The sound believer, or, A treatise of evangelical conversion discovering the work of Christs…The sound beleever, or, A treatise of evangelicall conversion discovering the work of Christs…

6. This absolute testimony is either the testimony of the Word, or of the Spirit; Not of the Word, as is proved; If of the Spirit, then let it be considered, whether that can be the testimony of the Spirit which is not according to the Word, nay contrary to the Word, for the Word to say none are justified before faith; for the Spirit to testify some are justified before faith. If it be said, that the Spirit doth not witness these to any man before and without faith; but yet it is without respect unto, or showing a man his faith, (for those that exclude Sanctification from being any evidence, they mean Faith as well as any other renewed work of holiness, and so exclude that also) then I say the testimony of the Spirit (which of it self is exceeding clear) is an obscure and dark testimony, because it clears up the predicate of ⟨p. 233⟩this Proposition, thou believer art justified, it witnesseth to a man thou art justified; but clears not up the subject of it: viz. thou believer, it makes a man believe a testimony without understanding the full meaning of it; for the Spirit testifying to any man thou art justified; his meaning is, thou believer art justified: and I do beseech the God and Father of all lights, that his poor people may be led into the truth in this particular; for want of establishment here, you little think how many delusions you may fall into about your spiritual condition; I remember that when Satan came to overthrow the Faith of Christ in his second temptation, Mat. 4.6. he brought a promise out of the Scriptures to him, because he saw he held close to them, verse 4. and by this promise sought to lead him into temptation, how so? observe the text, and see if it was not by hiding part of the meaning of the promise from him, and in special, that very condition required in the person to whom the promise is made; for he tells him, that if he cast himself down headlong, the Lord hath not only said it, but writ it; He shall give his Angels charge over him, to keep him from dashing his foot against a stone: whereas if you consult with the place whence it is cited, viz. Psalm 91.11. The condition is set down, in all thy ways, which he purposely ⟨p. 234⟩hides from our Saviour as much as in him lay.