XII - Faith in the Holy Ghost

This our faith, Matth. 16.17. John 14 26. John. 14.11. Acts 5.4. John 10.13. Col. 2.13. Ephes. 2.1. John 9.39. Revel 3.13. and the assurance of the same proceedeth not from flesh and blood; that is to say, from no naturall powers within us, but is the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, whom we confesse, God equall with the Father, and with the Sonne, who sanctifieth us, and bringeth us into all veritie by his own operation, without whom we should remaine for ever enemies to God, and ignorant of his Sonne Christ Jesus. For of nature we are so dead, so perverse and blinde, that neither we can feel when we were pricked, see the light when it shineth, nor assent to the will of God when it is revealed, unlesse the Spirit of the Lord Jesus quicken that which is dead, Matth. 17.17. Matth 9.19. Luke 9 41. John 6 63. Mic 7.8. 1 King. 8.8. Psal. 10.3. Rom. 5.10. John 3.5. Tit. 3.5. Rom. 5 8. Psal. 100.3. Psal. 1.6. 2 Cor. 3.5. Ephes 1 6. removeth the darknesse from our mindes, and boweth our stubborne hearts to the obedience of his blessed will, and so as we confesse that God the Father created us when we were not, as his Sonne our Lord Jesus redeemed us, when we were enemies to him; So also we confesse that the Holy Ghost doth sanctifie, and regenerate us without all respect of any merit proceeding from us, be it before, or be it after our regeneration. To speak this one thing yet in more plain words, as we willingly spoile our selves of all honour and glory of our own Creation and Redemption, so do we also of our regeneration and sanctification; for of our selves we are not sufficient to thinke one good thought, but he who hath begun the good work in us, is onely he that continueth us in the same, to the praise and glory of his undeserved grace.