B00698:151
A fountain sealed: or, The duty of the sealed to the Spirit, and the…
A fountain sealed: or, The duty of the sealed to the Spirit, and the work of the Spirit in sealing. Wherein many things are handled about the Holy Spirit, and grieving of it: as also of assurance and sealing what it is, the privileges and degrees of it, with the signs to discern, and means to preserve it. : Being the substance of divers sermons preached at Gray's Inn. / By that Reverend Divine, Richard Sibbes D.D. and sometimes preacher to that honourable society.A fountain sealed: or, The duty of the sealed to the Spirit, and the worke of the Spirit in sealing. Wherein many things are handled about the Holy Spirit, and grieving of it: as also of assurance and sealing what it is, the priviledges and degrees of it, with the signes to discerne, and means to preserve it. : Being the substance of divers sermons preached at Grayes Inne. / By that Reverend Divine, Richard Sibbes D.D. and sometimes preacher to that honourable society.
London: printed by Thomas Harper for Lawrence Chapman, 1638
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The witness of water is from the power the Spirit ⟨p. 162⟩hath to cleanse our nature: which no creature can do but the Spirit of GOD; change of nature is peculiar to the Author of nature. If we feel therefore our natures altered, and of uncle become holy, in some measure we may know we are the children of God, as being begotten by the Spirit of Christ, conforming us to his own holiness: our spirit as sanctified can witness to us that we are Christs.
The witnesse of water is from the power the Spirit ⟨p. 162⟩hath to cleanse our nature: which no creature can doe but the Spirit of GOD; change of nature is peculiar to the Author of nature. If wee feele therefore our natures altered, and of uncle become holy, in some measure wee may know we are the children of God, as being begotten by the Spirit of Christ, conforming us to his owne holinesse: our spirit as sanctified can witnesse to us that wee are Christs.
But oft it falls out, that our own spirits, though sanctified, cannot stand against a subtle temptation strongly enforced, God super-adds his own Spirit: guilt often prevails over the testimony of blood, ⟨p. 163⟩that of water by reason of stirring corruptions runneth troubled. Therefore the third the immediate testimony of the Spirit is necessary to witness the Fathers love to us, to us in particular, saying, I am thy salvation, thy sins are pardoned. And this testimony the Word echoeth unto, and the heart is stirred up, and comforted with joy unexpressible. So that both our spirits and consciences, and the spirit of Christ joining in one strongly, witness our condition in grace, that we are the sons of God.
But oft it fals out, that our owne spirits, though sanctified, cannot stand against a subtill temptation strongly inforced, God super-addes his owne Spirit: guilt often prevailes over the testimony of bloud,