that immediately I found marvellous comfort and quietness in my soul, so that my bruised bones did leap for joy." (Clarke's Lives, 1670.)

Bishop Hooper (who suffered A. D. 1554) says: "Blessed is that man in whom God's Spirit beareth record that he is the son of God, (Rom. viii.,) whatsoever troubles he suffers in this troublesome word." (Foxe's Acts and Monuments.)

"I believe the Holy Ghost is the pledge and earnest of our heavenly heritage, by the which we be assured, ascertained, and certainly persuaded in our conscience, that we be the children of God, and brethren adoptives to Jesus Christ, and consequently co-heirs to eternal life." (Bp. Hooper on the Creed, art. xliii.)

Bishop Ridley. (a. D. 1554.)—“ A man may know whether he is now, at this present time, in the favour of God or no. The Spirit of God is given us, to put us in surety that God favoureth us; and if we lack this Spirit, we be not of Christ. (Rom. viii.)" (Comment on Ephesians.)

Bishop Latimer." For as long as we be here, God showeth himself unto us by grace, he ascertaineth us through his Spirit of his favour." (Sermon on Lord's Prayer, 1536.)

Archbishop Cranmer. (î. D. 1540.)-" The same Holy Ghost doth also assure and warrant us that our synes be forgiven, and that our pardon is signed with God's seal. For when we believe in Christ, and are baptized, then we are born again, and are made the children of God. And when we be his children, then he giveth the Holy Ghost into our hearts, as St. Paul testifieth, writing thus: Forasmuch.as you be now the children of God, therefore God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, which crieth, Abba, Father.' And when we have received the Holy Ghost, he doth kindle in our hearts true love towards God." (Cranmer's Catechism.) Bradford." Endue us with thy Holy Spirit, according to thy covenant and mercy, as well to assure us of pardon, and that thou dost accept us into thy favour as thy dear children in Christ, and for his sake, as to write thy law upon our hearts.......I pray thee to be merciful unto me, that I may feel indeed thy sweet mercy, as thy child." (Prayers. See Works. Tract Society.)

Tyndale. (A. D. 1530.)—“A man is certified that he loveth God ere he come at the work, by the testimony of the Spirit which is given him in earnest. The Spirit,' saith Paul, (Rom. viii.,) 'testifieth unto our spirit that we be the sons of God:' and then it testifieth that we believe in God: for through faith are we sons. And then it certifieth me that I love God. For faith and love are inseparable. The Spirit, through faith, certifieth my conscience that my sins are forgiven, and I received under grace and made the very son of God, and beloved of God. And then naturally mine heart breaketh out into the love of God.

"Christ came with three witnesses, water, blood, and Spirit. He ordained the sacrament of baptism, to be his witness unto us. And he ordained the sacrament of his blood, to be his witness unto us. And he poureth his Spirit into the hearts of his, to testify and to make them feel that the testimony of those two sacraments is true.

"The true believers have the testimony of God in their hearts, and they glorify God, witnessing that he is true. They have the kingdom of God within them, and the temple of God within them, and God in that temple, and have the Son of God, and life through him.

"They that have the faith of Christ's Apostles, know that they have eternal life; for the Spirit testifieth,' &c.; (Rom. viii. ;) and received

under grace. Our Doctors say they cannot know whether they be in the state of grace; therefore they have not the faith of Apostles. And that they know it not is the cause why they rail at it." (Tyndale's Exposition of 1 John v.)

THE FATHERS AND DIGNITARIES OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH.

"Faith once received, God giveth his Holy Ghost, wherewith he tokeneth and marketh all that believe which is the pledge and earnest that we shall possess everlasting life, and that giveth witness unto our spirits, and grafteth this faith in us, that we be the sons of God; pouring therewith the love into our hearts, which Paul describeth and setteth out to the Corinthians." (The Sum and Content of holy Scripture, 1549. Prefixed to some of the early editions of the English Bible.)

