The real Christian, or, A treatise of effectual calling wherein the work of God…

As to the testimony of his own spirit, he had several times, examining himself by the Word preached and read, found that witness: but one time being under affliction, and could not sleep in the night, he fell to examining of himself, what should provoke the Lord to follow him with affliction, as it seems he had done, being but low in the world at best: after examination, he lights his candle, goes to reading in his Bible; having done, puts out his Candle, laid by his Bible, and composed himself to rest, if God would give him any sleep: but, said he, while I was thus trying to sleep, there came from God a Text which he had not thought of, Mal. 4.2. Unto you that fear my Name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings, which was set home, with that life and power, with such expressions as these, all is healed, thy sins all pardoned, God and thou reconciled, no enmity now between God and thee, &c. that he was filled with such joy and comfort, that he was not able to have born it, if God had not drawn back. He did not tell me of any voice he heard, (nor doth God need our ear) but these expressions were as real and clear to him as if any man had spoken to him. This was that which all his life after he lived chiefly upon; though every morning at his first awakening, this was his work to look to his evidence, examine himself, and so kept the testimony of his own spirit: Thus lived and died a precious Saint.

As to the testimony of his own spirit, he had several times, examining himself by the Word preached and read, found that witness: but one time being under affliction, and could not sleep in the night, he fell to examining of himself, what should provoke the Lord to follow him with affliction, as it seems he had done, being but low in the world at best: after examination, he lights his candle, goes to reading in his Bible; having done, puts out his Candle, layed by his Bible, and composed himself to rest, if God would give him any sleep: but, faid he, while I was thus trying to sleep, there came from God a Text which he had not thought of, Mal. 4.2. Ʋnto you that fear my Name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings, which was set home, with that life and power, with such expressions as these, all is healed, thy sins all pardoned, God and thou reconciled, no enmity now between God and thee, &c. that he was filled with such joy and comfort, that he was not able to have born it, if God had not drawn back. He did not tell me of any voice he heard, (nor doth God need our ear) but these expressions were as real and clear to him as if any man had spoken to him. This was that which all his life after he lived chiefly upon; though every morning at his first awakening, this was his work to look to his evidence, examine himself, and so kept the testimony of his own spirit: Thus lived and died a precious Saint.