teacheth nothing but what comes from the Father, the God of Truth, Joh 12.49, 50. therefore must needs be true.
Q. But how shall I know that my spirit is not a spirit of Error and delusion, but of truth? 1 Kings 22.22, 23, 24. when went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speak to thee? yet there was a lying spirit amongst them, we see here was a lying spi∣rit in four hundred Prophets, and he cunningly conveyes himselfe like an Angel of Light, how shall a Child of God discern the true Spirit from a Spirit of delusion?
A. They that have received a Spirit of Error, may be deluded by a Spirit of Error, but they that have received the Spirit of Truth, cannot be deluded by a Spirit of Error. But how shall I know that I am not deluded, and that my Spirit is a Spirit of Truth?
1. By the Testimony of this Spirit; there is such a clear light in the Spirit, that he will reveal himselfe plainly enough, 1 John 5.3. The Spirit bears wit∣nesse that the Spirit is Truth.
2. You shall finde the Spirit of God is ever suitable to the Word of God; that Spirit that teacheth you other things than the Word, or withdraws you from the Word, that Spirit is a delusion; the Word begat us, and a Christian loves to be sucking at it.
3. It is a Spirit of Truth, if it make you conformable to Christ; meek and lowly as Christ was patient, and going about doing good as he did, where ever we come; that is the proper work of the Spirit, to make us holy as he is holy, meek as he is meek, pure as he is pure.
4. We may discern the Spirit by his fruits, a tree is known by the fruit, good fruit comes not from a corrupt spirit, take any corrupt spirit, it so con∣founds and troubles the spirits of men, that they cannot bring forth good fruits, but the holy Spirit is so meek and plain, that it doth not disturb nature, but perfect it, but a bad spirit doth not perfect, but corrupt nature, Gal. 5.22. But the fruits of the Spirit are, Faith, and love, and meeknesse, it is a sign an evill Spirit was upon Zedekiah, 1 Kings 22. because he was so boysterous, and rude, and impatient, he struck Micaiah on the face, but Gods Spirit is meek, and humble, and lowly.
Ʋse. 1. May teach us to see the excellency of a Christian, above other wicked men, Prov. 12.10. the way of a Christian is the way of Truth and goodnesse, but the wayes of the wicked are deceitfull, and will certainly seduce us, but a Christian hath fellowship with the Spirit of Truth.
Ʋse. 2. It must therefore stir up men to labour to be partakers of this excel∣lent Spirit, this Spirit of truth, the way of righteousnesse will not deceive us
It may be many times by following the Spirit, we run into dangerous wayes. the way of truth is a straight narrow way, but it is a safe way; keep your way, and it will keep you; the Spirit of Christ will carry you on strongly, Jer. 20, 10. men thinke that Christians walk in dangerous wayes, set like Christ on the top of a pinacle, but we shall find that these wayes of truth will not fail us, but lead us on to eternall happinesse, therefore get this Spirit of Truth.
Ʋse. 3. A ground of comfort to all them that have received this Spirit, this Spirit will not deceive you; if Gods Spirit were not in you, you were of all men most miserable; but we have a Spirit that will not fail us, as Poli∣carpus said, These eighty six years have I served Christ, and he never deceived me, therefore now I will not leave him.