' The testimony of our spirit.'
I conceive to be, when a man hath taken a survey of those excellent things, belonging unto justification and sanctification ; when according to the substantial truths which I know in the word belonging thereunto, I observe and follow as fast as I may what is there commanded ; when I take the candle of the word, and with that bright burning lamp search what is to be done, and therewith lance my corruptions, aud so hriiuj it home, then is it mine. This is the ground-work of the witness of our spirit. As in the blood, with my spirit I must see what is needful to be done to be justified ; what free promises of invitation belong thereunto. I must see how God justifies the sinner, what conditions on our part are required in justification, and my interest therein. I must see what footings and grounds of life give way, and hope for a graceless man to be saved, yea, even unto the worst person that may be. In this case a man must not look for any- thing in himself as a cause. Christ must not be had by exchange, but received as a free gift, which the apostle shews, Eom. iv. 16, ' Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace ; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed,' &c. I must therefore bring out* the receiving of Christ a bare hand ; first, it must be of grace. God for this cause will make us let fall everything before we shall take hold of him. Though qualified with humiliation, I must let all fall ; not trusting unto it, as to make me the worthier to receive Christ, as some think. When thus at first for my
* Qu. 'unto'? — Ed.
378 THE WITNESS OF SALVATION.
justification I receive Christ, I must let anything I have fall, to lay hold on him, that then he may find us thus in our shirts, as it were — in our blood — and in this sort God will take us, that all may be of mere grace.
Another thing is required, that the promise ynoy he sure. If anything in us must be as a cause or help to our justification, a man should never be sure; therefore it is all of grace, that the promise may be sure. As though God should say, I care for nothing else, thou canst bring me in this case. Bring me my Son, and shew me him, and then all is well. And in this you see he doth not name hope or love, or any other grace, but faith. For the nature of faith is to let fall all things in laying hold of Christ. In justification faith is a suff'erer only. But in sanctification it works and pm'geth the whole man, and so witnesseth the certaint}'' and truth of our justification, and so the assurance of salvation.
Hence, from the nature thereof in this work, 2 Pet. i. 1, the apostle writes unto them who had received the like precious faith. In this case, it was alike to all in virtue in this work, whatsoever the measure be. And I may liken it thus : Paul, we know, says, ' with these hands I got my living,' 1 Cor. iv. 12. Now, though strong hands may work more than weak, and so earn a great deal, yet a beggar who holds out his hands may receive more than some other can earn ; so faith doth justify us by receiving, not working, as you may see, John i. 12, ' But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name.' What then should we do to be saved ? Why, receive him : that is, believe in him now. Come and take sure hold, as in the Kevelation, ' and let him that is athirst come ; and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely,' Rev. xxii. 17.
1. Open house. Now when I see that God keeps open house, come who will, without denying entertainment unto any, and when God's Spirit hath wrought the will in me, and I come and take God at his word, and believe in Christ, laying hold by degrees on the other promises of life, winding and wrapping myself in them as I am able, this is faith ; but that persuasion, that I have, that I shall go to heaven, which many think to be faith, is not so, but rather a consequent thereof. The promise is made unto those who believe in Christ ; for in him, saith the apostle, ' all the promises are yea and amen,' 2 Cor. i. 20. If a man weep much, and beg hard for the forgiveness of sins, he may weep and be without comfort unto the end of the world, unless he have received Christ, and applied his vir- tue home unto the trembling soul. A man must first receive Christ, and then he hath a warrant to interest himself in all the promises. So that now this being done, if such- a man were asked. Hast thou a warrant to receive Christ ? He will answer. Yes, I have a warrant. He keeps open house unto all who come, welcoming all, and I have a will to come. This is a good and sufiicient warrant ; if I have a will in me wrought for to come, and do come. And this is the first thing to be observed in the wit- ness of our spirit.