The Voice of the Spirit, Table of contents
THE CONTENTS.
THe words opened, and the point raiſed, from page 1. to p. 7.
Qu: 1. What is the Witneſſing worke of the Spirit?
Anſ. It is a worke whereby the Spirit by ſome manifeſt, and ſpeciall acts and operations of its owne, doth raiſe a perſwaſion in a ſoule by the Word or Goſpell of its Adoption, opened in many particulars. from p. 7. to p. 25.
Qu: 2. How doth the Spirit witnes to a ſoule its Adoption?
Anſ. 1. The Spirit witneſſeth more immediately by it ſelfe. p. 25.
That the Spirit hath ſuch a diſtinct way of witneſſing from Water and Blood is proved.
1. From the Apoſtles aſcribing it to the Spirit himſelfe. p. 27.
2. From the aptitude of many written words or promiſes (by application) to witneſſe. p. 28.
3. From the number of witneſſes which the Goſpell owneth. p. 36.
4. From the experience of the Saints. p. 38.
Anſ. 2. The Spirit witneſſeth by Water. i. e. Sanctification. p. 41.
Proved diverſe wayes.
Qu: Whither a ſoule can injoy any other teſtimonie, when Sanctification lieth darke? p. 45.
Anſ. 3 The Spirit witneſſeth by Blood. i. e. the blood of Chriſt, as uſefull to Juſtification. p. 47.
Qu. 3. Who are capable of attaining the witneſſings of the Spirit? p. 50.
Anſ. Weake beleevers are capable of attaining them. Severall things are premiſed, and then it is proved.
1. From the Spirits being given to all beleevers as a witnes. p. 56.
2. From the extenſiveneſſe of the promiſe. p. 59.
3. From cleare Scriptures. p. 60.
4. From the Lords requiring of them, ſelfe-examination. p. 61.
Qu. 4. How may a ſoule know whither it injoyeth the witneſſings of the Spirit or not? p. 63.
Qu. 1. How may a ſoule know whither the Spirit hath witneſſed its Adoption to it, in that more immediate way. p. 64.
Anſ. 1. The Spirit it ſelfe doth primarily evidence the proceeding of its owne witneſſing acts from it ſelfe. p. 67.
Proved by diverſe arguments.
Anſ. 2. The Secondary Evidence of the more immediate teſtimonie is faith. p. 81.
Object. When is a word received by faith? or when doth faith evidence a teſtimonie to be no Deluſion? p. 82.
Anſwered in foure particulars to p. 88.
Proved that Aſſurance is a Certainty of Divine faith. from p. 88. to p. 94.
How the teſtimonie of the Spirit is differenced from thoſe flaſhes of joy &c. that unbeleevers may have under the word. from p. 94. to p. 98.
Qu: 2. How may a ſoule know that the Spirit hath witneſſed its Adoption by blood?
Anſ. 1. From the New Covenant or free promiſe. p. 98.
2. From cordial acts of faith. p. 99.
3. From its preferring that blood before all other things. p. 102.
4. From the renuntiation of what ſoever ſtandeth in competition with the blood of Chriſt in the uſes it ſerveth to. p. 104.
5. From its freenes in chooſing and accepting of the blood of Chriſt. p. 107.
6. From the ſtrength of drawings that way. p. 110.
7. From its feeling the efficaciouſneſſe of that blood. p. 111.
Qu. 3. How may a ſoule know that the Spirit hath witneſſed its Adoption by Water. i. e. Sanctification? p. 112.
This Queſtion is divided into two.
Qu: 1. How may a ſoule know that its heart is ſeparated from ſin? or that ſin hath not dominion over it? p. 115.
Foure diſtinctions are premiſed.
There is a difference
1. Between the indwelling of ſin, and the reigning of ſin. ibid.
2. Between the Soveraignty of ſin and the Tyranny of ſin, ſeaven differences are layd downe. ibid.
3. Between an habituall frame of heart towards ſin, and an occaſionall falling into ſinne. p. 117.
4. Between infirmities and groſſer enormities. p. 118.
What ſins are to be reckoned of infirmitie.
Anſw. Sin hath not dominion over a ſoule, when it chooſeth freedome from, or conſenteth with all its heart upon Evangelicall accounts to part with ſin. p. 121.
1. When the choice is free, without coaction. ibid.
2. When it is univerſall, without limitation. p. 123.
3. When the choice is abſolute without condition. p. 124.
4. When there is a Conflict between the fleſh and the Spirit. p. 125.
5. When there is a mortification of ſin. p. 127.
6. When there is irreconciliable oppoſion againſt ſin. ibid.
7. When it is upon ſpirituall and Evangelicall accounts. p. 128.
Opened in ſix particulars to p. 132.
8. When ſin is in ſubjection. p. 132.
Qu: Whither it be poſſible to retaine Aſſurance after falling into ſinne?
Anſwered in five particulars. from p. 134. to p. 137.
Qu: How may one know that his heart is ſeparated to God and Chriſt?
Anſ. 1. From his eſteeming of God and Chriſt above all other things. p. 137.
2. From his ſpending his higheſt deſires and endeavours after attaining Communion with God in Chriſt. p. 138.
3. From his willingnes to part with all other things at Chriſts Call or for his ſake. p. 139.
4. From the carriage of his heart under his withdrawings. ibid.
5. From his enjoyment of the leadings of the Spirit. ibid.
Qu: When doth a ſoule injoy the leadings of the Spirit?
Anſwered in ſix particulars, from p. 140. to p. 150.
Ten Secondary Generall Evidences, that a teſtimonie of Adoption is from the Spirit, from p. 150. to p. 164.
Foure Objections.
Object. 1. Seing Satan counterfeiteth the workes of the Spirit, and the heart is ſo deceitfull, how ſhould I know that I have paſſed a right judgment on my condition? Anſwered from p. 164. to p. 172.
Object. 2. But my heart hath deceived me in other matters, and therefore I feare I am deceived in all, Anſwered from p. 172. to p. 174. where are layd downe foure Symptomes of deluſions.
Object. 3. But may there not be ſome ſin I am ignorant of harboured in my ſoule, that may render me deceived in paſſing judgement on my owne condition? Anſwered from p. 174, to 176.
Object. 4. But I have found a great impreſſion by a word, and I cannot tell whither it be from the Spirit or Satan; what am I to doe in this Caſe? Anſwered from p. 176. to 178.
Qu. 5. By what meanes may the witneſſings of the Spirit be attained, ſtrengthened and preſerved?
Anſ. 1. Wait for the Spirit. p. 178.
2. Maintaine a perſwaſion that it is thy duty to ſeeke after them. p. 179.
3. Beware of thoſe things that tend to keepe off from Aſſurance. p. 180.
4. Be much in ſelfe-examination. p. 181.
5. Be much in the obſervation of Gods dealings with your owne ſoules. p. 182.
6. Be often renewing acts of faith. ibid.
7. In all importunities with God for Aſſurance, make uſe of arguments drawne from God himſelfe. p. 186.
8. See…e for much inward acquaintance with the written word. p. 187.
Severall rules about making uſe of Scriptures, and about the hintings and givings in of words, from p. 188. to p. 195.
9. Hold foſt the doctrine of perſeverance. p. 195.
FINIS.
End of the text · Samuel Petto, The Voice of the Spirit (1654)