Use 1. To establish our hearts in this testimony, that Jesus is the Son of God, and so to believe it, that we may overcome the world; In the mouth of two or three witnesses every truth shall stand, how much more when three in heaven and three on earth testify the truth? and it's not enough to believe this upon the authority of the State, or thy Parents, or upon the universal consent of all men, for this is no part of divine testimony, and this belief will never help thee to overcome the world; and yet this is the testimony of the Church of Rome, but these humane testimonies will beget but humane credulity.

Ʋse 1. To establish our hearts in this testimony, that Jesus is the Son of God, and so to believe it, that we may overcome the world; In the mouth of two or three witnesses every truth shall stand, how much more when three in heaven and three on earth testifie the truth? and it's not enough to believe this upon the authority of the State, or thy Parents, or upon the universal consent of all men, for this is no part of divine testimony, and this beliefe will never help thee to overcome the world; and yet this is the testimony of the Church of Rome, but these humane testimonies will beget but humane credulity.

Use 2. For trial, whether you believe this truth aright or no; if your faith be built upon the testimony of the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, upon the testimony of the Spirit breathing in the Scripture, and in your own conscience upon the water of Sanctification and blood of Redemption, if your faith be built on these principles it will stand.

Ʋse 2. For tryall, whether you believe this truth aright or no; if your faith be built upon the testimony of the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, upon the testimony of the Spirit breathing in the Scripture, and in your own conscience upon the water of Sanctification and bloud of Redemption, if your faith be built on these principles it will stand.

Use 3. Reproves that Popish doctrine that maintains a Christian can never attain to any certain assurance; Why, if a Christian have six such strong witnesses, and divine, as these, will they not breed more then probable conjecture? Six be •est mens testimonies would breed more then probability; And do not God the Father, Son and holy Ghost breed assurance in their testimonies? It's a dishonourable thing to think otherwise.

Ʋse 3. Reproves that Popish doctrine that maintains a Christian can never attain to any certain assurance; Why, if a Christian have six such strong witnesses, and divine, as these, will they not breed more then probable conjecture? Six be •est mens testimonies would breed more then probability; And doe not God the Father, Son and holy Ghost breed assurance in their testimonies? It's a dishonourable thing to think otherwise.

Use 5. Since these three, the Spirit, the water, and blood, do bear witness to the Sonship of Christ, it should teach us to keep our hearts and ears always open to these testimonies. Two things hinder this testimony, the noise and tumults of worldly businesses so fill our hearts and hands, that we cannot hear what the Spirit speaks. Secondly, the noise of our lusts doth so fill our souls, that we cannot listen to the peace Christs blood speaks, which speaks better things then our lusts: therefore we should always keep our hearts and ears open, and free from tumults of the world, or the noise of our own lusts, that so we might hear what Gods Spirit testifies to our own hearts.

Ʋse 5. Since these three, the Spirit, the water, and bloud, doe bear witnesse to the Sonship of Christ, it should teach us to keep our hearts and ears always open to these testimonies. Two things hinder this testimony, the noyse and tumults of worldly businesses so fill our hearts and hands, that we cannot hear what the Spirit speaks. Secondly, the noyse of our lusts doth so fill our souls, that we cannot listen to the peace Christs bloud speaks, which speaks better things then our lusts: therefore we should alwayes keep our hearts and ears open, and free from tumults of the world, or the noyse of our own lusts, that so we might hear what Gods Spirit testifies to our own hearts.

1 JOHN 5.9, 10. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God, which he hath testified of his Son, &c.

1 JOHN 5.9, 10. If we receive the witnesse of men, the witnesse of God is greater; for this is the witnesse of God, which he hath testified of his Son, &c.

Having spoken in the former verse, of the manner of Christs coming, and of the witness born to it, three in Heaven, and three on earth, in these verses he excites us to receive the testimony of those witnesses by four arguments.

HAving spoken in the former verse, of the manner of Christs coming, and of the witnesse born to it, three in Heaven, and three on earth, in these verses he excites us to receive the testimony of those witnesses by four arguments.

1 A minori, If we receive the witness of men, how much the more ought we to receive the witness of God?

1 A minori, If we receive the witnesse of men, how much the more ought we to receive the witnesse of God?

2 From the divinity of this testimony, whatsoever any of these fix witnesses speak, their testimony is not from the earth, but from God, verse 9.

