Serviceable p. 154 3. Superlative p. 156 4. A love of complacency p. 157 Prop. 8. The Mystical Union of Believers with Christ and all the blessings which are the consequents thereof do originally flow from the merit of the death of Christ which in pursuance of the eternal covenant with the Father he suffered in their stead and whereby he gave satisfaction to divine Justice p. 159 This last proposition explicated under five heads p. 161 CHAP. VII The properties of a Believers Union with Christ 1. It is an immediate Union p. 168 2. It is a spiritual Vnion p. 169 3. It is an inseparable Vnion p. 170 The inseparableness of this Union built on six foundations 1. The Enchangeableness of the purpose of God p. 172 2. The nature of the covenant of Grace p. 173 3. The charge given to the Lord Jesus Christ and his faithfulness p. 175 4. The Advocateship and intercession of Christ p. 177 5. The mighty power by which Believers are preserved p. 178 6. The durable nature of the new creature p. 179 Those things which are most likely to make a separation betwixt Christ and a Believer shall not be able to effect it Not 1. The remainders of sin p. 181 2. The violent assaults of the devil p. 183 3. The allurements of the world p. 185 4. False Teachers the devils instruments p. 187 5. Troubles and persecutions for the sake of Christ p. 188 6. Death which is the great separating providence p. 190 The doctrine of the inseparableness of the Saints Union with Christ vindicated in two Rules Rule 1. This doctrine is so far from being an enemy to holiness that if rightly improved it will be a notable incentive and provocative thereto p. 192. This evidenced by four considerations p. 194 Rule 2. The many counsels and warnings which Christ hath given to his people to take heed that they lose not their hold of him are no proof at all that this Union may be dissolved p. 198 CHAP. VIII The spiritual blessings enumerated which flow from the grace of Union with Christ and have dependance thereon p. 200 1. The grace of justification in the sight of God p. 202 This particular opened under six Heads p. 203 2. Adoption or inrollment amongst the children of God 214 3. Participation of actual grace or the supplies of the Spirit p. 215 This a point well to be considered for three Reasons p. 218 This doctrine explained in three things p. 220 Seven sorts of actual grace instanced in p. 222 4. The fourth blessing arising from union with Christ is the gracious acceptation of all our duties p. 226 5. A title to the promises of the Gospel p. 228 6. Union with the Father and intimate acquaintance with him p. 229 7. Peace and joy in the holy Ghost p. 230 8. Deliverance from the sting and consequently the fear of death p. 232 9. A glorious Resurrection of the body p. 235 10. Boldness at the bar of Judgment p. 236 11. Actual admission into the kingdom of Heaven p. 237 CHAP. IX The special Scripture similitudes whereby the mystery of union with Christ is illustrated p. 238 1. The first similitude taken from the natural union betwixt the head and members of the body p. 239 1. Christ the head of Believers in a fivefold respect p. 240 2. The way of union with Christ is by being quickned through his Spirit p. 243 3. Believers must be in subjection to Christ and follow his conduct p. 244 4. This similitude holds forth also that unity love and concord which Christians should maintain amongst themselves p. id 5. As Christ is the head of the Church so he is constituted head of all things for the good of his Church p. 245 2. The second similitude drawn from the corporal union betwixt the Vine and the branches graffed into the Vine p. 246 This similitude holds forth four things 1. A Christians whole dependance is upon the Lord Jesus p. 247 2. The union of Believers with Christ is a closely compacted union p. 248 3. In order to union with Christ we must be taken off from all other dependances id 4. A Christians glory lieth in practical holiness or being fruitful p. 249 3. The third similitude taken from the nuptial union betwixt the Husband and Wife p. 250 1. This union is with the consent and according to the pleasure of the Father p. 251 2. Christ doth woo and intreat sinners to come unto him p. 252 3. Our faith in Christ is the consent of our hearts to take him p. 253 4. This consent must be a Marriage-consent In three respects p. 254 5. A Christians obedience must be service mingled with love p. 258 6. There is a mutual complacency and satisfaction between Christ and his people p. 259 4. The last similitude taken from the artificial union betwixt the Foundation and Building erected thereon 1. A twofold Foundation 1. Doctrinal 260 2. Personal 261 2. Believers must be conformable to Christ On a fivefold account p. 262 3. Our faith in Christ is a resting on him p. 265 CHAP. X. Inferences collected from the doctrine of Union 1. Inf. True believers are the most excellent persons p. 268 This Inference amplified in five respects p. 270 2. Inf. God hath a special regard to Believers and their concernments p. 276 The peculiarity of the providence of God towards them in four things p. 278 3. Inf. Christless sinners are in a state of death p. 281 In respect of 1. Abomination in the sight of God p. 283 2. Putrefaction and rottenness p. 284 3. Impotency and inability to what is spiritually good p. 286 4. Damnation and liableness to eternal death p. 288 This point pressed by two considerations p. 290 5. The abundant evils incident to that estate p. 294 Exemplified in five things p. 295 Obj. To what purpose are the unregenerate commanded to turn themselves and to walk in wayes of holiness if spiritually dead p. 299 Sol. In five things p. 300 CHAP. XI Use of Trial whether we are united to Christ p. 306 Self-examination necessary to attain the knowledge of our Union p. 307 1. Else we cannot pertinently apply the word of God to our selves p. 308 2. 