shall we eat, what shall we drink, wherewithal shall we be clothed? 51 And the natural disposition of mankind is to seek their own self-gratification in every respect. This may be counteracted in some degree by the restraints of education and the habits of society; but it is found universally that man, left to himself, thinks only of following the natural devices and desires of his own corrupt heart, or of his carnal mind, which is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. This living after the flesh, or being carnally minded, is death. Those who are in this state are dead to God, dead in trespasses and sins, and are walking in the road to eternal death. Living after the flesh affords evident proof of this. Where the works of the flesh appear in the conduct, the heart cannot be right with God. Those who love Him will keep His commandments. This is the evidence which they must give of being His children. Such persons only are alive to God, and have a hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Saviour.

54

It is therefore said, If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. The Holy Spirit is given to believers in Christ for this purpose, that He may sanctify them wholly; that by His sacred influence upon their souls, they may be enabled to mortify the deeds of the body, to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts, to resist its solicitations, to strive against

sin, and not to submit to its dominion. And they who implore His gracious influences for this purpose, shall live; they shall be enabled to withstand effectually the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil; and shall not be overcome by them, but shall obtain continual victory over them in the strength of the Lord, and by the power of His might. And they shall be enabled also to walk in His holy ways, and find them to be ways of pleasantness and paths of peace. And when they are called out of this dying world, being absent from the body, they shall be present with the Lord; they shall live with Him for evermore. This blessedness awaits them as the children of God; for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Those who are led by the Spirit of God, follow His leading; they do not walk contrary to Him, but walk in the way which He has marked out for them in His blessed word. The holy scriptures were given by His inspiration, in order to be a directory to the people of God, how they ought to walk so as to please Him. To those therefore who are led by the Spirit of God, His word will be a lamp to their feet, and a light to their path,55 that they may follow its directions, and find rest to their souls. All who thus follow the Lord wholly, are His children, and will be owned and acknowledged by Him as such, in the manner which is afterwards mentioned in the text.

The characteristics of the children of God are next stated, both negatively and positively. Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. It is said that our Lord Jesus Christ came to deliver them, who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage, 56 This is a fear which is natural to mankind as sinners against God. From this bondage to fear, the children of God are delivered by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As He is the Saviour of sinners, they put their trust in Him; and doubt not that according to His promise to them that believe in His name, He will be the Saviour of their souls; that they shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation." But the spirit of bondage to fear may refer to the condemnation of the law, under which the transgressors of it are held; and respecting which the apostle says, There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. The sinner has the sentence of condemnation hanging over his head, and he has reason continually to fear lest it should be put in execution; since it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.5 It is the fear of this judgment of God, which will be according to truth,58 which makes death appear formidable to those who are conscious of their

55 Ps. cxix.105. 56 Heb.ii.15; ix. 27. 57 Isa. xlv.17. 58 Rom. ii. 2.

multiplied transgressions against the law of God. But from this bondage to fear the believer in Christ is delivered. As he is freed from condemnation, he does not regard death as the king of terrors, 59 but as a messenger sent to convey him home to his Father's house.

And as an earnest of the blessedness that awaits him, he has received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. This is the cry of the helpless babe for relief from distress, or for deliverance from evils which are felt or dreaded. When a child cries, Father, the bowels of the tender parent are moved towards his offspring, to ascertain his wants; and he at once hastens to supply that which is needed. Our Saviour makes use of this natural feeling of affection in parents, to encourage His disciples to rely upon the goodness and bounty of God towards them. If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.∞ It is by the Spirit of adoption, or in consequence of receiving it, that we are led to call upon the God of heaven in this endearing character. So the apostle says to the Galatians, Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.61 And the consequence of this is, as it is stated in the text,

The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. Here is,

First, A twofold testimony borne to the statement made, that believers in Christ are in reality the children of God.

Secondly, The future blessedness connected with this relationship: and

Thirdly, The condition in this world of those who are admitted into it; with which their future state is contrasted.

May the Spirit of God be pleased to apply His word to our hearts and consciences, that we may enjoy the consolations which are to be derived from the consideration of the subjects here brought before us. It is to be observed,

First, That a twofold testimony is borne in the text to the statement, that believers in Christ are the children of God: there is the testimony of the Spirit Himself, and that of our spirits. We may inquire in the first place respecting the testimony borne by our spirits, that is, in the minds of those who are in Christ Jesus. This must relate to a consciousness respecting the change which has taken place in the disposition of their minds, and the course of their conduct, from that which they formerly manifested. Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity