I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…

Answ. 2 Secondly, If you find no such testimony of reprobation, as you speak of in all the scripture; then you have no reason to fear, or to be discouraged in this respect; now search the scripture, and you shall not find in all the word, any ground for such a testimony of reprobation. We read, indeed, of Francis Spira, notorious for his despair; when his friends came to comfort him, having spake comfortable words unto him, That he said why go ye about to comfort me? comfort belongs not to me, for I am a reprobate. O! said one of his friends, do not say so, for none are able to say so, yes, said he, as the elect of God, have a spirit within them, bearing witness, that they are the children of God; so reprobates have another spirit, bearing witness with their spirits, that they are not the children of God, but the children of Satan; and such a spirit of reprobation have I. But my beloved, if there be such a spirit, or a testimony of reprobation as this is, either it must be, from the spirit of God, or from the spirit of Satan: if from the spirit of Satan, then he is a liar, not to be believed; if it be from the spirit of God, how doth it suit with the word? for the spirit of God, is called the Comforter; can such a spirit of reprobation come from the comforter? and if you have such a testimony as this is, either you must have it from the word, or from the spirit of God alone, without the word; if from the word, then from the threatening: for it is not from the promise, nor from the command: if from the threatening, a threatening may be repealed, a threatening, may be reversed, as you have heard, and if you have it from the spirit of the Lord, how can it be, that the spirit should be called a Comforter? surely therefore, if you have such a spirit of reprobation in your bosom, it is from Satan, and he is a Liar. But (my beloved) I will in this appeal to you, whether do you not think, that there is many a soul now in heaven, that whilst he ⟨p. 123⟩lived, said, I am sure to go to hell; you know that ordinary Story of the woman, that took a glass in her hand, and throwing it on the ground, said, As sure as this Glass breaks, I shall be damned: and the Glass broke not. Well then, thy condition is not alone, others of Gods people may be, and have been led in this way of temptation, and therefore no reason why thou shouldest be cast down, or discouraged.

Answ. 2 Secondly, If you find no such testimony of reprobation, as you speak of in al the scripture; then you have no reason to fear, or to be discouraged in this respect; now search the scripture, and you shal not find in al the word, any ground for such a testimony of reprobation. We read, indeed, of Francis Spira, notorious for his despair; when his friends came to comfort him, having spake comfortable words unto him, That he said why go ye about to comfort me? comfort belongs not to me, for I am a reprobate. O! said one of his friends, do not say so, for none are able to say so, yes, said he, as the elect of God, have a spirit within them, bearing witness, that they are the children of God; so reprobates have another spirit, bearing witness with their spirits, that they are not the children of God, but the children of Satan; and such a spirit of reprobation have I. But my beloved, if there be such a spirit, or a testimony of reprobation as this is, either it must be, from the spirit of God, or from the spirit of Satan: if from the spirit of Satan, then he is a lyer, not to be beleeved; if it be from the spirit of God, how doth it suit with the word? for the spirit of God, is called the Comforter; can such a spirit of reprobation come from the comforter? and if you have such a testimony as this is, either you must have it from the word, or from the spirit of God alone, without the word; if from the word, then from the threatening: for it is not from the promise, nor from the command: if from the threatening, a threatening may be repealed, a threatening, may be reversed, as you have heard, and if you have it from the spirit of the Lord, how can it be, that the spirit should be called a Comforter? surely therefore, if you have such a spirit of reprobation in your bosom, it is from Satan, and he is a Lyer. But (my beloved) I wil in this appeal to you, whether do you not think, that there is many a soul now in heaven, that whilst he