unto him, Rabboni, which is to fay, Mafter," He had fpoken fome words to her before, and fhe understood not that it was he: but when he uttereth this one word, MARY, there was fome admirable divine conveyance and manifeftation made out unto her heart, by which fhe was fo fatisfyingly filled, that there was no place for arguing and difputing whether or no that was Christ, and if the had any intereft in him. That manifeftation made faith to itself, and did purchase credit and trust to itfelf, and was equivalent with "Thus faith the Lord." This is fuch a glance of glory that it may in the highest fenfe be called, the earnest or first-fruits of the inheritance, for it is a felt armful of the holy God, almost wholly conforming the man unto his likenefs, fo fwallowing him up, that he forgetteth all things except the prefent manifeftation. O how glorious is this manifeftation of the fpirit! faith here rifeth to fo full an affurance, that it refolveth wholly into fenfible embracements of God. This is the thing which doth best deferve the title of fenfible prefence, and, it is like, is not given unto all believers, fome whereof are all their days under bondage, and in fear; but here, "love, almost perfect, cafteth out fear. This is fo abfolutely let out upon the Master's pleafure, and fo tranfient and paffing, or quickly gone, when it is, that no man may bring his gracious ftate upon debate for want of it.

Eleventhly, There is a thing we call peace, about which many do vex themfelves. This peace is either concerning a man's ftate, that he is reconciled unto God by Jefus Chrift, or it is concerning his prefent cafe and condition, that he is walking fo as approven of God, at leaft, fo far as there is no quarrel or controverfy between God and him threatening a ftroke. Both of thefe are either fuch in the court of fcripture, and confequently in God's account; or in the court of a man's own confcience. Peace concerning a man's ftate, as being in Chrift, is fure in the court of fcripture and of heaven, when a man doth by faith clofe with Chrift and the new

covenant. "Being juftified by faith, we have peace with God." It being fure and folid in the court of fcripture, it should hold fure in the court of a man's confcience, it being rightly informed; for in that cafe it ftill fpeaks according to fcripture: but, becaufe often the confcience is mifinformed and in the dark, therefore there is often peace concerning a man's ftate according to fcripture, whilft his confcience doth threaten the contrary, and doth ftill condemn, and refufeth to affoil the man, as being reconciled unto God through Chrift. In this cafe the confcience must be informed, and the man's gracious ftate made out by the marks of grace, as we fhewed before; and here the witnels of my own fpirit will do much to allay the cry of the confcience; and if the fpirit of the Lord join his witnefs and teftimony, the confcience is perfectly fatisfied, and proclaimeth peace to the man.

The other peace concerning a man's prefent cafe or condition, viz. that it is approven of God in a gospelfenfe, it may be wanting, and jufily wanting, although the peace concerning a man's state be fure. This peace concerning a man's cafe and condition is either fuch in the court of fcripture; and this is when a man is not regarding iniquity, and refpecting the commands of God without exception: then the fcripture faith, he ftands in an even place, and he needeth fear no ftated quarrel between God and him in order to a temporary ftroke; and when it is thus, his confcience should also affoil him that fame way, and would do fo, if it were rightly informed: but because the confcience is often in the dark, therefore a man may be alarmed with evil in the court of confcience, as if he were juftly to expect a ftroke from God because of his fin, and fome quarrel God hath at him, although he intend falvation for him. This is enough to keep a man in difquiet, and to inhibit him the rejoicing allowed unto him, whilft he is walking in his integrity: therefore a man muft here alfo inform his confcience, and receive no accufations nor condemnings from it, un

lefs it make them clear by fcripture. At that bar let every man ftand, both concerning his ftate and his condition or cafe and let him appeal from all other courts to that, and not receive any indictment but conform to the truth of God, by which the confcience is to proceed in all things. And if this were well looked unto, there would not be fo many groundless fufpicions amongst the Lord's people, either concerning their state or their condition, upon every thought which entereth their mind.

