The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…

6. And therefore do not look at too many; for the true ones, are but few. I do but name these things to you, because I have fuller handled them in my book of Rest, whether I must refer you. And so I return to the third Caution.

6. And therefore do not look at too many; for the true ones, are but few. I do but name these things to you, because I have fullyer handled them in my book of Rest, whether I must refer you. And so I return to the third Caution.

I have in the forementioned Book told you, what the Office of the Spirit is in Assuring us, and what the use of Marks are. The Spirit witnesseth first Objectively, and so the Spirit and Marks are all one. For it is the Spirit dwelling in us that is the witness or proof that we are Gods sons: for he that hath not his Spirit is none of his: and the Spirit is not discerned by us in its essence, but in its workings: and therefore, to discern these workings is to discern the Spirit: and these workings are the Marks that we speak of: so that the Spirit witnesseth our sonship, as a reasonable soul witnesseth that you are a man and not a beast. You find by the Acts of Reason that you have a Reasonable soul, and then you know that having a Reasonable soul, you are certainly a man: So you find by the works or fruits of the Spirit, that you have the Spirit, (that is, by Marks: and Paul enumerates the fruits of the Spirit to that end) and then by finding that you have the Spirit, you may certainly know that you are ⟨p. 69⟩the child of God. 2. Also, as the Reasonable soul is its own discerner by the help of the body (while it is in it) and so witnesseth our Humanity effectively as well as objectively (but first in order objectively and next effectively:) so doth the Spirit effectively discover it self to the soul, by illuminating us to discern it, and exciting us to search, and giving us that spiritual taste and feeling of its workings, and so of its presence, by which it is best known. But still it witnesseth objectively first; and its effective witnessing, is but the causing us to discern its objective witness. Or (to speak more plainly,) The Spirit witnesseth first and principally by giving us those Graces and workings which are our Marks; and then secondly, by helping us to find and feel those workings or Marks in our selves; and then lastly by raising Comforts in the soul upon that discovery. Take heed therefore of expecting any such inward witness of the Spirit, as some expect, viz. a discovery of your Adoption directly without first discovering the signs of it within you; as if by an inward voice he should say to you, Thou art a child of God, and thy sins are pardoned.