t ~~ 1 'The D-o!lrine of the ~Stale of lJI'rnth . State II'i . by theirnatural finfci nefs; and mifery, as liable to-the wr~nh of-God, a-re, plainly taught them; filling their hearts with· , fear of that wrath;. Now that this fpi~>it of. bondag~ is no · ether than-the Spi'tit ·of God, whofe work is to convince of' · , lin, righteoufnefs, and jildgment, (John xvi. ,8.) this tefti– mony mu:fi needs be true ;· for the Spirit of truth cannot ' witnefs an untruth. Mean while, true ·believers being froed from the fl:ate of wrath, re._·eive not the JPirit ofoondage a• ' gain toflar, but receive the fpirit of adoption, _- Rom. iii. I 5. And therefore, if fears of that nature do arife, after the foul's union ·with Chrifl ;' they came from the faints own fpirit, or from a worfe. Lafily; The {ufferiogs of Chrilt . ~ . plainly prove this doctrine. \Vherefore was the Son of G,od; a Son under wrath; but ·beooufe- the children of men. were children of wr-ath ? He fuffered the wrath of Gbd; not for ·himfelf, but for thofe who were liable to it in their own · perfo~s. Nay, this not only fpeaks us to have been liable. to wrath·; but alfo that wrath mull: have a vent, in the pu:.:. nifuing of fin. If this was donein the green tree, wha_t will -· become _ofthe·dry? W~at a.miferable cafe muft a firmer be ·. · in, that is out of Chrift; that is-not-Vitally united to Chrift, · and partake~ · not of his Spir,it --? 'G~d who fpared· not his. '··· own Son~ furely wiU not fpare Juch an one. · · But ·: the unregenerate man, who has -no ·great valuefor the honoar-·of God,· will be apt to rife up againft his Judge, · and in his own hearrcondemrfhis procedure. Neverth~lefs the Judge being infinitely juft, the fentence mut1 be righte– ous. And therefore, t~ flop thy mouth, 0 prouvi finner, and toO:ill thy clamour againfl:.the righteous Judge; confi– d<::r, Firfl, Thou art a fioner by nature, and it is loligh1y re:dooabl e that guilt and wrath be as old as iln, ' Wby ·llioqld not God begin to vir.dicate his honour, ' as foon as vile worms begin to impare it ? Why fhould n·ot a f~rpent bi.te the thief, as foon as he leaps over the hedge ? Why fhould not the threatning take hold of the !inner, as foon as he calls away the command ? The poifonous r;:nure of the fer pent .<ffords a man fnfficient grom.~d to kill· it, as foon as e ver he CH! reach it: and, by this time thou mayH be con .. vihced., that thy nature is avery compound·of enmity againfl: God'. Seccn_dly , Thou haft not only an enmity again(£ God, in thy nature j blilt hafi difcovered it,• by aetuaHins, which ar~. !
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