'T is the means which God hath appointed to that end p. 310 3. Hereby we may find out the deceits and falshoods under which our spirits are apt to hide themselves p. 311 Wherein the work of self-examination consists In six Conclusions Concl. 1. Self-examination is a compounded duty made up of a threefold spiritual and reflexive action p. 314 1. Inspection or Retrospection into our selves p. 315 2. Probation or Trial of our selves p. 316 3. Conclusive determination or passing sentence upon our selves p. 318 Concl. 2. The special faculty by which the work of of self examination is performed is the practical judgment or conscience p. 319 Concl. 3. This work cannot be done effectually and successfully without the concurrent influence and witness of the spirit
fundamental blessings that have dependance thereon 5. THe next question to be handled is concerning the necessity of this Union Qu. How doth it appear that it is a matter of such absolute and indispensable necessity that if we will have life from the Son we must have the Son or must be thus made one with our Lord Jesus For he that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life Answ For answer hereunto I will shew you the necessity of this Union by recounting the blessings which are conveyed hereby and that have a necessary dependance hereupon which cannot be received by us except we are in Christ 1. First then in the general A Believers union with Christ or being in him is the foundation of all his communion with him or communications of grace out of his fulness in whatsoever doth appertain either to the quickning and comfort of our hearts here or making us meet to partake of the inheritance of the Saints hereafter In our Lord Jesus is stored up plentiful provision of all things needful to conduct a sinner to glory but it is dealt forth to them alone who are knit unto Jesus It is imparted unto them by vertue of their being in him Except the branch be and abide in the vine it cannot partake of the sâ—p and fatness of the vine so except you be implanted into Christ you cannot be made partakers of his grace or of the treasures of mercy and blessings that are hid in him It is in Christ we are compleat Col. 2.10 that is we have all things derived upon us to make us compleatly happy from the fulness that is in Christ and by vertue of our oneness with Christ The Apostle had laid down this assertion v. 9. That in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily i.e. essentially and substantially Yea but might believers say what is that unto us Yes saith he it is all for your comfort and benefit If you are in him you shall thereby attain from him whatsoever is requisite to make you perfectly blessed So that you need nothing else to each up any defect therein Thus only in the general 2. To descend unto particulars I shall enter upon the enumeration of the several covenant-blessings which flow from our union with the Lord Jesus And I find there are especially 11. fundamental mercies or blessings which are communicated unto the Saints by vertue of their being in Christ and which have a necessary dependance thereupon 1. The grace of justification in the sight of God through the righteousness of Christ imputed to us 2. The grace of adoption or our inrollment amongst the number of the children of God 3. The participation of the supplies of the Spirit to guide us in our journey to the kingdom of heaven 4. The gracious acceptation of our duties and performances 5. A title to the promises of the Gospel which concern this life or that which is to come 6. Vnion with the Father and an intimate acquaintance with him 7. That peace and joy in the holy Ghost which puts life and sweetness into every condition 8. Deliverance from the sting of death and consequently from the fear of that king of terrors 9. A glorious resurrection out of the dust of the earth 10. Boldness and comfort in our appearance at the bar of judgment 11. The actual possession and enjoyment of a crown of glory So that whatsoever grace or mercy is prepared for the Saints it is dealt out unto them in this way from their first entrance into the state of grace to their sitting down upon the throne of glory I will mainly enlarge upon the first and third of these glancing only upon the rest 1. The first blessing that I shall mention as depending upon Union with Jesus Christ is the justification of a sinner in the sight of God upon the account of Christ's righteousness imputed to him whereby the guilt of sin is removed and the person of the sinner is accepted as righteous with the God of heaven Here lieth one argument of the necessity of being thus ingraffed into Christ Because without union with him there can be no justification through his blood nor clothing with his righteousness for acceptance with the Lord. Our righteousness for pardon and justification is in the Lord and we our selves must be in him that we may partake of his righteousness For it will signifie nothing to us except we are in him Eph. 