3 From the nearness of this testimony, in the heart and conscience of every believer, and therefore the rather to be credited, because it is an inward testimony that we feel in our own hearts.

3 From the nearnesse of this testimony, in the heart and conscience of every believer, and therefore the rather to be credited, because it is an inward testimony that we feel in our own hearts.

4 From the dangerous condition that such fall into that do not believe this truth, they do no less then make God a liar, for all these bear witness from God, and therefore if we believe them not, we make God a liar.

4 From the dangerous condition that such fall into that doe not believe this truth, they do no lesse then make God a lya•, for all these bear witnesse from God, and therefore if we believe them not, we make God a lyar.

Doct. The three witnesses in heaven, and the three witnesses on earth, are all of them divine and inward testimonies in the hearts of believers, and therefore far more to be credited, then the witness of all men in the world.

Doct. The three witnesses in heaven, and the three witnesses on earth, are all of them divine and inward testimonies in the hearts of believers, and therefore far more to be credited, then the witnesse of all men in the world.

1 That the Father, Son, and Spirit, are divine witnesses, is no question, for they are the three Persons in the Trinity, and yet are but one God, Deut. 6 4. Therefore their testimony must needs be divine. But the question is, How do these hear witness in our hearts to this truth, he that believeth hath all these witnesses in himself?

1 That the Father, Son, and Spirit, are divine witnesses, is no question, for they are the three Persons in the Trinity, and yet are but one God, Deut. 6 4. Therefore their testimony must needs be divine. But the question is, How doe these hear witnesse in our hearts to this truth, he that believeth hath all these witnesses in himselfe?

1 The Father, as he is the Fountain of the God head, so his work is a work of Almighty power, and that is it which speaks in the heart of every believer, John 6.44. No man can come to me; except the Father which sent me draw him: as none come to Christ, except the Father draw him; so he draws none, but by the same power whereby he sent Christ, and that was by his Sovereign authority; if God should draw us only by the cords of men, we should break through all, as the Israelites did, Hos. 11.4. But when God shakes our hearts by an Almighty power, and lets us see the danger of our estate, and after enlightens us to see the ways of salvation, then he draws a man on to Christ: take a natural man, all the world cannot persuade him of his dangerous estate, but he is persuaded of his good nature and good heart towards God.

1 The Father, as he is the Fountain of the God head, so his work is a work of Almighty power, and that is it which speaks in the heart of every believer, John 6.44. No man can come to me; except the Father which sent me draw him: as none come to Christ, except the Father draw him; so he draws none, but by the same power whereby he sent Christ, and that was by his Soveraign authority; if God should draw us onely by the cords of men, we should break through all, as the Israelites did, Hos. 11.4. But when God shakes our hearts by an Almighty power, and lets us see the danger of our estate, and after enlightens us to see the wayes of salvation, then he draws a man on to Christ: take a naturall man, all the world cannot perswade him of his dangerous estate, but he is perswaded of his good nature and good heart towards God.

Secondly, If he be convinced of it, all the world cannot persuade him, that any promise belongs to him, and therefore here God must put forth an Almighty power of a Spirit of adoption, whereby he is brought on to believe the promises; before he had only an humane credulity, now he believes it from a testimony within himself, John 6.45.

Secondly, If he be convinced of it, all the world cannot perswade him, that any promise belongs to him, and therefore here God must put forth an Almighty power of a Spirit of adoption, whereby he is brought on to believe the promises; before he had onely an humane credulity, now he believes it from a testimony within himselfe, John 6.45.

2 The Son of God bears witness in our hearts of this truth, by speaking freedom and liberty to our souls from the guilt of sin, John 8.36. If the Son shall make you free, then shall you be free indeed, that whereas before we were bound to our sins, and lusts, and ways, Christ comes and sets us free from all, so that now we serve not our selves or men, but the Lord Christ; & by this a Christian knows that surely Christ is the Son of God, that hath made me a son of God my self.

2 The Son of God bears witnesse in our hearts of this truth, by speaking freedome and liberty to our souls from the guilt of sin, John 8.36. If the Son shall make you free, then shall you be free indeed, that whereas before we were bound to our sins, and lusts, and wayes, Christ comes and sets us free from all, so that now we serve not our selves or men, but the Lord Christ; & by this a Christian knows that surely Christ is the Son of God, that hath made me a son of God my selfe.