The Lambeth Articles, drawn up by Dr. Whittaker, 1595, and approved by several Bishops, and by the University of Cambridge, contain the following:-" VI. A man truly faithful, that is, such an one who is endued with a justifying faith, is certain, with a full assurance of faith, of the remission of sins." This is also found in the Articles of the Church of Ireland, 1615, art. viii. See Appendix to Hall's Harmony of Protestant Confessions, 8vo., 1842, p. 521.

Certain Questions and Answers, printed by Robert Barker, 1607, and bound up at that period with our English Bibles :—

"Q. What mean you by the motions of spiritual life?

"A. I mean remorse of conscience, joined with the loathing of sin, and the love of righteousness; the hand of faith reaching unto life eternal in Christ, the conscience comforted in distress, and raised up to confidence in God by the work of his Spirit."

Holinshed's Chronicle. (A. D. 1570.)-"It behoveth the godly to repose their hope in that grace which is freely granted through Jesus Christ, and flee unto the mercies of God which are offered us in, with, and by his Son, to the end that we may at last find the testimony of his Spirit working with ours, that we are his chosen children, whereby cometh peace of conscience to such as believe." (Vol. i., p. 45, of later edition.)

"It is a remarkable fact, that for more than half a century, under the reign of Elizabeth, and of the first James and Charles, there were bound up with the larger editions of the English Bible certain prayers for the use of individuals and families, printed by the regular authorities, the King's printers and the two English Universities; and with those prayers was connected the Confession of the Christian Faith.' In this document the devout Christian is taught to say, 'I believe and confess the Holy Ghost, God equal with the Father and the Son, who regenerateth and sanctifieth us, ruleth and guideth us into all truth, persuading most assuredly our consciences that we be the children of God, brethren to Jesus Christ, and fellow-heirs with him of life everlasting."" (Jackson's Memoir of R. Watson, 8vo., p. 372.)

This opinion was condemned by the Council of Trent, as may be seen at large in Brent's History, fol., 1640. A proof this of its antiquity and truth, rather than the contrary. 66 Special and particular assurance was never condemned for heresy before the Council of Trent condemned it." (Perkins's Works, fol., vol. i., p. 540.)

The Homilies of the Church of England speak as follows:

"We have the Holy Spirit within our hearts as a seal and pledge of our everlasting inheritance." (Homily on the Resurrection.)

"If we feel our conscience at peace with God, through remission of sin, all is of God." (Homily on Rogation Week, part iii.)

"The faithful may feel wrought tranquillity of conscience, the increase of faith and hope, with many other graces of God." (Homily on the Sacrament, part i.)

"Godly men feel inwardly God's Holy Spirit inflaming their hearts with love." (Homily on certain Places of Scripture, part i.)

"The right and true Christian faith is a sure trust and confidence which a man hath in God, that, by the merits of Christ, his sins are forgiven, and he reconciled to the favour of God." (Homily on Salvation.) Though we do not accept this as a definition of justifying faith, yet, R. Watson observes, (Works, vol. v., p. 162,) it "may be quoted in favour of that view of assurance at which Churchmen have so often stumbled, and to which they have so often scornfully referred, as the fanatical invention of modern sectaries."

Archbishop Abbott. (A.D. 1600.)—“What is it to my soul that Christ hath died for others, unless I be assured that my part is therein? There is joy of the Spirit when men come to that measure." (Lectures on Jonah, 4to., 1600, Lect. xii.)

Bishop Abbott (A. D. 1615) says: "When, therefore, God doth send forth his Spirit into our hearts, crying, and making us to cry, Abba, Father, the same is a witness to our spirit that we are the sons of God; because, for no other reason doth God send forth his Spirit into our hearts, but because we are sons. When God giveth to us this light and feeling that he is our Father, there followeth necessarily a certificate that we are his children, because these, as relatives, mutually depend one upon another. For neither the spirit of man himself, nor any other spirit, can give him that spiritual eye of the inner man, whereby to look upon God as a Father, that sincere and single and pure affection, and invocation, wherewith the faithful soul tendereth itself unto God, but only the Spirit of God himself. It is no way incident unto us to have in heart and conscience that familiar and lovely access unto the throne of grace, but upon conscience of the Spirit dwelling in us, as St. Hierome speaketh."