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the beloved And v. 7. In whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace This is a fundamental leading mercy which maketh way for the conferring of other mercies * Doctrina justificationis est articulus stantis aut cadentis Heclesiae Luth. For till sin be pardoned the curse of the Law cannot be removed from the sinner and this pardon is given forth upon the account of Christ's righteousness imputed to us in order whereunto we must of necessity be in him For in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins I will open to you the force of this argument by taking it asunder into six branches and speaking distinctly to each of them 1. Observe That the grace of justification in the sight of God is made up of two parts 1. There is forgiveness of the offences committed against the Lord. 2. Acceptation of the person offending pronouncing him a righteous person and receiving him into favour again as if he had never offended This is clear from the Scriptures of truth 1. There is an act of absolution and acquital from the guilt of sin and freedom from the condemnation dedeserved by sin The desert of sin is an inseparable accident or concomitant of it * Reatus vel 1. Simplex 2. Redundans 〈◊〉 personam that can never be removed It may be said of the sins of a justified person that they deserve everlasting destruction But justification is the freeing a sinner from the guilt of his iniquity whereby he was actually bound over to condemnation so that the person justified may say Who is he that condemneth He may read over the most dreadful passages of the Law without being terrified as knowing the curse is removed from over his head his fins that brought him under the curse are forgiven and are in point of condemnation as if they had never been This is to be justified to have sin thus forgiven and the penalty remitted Rom. 4.5 6 7 8. But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is counted for righteousness Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man to whom God imputeth righteousness without works saying Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin Mark it what David calleth forgiveness of sin and not imputing of iniquity
never so zealous and forward in his worship Such actions may less displease the Lord than some others but at the best he cannot take pleasure in them And therefore the whole stress of the matter is laid upon the state of a man Prov. 21.27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination how much more when he brings it with a wicked mind Mark it though he come with a good intent and mean well as there is a kind of natural integrity yet it is an abomination This is plainly intimated if he come with a wicked mind making the duties of religion a cloak to cover his other horrid impieties then his sacrifice is most odious and abominable but however he cometh it is an abomination Why because the person sacrificing is a wicked ungodly sinner and the Lord judgeth mens actions by their state 2. This is a matter seriously to be weighâ—d because the greatest number of persons who call themselves Christians do seldom or never think of it They go on in sin and perish eternally for want of laying to heart this very thing And therefore we should give diligence the rather to study it because it is neglected by the most You may observe it as an ordinary thing with carnal people when conscience is a little awakened when they are brought into distress by sickness or some other sore affliction they will cry out with a kind of bitterness for their evil wayes and seemingly melt with sorrow for some actual miscarriages but not one of many will mind his spiritual state Thus it was with Micah the Idolater when he heard his mother curse and ban for the mony that was stollen from her these curses startled his conscience and made him to vomit up the sweet morsel wch he had swallowed down he minds that wicked action but never once considers his spiritual condition and so goeth on in other sins notwithstanding Judg. 17.2 3 5. Thus Saul was troubled in a reflection upon some of his evil ways and profane Esau grieved because he had displeased his Father by his sinful actions but scarce one of an hundred crieth out of his sad condition Nay commonly they are so far from it that they will be ready to fly in a mans face that doth but make mention thereof When you have convinced a wicked man of his evil life and brought him to an acknowledgment of a course of sin wherein he walketh if thence you begin to speak of his estate in sin of his being an enemy to God a child of his wrath and a wicked person he will defie the words No will he say I love the Lord and God knows my heart is good and the like See how fowl they fell upon Christ for touching upon this string When he told them of their wretched condition that they were not of God but of their father the devilâ— Thou art a Samaritan say they and hast a devil Joh. 8.44 47 48. They could not endure he should meddle with that matter 3. It concerneth you to be well instructed and settled in this particular of your spiritual state God-ward because when the spirit of conviction doth powerfully prevail upon a mans heart