Twelfthly, There is the joy of the Holy Ghoft: and this is when the spirit doth breathe upon our rejoicing in God, (which is a grace very little in exercife with many) and maketh it fet out fenfibly and vigorously; and he exciteth and stirreth the paffion of joy and of delight in the foul, fo as there is an "unfpeakable and glorious joy in foul," in the apprehenfion of God's friendship and nearnefs unto him. "In whom, though now ye fee him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unfpeakable and full of glory." This joy followeth upon peace, and peace followeth righteoufnefs. "The kingdom of God, is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." This joy readily will not fail to be according to the meafure of the affurance of faith, as 1 Pet. i. 8. "In whom believing ye rejoice." So that the removal of mistakes about other things will allay doubts concerning this.

Now, because fome of thefe excellent communications of the fpirit, after they are gone, are brought in queftion as delufions of Satan; for vindication of them, we fay, that the fpecial operations of God's fpirit in any high degree, ufually are communicated to people after fuch brokennefs of fpirit; "Make me to hear joy and gladnefs, that the bones which thou haft broken may rejoice" after fo fingular pains in religious duty; "And I fet my face unto the Lord God, to feek by prayer and fupplication, with fafting, and fackcloth, and afhes.And whiles I was fpeaking, and praying, and confeffing my fin-the man Gabriel, whom I had feen in the vifion at the beginning, being caufed to fly fwiftly, touch

ed me:" or in time of fuch fuffering for righteousness; "Rejoice, in as much as ye are partakers of Chrift's fufferings that when his glory fhall be revealed, ye may be glad alfo with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ happy are ye; for the fpirit of glory and of God refteth upon you" or if they break in as the rain that waiteth not for man, then they do fo humble and abafe the perfon; "Woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips-for mine eyes have feen the King, the Lord of hofts:" and there are found fo many evidences of grace in the man. "The Spirit itfelf beareth witnefs with our fpirit, that we are the children of God:" or thefe things do fo provoke unto holiness, and to have every thing answerable and conform unto these manifeftations of God: "Let every one that nameth the name of Chrift depart from iniquity." The perfon under them doth fo loathe all things befide God's friendfhip and fellowship; "Peter faid unto Jefus, Lord, it is good for us to be here:" and these things do carry on them fo much authority and divine fuperfcription, whilft they are in the foul, that afterwards they may appear fufficiently to be fpecial communications of God, and fingular gracious operations of his Spirit, and no delufions of Satan transforming himself into an angel of light," nor fuch common flashes of the fpirit as may admit afterwards irrecoverable apoftacy from God; "For it is impoffible for those who were once enlightened, and have tafted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the holy Ghost, and have tafted the good word of God, and the-powers of the world to come; if they fhall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance."

Now then to conclude this part of the work that relateth unto trial; I fay to all these who complain of the want of the precious out-letting of the fpirit, 1ft, Blefs God if you want nothing effential for making out of a faving intereft in Chrift. God hath given unto you Chrift Jefus, the greateft gift he had; and fince your

heart is fhapen out of him, he will, with him give you all things that are good for you in their feafon. 2dly, I do believe, upon a right fearch and trial, after you have "understood the communications of the Spirit, you are not fo great a stranger to many things as you did fufpect yourfelf to be. But, 3dly, Remember the promifes of life and of peace with God are no where in fcripture made unto these special things whereof you alledge the want the promifes are made unto faith, followed with. holinefs; and it may be prefumed, that many heirs of glory do not in this life partake of fome of these things, but are in bondage all their days through fear of death," so that there fhould be no mistake about these things; we may feek after them, but God is free to give or withhold them. 4thly, Many do feek after fuch manifeftations before they give credit by faith unto God's word. He hath borne record that there is life enough for men in Chrift Jefus; and if men would by believing fet to their feal that God is true, they fhould partake of more of these excellent things. 5thly, I may fay, many have not honourable apprehenfions and thoughts of the Spirit of God, whofe proper work it is to put out the forefaid noble operations. They do not adore him as God, but vex, grieve, quench, and refift him; and many people complaining of the want of thefe things, are not at the pains to feek the fpirit in his outgoings, and few do fet themfelves apart for fuch precious receipts: therefore, be at more pains in religion, give more credit to his word, and efteem more highly of the spirit of God and fo you may find more of thefe excellent things.