Part 100

But further; supposing his Lordship had shewn, that every one of those passages he has commented upon, had been misapplied by modern enthusiasts; yet are there not besides a great cloud of witnesses to be fetched from the lively oracles, to prove that the _indwelling_, and _inward witness_ of the Spirit, are the privileges of all believers? Will you permit me to instance only in a few? What think you of that passage in _St. John_’s gospel, chapter vii. 37, 38, 39. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, JESUS stood up and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath spoken, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living waters. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive?” How, I pray you, are we to understand that petition of our LORD for his disciples, just before his passion, in the same evangelist, chapter xvii. 20, 21. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word: that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one:” And again, verses 22, 23. “That they all may be one, even as we are one, I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one?” How would you explain that question of the Apostle’s to the _Corinthians_, (a church famous for its gifts above any church under heaven) “Know ye not that CHRIST is in you, unless you be reprobates?” How do you explain that assertion of the evangelist _John_, in his 1st epistle v. 10. “He that believeth hath the witness in himself?” Or that of the Apostle _Paul_ to the _Ephesians_, chapter i. 13, 19. And again, chapter iv. 30? How do you interpret that passage, _2 Corinthians_ xvi. 16? Or what say you to that exhortation of St. _Jude_, verse 20. “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of GOD?” Can any of these passages, with any manner of consistency, be interpreted of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost, or be confined to the primitive church? Do they not speak of an indwelling witnessing spirit, which all believers in all ages have a right to expect, till time shall be no more?