132 2''bb,firfi Sign;, PART III. have not received the Spirit of Bondage, again to fear ; but ye, have re-' ceived the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, fibber, Father : The spi- rit it felfbeareth N itnefs with our Spirits, that we are the Children of God. Here, what the Apoftle fags, if we take it together, plainly 'hews, that what he has Refpe& to, when he fpeak4of the Spirit's giving us. Witnefs or';Evidence that we are God's Children; is his dwelling in us, ,and leading us, as a Spirit of Adoption, or Spirit of a Child, difpofing us to behave towards God as to a Father. This is the Witnelor Evidence the Apoftle fpeaks of, that we are Children, that we have the Spirit of Children, or Spirit of Adoption. And what is that, but the Spirit of Love ? There are two Kinds of Spirits the Apoftle fpeaks of, the Spirit of a Slave, or the Spirit of Bondage, that is Fear ; and the Spirit of a Child, or Spirit ofAdoption, & that is Love. The Apoftle Pays, we han't received the Spirit of Bondage, or of Slaves, which is a Spirit of Fear ; but we have received the more in- genuous noble Spirit of Vhildren, a Spirit of Love, which naturally difpofes us to go to God, as Children to a,Father, and behave to- wards God as Children. And this is the Evidence or Witnefs which the Spirit of God gives us that we are Children. This is the plain. Senfe of the Apoftle : And fo undoubtedly the Apoftle here is fpeak- ing of the very fame Way of calling out Doubting, and Fear, and the Spirit of Bondage, which the Apoftle yohn fpeaks of, i yohn 4. 18. viz. By the prevailing of Love, that is the Spirit of a Child. The Spirit of Bondage works by Fear, the Slave fears the Rod ; but_. Love cries Abba Father ; it difpofes us to go to God, and behave ourfelves towards God as Children ;. and it gives us clear Evidence of our Union to God as his Children, and fo calls out Fear. So that it appears that the Witnefs of the Spirit the Apoftle fpeaks of, is far from being any Whifper, or immediate Suggeftion or Revelation but that gracious holy Effea of the Spirit of God in the Hearts of the Saints, the Difpofition and Temper of Children, appearing in fweet child -like Love to God, which calls out Fear, or a Spirit of a Slave. And the fame Thing is evident from all the Context: 'Tis plain -the :Apoftle fpeaks of the Spirit, over and over again, as dwelling in the Hearts of the Saints, as a gracious Principle, fet in Oppofition to the Flefh or Corruption : And fo he does in the Words that immedi- ately introduce this Pafí-age we are upon, Verfe 13. For ifye live after the Flefh, yefhdll die ; but ifye, thro' the Spirit do mortify the Deeds of the Flefh, ye /hall live. indeed it is paft Doubt with me, that the Apoftle has a more fpe- r::îal Refpea to the Spirit of Grace, or the Spirit of Love, or Spirit of a Child, in its more lively Aaings : For 'tis perfect Love, or Jirong Love only, which fo witneffes or evidences that we are Children, as to call out Fear, and wholly deliver from the Spirit of Bondage. The ftrong and lively Exercifes of a Spirit of child -like, evangelical, humble
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