Secondly, That upon knowledge of our state in grace for the present, we may be assured of our future full redemption.
Thirdly, That this assured knowledge is wrought by the Spirit.
Fourthly, That the consideration of this assurance wrought by the Spirit is an eflectual argument to dissuade from grieving the Spirit.
1. For the fi.rst, ive may knoiv we are in the state of y race, first, because the apostle would not have used an argument moving not to grieve the Spirit from a thing unknown or guessed at. It is an ill manner of reasoning to argue from a thing unknown.
2. Again, Sealing of us by the Spirit is not in regard of God, but our-
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selves. God knoweth wlio are his, but we know not tliat we are his but by seaUng.
3. 'The scope of the Scriptures indited Inj the Spirit is for comfort. The apostle saith so directly ; and what comfort is in an uncertain condition, wherein a man knows not but he may be a reprobate ? Wherefore came our Saviour into the world and took our nature upon him ? Why became he a curse for us ? W^hy hath he carried our nature into heaven, and there appears for us till he hath brought us home to himself, but that he would have us out of all doubt of his love after once by faith we have received him ? Whence proceeded those commandments to believe, those checks of unbelievers, the commendation of them that did believe, those upbraidings of doubting, as springing from unbelief? To what use are the sacraments, but to seal unto us the benefits of Christ, if upon all this we should still doubt of God's love, especially when, besides the sealing of the promises to us, we are sealed ourselves by the Spirit of promise ?
Obj. This is true if we know we do believe.
Ans. It is the office of the Spirit, as to work faith and other graces, so to reveal them to us. Everj' grace of God is a light of itself coming from the Father of lights ; and it is the property of light not only to discover other things, but itself too ; and it is the office of the Spirit to give further light to this light, by shining upon his own grace in us. An excellent place for this is 1 Cor. ii. 12, * We have received the Spirit that is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.' ' In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every thing be confirmed.' One witness is, ' the spirit of man,' which knows ' the things that are in man,' 1 Cor. ii. 11 ; the other witness is 'the Spirit of God, witnessing to our spirits that we are the children of God,' Rom. viii. 14. Here is light added to light, witness added to witness, the greater witness of the Spirit to the less of our spirits. The apostle joins them both together : ' My conscience bears me witness through the Holy Ghost,' Rom. ix. 1.
Obj. Man's heart is deceitful.
Ans. But the Spirit of God in man's heart is not deceitful. It is too holy to deceive, and too wise to be deceived in this point of assurance. We plough with the Spirit's heifer, or else we could not find out this riddle. Judges xiv. 18. Where there is an object to be seen, and an eye to see, and light to discover the object to the eye, sight must needs follow. In a true believer, after he is enlightened, as there is grace to be seen, and an eye of faith to see, so there is a light of the Spirit discovering that grace to that inward sight. In the bottom of a clear river, a clear eyesight may see anything. Where nothing is, nothing can be seen. It is an evidence that the patrons of doubtings have little grace.' in them, and much boldness in making themselves a measure for others. Those that are base-born know their mothers better than then* fathers. The Church of Rome is all for the mother, but the babes of Christ know their father. The remainder of cor- ruption will indeed be still breeding doubts, but it is the office of the Sphit of feith to quell them as they arise. We are too ready in time of tempta- tion to doubt. We need not help the tempter by holding it a duty to doubt. This is to light a candle before the devil, as we use to speak.
Quest. May not there be doubtings where there is true faith ? May not a true believer be without assurance ?
. Ans. There be three ranks of Christians : First, Some that are yet under the spirit of bondage, that like little children do all for fear. Secondly, Those that are under the spirit of adoption, and do many things
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