſpeedy loſſe of it againe: their want of experience in thoſe wayes which tend to the ſtrengthening and cheriſhing of this perſwaſion; together with that great ſuſpition which they have over their owne hearts, and thoſe heart-amazing workings of corruption, which (by after reflexions upon themſelves) they take notice of; theſe, may quickly deprive of theſe witneſſings againe.
And, indeed with many eminent Saints, they are not long-laſting. They are but the paſſings by of the Lord before their ſoules. They have a ſoule-raviſhing view of God and Chriſt, by the light of the Spirit; but, they are ſoon out of ſight againe. They muſt not thinke of building Tabernacles when they are upon this high mountaine beholding the glory of Chriſt on it. A large meaſure of grace, is of great advantage towards the continuance and preſervation of theſe: but, though they laſt but for a little moment, yet it is an unſpeakable favour that they are afforded.