Doct. The Spirit, the Water, and the Blood, are three principal witnesses on earth, that bear witness to the Sonship of Christ.

Doct. The Spirit, the Water, and the Bloud, are three principal witnesses on earth, that bear witnesse to the Sonship of Christ.

The three principal witnesses, for he doth compare them to the three witnesses in Heaven.

The three principall witnesses, for he doth compare them to the three witnesses in Heaven.

Quest. What these three witnesses be?

Answ. The Spirit partly breathing in the Scripture, partly in the conscience of men.

First, The Spirit breathing in the Scriptures, for they in a special manner bear witness to Christ, and they are called Testaments, and indeed they are so far witnesses, as no witness is to be received, unless it be ⟨p. 368⟩consonant to the testimony of the Scripture, Gal. 1.7, 8. and it is not Paul, or Peter, that testifies this, but the Spirit breathing in them, otherwise Christ receives not the testimony of men, neither doth the conscience of a Christian receive the testimony of any living man, except he find the Spirit breathing in him; for let God be true, and every man a liar. This Spirit breathing in the Scripture is a Spirit of power, and perfection, the Spirit of power in the Scripture, is discerned partly, 1. In convincing men, John 16.9. 2. In comforting those that are dejected, Rom. 3.16. 3. In strengthening us against temptation, 1 John 2.14.

First, The Spirit breathing in the Scriptures, for they in a speciall manner bear witnesse to Christ, and they are called Testaments, and indeed they are so farre witnesses, as no witnesse is to be received, unlesse it be ⟨p. 368⟩consonant to the testimony of the Scripture, Gal. 1.7, 8. and it is not Paul, or Peter, that testifies this, but the Sp•rit breathing in them, otherwise Christ receives not the testimony of men, neither doth the conscience of a Christian receive the testimony of any living man, except he finde the Spirit breathing in him; for let God be true, and every man a lyar. This Spirit breathing in the Scripture is a Spirit of power, and perfection, the Spirit of power in the Scripture, is discerned partly, 1. In convincing men, John 16.9. 2. In comforting those that are dejected, Rom. 3.16. 3. In strengthing us against temptation, 1 John 2.14.

Secondly, There is in the Scripture a Spirit of perfection, so that if we have but the testimony of the Scripture, what need we any further witness? 2 Tim. 3.16, 17.

Secondly, There is in the Scripture a Spirit of perfection, so that if we have but the testimony of the Scripture, what need we any further witnesse? 2 Tim. 3.16, 17.

Thirdly, There is a Spirit that bears witness in our hearts, that Jesus is the Son of God, and that Spirit is the same that breathed in the Scripture, so that when we are hearing, or reading, yet the Spirit sets it home to your hearts and souls, so that we go home either convinced, or comforted, or strengthened to every good work and duty God requires; now this Spirit fully persuades us, that Jesus is the Son of God; for this Spirit goes beyond the power of all created things; for no created power is able to convince an hard heart, or comfort a dejected Spirit, or strengthen us in our Christian course, therefore if we find a Spirit in us, enabling us to do all this, the soul rests satisfied without any need of further witness, that Jesus is the Son of God.

Thirdly, There is a Spirit that bears witnesse in our hearts, that Jesus is the Son of God, and that Spirit is the same that breathed in the Scripture, so that when we are hearing, or reading, yet the Spirit sets it home to your hearts and souls, so that we goe home either convinced, or comforted, or strengthned to every good work and duty God requires; now this Spirit fully perswades us, that Jesus is the Son of God; for this Spirit goes beyond the power of all created things; for no created power is able to convince an hard heart, or comfort a dejected Spirit, or strengthen us in our Christian course, therefore if we find a Spirit in us, inabling us to doe all this, the soul rests satisfied without any need of further witnesse, that Jesus is the Son of God.

Fourthly, Water bears witness to this; by water some understand the water of baptism, and indeed that gives strong testimony to Christ, especially to them that are prepared to receive it: as in the Apostles times, when they were first brought on to believe, and then to be baptized, God then strongly testified this truth, so that after baptism, they were filled with much joy, and oft-times with divers gifts and tongues, Acts 8.36. The water of baptism sent away the Eunuch rejoicing, see Acts 19.6, 7. and though children be not capable of this mercy now in their Infancy, except by an extraordinary power, yet notwithstanding a Christian afterwards finds such virtue and strength from his baptism, that he sees there is no water like it, but that there is a divine testimony in it: But because water is but a representation of this Spirit, therefore by water here, may be understood the water of sanctification, the Spirit of God sanctifying and regenerating us; for besides the Spirit of God, that at some extraordinary times fills with unspeakable joy of the holy Ghost; there is also an ordinary work of Gods Spirit, partly cooling, refreshing us, as water doth, partly making us fruitful in our Christian course; for those great enlargements of Gods Spirit, do not always abide with us in that measure, but this water is a spring in us, continually affording us something which evidently witnesseth this truth, Tit. 3.5. John 4.14.

