VPon Faith in Christ followes justification and adoptition, but because justification doth properly consist in relation therefore there is no peculiar thing about it that belongs to Conscience, besides those which either were spoken of before, in the Questions about Faith, or are hereafter to be spoken of, amongst those things which belong to Sanctification, Glorification, and Obedience.

If any one be certaine of his Faith in Christ, and yet do doubt in Conscience whether he be justified before God, this happens through want of wisdome to infer the conclusion

out of the promises. This defect therefore is remedied by a right information about the nature of justification. For all the promises of the Gospell concerning remission of sinnes, justification, and life eternall, do as well belong to every particular believer, and may and ought as well to be apprehended, and applied by him unto himselfe, as if his owne name were written in the Scriptures. The reason is, because whatsoever is promised to Faith, or to the faithfull in generall, is promised expresly to all and every true believer in particular.

There is the same reason for adoption also, save onely that to this benefit, there is attributed as an adjunct a certaine operation of the spirit in respect whereof he is called the spirit of adoption. For although it be the same spirit, which doth, 1. convince men of sinne, and of righteousnesse, and judgement, Iohn 16. 8. 2 Illuminate them with the saving knowledge of Christ, 1 Corinthians 1. 10. 13. Ep. 1. 17. 18. 3 Ingraft them into Christ, Ep. 3. 6. & 4. 4. 4. Quicken them being ingrafted, 2 Cor. 3. 6. 5. Lead them into all truth which is necessary to salvation, Iohn 14. 17. & 16. 13. Iohn 4. 16. Yet because adoption hath a primary place among those benefits which are seal'd to us by the holy spirit, hence it is that he receiveth a singular denomination there from, and is cal'd the spirit of adoption, Romans 8. 15. Concerning this spirit the first Question is, what a man ought to do that hee may obtaine the lively act, and sense of it?

1. Ans. Hee ought, 1. to give diligent attention to the preaching of the Gospell, 2 Cor. 3. 6. 8. The Ministers of the new testament are call'd the Ministers of the spirit, and the Ministry thereof the Ministry of the spirit, because by that meanes God doth offer, and communicate his spirit, Gal. 3. 2. Yee have received the spirit by the hearing of Faith, Ep. 1. 13.

In whom yee also trusted after that yee heard the word of truth, the Gospell of your salvation, in whom also after that yee believed, yee were seal'd with the holy spirit of promise.

2. He ought, 2. to beg this spirit of God, Luke 11▪ 13. Your Heavenly Father will give the holy spirit to them that ask him.

3. Hee ought▪ 3. To open the dores of his heart that the spirit may enter in, Psal. 24. 7. Apoc. 3. 20. That is to call off his minde from earthly things and to raise it upwards and to prepare himselfe, by all means to entertaine the motions of the spirit.

The proper Question is, what be the signes of the spirit of Adoption.

4. Ans. The first signe is a spirit of Prayer, whereby we call upon God as a Father. Zach. 12. 10. Rom. 8. 15. 26. Gal. 4. 6. For no man can have a true filiall affection toward, and confidence in God, but by communion of the spirit.

Now this is in that regard proper in a sort to the time of the Gospell, or new Testament, because God hath declared himselfe principally, [gap]tly, and in a more excellent manner then formerly to be our Father.

5. The second signe is an high estimation of the dignity of Adoption, Ioh. 1. 12. 1 Ioh. 3. 1. For the spirit doth not only seale unto us our Adoption, but doth also shew us how great a blessing it is, and how much to be prised.

6. The third signe is the feare and honour of God, 1 Pet. 1. 17. Mat. 1. 6. For true reverence followes upon an apprehension of great love and kindnesse mixt with great power.

7. The fourth signe is filiall obedience, 1 Pet. 1. 14. Which proceeds not so much from hope and reward, as from love and desire to please God, Rom. 8. 14. For obedience springeth from a religious reverence.

8. The fifth signe is conformity to the Image of God our Father, and Christ our elder brother, Mat. 5. 48. Ro. 8. 29. 1 Ioh. 3. 9. For the Son is begotten after the similitude and likenesse of his Father.

9. The sixth signe is a firme hope of the eternall inheritance Ro. 8. 17. For the inheritance and the expectation thereof is proper to some, not to peccants or strangers.

The third Question is how the testimony of the spirit may be preserved?

8. Ans. 1. If we extinguish and quench it not by contempt or neglect of the meanes of grace, 1 Thess. 5. 19. 20. The reason is, because the word with the like means of grace are the force of the spirituall life, by the use of which the spirit is strengthned

within us, and in the want of which the spirit in regard of its inhabitation failes in us, and is said to be quenched.

11. 2. If we grieve it not by the filthinesse of sinne, Eph. 4. 30. The reason is because as naturall griefe ariseth from the presence, or representation of some repugnant, and unwelcome object, which is incumbent and prevailes against us, so that spirit is in a sort grieved by the prevailing of sinne, a thing to him most odious and repugnant.

12. 3. If wee stir it up by holy exercises. 2. Tim. 1. 6. The reason is because as fire in greene wood burnes not but by the help of bellowes and blowing, so neither doth any spirituall heate continue in the hearts of sinners, unlesse due meanes be used for the stirring it up.