Thirdly, Satan sometimes is transformed into an Angel of light, and as he can play his game in filling precious Souls with fears and darkness, so he can, no doubt, help an unsound heart to ravishing comforts, persuading them they are the Children of God. One I knew, who was under terrible lashes of Conscience, upon a sin of theft; Ministers and Christians came to visit him; the Soar being opened by Confession, the man was filled with such divine comforts, expressed himself at that rate, that they were amazed: the Minister, an able man and holy, not being acquainted with such dainties, though it were the last day of the week, when he saw the man under these ravishments, altered his course, chose another Text, to show how the Spirit of God was able to raise a Soul, as low as Hell, even as high as Heaven in a short time; they had there the Instance of it: Yet the good Christians, who lived in the family, (it was a Gentleman's family) told me, they could discern no work of Grace in this man afterwards. So that here we have cause to look how to clear our selves from Enthusiasm. And if the question be seriously put, How shall I know this voice to be the voice of the Spirit of Christ? If you say the Spirit cleared that when he spake it: Will not the other say so of his ⟨p. 198⟩Spirit? Must we not come to examining of the work of Grace, Faith, Conversion? for be sure the Spirit of God speaks only to such; our Spirits must bear witness also; and that Mr. Bolton addeth as a note to distinguish this voice of the Spirit from a delusion, 1that this witness of the Spirit ever goeth along with the testimony of a renewed Conscience, Rom. 8.16. and so followeth this under several heads, to help resolve the Christian who is truly troubled about it, and would not be mistaken about that testimony of the Spirit, though he answered before with Ambrose, The Holy Ghost doth never speak unto us, but doth make us know that it is be which speaketh. I doubt not of it, but as the Sun clears it self, so doth the Spirit when he speaks.
Thirdly, Satan sometimes is transformed into an Angel of light, and as he can play his game in filling precious Souls with fears and darkness, so he can, no doubt, help an unsound heart to ravishing comforts, perswading them they are the Children of God. One I knew, who was under terrible lashes of Conscience, upon a sin of theft; Ministers and Christians came to visit him; the Soar being opened by Confession, the man was filled with such divine comforts, expressed himself at that rate, that they were amazed: the Minister, an able man and holy, not being acquainted with such dainties, though it were the last day of the week, when he saw the man under these ravishments, altered his course, chose another Text, to shew how the Spirit of God was able to raise a Soul, as low as Hell, even as high as Heaven in a short time; they had there the Instance of it: Yet the good Christians, who lived in the family, (it was a Gentlemans family) told me, they could discern no work of Grace in this man afterwards. So that here we have cause to look how to clear our selves from Enthusiasme. And if the question be seriously put, How shall I know this voice to be the voice of the Spirit of Christ? If you say the Spirit cleared that when he spake it: Will not the other say so of his ⟨p. 198⟩Spirit? Must we not come to examining of the work of Grace, Faith, Conversion? for be sure the Spirit of God speaks only to such; our Spirits must bear witness also; and that Mr. Bolton addeth as a note to distinguish this voice of the Spirit from a delusion, 1that this witness of the Spirit ever goeth along with the testimony of a renewed Conscience, Rom. 8.16. and so followeth this under several heads, to help resolve the Christian who is truly troubled about it, and would not be mistaken about that testimony of the Spirit, though he answered before with Ambrose, The Holy Ghost doth never speak unto us, but doth make us know that it is be which speaketh. I doubt not of it, but as the Sun clears it self, so doth the Spirit when he speaks.
- 1Ibid. p. 328.
