A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

(5.) As the Spirit helps us to compare that which is wrought with the Rule, the impression or thing sealed with the Stamp or the thing sealing; so he helps us to conclude rightly of our Estate: For many times when the Premises are clear, the Conclusion may be suspended, either out of Self-Love, in case of Condemnation; or out of legal Fear and Jealousy, in case of Self-acquitment. Therefore the Conclusion is of the Holy-Ghost. 1 John 4. 13. Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. There's a great deal of do to bring us to Heaven with Comfort. There needs a Person of the Godhead to satisfy us, as well as to satisfy God, and help us to determine concerning our Condition.

(6.) He enlivens and heightens our Apprehensions in all these Particulars, and so fills us with Comfort, and raiseth our Joy upon the feeling of the Sense of the Favour of God; for all this is the Fruit of his Operation. Therefore it is said, Rom. 5. 5. The Love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts, by the Holy-Ghost which is given unto us. Those unspeakable Glimpses of God's Favour, and sweet Manifestations of God's Love in the Conscience, which we have, these are given by the Holy-Ghost. There is not one Act of the ⟨p. 102⟩Soul, but the Holy-Ghost hath a stroke in it for our Comfort, in every degree, all comes from God. So that if you would know what the Witness of the Spirit is, consider, What are the Marks in Scripture? What Graces are wrought in your Hearts? How doth the Spirit help you to discern those Graces, to compare them to the Rule, to make accordingly in these Things a Determination of our Condition? And what Joy and Peace have you thereupon wrought in your Hearts by the Holy-Ghost? For an immediate Testimony of the Spirit, the Scripture knows of no such thing. All other is but Delusion, besides this.