3. The testimony of the Spirit breathing in the Word, and in the hearts of Gods children do so agree in every thing that its evident to be the same Spirit, though it be true, the Spirit is more strong and evident in the Scripture; the witness may be weak in our hearts, yet always in the main aim and ends they agree together.

3. The testimony of the Spirit breathing in the Word, and in the hearts of Gods children doe so agree in every thing that its evident to be the same Spirit, though it be true, the Spirit is more strong and evident in the Scripture; the witnesse may be weak in our hearts, yet always in the main aim and ends they agree together.

4. By how much the more suitable it is to the Scripture, by so much the more it conforms us to the Image of Christ; the Spirit of Christs make you meek and lowly, as he was, draws us from earthly objects to a more divine frame; that Spirit which fashions to Christ is of God.

Use 2. Of just reproof to Gods servants that have found the blood of Christ pacifying and purifying their hearts; if in this case their souls doubt, and are solicitous, they refuse the testimony of the Spirit; Satan, say they, may transform himself into an Angel of light; I, but Satan cannot pacify the conscience, much less purify it, himself being an unclean spirit, loves to draw on others to impurity; if therefore the spirit within you, draw you on to walk in truth, and to frame your heart according to the Image of Christ, if you find any measure of peace and purity, its evident the Spirit is a Spirit of truth.

Ʋse 2. Of just reproof to Gods servants that have found the bloud of Christ pacifying and purifying their hearts; if in this case their souls doubt, and are solicitous, they refuse the testimony of the Spirit; Satan, say they, may transform himselfe into an Angell of light; I, but Satan cannot pacifie the conscience, much lesse purifie it, himselfe being an unclean spirit, loves to draw on others to impurity; if therefore the spirit within you, draw you on to walk in truth, and to frame your heart according to the Image of Christ, if you finde any measure of peace and purity, its evident the Spirit is a Spirit of truth.

Use 4. For them that have found any measure of peace and purity, they ought to teach them, to be very careful to discern whether this spirit be of ⟨p. 365⟩God or no, if thou hast found much peace, and withal thou walkest in simplicity and godly sincerity, this Spirit is of God, 2 Cor. 1.12. But if our peace make us careless of our ways, and more licentious, we shall never approve such a spirit to be of God; where Gods Spirit breaths, the more peace, the more care of purity, and therefore let us always put them together. Herod's spirit of joy was a spirit of delusion, because it was not a spirit of purity, Mark 6.20. Herod and David both, fell into the same lusts: how shall we know whether of them had the Spirit of God? David for a while seemed to do worst, but Herod he so favoured his lust, that he destroyed John that reproved him; David he heard the Prophet, and humbled himself, and renewed his repentance before God, and therefore doubtless his Spirit was of God, because he was studious of purity; such a soul as favours his lust, and takes part with it, hath not Gods Spirit in him: that sickness is mortal, that refuseth utterly all means of health; if therefore either our peace or purity be wanting, we shall not have this testimony of Gods Spirit; that spirit that speaks both, is a Spirit of truth.

Ʋse 4. For them that have found any measure of peace and purity, they ought to teach them, to be very carefull to discern whether this spirit be of ⟨p. 365⟩God or no, if thou hast found much peace, and withall thou walkest in simplicity and godly sincerity, this Spirit is of God, 2 Cor. 1.12. But if our peace make us carelesse of our wayes, and more licentious, we shall never approve such a spirit to be of God; where Gods Spirit breaths, the more peace, the more care of purity, and therefore let us always put them together. Herods spirit of joy was a spirit of delusion, because it was not a spirit of purity, Mark 6.20. Herod and David both, fell into the same lusts: how shall we know whether of them had the Spirit of God? David for a while seemed to do worst, but Herod he so favoured his lust, that he destroyed John that reproved him; David he heard the Prophet, and humbled himself, and renewed his repentance before God, and therefore doubtlesse his Spirit was of God, because he was studious of purity; such a soul as favours his lust, and takes part with it, hath not Gods Spirit in him: that sicknesse is mortall, that refuseth utterly all means of health; if therefore either our peace or purity be wanting, we shall not have this testimony of Gods Spirit; that spirit that speaks both, is a Spirit of truth.

1 JOHN 5.7. For there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Christ the Object of our Faith is set out, First, By the manner of his coming, v. 6. He came by water and blood. Secondly, By the testimony given him of his coming, which is double, three in Heaven, and three on Earth. In this Verse the heavenly witnesses are set forth, 1. By the number, three. 2. By their place, in Heaven. 3. By their work, they bear witness. 4. By their names, the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit. 5. By the unity, these three are one.

CHrist the Object of our Faith is set out, First, By the manner of his coming, v. 6. He came by water and bloud. Secondly, By the testimony given him of his coming, which is double, three in Heaven, and three on Earth. In this Verse the heavenly witnesses are set forth, 1. By the number, three. 2. By their place, in Heaven. 3. By their work, they bear witnesse. 4. By their names, the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit. 5. By the unity, these three are one.

Doct. That there are three Persons, yet but one God, that do bear witness to the divinity of Christ, and of the plenteous salvation wrought by him.

Doct. That there are three Persons, yet but one God, that doe bear witnesse to the divinity of Christ, and of the plenteous salvation wrought by him.

For Explication.

Quest. Who those three Persons be, and why so called?

Answ. The first Person is the Father, so called,

1. Chiefly because he is the Father of Christ, 1 Pet. 1.3. Partly by eternal generation, as he is God; partly by adoption, as he is man.

1. Chiefly because he is the Father of Christ, 1 Pet. 1.3. Partly by eternall generation, as he is God; partly by adoption, as he is man.

2. As he is the Father of all the Elect, 1 Pet. 1.3, 5. John 20.17.

The second Person is styled the Word, as likewise, John 1.1. A solemn name given him in his greatest triumph, Rev. 19.13. A style seldom attributed to Christ, but by St. John in all his Books, although some understand it of Christ, Heb. 4.12.

The second Person is styled the Word, as likewise, John 1.1. A solemn name given him in his greatest triumph, Rev. 19.13. A style seldome attributed to Christ, but by St. John in all his Books, although some understand it of Christ, Heb. 4.12.

Christ is called the Word in a fourfold sense, he is a Word of wisdom, of representation, of revelation, of promise.

Christ is called the Word in a fourfold sence, he is a Word of wisdome, of representation, of revelation, of promise.

1. Christ is a word of wisdom: for [Greek or Hebrew] is not only [Greek or Hebrew] but [Greek or Hebrew] ratio: now Wisdom is accidental, but ratio is essential to a humane soul: Now such a thing is Christ to his Father, he is the wisdom or reason to his Father, Prov. 8.23, 24: he is the begotten of his Father; they that write of the Trinity express it thu•, the Father from eternity considering and understanding himself, from this conceiving of the Father resulted the Image of himself, that was his Son, from them both resulted the holy Ghost.

1. Christ is a word of wisdome: for 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 is not onely 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 but 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 ratio: now Wisdome is accidental, but ratio is essential to a humane soul: Now such a thing is Christ to his Father, he is the wisdome or reason to his Father, Prov. 8.23, 24: he is the begotten of his Father; they that write of the Trinity expresse it thu•, the Father from eternity considering and understanding himselfe, from this conceiving of the Father resulted the Image of himselfe, that was his Son, from them both resulted the holy Ghost.