here, _Even so Father_, _it seemeth good in thy sight_. Not but we are still to be found in the use of means, for he purposed from everlasting to save his people; he promised the same in his word; all is made sure to us; yet he will be enquired of to do these things for his people. However, we are to subscribe with the hand, to the God of Jacob, or, in New Testament language, _to set to our seal he is true_. This work, or spiritual building, must go on; _I will work and who shall let it_? God begins it with a view to carry it on, and who can frustrate the designs of Jehovah to Sion’s mourners? To Sinners, weak, worthless, and mourning, God has sent his dear Son: here is God descending, and the Holy Spirit bearing an internal clear testimony to the soul, _that it is born of God_; leading us to see him, and sweetly persuading the soul to say, _Father_!—while he shines into the heart, and gives us the light of the knowledge of his glory. This is illumination indeed! His glory is seen in pardoning sin, displaying his free grace, and exalting a precious Jesus! The knowledge of this we get under the Word, but the light of the knowledge is the clear shining of it in our own personal experience; by the witness of the Spirit—an holy joy in God—solid peace in the conscience—access to the throne of God—a full persuasion of our interest in the love and covenant God of our salvation: this is scriptural, experimental, heart-felt religion; this is God descending, and such appearances are always attended with divine illumination—in his light we see light; in his light we saw darkness before—now we see God as our God; and God is light—we see Jesus, and can exclaim, _The Lord is my light_.—All this is manifested to us by the teachings, the clear persuasions of God the Spirit; thus we see the religion that comes from God always leads to God again. The light of the hypocrite makes him proud, puffs him up; but this leads us out of self, to admire, enjoy, and adore the glorious undivided Trinity in Unity, the center of our happiness, the source of our joy: this is the nature of true joy in the Lord, whether experienced at our first conversion, or in all our after renewings—all joy which does not center in God, will go out; it is the lamp of the foolish Virgins, that will expire. On this part of the subject I would say a few words on the way the Lord led me. It must ever be remembered by us, that the Holy Spirit is a Sovereign in all his dispensaries; so his sovereignty is particularly discerned in the manner of his operations upon his people—the way in which they are called—the more gentle leadings, and the awful storms that others experience; with the manner of introducing the soul into the liberty of the sons of God, appears to manifest that the Almighty Minister in the Church does as he please—_for there are diversities of operations_, _but it is the same Spirit_.—I find the Work of the Spirit is the same in its nature and tendency, on all God’s elect.