2. I infer that this witness of the Spirit is not barely or only the working of Grace (by the Spirit) in our hearts, but something added thereunto, and superadded thereupon, beyond the gracious qualifications, which are called, The fruits of the Spirit, Gal. 5.22, 23. Whether it be a light shining upon their graces ⟨p. 270⟩and making them clear; or whether it be the Application of some one or other promise made to such graces; or whether it be some immediate eradiation and beaming forth of love from God upon the soul, it matters not; it may be by any or all of these ways. Let me a little illustrate it, by the heat and light of the Sun; The working of the Spirit is like to the heat and influence of the Sun, which reacheth all things; but the witness of the Spirit is like the light of the San, which shines not on all places at once; the work and influence of the Spirit reacheth all Saints, but the witness of the Spirit doth not shine upon all Saints at once, nor upon all in the same degree: Yea, I am apt to believe that assurance is a very great rarity, and not so much enjoyed as talked of, or pretended to. I have read of one Island, of which it is said, that the Sun shines on it more or less every day of the year: it may be there are some such Island-Saints, but I am inclinable to think, there are not many of them; because, as I have somewhere hinted before in the Treatise of Babes, the greater part of Gods Children have not (I fear) yet attained to be little Children, to know and have assurance of the Fathers Love. 'Tis true the Fathers have; but how few are they? and that the conquering young men have; but how few are they? yea that the little Children have; but how few are they? There was but one John among the many Disciples. However this is clear, that they who are of this Classis (be they few or many) have attained to assurance, ⟨p. 271⟩and it may be said of them as Psal. 89.15, 16, 17. Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound, they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance, in thy name (which is gracious, Exod. 34.6. named upon them) shall they rejoice all the day, and in thy righteousness (the Lord our righteousness, i. e. Christ, Jer. 23.6.) shall they be exalted; for thou art the glory of their strength, and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted! And now this gives me occasion to consider, 1 What this witness is. 2.
2. I infer that this witness of the Spirit is not barely or only the working of Grace (by the Spirit) in our hearts, but something added thereunto, and superadded thereupon, beyond the gracious qualifications, which are called, The fruits of the Spirit, Gal. 5.22, 23. Whether it be a light shining upon their graces ⟨p. 270⟩and making them clear; or whether it be the Application of some one or other promise made to such graces; or whether it be some immediate eradiation and beaming forth of love from God upon the soul, it matters not; it may be by any or all of these waies. Let me a little illustrate it, by the heat and light of the Sun; The working of the Spirit is like to the heat and influence of the Sun, which reacheth all things; but the witness of the Spirit is like the light of the San, which shines not on all places at once; the work and influence of the Spirit reacheth all Saints, but the witness of the Spirit doth not shine upon all Saints at once, nor upon all in the same degree: Yea, I am apt to believe that assurance is a very great rarity, and not so much enjoyed as talked of, or pretended to. I have read of one Island, of which it is said, that the Sun shines on it more or less every day of the year: it may be there are some such Island-Saints, but I am inclinable to think, there are not many of them; because, as I have somewhere hinted before in the Treatise of Babes, the greater part of Gods Children have not (I fear) yet attained to be little Children, to know and have assurance of the Fathers Love. 'Tis true the Fathers have; but how few are they? and that the conquering young men have; but how few are they? yea that the little Children have; but how few are they? There was but one John among the many Disciples. However this is clear, that they who are of this Classis (be they few or many) have attained to assurance, ⟨p. 271⟩and it may be said of them as Psal. 89.15, 16, 17. Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound, they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance, in thy name (which is gracious, Exod. 34.6. named upon them) shall they rejoyce all the day, and in thy righteousness (the Lord our righteousness, i. e. Christ, Jer. 23.6.) shall they be exalted; for thou art the glory of their strength, and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted! And now this gives me occasion to consider, 1 What this witness is. 2.
