(1.) The first difference. First, The Spirit of Christ doth not witness by any oviward voice, as God did from heaven of Christ, Mat. iii. 17; nor by an angel, as to the Virgin Mary, Luke i. 80-34; ; but by an inward, secret, glorious, and unspeakable way he bids believers be of good cheer, their sins are forgiven them, as Christ said to the palsied man in the Gospel, Mat. ix. 2. And this truth is to be solemnly minded against those poor deceived and deluded souls in these days,^ that would make the world believe that they have had such and such glorious things made known by an outward, audible voice from heaven. It is much to be feared that they never found the inward, the sweet, the secret, the powerful testimony and report of the Spirit of Christ, that boast, and brag, and rest so much upon an outward testimony. In 1 Kings xix. 11-13, you read of ' a great strong wind that rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks : but the Lord was not in the wind : and after the wind there was an earthquake ; but the Lord was not in the earthquake : and after the earthquake a fire ; but the Lord was not in the fire : and after the fire there was a still small voice,' and the Lord spake to Elijah in that still small voice. Ah, Christians ! the Spirit of the Lord makes not a noise, but he comes in a still small voice, as I may say, and makes a soft and secret report to the soul, that it is beloved, that it is pardoned, and that it shall be for ever glorified.
(2.) The second difference. Secondly, The testimony and witness of the Spirit of Christ is only gained and enjoyed in holy and heavenly ways, as you may clearly see by comparing the Scriptures in the margin together.* The Spirit of the Lord is a Holy Spirit, and he cannot, he will not make any report of the love of the Father to the soul out of a way of holiness. Verily, all those glorious reports that many boast they have met with in sinful ways, in wretched and ungodly ways, are from the hissing of the old serpent, and not from the whisperings of the Spirit of grace. I think it is little less than blasphemy for any ta affirm, that the blessed Spirit of Christ doth make reports of the love
* Quakers and Ranters.
* Acts X. 4 : Dan. ix. 20-22 ; lea. Ixiv. 5 ; Acts x. 44, &c.
520 HEAVEN ON EARTH. [ROM. YIIT. 32-34.
and favour of God to persons walking in ways of wickedness and baseness.^
(3.) The third difference. Thirdly, The testimony and witness of the Spirit of Christ, is a dear, a full, a satisfying testimony and witness, John xiv. 17, 1 John iii. 24. The soul sits down under the home- reports of the Spirit, and saith, liord, it is enough ; the soul being full, sits down and sweetly sings it out : ' My beloved is mine, and I am his. I am my well-beloved's, and his desire is towards me,' Cant. ii. 16, and vii. 10. * The Lord is my portion and the lot of mine inheritance,' Ps. xvi 5. 'I have none in heaven but thee, neither is there any on earth that I desire in comparison of thee,' Ps. Ixxiii. 25. ' Henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,' 2 Tim. iv. 8. * Make haste, my beloved,' &c.. Cant. viii. 14. Such power, majesty, and glory, attends the glorious testimony of the Spirit of Christ, as scatters all clouds, as resolves all doubts, as answers all objections, as silences the wrangling soul, &c. If the testimony of the Spirit of Christ were not a full, satisfy- ing testimony, it could never fill the soul with such joy as is ' unspeak- able and full of glory,' and with ' such peace as passes understanding ;' if the testimony were not satisfactory, the soul would still be under fears and doubts, the heart would still be a-wrangling and quarrelling, I may perish, and I may be undone, I may have the door of mercy shut against me, &c. If you bring news to a condemned person that the king hath pardoned him, and that he will receive him to favour, and confer such and such dignity upon him, yet this doth not quiet him nor satisfy him, till he knows it is the king's act, till he is satisfied in that, he cannot say it is enough, he cannot be cheerful, he cannot be delightful, &c. But when he is satisfied that it is the king's act, that the king hath cer- tainly done this and that for him, then he is satisfied, and then sighing and mourning flies away, and then he rejoices with joy unspeakable. So it is with a believing soul under the testimony and witness of the spirit of Christ.
(4.) The fourth difference. Fourthly, Though the Spirit be a wit- nessing Spirit, yet he doth not always witness to believers their adop- tion, their interest in Christ, &c. There is a mighty difference between the working of the Spirit and the witness of the Spirit. There are oftentimes many glorious and efficacious works of the Spirit, as faith, love, repentance, holiness, &c., where there is not the witness of the Spirit. Isa. 1. 10. David at that very time had the Spirit, and many sweet workings of the Spirit in him and upon him, when he had by sin lost the witness and testimony of the Spirit, Ps. li. 1 0-1 2. Though the Spirit of the Lord be a witnessing and a sealing Spirit, yet he doth not alway witness and seal up the love and favour of the Father to believers' souls, as you may see by the scriptures in the margin,* and as the experience of many precious Christians can abundantly evidence. All believers do not see alike need of this testimony, they do not all alike prize this testimony, they do not all alike observe it and improve it ; and therefore, it is no wonder if the Spirit be a witnessing Spirit to some and not to others. You do but gratify Satan and wrong your
' Yet this age hath many such monsters.
' Job xxiii. 8, 9 ; 1 John v. 13 ; Ps. Ixxxviii., Ixxvii. ; Micah. vii. 8, 9 ; Isa. viii. 17.
Rom. VIII. 32-84.] heaven on earth. 521
own souls, when you argue that certainly you have not the Spirit, because he is not a witnessing and a sealing Spirit to your souls. Though it be the office of the Spirit to witness, yet it is not his office always to wit- ness to believers their happiness and blessedness. The Spirit may act one way and in one room of the soul, when he doth not act in another. Sometimes the Spirit works upon the understanding, sometimes upon the will, sometimes upon the affections, sometimes upon faith, sometimes upon fear, sometimes upon love, sometimes upon humility, &c. Our hearts are the Spirit's harps. If a man should always touch one string in an instrument, he should never play various tunes, he should never make pleasant music ; no more would the Spirit, if he should be always a-doing one thing in the soul. Therefore he acts variously. Sometimes he will shew himself a quickening Spirit, sometimes an enlightening Spirit, sometimes a rejoicing Spirit, sometimes a sealing Spirit, and always a supporting Spirit, &c.''