Bishop Andrews. (A. D. 1618.)—“It is the proper effect of the blood of Christ to cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God; which, if we find it doth, Christ is come to us as he is to come; and the Spirit is come, and puts his teste, 'witness.' And if we have his teste, we may go our way in peace. Come, O blessed Spirit, and bear witness to our spirit, that Christ's water, and his blood, we have our part in both." (Sermon on sending the Holy Ghost.)

Bishop W. Barlow. (A.D. 1601.)—" The Christian hath a twofold argument of God's love,-Jesus crucified, and the pledge of the Spirit justifying him, and testifying unto him that he is the son of God. (Rom. viii.)” (Defence of the Articles of the Protestants' Religion, &c., 4to., 1601, pp. 220-225.)

Bishop Babington. (A. D. 1600.)—“ Which assurance he giveth us by his blessed Spirit bearing witness to our spirits, that we are the children of God. And this Spirit we know to be his true Spirit, and no presuming fancy in us, by two effects which he worketh in us, to wit, the hatred of sin, and the love of righteousness, holiness, and all honest conversation." (On Deut. i. Works, fol.) "The Lord is ever faithful and true to his children who live in the feeling of his sweet and assured mercy." (On the Catholic Faith.)

Dr. John Boys, Dean of Canterbury. (â. D. 1610.)-"The blessed Spirit crieth in our hearts, assuring our spirit that we are the children of God." (Exposition, Epistles and Gospels, 4to., 1610, p. 86.)

Bishop Brownrig. (A. D. 1665.)—“ This is one great office of the Holy Ghost, to ratify and seal up to us the forgiveness of our sins. In whom after ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.'" (Sermon on Whitsunday.)

Dr. Isaac Barrow. (A. D. 1670.)—" This is that 'Spirit of adoption' which constituteth us the sons of God, qualifying us so to be, by dispositions resembling God, and filial affections towards him; certifying us that we are so, and causing us, by a free instinct, to cry, Abba, Father." (Sermon on the Gift of the Holy Ghost.)

Bishop Cooper. (A. D. 1580.)—" Now then, if by the motion of one Spirit we do assuredly know God's goodness towards us, and by the knowledge and true sense thereof do love him for the same, needs must there follow obedience to his law, and perpetual study to please him." (Certain Sermons, wherein is contained a Defense of the Gospell nowe preached. 4to., 1580, p. 184.)

Bishop Davenant (A. D. 1629) observes: "The Holy Spirit specially seals each particular believer, and makes him sure of his adoption, by a certain wonderful and secret testimony; for he is given to every believer as a pledge of divine love; and he, finally, pronounces, in the hearts of the godly, that they are in favour with God; which testimony they may and ought to believe. Therefore they do believe, in particular, that they are in the grace of God, and that their sins are remitted them. The authorities from which all this is proved are well known. (Rom. viii. 16; Gal. iv. 6; and Eph. i. 13.) Nor is this testimony fallacious or conjectural, but certain and infallible in all in whom it is found. For the word is the ministration of the Spirit, (2 Cor. iii.,) and faith conceived by the ministration of the word is always joined by the witness of the Spirit itself, which is a particular testimony in the heart of a particular man that he is in grace, and that he is a child of God. So Bernard, sermon v., De Dedicat.: 'God's Spirit, bearing witness, may persuade our spirits that we are the children of God.' So Chrysostom in Rom. viii.: When the Spirit testifies, can any doubt remain?"" (Davenant on Colossians, Allport's Translation, 8vo., vol. i., pp. 39, 40.)

Dr. John Donne. (A.D. 1631.)—“ And though of myself I have nothing to present to him but sins and misery, yet I know he looks not upon me now as I am of myself, but as I am in my Saviour, and hath given me even at this present time some testimonies by his Holy Spirit, that I am of the number of his elect: I am therefore full of inexpressible joy, and shall die in peace." (Walton's Life of Donne.)

