these he gives a distinct witness of his own, which is his immediate work, is in a way of peculiarity and transcendency called the witness of the Spirit.— As it is with the motions of the spirit, many a time the spirit excites a man to such or such duties, by laying his hand immediately upon the heart, and thereby inclining it to obey those motions; so in this case when a poor soul sits in darkness, and sees no light, sometimes upon a sudden it is (as it were) taken up into the third Heaven; and this is in such away that though the spirit of a man really believe it, and is immediately calmed by it, yet it cannot tell how it came to pass.
There is a Testimony of the spirit, which sometimes the spirit may suggest and testi∣fie to the sanctified Conscience, with a secret, still, heart-ravishing voice, thus, or in the like manner, Thou art the child of God; thou art in the number of those that shall be sa∣vid; thou shalt inherit everlasting life: and that as certainly and comfortably, as if that Angel from Heaven should say to thee, as he did to Daniel, greatly beloved.— Mighty and remarkable was the work of the spirit this way upon the heart of that noble Mar∣tyr, Robert Glover, upon the first sight and representation of the stake, when he cry∣ed, he is come, he is come. Such an immediate springing of the spirit was in the heart of Master Pecocke, who after many dayes of extreamest horrour, professed, The joy which he felt was incredible. Such an immediate work was upon the heart of Mistris Brettergh who after the return of her beloved, suddenly cryed out, How wonderfull! How wonder∣full! how wonderfull are thy mercies O Lord! O the joys, the joyes, the joyes that now I feel in my soul! we feel and acknowledg by daily experience, that Satan doth immediately in∣ject, and shall not the blessed spirit after his holy and heavenly manner immediately also suggest sometimes?
As there is in the eye, lumen innatum, a certain in-bred light, to make the eye see lights and colours without; and as there is in the ear, aer internus, a certain in-bred found and air, to make it discern the sounds that are without; so is there in a gracious heart, a new nature, an habitual instinct of Heaven to discern the consolations of God's Spirit, immediately testifying that we are the Sons of God; there are some secret and unexpressible lineaments of the Fathers countenance in this child, that the renewed soul at first blush knows and owns it. But for fear of mistakes, in this case observe we these Rules.
1. That although the spirit may immediately testifie without any express or formal application of a word, yet he never testifies but according to the Word. If a man that never felt sin a burthen, that throws away all duties of Religion, that never Prayes, Reads, Hears, or Meditates, shall say that he is filled with joy, Peace, and, the assurance of God's Word, it is certain the holy Spirit is not the Author of this, because the pro∣mise of peace belongs to none of this stamp; see Math. 11.28. Isa. 57.15. Mal. 5.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
2. That ordinarily the spirit brings in his testimony either in duty, or after duty. I have seen his wayes, and I will heal him; I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners; I create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord, and I will heal him. I know there may be a case of grievous temptations, and at such a time the spirit of God may come in by a sudden irradiation, and chear the soul wonderfully, though it knows not how; yet usually the spirit brings in his testimony either in duty, or not long after duty.
3. That such testimonies of the Spirit beget only an actual assurance during the pre∣sent exigency, or in order to some present design that God is working thereby; these are extraordinary dainties, that God will not have us feed constantly upon; a gleam of light in a dark winters night, when a man cannot coast the Country, and dis∣cern his way by those marks which direct him at other times; or as a lightning from a thunder-cloud, that comes just in the moment when a man is stepping into a pit that would swallow him up; now a Traveller will not depend alwayes upon such guides, but rather he will choose to travel by day; and learn out such way marks as may be standing assurances to him that he is in the way. And therefore—
2. The spirit witnesseth mediately; and that either without, or with argumentation. But both from the Word.
1. Without argumentation, and that is when the spirit applies some suitable word to the soul, and without more ado enables the soul to close with that suitable word. As for instance, thou art burthened for sin, and thou hast prayed earnestly