10. Not that I would, by any means, be understood, by any thing which has been spoken concerning it, to exclude the operation of the Spirit of God, even from the _testimony of our own spirit_. In no wise. It is he that not only worketh in us every manner of thing that is good, but also shines upon his own work, and clearly shews what he has wrought. Accordingly this is spoken of by St. _Paul_, as one great end of our receiving the Spirit, _that we may know the things which are freely given to us of God_: that he may strengthen the testimony of our conscience, touching our _simplicity and godly sincerity_, and give us to discern in a fuller and stronger light, that we now do the things which please him. 11. Should it still be enquired, How does the Spirit of God, _bear witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God_, so as to exclude all doubt, and evince the reality of our sonship? The answer is clear, from what has been observed above. And first, as to the witness of our spirit. The soul as intimately and evidently perceives, when it loves, delights, and rejoices in God, as when it loves and delights in any thing on earth. And it can no more doubt, whether it loves, delights and rejoices, or no, than whether it exists, or no. If therefore this be just reasoning, He that now loves God, that delights and rejoices in him, with an humble joy, and holy delight, and an obedient love, is a child of God: But I thus love, delight, and rejoice in God; Therefore I am a child of God: Then a Christian can in no wise doubt, of his being a child of God. Of the former proposition, he has as full an assurance, as he has that the scriptures are of God. And of his thus loving God, he has an inward proof, which is nothing short of self-evidence. Thus the _testimony of our own spirit_ is with the most intimate conviction manifested to our hearts; in such a manner, as beyond all reasonable doubt, to evince the reality of our sonship. 12. The _manner_ how the divine testimony is manifested to the heart, I do not take upon me to explain. _Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me; I cannot attain unto it. The wind bloweth_: and _I hear the sound thereof_. But I cannot _tell how it cometh, or whither it goeth_. As no one knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of a man that is in him; so the _manner_ of the things of God knoweth no one, save the Spirit of God. But the fact we know: namely, that the Spirit of God does give a believer such a testimony of his adoption, that while it is present to the soul, he can no more doubt the reality of his sonship, than he can doubt of the shining of the sun, while he stands in the full blaze of his beams.