pain in tlic heart, there is much soitow u- risiiig from the sense of guilt and wrath. Tlic iraoler's trenibliuo:, Acts xvi. 30., was a pan"" in the new birth. God's S|>irit is a spirit of bondage, belorc it he a sjjirit of a- doption. Tiiis blessed work of regeneration sj)reads over the whole soul ; it irradiates tlie mind ; it consecrates the heart, and re- forms the life ; though regeneration be but in part, yet it is in every part, 1 Thess. v. 23., regeneration is the signature and en- graving of t!ie Holy Ghost upon tlie soul ; the new born Christian is bespangled with the jewels of the graces, which are the an- gels' glory. Regeneration is the spring of all true joy ; at our first birth we come weeping into the Avorld, but at our new birth there is cause (tf rejoicing, for now, God is our Father, and we are begotten to a lively ho])e of glory, 1 Pet. i. 3. We may try bv this our relation to God. Hath a re- generating work <)f God's Spirit passul upon our souls ? Are we made of another spirit, liunihle and heavenly ? this is a good sign of sonshi]), and we may say, " Our Father which art in heaven." 3d. By havi?ig the conduct of the Spirit ; we are led by tlie Spirit, Rom. viii. M., " As many as are led by the Spirit of (Jod, they are the sons of God." God's Spirit doth not only quick- en us in our regeneration but lea<ls us on till we come to the end of our faith, sal- vation. It is not enough the child have life, but he must be led every step by the nurse, Hos. xi. 3., " I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by tlieir arms." Tlieir arms; a*? the Israelites had the cloud and ])iHar of fire to go before them, and be a guid*! to them, so God's Spirit is a guide to go before us, and lead us into all truth, and courisel us in all our doubts, and influence us in all our actions, Ps. Ixxiii. 24., '• Thou dialt guide me with tliy (-ounsel." None can call Cod Fatlier, but such as have the conduct of the Sj)irit. Try then what sj)i- rit you arc led by. Such as are led by a spirit of envy, lust, avarice, these are not led by the Spirit t>f (lod ; it were blasphemy for them to call (lod. Father; these are led by the spirit of Satan, and may say, " Our Father which art in hell." 4t/i. By having the witness of the Spirit, Rom. viii. Ki., " The Spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God." This witness of the Spirit, suggesting that (jiod is our Father, is not a vocal witness or voice from heaven ; " the Spirit in the word witnrsseth :" the Spirit, in the word saith, he who is qualified, who is a hater of sin, and a lover of holiness, is a child of God, and God is his Father. If I can find such <|ualifications wrought, here is the Sj)irit witnessing with my spirit, that I am a child of God. Besides, we may carry it higher ; the S|)irit of God witness(!th to our sjjirit, by making more than ordinary iaij)ressions upcui our hearts, and giving some secret hints and whisj)ers that God hath ])urposes of love to us, here is a concurrent witness of the Sj)irit with conscience, that we are heirs of heaven, and God is our Fatlicr ; this witness is better felt than exj)ressed ; this witness scatters doubts and fears, silenc- etli temj)tations. But what shall one do that hath not this witness of the Spirit? If we want the witness of the Spirit, let us la- boin- to find the work of the Sj)irit; if wc I'.ave not the Spirit testifying, labour to have it sanctifying, and that will be a suj)- port to us.
A. 4. If God be our Father, wc are of p,eaceable spirits: Mat. v. 9., " Bhssed be the peace-makers, they shall bo called the children of God." Grace infusi th a sweet, amicable disposition ; it files off the rugged- ness of men's spirits ; it turns the lion-liko fierceness into a hunb-Iike gentleness, Isa. \i. 7. They who have God to be their Fa- ther, follow i)eace as well as holiness. God ihe Father is called the " (iod of peace," Heh. .\iii. 20.; God the Son, the ' Prince of peace,' Isa. x. G. ; God the Ibtly Ghost is a Spirit of ])eace ,- it is called " the unity of the Sj)irit in the bond of peace," I'ph. iv. 3. Tiie more ])eaceable, the more like God. It is a sad sign God is not their Father, l.sY. Who are fierce and ciuel, as if \\ltii Romu- lus, they had sucked tlie milk of an wolf, Rom. iii. 17., " The way of peace have they not known," they sport in mischief; these are they who are of a persecuting sjjiril, as Maximinus, Dioclesiaii, Antiochus, who (as Eusebins) l<udi more tedious journies, and ran more hazards in vexing and persecuting the Jews, than any of his predecessors had done in getting of victoriiis. These furies
01- THE PREFACE TO THE LORD'S PRAYER.
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