Fourthly, Water bears witnesse to this; by water some understand the water of baptism, and indeed that gives strong testimony to Christ, especially to them that are prepared to receive it: as in the Apostles times, when they were first brought on to believe, and then to be baptized, God then strongly testified this truth, so that after baptism, they were filled with much joy, and oft-times with divers gifts and tongues, Acts 8.36. The water of baptism sent away the Eunuch rejoycing, see Acts 19.6, 7. and though children be not capable of this mercy now in their Infancy, except by an extraordinary power, yet notwithstanding a Christian afterwards findes such vertue and strength from his baptism, that he sees there is no water like it, but that there is a divine testimony in it: But because water is but a representation of this Spirit, therefore by water here, may be understood the water of sanctification, the Spirit of God sanctifying and regenerating us; for besides the Spirit of God, that at some extraordinary times fills with unspeakable joy of the holy Ghost; there is also an ordinary work of Gods Spirit, partly cooling, refreshing us, as water doth, partly making us fruitful in our Christian course; for those great inlargements of Gods Spirit, doe not always abide with us in that measure, but this water is a spring in us, continually afording us something which evidently witnesseth this truth,

1. In this water of Gods Spirit, we find a power to cleanse us from our lusts, as running waters do channels and sinks, Ezek. 36.25. when I see something in me conforming me to Christ, that water bears witness, that Jesus is the Son of God.

1. In this water of Gods Spirit, we finde a power to cleanse us from our lusts, as running waters doe channells and sinks, Ezek. 36.25. when I see something in me conforming me to Christ, that water bears witnesse, that Jesus is the Son of God.

2. There is a power in water to cool and refresh us, when God sheds abroad his Spirit in us, there is something that cools us from the heat of Gods wrath, Isa. 44.3.

3. This water is of a mighty power to make us fruitful, Psal. 1.3. A Christian watered by the Spirit of God, draws such moisture and life from every Ordinance of God, that he brings forth fruit in due season, according to his calling, Ezek. 30.26, 27.

3. This water is of a mighty power to make us fruitfull, Psal. 1.3. A Christian watered by the Spirit of God, draws such moysture and life from every Ordinance of God, that he brings forth fruit in due season, according to his calling, Ezek. 30.26, 27.

Quest. How doth this water bear witness that Jesus is the Son of God?

Quest. How doth this water bear witnesse that Jesus is the Son of God?

Answ. Because all the virtue that this water hath to cleanse, comfort, or fructify us, springs only from faith in the testimony, that Jesus is the Son of God, Gal. 2.19, 20. Let Christians observe, when we walk in the strength ⟨p. 369⟩of our own spirits and graces, we shall grow so dry and barren, that not one good fruit comes from us, and this is because we suck from our own graces, and so spend on the stock, and so soon draw our selves dry, for want of living by faith in the Son of God; but a Christian that hath the water of Sanctification, let him do all in the Name of Christ, and suck life from him daily, and he shall be sufficiently enabled to every duty that God requires; we never found this water, till we believed on Christ, and this water no longer runs fresh and full, then we renew our daily dependence on him, and if we did so daily, we should always find it full Sea in our hearts.

Answ. Because all the vertue that this water hath to cleanse, comfort, or fructifie us, springs onely from faith in the testimony, that Jesus is the Son of God, Gal. 2.19, 20. Let Christians observe, when we walk in the strength ⟨p. 369⟩of our own spirits and graces, we shall grow so dry and barren, that not one good fruit comes from us, and this is because we suck from our owne graces, and so spend on the stock, and so soon draw our selves dry, for want of living by faith in the Son of God; but a Christian that hath the water of Sanctification, let him doe all in the Name of Christ, and suck life from him daily, and he shall be sufficiently inabled to every duty that God requires; we never found this water, till we believed on Christ, and this water no longer runs fresh and full, then we renew our dayly dependence on him, and if we did so dayly, we should alwayes find it full Sea in our hearts.