so as to turn him effectually from sin and to bring him to a sound and sincere conversion it doth ever end in conviction of the state of sin As conviction usually beginneth in some particular actual wickedness so it alwaies endeth in a discovery of that wicked and damnable condition into which the sinner is brought Thus it was with Paul Rom. 7.9 For I was alive without the Law once but when the commandment came sin revived and I died that is * Absentia legis faciebat ut viveyet hoc est inflatus justitiae suae fiducidâ vitam sibi arrogabat quum tamen esset mortuus c. Calv. I saw my self dead and undone I found that I was in a perishing conditione that unless the wonderful grace of God stept in for my deliverance I must perish and be lost irrecoverably Before I had a good conceit of my self as to my state and condition however conscience might now and then check me for some failings and actual miscarriages yet I was alive without the Law i.e. before I had a clear understanding of the Law in my own apprehension I was a child of life I thought my self sure of salvation but when the commandment came in the life and power and vigorous workings of it I found I was stark dead So in the return of the Prodigal mark how far the conviction proceedeth Luk. 15.17 I perish Not only I am a disobedient Son that have ran away from my father and wasted my Patrimony But if I continue in this condition I am undone for ever This is the spirit of bondage which the Apostle mentioneâ—â— as the fore runner of the spirit of adoption Rom. 8.15 You have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear Mark it not again intimating that once they had received it that all who are savingly converted must first be under it When is the holy Ghost a spirit of bondage Why when he doth discover to a mans soul his wretched and miserable condition when he doth not only shew him his work wherein he hath exceeded but doth also make him sensible of the lost estate wherein he is involved when he causeth a sinner to see that he is a child of the wrath of God bound over to answer to the demands of the justice of God obnoxious to the everlasting and insupportable vengeance of the most high and raiseth fears and terrors in the soul in apprehension thereof so that he sees it necessary that his state be altered The holy Ghost Sirs may be a spirit of conviction as to sundry acts of sin when he is not a spirit of bondage for this relates to the state of sin which is alwayes an antecedent to sound a conversion And therefore as I said I will open this point of the change of a mans spiritual state in six particulars 1. There is a twofold state or condition of mens souls in reference to spiritual and eternal concernments The state of nature and the state of grace as they are usually called The state of condemnation and exposedness to the wrath of God and the state of favour and reconciliation with the Lord. That of alienation from God and that of friendship and fellowship with him A state of service to the Lord and of slavery to the devil Of liableness and obnoxiousness to everlasting death and the state of heirship and title to the kingdom of heaven You read often of them in the Scripture Joh. 3.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already So Rom. 6.17 18. But God be thanked that ye were the servants of sin There 's the state of nature And v. 18. Being then made free from sin ye became servants of righteousness There 's the state of grace Eph. 2.19 Now therefore ye
state unto the end I answer It is built especially on a sixfold foundation 1. Upon the unchangeableness of the purpose of God concerning believers and the never failingness of his love towards them whereby he did elect and fore-ordain them to everlasting life and set them apart for the eternal enjoyment of himself This purpose of God cannot be frustrated or disappointed His counsel shall stand and he will perform all his pleasure and the love of God towards his chosen is not a transient fleeting but an everlasting love And therefore when he hath gathered a people unto Christ he will never suffer them to be divided from him again For that love which moved him to shew compassion upon them and to draw them unto his Son is unalterable as his own nature and essence * Dona dei sunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 11.29 i. e. Dona illa quae proficiscuntur ex electione ut indicant verba proximè praecedentia Secundum electionem Charissimi Suar. de Praedest without any variableness or shadow of turning Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlasting love As for its original it is from everlasting so it reacheth unto everlasting whom he loveth indeed he loveth unto the end This is noted as the very ground of their perseverance 2 Tim. 2.18 19. Who concerning the truth have erred saying The resurrection is already past and overthrow the faith of some Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth who are his The foundation of God that is the eternal purpose and electing love of God upon which the salvation of the faithful is built as upon a sure ground-work This cannot be shaken that any of them should fall away to perdition whom God hath chosen to eternal life And the Lord knoweth who are his q. d. It is true the faith of some may be overthrown who were never sound in the faith but not a person who is the Lord 's indeed shall ever miscarry for their perseverance is built upon a sure foundation namely upon the electing love of God that will never fail 2. The indissolubleness of this union is built Vpon the nature of the Covenant made with believers and the truth and faithfulness of God in keeping Covenant with them It is such a lasting Covenant as is confirmed with an oath whereby the Lord hath manifested the unchangeableness of his counsel And wherein he hath made provision for the discharge and performance of the articles which are on their part to be discharged as well as for conveyance of the mercies which he is ingaged to convey thereupon This you have often spoken of as the ground of their establishment Isa 54.8 9 10. