Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-07-10
To the Ministers and Deacons Meeting Of the
EdgefeH Baptist association.

To the Ministers and Dcacons' Meeting Of the
EdgefeM Baptist association
DEAR 1RETHEs-in compliance with your
request, present the following on the Query,
In what way does the Holy Spirit bear wit
ncss with the Believers Spirit, that he is
child of God"
This Query is founded on the following pas
sage of Scripture. in the episle TO the Romans,
viii. chap l6 verse. The Spirit itself beareth
| witness with our Spirit, that we are the chill
dren of Cod
According to this passage Of scripture, there
are tSo witnesses that bear testimony TO the
filial relation Of soul of'God This relation
/ is effected by the concurring agency flhe SpI-
nit of God and the soul through the instrumen.
taiity of Gods word. The Holy Spirit is nc.
live in. the he,inRuence, which he exerts on the
sinner, and the sinner is active in submitting
10 that influence. The Word of God is the
instrument or seed in the change Of the Sin
| ner's heart Hence we are represented as be-
ing born Of the Spirit. (see John iii. 5, and
born of the incOrruplible seed. the Word OF
God, (see Is. epistle oil Pe,cr j. % J If then the
Word of God is the means Of this change, II
must be received by the understanding and the
| hearl, and believed in such manner. as to pro-
duce its legitimate fruits, which are, 'love Joy,
peace, long suffering. gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance" (see Galatians, v.
%, 23.) -
The possession OF these fruits Of The Spirit, is
to the believer the evidence that he is child Of
God. Now, as the Holy Spirit delineates these
fruits. as the marks of his own operation;wfere-
ever they are found, the proofs clear that he
who possesses tbem is child of God. The
( HoIy Spirit thus bears.wiluess with the Be
levers Spirit, that he is child of God.
There are seasons in the Believer life when
these fruits Of tie Spirit are more clear and
satisfactory than at others. The evidence of
the Glial relation will then be brighter, md
the concurrence between the Holy Spiritand
the believer will be stronger and more confort-
able to the soul. !. ;,.. 4 {.2s.; i !,
There are, also special seasons of grace, in
which the Holy Spirit will enrich the soul with
large outpourings ofhis gracious Influences
The believers cup will then overflow. And
i he will have at such seasons, ,.hs evidence, that
he Is child of God greatly Strengthened! But
such is the nature Of The evidence ..of sonsliip
to God that il must be reached in tile spiritual
state of the soul, its conformity TO the; WilTof
the Most High, its obedience to his laws! and
all in accordance with the written word, This
evidence cannot be had under The Gospel Dis.
pensation, in dreams, visions, or snptfnatural
visi,a,ions. 1t cannot be obtained in The fiifui
outbreaks of periodical efforts, but n.the stea-
dy persevering cultivation and practice ofthe
duties Of the christian life. This concurring
testimony does nolJepend upon the experience
ofsome len. twenty or forty, or more years
ago; but upon the daily acting ont Of The chris
tian principle, and the: exhibition ofthe Spirits
fruits, in conformity with the scriptures of
truth. 81. ,i:;s. y. S