profession, and before men, but before God we cannot; for it is plainly saide, If we haue not the spirit of Christ, wee are none of his. And if we neither haue Christs spirite, nor be none of his, we cannot be Christians otherwise then in name: for as a branch and a member are saide to liue so long, as they do partake in the iuice of the Vine, and life of the body, from whence beeing seuered, they are dead and withered, cut off, and cast out: so it is with vs, we haue the life of a Christian by being Christs, and ha∣uing his spirit, Iohn 15, 1, 2, 3. Gal. 2, 20.
Tim.
What profit are we to make of this point, that euerie true Christian is one with Christ, & hath his spirit?
Silas.
First, this reprooues such as vse to excuse their sinnes, by saying they are flesh and bloud, and not spiri∣tuall; which is as much to say, as that they are no Chri∣stians: for if they be of the body of Christ, they must of necessity haue his spirit, and be spirituall. Secondly, it reproues the Papists, that withhold the Scriptures from Gods people, vppon pretence that they haue not Gods spirit; they might euen as wel say that they are no Chri∣stians. For to be a member of Christ, and to be led by the spirit of Christ, they be things that go necessarily toge∣ther, & cannot be puld asunder, no more thē can a liuing member of a naturall body, bee seuered from the soule; euen so can no Christian be without Christs spirit. Last∣ly, this reproues such as say, we must alwaies doubt, whe∣ther we haue the spirit of Christ or no, which wee ought no more to doubt of, then whether wee bee Christians or no.
Tim.
I, but many pretend themselues to be one with Christ, and to haue his spirit, and so to bee good Christians which yet are not? How then shall we be sure of these things?
Sil.
We shall surely know it by the effects of our spi∣rituall vnion, to wit, Iustification and the fruits thereof, as they are laide forth, Rom. 5, 1, 2, 3, 4. 5, 11. Also by the effects of our Sanctification, as they are laid forth, Rom. 7, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Psal. 15. throughout. 2 Pet. 1, 6, 7.