What the witness is
But what is the witness of the Spirit? The original word may be rendered either, as it is in several places, the witness, or, less ambiguously, the testimony, or the record. So it is rendered in our translation. 1 John 5:11. This is the record, the testimony, the sum of what God testifies in all the inspired writings, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
The testimony now under consideration is given by the Spirit of God to and with our spirit. He is the person testifying. What he testifies to us is that we are the children of God. The immediate result of this testimony is the fruit of the Spirit, namely love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness. And without these the testimony itself cannot continue. For it is inevitably destroyed, not only by the commission of any outward sin, or the omission of known duty, but by giving way to any inward sin. In a word, it is destroyed by whatever grieves the Holy Spirit of God.
1771 text
II. 1. But what is the witness of the Spirit? The original word μαρτυρία, may be rendered either, (as it is in several places,) the witness, or less ambiguously, the testimony or the record: so it is rendered in our translation, 1 John v. 11. This is the record (the testimony, the sum of what God testifies in all the inspired writings) that God hath given unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The testimony now under consideration is given by the Spirit of God to and with our spirit. He is the person testifying. What he testifies to us is, that we are the children of God. The immediate result of this testimony, is the fruit of the Spirit; namely, love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness. And without these the testimony itself cannot continue. For it is inevitably destroyed, not only by the commission of any outward sin, or the omission of known duty, but by giving way to any inward sin: in a word, by whatever grieves the Holy Spirit of God.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 11 in the 1771 Works. Romans 8:16. The second discourse on the witness of the Spirit.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.