Meditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many years sinceMeditations on the holy sacrament of the Lords last Supper Written many yeares since

The second question is how the Soul comes to be settled in this persuasion, that the goodness of these truths founded on the Authority of God, do particularly belong unto it? Whereunto I answer in one word, That this ariseth from a two-fold Testimony grounded upon a preceding work of Gods Spirit. For first, the Spirit of God putteth his fear into the hearts of his servants, and purgeth their consciences, by applying the blood of Christ unto them, from dead works, wish affections strongly, and very sensibly altering the constitution of the mind, must needs notably manifest themselves unto the soul, when by any reflex act she shall set her self to look inward upon her own operations.

The second question is how the Soule comes to bee setled in this perswasion, that the goodnesse of these truths founded on the Authority of God, doe particularly belong unto it? Whereunto I answere in one word, That this ariseth from a two-fold Testimonie grounded upon a preceding worke of Gods Spirit. For first, the Spirit of God putteth his feare into the hearts of his servants, and purgeth their consciences, by applying the bloud of Christ unto them, from dead workes, wish affections strongly, and very sensibly altering the constitution of the minde, must needs notably manifest themselves unto the soule, when by any reflex act shee shall set her selfe to looke inward upon her owne operations.

This being thus wrought by the grace of God, thereupon there ensueth a twofold Testimony. The first of a mans own spirit, as we see in the examples of Job, David, ¹Hezekiah, Nehemiah, Saul, and others, namely, That he desireth to fear Gods name, to keep a conscience void of offence, to walk in all integrity towards God, and men, from which, and the like personal qualifications, arise joy in the holy-Ghost, peace of conscience, and experience ⟨p. 216⟩of sweetness in the fellowship with the Father, and his Sonne. Secondly, the Testimony of the holy Spirit, bearing witness to the sincerity of those affections, and to the evidence and truth of those persuasions which himself, by his grace stirred up. So then first the Spirit of God writeth the Law in the heart, upon obedience whereunto ariseth the Testimony of a mans own spirit: And then he writeth the promises in the heart, and by them ratifieth and confirmeth a mans hops, and joys unto him.