R. 2. From the convincing light, which the spirit of God bringeth into the soul, when he worketh faith and hope in it. It is the office and work ⟨p. 52⟩of the spirit, to convince, and, by convincing, to comfort, Joh. 16. 7, 8. Conviction is a clear and infallible demonstration, and comfort is a demonstration, with application unto us, of better and stronger reasons to raise us up, then those are which tend to cast down our souls. When the spirit convinceth, he bringeth such a full and powerful light into the soul, as silenceth all disputes and cavils, and causeth the soul to yield, as overcome by the evidence and authority of the light and truth brought into it. Light hath a convincing property and force in it. When we see the light of the Sun, we know it is day, and will not believe those that shall deny it, though they were ten thousands, because the conjunction hereof is undeniable, it is an unreasonable thing to deny it. So the spirit of God brings an undeniable light into the soul, which discovers the vanity of those windings, and turnings, whereof mens deceitful hearts are so full, that there can be no thorough conviction, and effectual to salvation, without the efficacy of ⟨p. 53⟩the Holy Spirit. A common conviction there may be, by the light of nature, or of a natural conscience, or of some common transient work of the Holy Spirit, but that is but weak: For either it discovers but little, as a little spark shows little light, not enough to lighten the room, by overcoming the darkness, and turning it into light; or the light, which it shows, it shows but weakly, like a flash of lightning, or a blaze in straw, that is soon out again. But saving conjunction is a greater and stronger light, like the light of the Sun, which is a full and powerful light. This is only from the sanctifying spirit of God. This light shows the evil of sin, and the good of the contrary, in their spiritual nature, and compass, and draws the will answerably, from the one to the other, by converting grace, Acts 26. 18. This light is abiding in the renewed soul. Thus the Church, in my Text, was convinced and comforted, in their great distress, by the spirit and word of God, so as they could hold forth good and strong ⟨p. 54⟩reasons, whereupon their hope was strengthened, and their hearts were comforted in sad hours.
R. 2. From the convincing light, which the spirit of God bringeth into the soul, when he worketh faith and hope in it. It is the office and work ⟨p. 52⟩of the spirit, to convince, and, by convincing, to comfort, Joh. 16. 7, 8. Conviction is a clear and infallible demonstration, and comfort is a demonstration, with application unto us, of better and stronger reasons to raise us up, then those are which tend to cast down our souls. When the spirit convinceth, he bringeth such a full and powerful light into the soul, as silenceth all disputes and cavils, and causeth the soul to yeeld, as overcome by the evidence and authority of the light and truth brought into it. Light hath a convincing property and force in it. When we see the light of the Sun, we know it is day, and will not believe those that shall deny it, though they were ten thousands, because the convinction hereof is undeniable, it is an unreasonable thing to deny it. So the spirit of God brings an undeniable light into the soul, which discovers the vanity of those windings, and turnings, whereof mens deceitful hearts are so full, that there can be no thorough conviction, and effectual to salvation, without the efficacy of ⟨p. 53⟩the Holy Spirit. A common conviction there may be, by the light of nature, or of a natural conscience, or of some common transient work of the Holy Spirit, but that is but weak: For either it discovers but little, as a little spark shews little light, not enough to lighten the room, by overcomming the darknesse, and turning it into light; or the light, which it shews, it shews but weakly, like a flash of lightning, or a blaze in straw, that is soon out again. But saving convinction is a greater and stronger light, like the light of the Sun, which is a full and powerful light. This is onely from the sanctifying spirit of God. This light shewes the evil of sin, and the good of the contrary, in their spiritual nature, and compasse, and drawes the will answerably, from the one to the other, by converting grace, Acts 26. 18. This light is abiding in the renewed soul. Thus the Church, in my Text, was convinced and comforted, in their great distresse, by the spirit and word of God, so as they could hold forth good and strong ⟨p. 54⟩reasons, whereupon their hope was strengthened, and their hearts were comforted in sad houres.
