Evidence 1. In whomsoever the Spirit of Christ is a Spirit qj sanctifieation, to that man or woman he hath been, more or less, a Spirit of conviction and humiliation. This is the order which the Spirit constantly observes in adult or grown converts, John xvi. 8, 9. " And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of " righteousness, and of judgment: of sin because they believe not " on me." This, you see, is the method he observes all the world over ; he shall reprove or convince the world of sin. Conviction of sin hath the same respect unto sanctification, as the blossoms of trees have to the fruits that follow them : A blossom is but Jructus imper- Jectus, et ordinabilis ; an imperfect fruit in itself, and in order to a more perfect and noble fruit. Where there are no blossoms, we can expect no fruit ; and where we see no conviction of sin, we can ex- pect no conversion to Christ. Hath then the Spirit of God been a Spirit of conviction to thee ? Hath he more particularly convinced thee of sin, because thou hast not believed on him ? i. e. hath he shewn thee thy sin and misery, as an unbeliever ? Not only terri- fied and affrighted thy conscience with this or that more notorious act of sin, but fully convinced thee of the state of sin that thou art in by reason of thy unbelief, which, holding thee from Christ, must needs also hold thee under the guilt of all thy other sins. This gives, at least, a strong probability that God hath given thee his Spirit, especially when this conviction remains day and night upon thy soul, so that nothing but Christ can give it rest, and consequently the great enquiry of thy soul is after Christ, and none but Christ.
Evidence 2. As the Spirit of God liath been a convincing, so he is a quickening Spirit, to all those to whom he is given ; Rom. viii. 2. " The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free *' from the law of sin and death :" He is the Spirit of life, i. e. the principle of spiritual life in the souls whom he inhabiteth ; for, uniting them to Christ, he unites them to the fountain of life ; and this spiritual life, in believers, manifests itself as the natural life doth in vital actions and operations. When the Spirit of God
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comes into the soul of a man that was dead and senseless under sin, " O (saith he) now I begin to feel the weight and load of sin, " Rom. vii. 24. now I begin to hunger and thirst after Christ " and his ordinances, 1 Pet. ii. 2. now I begin to breathe after 4' God in spiritual prayer,1'' Acts ix. 11. Spiritual life hath its spiritual senses, and suitable operations. O think upon this you that cannot feel any burden in sin, you that have no hungering or thirstings after Christ ; how can the Spirit of God be in you ? I do not deny but there may, at some times, be much deadm s and senselessness upon the hearts of Christians, but this is their disease, not their nature ; it is but at some times, not always, and when it is so with them, they are burdened with it, and complain of it as their greatest affliction in this world ; their spirits are not easy and at rest, in such a condition as yours are ; their spirits are as a bone out of joint, an arm dislocated, which cannot move any way without pain.
Evidence 3. Those to wliom God giveth his Spirit have a tender sympathy with all the interests and concernments of Christ. This must needs be so, if the same Spirit which is in Christ dwelleth also in thy heart ; if thou be a partaker of his Spirit, then what he loves, thou lovest, and what he hateth, thou hatest. This is a very plain case ; even in nature itself, we find that the many members of the same natural body being animated by one and the same spirit of life, " whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with " it ; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with " it : Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular," 1 Cor. xii. 26, 27. For look, as Christ, the head of that body is touched with a tender sense and feeling of the miseries and troubles of his people, he is persecuted when they are persecuted, Acts ix. 4. so they that have the Spirit of Christ in them, cannot be with- out a deep and tender sense of the reproach and dishonours that are done to Christ : This is " as it were a sword in their bones," Psal. xlii. 3. If his public worship cease, or the assemblies of his people are scattered; it cannot but go to the hearts of all, in whom the Spirit of Christ is : " They will be sorrowful for the so- " lemn assemblies ; the reproach of them will be a burden,11 Zeph. iii. 18. Those that have the Spirit of Christ do not more earnestly long after any one thing in this world, than the advancement of Christ's interest by conversion and reformation in the kingdoms of the earth, Psal. xlv. 3, 4. Paul could rejoice that Christ was preached, though his own afflictions were increased, Phil. i. 16, 18. and John could rejoice that Christ increased, though he him- self decreased ; yet therein was his joy fulfilled, John iii. 29. So certainly the concernments of Christ must and will touch that heart which is the habitation of his Spirit. I cannot deny, but even a
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good Baruch may be under a temptation to seek great things for himself, and be too much swallowed up in his own concernments, when God is plucking up and breaking down, Jer. xlv. 4, 5. But this is only the influence of a temptation : the true temper and spi- rit of a believer inclines him to sorrow and mourning, when things are in this sad posture : Ezek. ix. 4. " Go through the midst of " the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon (i the foreheads of the men that sigh, and that cry for all the " abominations that be done in the midst thereof."
O reader, lay thine hand upon thine heart : Is it thus with thee ? Dost thou sympathize with the affairs and concernments of Christ in the world ? or, carest thou not which way things go with the people of God, and gospel of Christ, so long as thine own affairs prosper, and all things are well with thee ?