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with ever lasting kindness I will have mercy upon thee saith the Lord thy Redeemer For this is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth so have I sworn that I would not be wrath with thee nor rebuke thee For the mountains shall depart and the hills shall be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the Covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee As if he had said As sure as the day and night shall not fail according as I sware unto Noah after the flood so sure my mercy shall not fail towards you not shall ye at any hand fall short of it for I have made it over unto you by a covenant confirmed with an oath It is one remarkable difference between the word of God and his oath That sometimes a word of promise is made under certain exceptions and conditions implyed upon the failure whereof God may repent of the good which he promised to do Jer. 18.7 9 10. But when the Lord sweareth he will not repent That is a certain token of the immutability of his counsel Psal 110.4 Heb. 6.17 Now the perseverance of the Saints is a mercy which God hath sworn to give unto them Luke 1.73 74 75. The oath which he sware to our father Abraham that he would grant us That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the dayes of our lives Not only that we should be admitted into his service but likewise abide therein unto the death And for the freeness of the Covenant wherein God hath graciously obliged himself not only to perform the mercy promised but also to assist believers with his Spirit for performance of the duty required at their hands so as not to fall short of that mercy Take that noted place Jer. 32.39 40. And I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever for the good of them and of their children after them And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me 3. The indissolveableness of the union between Believers and the Lord Jesus is built upon the charge that is given unto Christ concerning them and his faithfulness in accomplishing what he hath undertaken for them Thus Sirs when God the Father did put all his elect into Christ's hands and constituted and ordained him to be a Mediator for them it was with this express charge That he should conduct them to glory Not only that he should gather them unto himself and give them spiritual life but that he should guide them with safety to the kingdom of heaven And this charge he undertook John 17.2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him Heb. 2.10 In bringing many sons to glory Now in pursuance of this undertaking Christ doth kni◠them to himself inseparably that he may be a faithful steward of the grace of God It is the very reason which our Saviour giveth why no man shall pluck Believers out of his hands because he is to give them eternal life John 10.28 And the Apostle Peter put much stress upon it when he prayeth for the settlement of Believers in the faith 1 Pet. 5.10 But the God of all grace who hath called us into his eternal glory by Christ Jesus after that ye have suffered a while make you perfect stablish strengthen settle you Here is a bundle of arguments to incourage our dependance upon God for our abiding in Christ There is scarcely a word but hath an emphasis upon it to that purpose 1. It is God that strengthens you he that is able to do it and is on your side so that greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world All your adversaries are but creatures who labour to draw you away but he that establisheth you
and treachery in the conscience For as that is the faculty which doth eye and observe a man in his wayes so whereby he is impowred to take an account of those wayes and to acquit or condemn himself according to the merits of the cause and as the matter doth require You read of the Apostle Paul that he had a witness on his side that he was a servant of God and walked in sincerity before the Lord whereupon his heart was filled with joy and gladness And what was that witness Why his conscience had examined and found it to be so 2 Cor. 1.12 For our rejoycing is this the testimony of our conscience that in simplicity godly sincerity not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God we have had our conversation in the world And both the business of accusing and absolving a sinner is attributed thereunto namely to the workings of conscience Rom. 2.15 Their conscience also bearing witness and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another Joh. 8.9 They went out one by one being convicted by their own consciences This you are sometimes to understand by the