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.

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.

3 Blood is a third witness on earth, and that is the blood of his sufferings that doth bear witness to our souls, that Jesus is the Son of God.

3 Bloud is a third witnesse on earth, and that is the bloud of his sufferings that doth bear witnesse to our souls, that Jesus is the Son of God.

And it bears witness to us, 1. by pacifying our conscience, Heb. 12.24. There is a louder cry in the blood of Christ to pacify our souls, then in the guilt of sin to bring wrath upon us, and this is so lively a testimony, that a Christian knows, were it not for the blood of Christ, all the things in the world would not have quieted his conscience.

And it bears witnesse to us, 1. by pacifying our conscience, Heb. 12.24. There is a louder cry in the bloud of Christ to pacifie our souls, then in the guilt of sin to bring wrath upon us, and this is so lively a testimony, that a Christian knows, were it not for the bloud of Christ, all the things in the world would not have quieted his conscience.

2 The blood of Christ, purchaseth us to become his, Acts 20.28. Now when we can find our selves the purchased ones of God, the peculiar people of God, this blood of purchase witnesseth, that it was the Son of God that redeemed us from the world and our own corrupt hearts.

2 The bloud of Christ, purchaseth us to become his, Acts 20.28. Now when we can find our selves the purchased ones of God, the peculiar people of God, this bloud of purchase witnesseth, that it was the Son of God that redeemed us from the world and our own corrupt hearts.

3 The same blood doth therefore bear witness, that Jesus is the Son of God, because it's a blood of purity, sprinkled upon every Ordinance and creature, every thing was purified by blood, Heb. 9.19. to 23. this blood of Christ on every thing makes it pure, To the pure all things are pure, so that to such a one, his calling and company, his meat and drink do not ensnare him, as they do other men, set further off from God, but by this blood it is, and the blessing of God, that we are made more fruitful and serviceable to God, yea were it not for the blood of Christ, our very graces would corrupt us, it's the blood of Christ that makes them all useful and savoury, and turn to our good.

3 The same bloud doth therefore bear witnesse, that Jesus is the Son of God, because it's a bloud of purity, sprinkled upon every Ordinance and creature, every thing was purified by bloud, Heb. 9.19. to 23. this bloud of Christ on every thing makes it pure, To the pure all things are pure, so that to such a one, his calling and company, his meat and drink doe not insnare him, as they doe other men, set further off from God, but by this bloud it is, and the blessing of God, that we are made more fruitful and serviceable to God, yea were it not for the bloud of Christ, our very graces would corrupt us, it's the bloud of Christ that makes them all usefull and savory, and turn to our good.

Doct. These three witnesses, the Spirit, the Water, and the blood are in one.

Doct. These three witnesses, the Spirit, the Water, and the bloud are in one.

Not only in this witness, but they are all one for one work; in the Original, [Greek or Hebrew] that is, they all consent to one truth.

Not only in this witnesse, but they are all one for one work; in the Original, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 that is, they all consent to one truth.