Arthur Dent. (A.D. 1663.)—“ Rom. viii. 16. The same Spirit which did assure it unto Paul, doth assure it also to all the children of God. For they have all the same Spirit, though not in the same measure. He that hath the Spirit of God, knoweth certainly he hath it. For God doth not work so darkly in men's hearts by his Spirit, but that they may easily know whether it be of him or no. The persuasion of God's love towards us is the root of all our love and cheerful obedience towards him: for therefore we love and obey him, because we know he hath loved us first, and written our names in the book of life." (The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven bearing the Lambeth Imprimatur, Sept. 29th, 1663.)

:

Dean Field. (A.D. 1628.) Believers "do indeed feel in themselves that

they have received remission of sins, and reconciliation by God's goodness, and by the merits of Christ do cry, Abba, Father." (Of the Church, fol., 2d edition, 1628.)

Richard Hooker. (A.D. 1590.)—“ The Spirit of God hath given to us, to assure us that we are the sons of God, to embolden us to call upon him as our Father." (Sermon on Certainty of Faith.)

"Unto you, because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, to the end ye might know that Christ hath built you upon a rock immovable, that he hath registered your names in the book of life." (Sermon on Jude.)

"God hath heard my daily petitions, for I am at peace with all men, and he is at peace with me; and from that blessed assurance I feel that inward joy, which the world can neither give nor take from me." (Dying words of Hooker, Walton's Life of Hooker.)

Bishop Hall. (A.D. 1630.)—“ What an heaven do I feel in myself, when (after many traverses of meditation) I find in my heart a feeling possession of my God,-when my soul hath caught fast and sensible hold of my Saviour, and can and dare secretly vouch, I know whom I have believed!" (Decad. ii., epist. 1.)

Bishop Hopkins. (A.D. 1682.)—"The Holy Ghost persuades and assures us of the love and favour of God, and enables us through divine light beaming in upon our consciences to behold him as a gracious and reconciled Father. The same Spirit that before was a spirit of bondage, when the soul is thereby sufficiently prepared for grace, becomes a Spirit of adoption." (Works, fol., 1701, p. 720. See also for equally pointed remarks, pp. 299, 516, 551.)

Bishop Pearson, (A.D. 1672,) in his Exposition of the Creed, thus writes: "It is the office of the Holy Ghost to assure us of the adoption of sons, to create in us a sense of the paternal love of God towards us, to give us an earnest of our everlasting inheritance. (Rom. viii. 14; Gal. iv. 6; Rom. viii. 15, 16.) As, therefore, we are born again by the Spirit, and receive from him our regeneration, so we are also assured, by the same Spirit, of our adoption; and because, being sons, we are also heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, by the same Spirit we have the pledge, or rather the earnest, of our inheritance. (2 Cor. i. 21, 22; Eph. i. 13, 14.) The Spirit of God, as given to us in this life, is to be looked upon as an earnest, being part of that reward which is promised." (Article viii., "I believe in the Holy Ghost.")

Bishop Reynolds (A.D. 1632) says: "Being persuaded of God's love to us, the heart is framed to love him again; for who can be persuaded of so great a benefit as the remission of sins, and not love him by whom they are remitted?" (Explication of Psalm cx., p. 324.)

Archbishop Usher. (A.D.1650.)—“From adoption flows all Christians' joy; for the Spirit of adoption is, first, a witness, (Rom. viii. 16,) second, a seal, (Eph. iv. 30,) third, the pledge and earnest of our inheritance, (Eph. i. 14,) setting a holy security on the soul, whereby it rejoiceth, even in affliction, in hope of glory." (Sum and Substance of Christian Religion.)

Bishop Wilkins. (A.D. 1670.)—“ And as we are to pray for the pardon of our sins, against the guilt of them; so likewise for the sense and evidence of this pardon, against our own doubts." (Gift of Prayer, p. 132. See also Bishop Jenk's, 1690, Prayers and Offices of Devotion, 8vo., edit. 1802, p. 284; Dr. A. Littleton, 1679; Sermons, 1680, pp. 330, part i., and 192 and