eIndeed this testimony is weak in most men, & can scarce be perceived: because most Christians, though they may be old in respect of years, yet they are babes in Christ, & not yet come to a perfect growth: & may find in themselves great strength of sin, and the graces of God to be in small measure in them. And again, the children of God being most distressed, as in time of trial, & in the hour of death, then the inward working of the holy ghost is felt most evidently. But a ⟨p. 64⟩reprobate cannot have this testimony at all: though in deed a man flattereth himself, and the Devil imitating the Spirit of God, doth usually persuade carnal men and hypocrites that they shall be saved. But that devilish illusion, and the testimony of the Spirit may be discerned by two notes. The first is hearty and fervent prayer to God in the name of Christ. For the same spirit that testifieth to us that we are the adopted children of God, doth also make us cry, that is, fervently with groans and sighs filling heaven & earth, pray to God.2 Now, this hearty, fervent and loud crying in the ears of God, can the Devil give to no hypocrite: for it is the special mark of the Spirit of God. The other note is, that they which have the special testimony from the Spirit of God, have also in their harts the same affections to God which children have to their father: namely, love, fear, reverence, obedience, thankfulness, for they call not upon God, as upon a terrible Judge, but they cry Father, Father. And these affections they have not, whom Satan illudeth with a fantastical imagination of their salvation, for it may be, that through hypocrisy, or through custom, ⟨p. 65⟩they may call God Father, but in truth they cannot do it.
eIndeed this testimonie is weake in most men, & can scarce bee perceiued: because most Christians, though they may be old in respect of yers, yet they are babes in Christ, & not yet come to a perfect grouth: & may find in themselues great strength of sin, and the graces of God to be in small measure in thē. And again, the children of God being most distressed, as in time of triall, & in the houre of death, then the inward working of the holy ghost is felt most euidently. But a ⟨p. 64⟩reprobate cannot haue this testimonie at al: though in deede a man flattereth himselfe, and the Deuill imitating the Spirit of God, doth vsuallie perswade carnall men and hypocrites that they shall bee saued. But that deuilish illusion, and the testimonie of the Spirite may bee discerned by two notes. The first is heartie and feruent prayer to God in the name of Christ. For the same spirite that testifieth to vs that wee are the adopted children of God, doth also make vs crie, that is, feruentlie with grones and sighes filling heauen & earth, pray to God.2 Now, this heartie, feruent and loud crying in the eares of God, can the Deuill giue to no hypocrite: for it is the speciall marke of the Spirite of God. The other note is, that they which haue the speciall testimonie frō the Spirite of God, haue also in their harts the same affections to God which children haue to their father: namelie, loue, feare, reuerence, obedience, thankefulnes, for they call not vpon God, as vpon a terrible Iudge, but they cry Father, Father. And these affections they haue not, whome Sathan illudeth with a phantasticall imagination of their saluation, for it may bee, that through hypocrisie, or through custome, ⟨p. 65⟩they may call God Father, but in truth they cannot doe it.
- eRo. 8. 23 1. Joh. 3. 2. Coloss. 3. 3. 1. Cor. 3. 1. Ephe. 4. 14.Ro. 8. 23 1. Ioh. 3. 2. Coloss. 3. 3. 1. Cor. 3. 1. Ephe. 4. 14.
- 2Labour in prayer: for it is the proper mark of the spirit of adoption: and in prayer we shall most of all feel the spirit of adoptionLabour in prayer: for it is the proper marke of the spirite of adoption: and in praier wee shall most of all feele the spirite of adoptiō