heart and spirit of a man when it is said to take cognizance of the things which are within him The heart knoweth its own bitterness Prov. 14.10 What man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man which is in him 1 Cor. 2.11 Again Eccl. 7.21 22. Also take no heed to all words that are spoken lest thou hear thy servant curse thee For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thy self likewise hast cursed others That is If you would set your consciences awork they would declare plainly what is the filthiness that cleaveth to you and the abominations that have been committed by you So that your care must be to keep life and vigour and activity in your consciences and you must take heed to your selves that no mistakes or falshoods or practical errors settle within your consciences Concl. 3. Although it be the conscience of a man by which he doth examine himself touching his union with Christ and passeth judgment upon himself in that case yet this work can never be performed effectually and to purpose without the concurrent assistance of the Spirit of God and the powerful inflâ—ence of the holy Ghost It is the Spirit of God by whom the conscience of a sinner is excited and stired up unto this work and directed and guided therein that it may see clearly into matters and may pass a right and convincing sentence thereupon It is the same Spirit alone which converteth a sinner from his natural estate that can convincingly shew him his sad estate in order to conversion And the same Spirit alone which planteth grace into the soul can discover that grace where it is planted that so a Believer may take comfort therein and conclude from thence that he is ingraffed into Christ And therefore when we attain any comfortable evidences of our estate Godward we are said to be sealed by the Spirit because it depends upon his assistance and testimony Eph. 1.13 14. In whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance It is a manner of speech taken from the practise of men who for confirmation and assurance of a deed or grant give writings under seal so hath the Lord been pleased saith the Apostle to deal with you you have not only the promises of acceptance and pardon and eternal life made unto you but these promises are sealed How Why by the testimony of the Spirit Again in making of a bargain men are wont to give earnest to confirm it which is not only a part of payment but for assurance of the whole This earnest saith he you have received which is the witness of the holy Ghost It is not the testimony of conscience alone can make a man effectually to know his relation to Christ or separation from Christ without the concurrent operation of the Spirit There is a famous Text in reference to both Rom. 8.15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba father Mark it If a man be brought into bondage by the knowledge of his undone condition by seeing himself to lie under the guilt of his sins and obnoxious to the insupportable wrath of God it is through the operation of the Spirit And if he be able to plead his adoption and to look up unto God as his Father in Christ it is by the efficacious workings of the same Spirit So that for the examination of your selves concerning your union with Christ and finding out whether you are knit unto him your work in this respect lieth in two things 1 In being earnest petitioners and supplicants at the throne of grace for the special assistance of the holy Ghost to make this discovery to you to strike in with your consciences in bearing witness unto your spiritual estate That the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ the father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him that the eyes of your understandings being enlightned ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints Eph. 1.17 18. 2 Your business lieth in a careful attendance upon the dictates of the Spirit and taking heed that you resist not the holy Ghost in these actings For it is an ordinary thing in many of the people of God to be accessary to the disconsolateness of their own souls by opposing the spirit of consolation They go on without that comfort which they might have in the knowledge of their union with Christ because they refuse to be comforted as the Psalmist speaketh of himself Psal 77.2 This is a common distemper in times of strong temptations As the ungodly resist the spirit of conviction and conversion so believers themselves are apt to withstand and strive against the spirit of consolation And therefore your work is to give diligent attendance upon the Spirit and to hear attentively what he shall speak unto you Concl. 4. The way of procedure in this business of self-examination or the means whereby it must be found out whether we are united to Christ is By consulting and enquiring into those marks and signs which are the evidencing characters and properties of that union For Sirs the change wrought upon a Believer by his oneness with Christ is a relative change and cannot be seen immediately in it self and of it self But it is discerned and discovered unto the spirit of a man by its properties and concomitants which are as certain characteristical marks and tokens whereby the state of union with Christ is differenced and distinguished from that of being strangers unto him As it is in natural things If I would know whether