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…

Secondly, this is not to receive the Testimony of the Spirit upon the credit of some other thing, for the Spirit that speaketh in the Word, is not another thing from the Spirit that speaketh in our hearts, and saith, we are the Children of God, when we receive the Testimony or evidence in our hearts, ⟨p. 262⟩upon the credit of the Word, we receive it upon the Holy Ghosts own credit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, as the Apostle saith. The holy Scripture is called a more sure word then that voice of God which came from heaven concerning his well-beloved Son, 2 Pet. 1. 17, 18, 19. and so by parity of Reason, if not a fortiori, the written word of God, is surer then any voice which can speak in the soul of a man, and an inward Testimony may sooner deceive us, then the written word can, which being so, we may and ought to try the voice which speaks in the soul by the voice of the Lord which speaks in the Scripture. If it agree not, then we have not loosed, but have made a right discovery and found out a depth of Satan, and so gained by the trial. If it do agree, so likewise we are gainers, being confirmed in the assurance, not upon the Testimony of another, but upon the surest and best known Testimony of the holy Ghost himself. Thirdly, if these things be not admitted, and if the Antinomian argument which now I speak to, stand good, then it shall be easy for any deluded person to repel the most searching convictions which can be offered to him from Scripture, for he shall still think with himself, (though unhumbled and unregenerate) it is the voice of the spirit of the Lord, which speaks peace to my soul, and this voice I know is according to the word, because I am assured by the same spirit that it is indeed according to the Word, and other evidence I will not look after, because I am to receive the Testimony of the Spirit upon his own credit, and not upon the credit of some other thing: The voice of the spirit which speaks in my soul is that, beyond which there must be no inquiry. I ask now, how shall the Antinomians convince such a one from Scripture? Nay how can they choose but (according to their principles) confirm him in his delusory, imaginary assurance? Fourthly, the very same Antinomian Author, who speaks of the Testimony of the spirit of ⟨p. 263⟩God in the soul, as that beyond which there must be no inquiry;