A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

Our assurance of justification, adoption, grace and salvation, is virtually in a syllogistical way: Whoever believes on the Son of God, shall not perish, but have life everlasting. But I believe on the Son of God. Therefore, &c. Whoever judge themselves shall not be judged of the Lord. But I judge my self. Therefore, &c. Whoever loveth the Brethren, hath passed from death to life. But I love the Brethren. Therefore, &c. In these or the like proofs, 'tis the Spirit of grace which gives us the right understanding, and firm belief of the proposition. As for the assumption which hath in it the evidence of graces, 'tis made good by a twofold testimony, the testimony of our consciences, 2 Cor: 1. 12. 1 John. 3 19. 20, 21. and the testimony of the Spirit it self, bearing witness together with our consciences. And although both propositions be made good, yet we are so slow of heart to believe, that we cannot without the special help of the Comforter the holy Ghost, freely, boldly, joyfully, and with a firm persuasion, infer the conclusion as a most certain truth. So that in the business of assurance and full persuasion, the evidence of graces, and the testimony of the Spirit are two concurrent causes or helps, both of them necessary without the evidence of graces, 'tis not a safe nor a well grounded assurance, without the testimony of the Spirit, tis not a plerophory ⟨p. 253⟩or full assurance. There were two evidences of purchase in use among the Jews, one sealed, another open, Jer: 32. 11. Which custom Hierome saith, was continued till his time. The evidence of the Spirit is like that which was sealed; the evidence of marks, like that which was open. Therefore let no man divide the things which God hath joined together. See them joined in three Texts of Scripture, Rom: 8. 16. neither our spirit alone, nor the spirit of the Lord alone beareth witness that we are the Children of God; but both these together bear witness of this thing. The spirit it self beareth witness with our spirit, 1 Cor: 2. 10. 12. we read, that the spirit revealeth unto us, and makes us to know the things which are freely given to us of God. But withal vers: 13. there is a comparing spiritual things with spiritual, and so among other things compared together, there is a comparing of spiritual marks, with a spiritual state, of spiritual fruit, with a spiritual tree, &c.

Our assurance of justification, adoption, grace and salvation, is virtually in a syllogisticall way: Whoever beleeves on the Sonne of God, shall not perish, but have life everlasting. But I beleeve on the Sonne of God. Therefore, &c. Whoever judge themselves shall not be judged of the Lord. But I judge my self. Therefore, &c. Whoever loveth the Brethren, hath passed from death to life. But I love the Brethren. Therefore, &c. In these or the like proofes, 'tis the Spirit of grace which gives us the right understanding, and firme beliefe of the proposition. As for the assumption which hath in it the evidence of graces, 'tis made good by a twofold testimony, the testimony of our consciences, 2 Cor: 1. 12.