A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

For the three witnesses on earth, they likewise bear witness to this truth in our hearts.

For the three witnesses on earth, they likewise bear witnesse to this truth in our hearts.

1 The Spirit, that is, the Spirit breathing in the Word hath such a mighty power to enlighten, and quicken, and strengthen a soul, that whatsoever the Spirit speaks in the Scripture, the same it witnesseth in our souls, 1 Cor. 14.24, 25.

2 Water bears witness in our hearts to this truth, that is, the water of Sanctification doth so cleanse, and cool, and refresh the conscience of a man, and make him so fruitful in his Christian course, that it's plainly a divine testimony, it passeth all the power of the creature thus to pacify and quiet the conscience; it is only the Spirit of God that is able thus to pacify a guilty soul; thus to cleanse an impure heart, and to make these dry barren stocks as we are fruitful; this is a divine work of Gods Spirit.

2 Water bears witnesse in our hearts to this truth, that is, the water of Sanctification doth so cleanse, and cool, and refresh the conscience of a man, and make him so fruitful in his Christian course, that it's plainly a divine testimony, it passeth all the power of the creature thus to pacifie and quiet the conscience; it is only the Spirit of God that is able thus to pacifie a guilty soul; thus to cleanse an impure heart, and to make these dry barren stocks as we are fruitful; this is a divine work of Gods Spirit.

2 The same blood purifies every Ordinance, and creature; there would be no virtue in any Ordinance, nothing would do us good, but for the blood of Christ sanctifying it to our use: now this testimony is of greater force then the testimony of all the sons of men together. There be three things needful in a testimony.

2 The same bloud purifies every Ordinance, and creature; there would be no vertue in any Ordinance, nothing would doe us good, but for the bloud of Christ sanctifying it to our use: now this testimony is of greater force then the testimony of all the sons of men together. There be three things needful in a testimony.

1 That it be certain. 2 Evident. 3 Powerful and Effectual.

1 That it be certain. 2 Evident. 3 Powerfull and Effectuall.

1 This divine testimony is more certain, then all the testimonies of the world, because God is greater in knowledge, and so knows more then men can.

2 Because he is greater in truth; men may err, but God cannot lye, Tit. 1.2, 3. Rom. 4.2.

2 Because he is greater in truth; men may erre, but God cannot lye, Tit. 1.2, 3. Rom. 4.2.

2 This testimony is more evident, to make a thing evident is required, 1 Objectum perspicuum. 2 Organum been affectum. 3 Medium apt dispositum.

2 This testimony is more evident, to make a thing evident is required, 1 Objectum perspicuum. 2 Organum bene affectum. 3 Medium apte dispositum.

Now God doth make this truth evident by the concurrence of all these.

1 He lets us plainly see the danger of sin, and the virtue and worth of Christs blood; God reveals his Son to our hearts, John 3.12. Gal. 1.46. so what the Gospel speaks of his Son, the same is plainly revealed, and so he makes the object perspicuous.

1 He lets us plainly see the danger of sin, and the vertue and worth of Christs bloud; God reveals his Son to our hearts, John 3.12. Gal. 1.46. so what the Gospel speaks of his Son, the same is plainly revealed, and so he makes the object perspicuous.

2 He opens the eyes of men to discern it, to long after it, to taste of his virtue and power, Acts 26.18. 1 Pet. 2.3. 1 Cor. 2.14, 15. A natural man sees nothing of this work.

2 He opens the eyes of men to discern it, to long after it, to tast of his vertue and power, Acts 26.18. 1 Pet. 2.3. 1 Cor. 2.14, 15. A natural man sees nothing of this work.

3 He clears the Medium, that is, the Word and Sacraments, Prayer & Christian ⟨p. 372⟩Communion; so that whereas before we looked at them, but as beggarly rudiments, of little power or worth, after God hath once enlightened us, we see the power and virtue of God therein, so plainly, as if we had been touched by the Sun beams.

3 He clears the Medium, that is, the Word and Sacraments, Prayer & Christian ⟨p. 372⟩Communion; so that whereas before we lookt at them, but as beggerly rudiments, of little power or worth, after God hath once enlightned us, we see the power and vertue of God therein, so plainly, as if we had been touched by the Sun beams.

3 This divine testimony is far more powerful then any humane testimony, Heb. 4.12, 13. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. The Ordinances of God are mighty and effectual through God, so to change and renew our hearts, that no humane power is able to reach them.

3 This divine testimony is far more powerfull then any humane testimony, Heb. 4.12, 13. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. The Ordinances of God are mighty and effectual through God, so to change and renew our hearts, that no humane power is able to reach them.

Use 1. To refute two doctrines of the Romish Church.

Ʋse 1. To refute two doctrines of the Romish Church.

1 That the last ground-work of faith is resolved on the testimony of the Church: Ask them if they believe Jesus to be the Son of God, they say yes; ask them why? Because the Scripture say so: ask rhem, But why do you believe the Scripture? From the testimony of the Church, say they; so that their best faith is but humane credulity: But ask a true Protestant, why he believes Jesus to be the Son of God? he tells you because the Scripture say so; ask him why he believes the Scripture? he saith, not because the Church believes so, but he believes it from a testimony within himself. What say they, you trust a private spirit of your own? nay his private spirit is common with him to all believers, ever since the world was, and that spirit is no other then the Spirit of God that breatheth in all his children. Besides, he hath other witnesses in his heart, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and this is a divine testimony, greater then the witness of all the world; so that here is a double error of theirs; 1 In grounding their faith upon the Churches testimony. 2 In blaspheming the Spirit of God, for a private spirit. Fundamental errors.

1 That the last ground-work of faith is resolved on the testimony of the Church: Ask them if they believe Jesus to be the Son of God, they say yes; ask them why? Because the Scripture say so: ask rhem, But why doe you believe the Scripture? From the testimony of the Church, say they; so that their best faith is but humane credulity: But ask a true Protestant, why he believes Jesus to be the Son of God? he tels you because the Scripture say so; ask him why he believes the Scripture? he saith, not because the Church believes so, but he believes it from a testimony within himselfe. What say they, you trust a private spirit of your own? nay his private spirit is common with him to all believers, ever since the world was, and that spirit is no other then the Spirit of God that breatheth in all his children. Besides, he hath other witnesses in his heart, the Spirit, the water, and the bloud, and this is a divine testimony, greater then the witnesse of all the world; so that here is a double errour of theirs; 1 In grounding their faith upon the Churches testimony. 2 In blaspheming the Spirit of God, for a private spirit. Fundamental errours.