VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIU. 97
whatever resolution we take, whatever enterprize we would bring to pass, we are always bound to depend upon the Holy Ghost ; the Spirit must still lead us and move us in all our operations.
[2.] The great mischief which will ensue, if we obey not his sanctify- ing motions and inspirations. You will resist the Spirit and vex him : Tsa. Ixiii. 10, ' They r<;belled, and vexed his holy Spirit ; and therefore he turned to be their enemy.' The other expression, Eph. iv. 30, 'Grieve .not the holy Spirit.' He is grieved when the flesh is obeyed before him ; the Spirit sustaineih a double relation, — our sanctifier, and our comforter ; let us not resist our sanctifier, nor grieve our comforter. Surely we should not be ungrateful to this Holy Spirit; if we be holy, he sanctifieth us ; if free, it is he sets us at liberty ; if wise, he enlighteneth us. If gratitude cannot prevail, yet our interest should ; he is our comforter, and we blot our evidence, darken his seal, and so deprive ourselves of that joy and peace which we might have in our souls, if he were obeyed. There is one great mischief above tins, which God sets up as a dreadful warning for our caution, despiting the Spirit ')f grace, Heb. x. 29. To resist the Spirit is dangerous. To resist the Father speaking in the law ; to resist the Son speaking in the gospel, offering our remedy ; but to resist the Holy Ghost, who would lielp us to accept this remedy, there is no other relief for us, no other divine person to give it us. The mission of the Holy Ghost is the last offer for the recovery of mankind ; there is nothing more to be expected ; if we submit not to his inspirations, and wilfully refuse to give ear to his counsel, our salvation is hopeless.
Secondly, let me now open the privilege, — t/iey are the sons of God. This privilege may be considered, —
1. As to the real grant on God's part.
2. As to their own sense of their adoption on the believers' part.
1. As to the real grant on God's part. It was intended to the elect from all eternity : Eiili. i. 5, ' Being predestinated to the adoption of children;' in time it is brought about by Christ's death, or the work of redemption. Gal. iv. 4, 5; But actually instated upon us, when we are regenerated, and do believe : John i. 12, 13, ' To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name ; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.' They are born of God, and so made the sons of God. Being called out of nature to grace, in their effectual calling, they are made sons and daughters to the most High God ; first he doth renew their natures, and make them holy, then reconciled to God as their Father in Clirist ; this is the first grant.
2. As to their own sense of their adoption, that is spoken of heres they show themselves to be God's children, and so may know themselve ; to be God's children.
[1.] Because they have the certain evidence that they are received for children by God, through faith in Christ ; and that is holiness. If our carriage be suitable to our estate and privileges, why should we doubt ? Eph. i. 4, 5, ' Elected to be holy, without blame before him in love, having predestinated us to the adoption of children.' They have
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98 SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XXI.
the trne pledge of God's love, and that is the Sj)irit ; and they show the true fruit of their love to God, and that is obedience to his sanctifying motions ; they are led by the Spirit, and so without blame before him in love ; as they have a greater measure of the fruits, so it is every day more clear to thcni.
[2.] Tlie same Spirit that leadeth them, dotli assure and ascertain them ; for our sanctifier is our comforter. And the more a sanctifier, the more a comforter ; first in a darker way, leaving a child-like impression upon them, inclining them to go to God as a father ; though their adoption be not so explicit and clear: ver. 15, 'Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the s[)irit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father ; ' and Gal. iv. 6, ' And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father.' The children of God deal with Gocl as a father, cry to him as a father, cannot keep away from him, when they dare not so expressly entitle themselves his children. Secondly, in a clearer way, when he manifests his presence by a supernatural and powerful change wrought in the heart, and discovered ; whereby they conclude their own gracious estate: ver. 16, 'The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God.' The Spirit helps to discern his own work, or the image of Christ stamped upon them, in a fair and bright character.