2. Another advantage we have by this notion is, The certainty of the word, it is Gods Testimony. The Apostle saith, 1 Joh. 5. 9. If we take the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. It is but reason we should allow God that value and esteem that we give to the testimony of men, who are fallible and deceitful. Among men, in the mouth of two or three witnesses every thing is established, Deut. 19. 15. Now there are three that bear witness in heaven, and three that bear witness on earth, 1 Joh. 5. 7, 8. We are apt to doubt of the Gospel, and have suspicious thoughts of such an excellent doctrine; but now there are three witnesses from heaven, the Father, Word, and Spirit; the Father by a voice, Mat. 3. 7. And lo a voice from Heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, &c. And the Son also by a voice, when he appeared to Paul from Heaven, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me. And the Holy Ghost gave his testimony, ⟨p. 9⟩descending upon him in the form of a Dove, and upon the Apostles in cloven tongues of fire, And there are three that bear record on earth, for he saith, v. 10. He that believeth, [Greek or Hebrew], he hath the testimony in himself: what is that? The Spirit, Water, and Blood, in the heart of a believer; these give testimony to the Gospel. The Spirit bears witness to the Gospel when it illuminateth the heart, enabling us to discern the Doctrine to be of God, to discern those signatures and characters of Majesty, Goodness; Power, Truth, which God hath left upon the Gospel; and Water and Blood testify, when we feel those constant and sensible effects of Gods power coming with the Gospel, (1 Thes. 1. 5.) both by pacifying the Conscience, and bringing joy and satisfaction, and by sanctifying and freeing a man from the bondage of sin. Water signifies Sanctification, Joh. 17. 17. Sanctify them by thy truth. The Sanctifying power of God that goes along with the Gospel is a clear confirmation of the Divine testimony in it. Joh. 8. 32. The truth shall make you free. By our disentanglement from lust we come to be settled in the truth. Gods testimony is the ultimate resolution of our faith. Why do we believe? because it is Gods testimony. How do we know it is Gods testimony? it evidenceth it self by its own light to the consciences of men: yet God for the greater satisfaction to the world, hath given us witnesses, three from heaven, and three on earth.
2. Another advantage we have by this notion is, The certainty of the word, it is Gods Testimony. The Apostle saith, 1 Joh. 5. 9. If we take the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. It is but reason we should allow God that value and esteem that we give to the testimony of men, who are fallible and deceitful. Among men, in the mouth of two or three witnesses every thing is established, Deut. 19. 15. Now there are three that bear witness in heaven, and three that bear witness on earth, 1 Joh. 5. 7, 8. We are apt to doubt of the Gospel, and have suspicious thoughts of such an excellent doctrine; but now there are three witnesses from heaven, the Father, Word, and Spirit; the Father by a voice, Mat. 3. 7. And lo a voice from Heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, &c. And the Son also by a voice, when he appeared to Paul from Heaven, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me. And the Holy Ghost gave his testimony, ⟨p. 9⟩descending upon him in the form of a Dove, and upon the Apostles in cloven tongues of fire, And there are three that bear record on earth, for he saith, v. 10. He that believeth, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, he hath the testimony in himself: what is that? The Spirit, Water, and Blood, in the heart of a believer; these give testimony to the Gospel. The Spirit bears witness to the Gospel when it illuminateth the heart, enabling us to discern the Doctrine to be of God, to discern those signatures and characters of Majesty, Goodness; Power, Truth, which God hath left upon the Gospel; and Water and Blood testifie, when we feel those constant and sensible effects of Gods power coming with the Gospel, (1 Thes. 1. 5.) both by pacifying the Conscience, and bringing joy and satisfaction, and by sanctifying and freeing a man from the bondage of sin. Water signifies Sanctification, Ioh. 17. 17. Sanctifie them by thy truth. The Sanctifying power of God that goes along with the Gospel is a clear confirmation of the Divine testimony in it. Ioh. 8. 32. The truth shall make you free. By our disintanglement from lust we come to be setled in the truth. Gods testimony is the ultimate resolution of our faith. Why do we believe? because it is Gods testimony. How do we know it is Gods testimony? it evidenceth it self by its own light to the consciences of men: yet God for the greater satisfaction to the world, hath given us witnesses, three from heaven, and three on earth.
