A little further in the same book . . .
It is enough for me simply to reiterate what Brooks says in his first chapter: that the ground of assurance is not any "special" or "immediate revelation." So if he writes of the inward testimony of the Spirit, it is not a "personal, private revelation" he describes. But let the reader judge: his whole book is available
here; By the Blood quotes from
Chapter 7.
The Spirit makes doctrines of scripture known to the elect, that He does not make known to the unsaved. He also makes some doctrines known to some of the saved and not to other of the saved yet, hence all the great arguments about what scripture actually says. This is called personal, private revelation, much deeper than mere words.
It is rather called illumination, or the transforming or renewing of the mind. The Spirit transforms our minds that we might understand and receive with joy the doctrines of Scripture. By your standard, we might have a Baptist say, "The Spirit has given me a personal, private revelation that paedobaptism is a false doctrine." And a Presbyterian might say, "The Spirit has given me a personal, private revelation that paedobaptism is a true doctrine." And who shall judge between them? Or does the Spirit produce confusion? Rather, let both say, "The Spirit is transforming my mind; and by my study of His Word, I have concluded that the true doctrine of baptism is thus and such." Then we can turn to the pages of Holy Writ, and judge between them.
If you claim that assurance is ALL and ONLY just because YOU believe scripture, it becomes a little too Arminian at that point.
Arminian? I should hardly have to defend myself against the charge; those familiar with my work on this board are well aware that I am no Arminian. But is it really too Arminian to affirm the words of the blessed apostle when he writes "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Rom. 10:9)?
Who is it that gives understanding? The Spirit of God. How does He do it? Personally, and privately. What is understanding? A revealing of the will of God. Hence we (I do anyway) have personal, private revelation by the Spirit of God in regards to my assurance.
Of course it is the Spirit who gives understanding. He it is who transforms the heart of stone to a heart of flesh, and He it is who plants the seed of faith in the elect. But the work of the Spirit inwardly within the individual is not a "personal, private revelation" from Him! For everything the Spirit teaches us He has already revealed, quite publicly, in His Scripture.
