[1.] We cannot pray without it. For the text is brought to prove that they have a sj)irit within them, which inclineth them to cry, Abba, Father. Surely it is a great advantage in prayer, to be able to say, Isa. Ixiii. 16, ' Doubtless thou art our father ; ' and again, Isa. Ixiv. 8, ' But now. Lord, thou art our father.' But how will you do, unless you be God's children ? And how will you know you be God's children, but by the Spirit bearing witness to, and with your spirits ? I know all God's children have not the comfort of the Spirit, but they have the Spirit of comfort, and in some measure can come to God as a father.
[2] We cannot apply the promises without it, for the promises are children's bread. Unless we be the children of God, what comfort can we take in the promises, unless we have an interest in them ? Privileges have their conditions annexed ; the right is suspended till the condition be performed ; that is, till we know ourselves to be true believers, the jiromises are in vain and of no efiect. If to all, you deceive the most ; for though some are of God's family, the whole world lieth in wicked- ness ; the most are the children of the devil. If to some, they have their chai-acters, which occasioneth the restraint ; and you are told here, this is known by the Spirit's bearing witness to our spirits.
But what shall poor creatures do, that have not yet this clear testi- mony ?
(1.) Disclaim all other confidence. When you cannot, apply Hos. xiv. 3, ' Asshur shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses : neither will we say any more to the works of our hands, ye are our gods : for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.'
(2.) Own God in the humbling way ; creep in at the back door of the promise, 1 Tim, i. 15, ' Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.' If Christ came to save sinners, I am sinner enough for Christ
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to save. Luke xv. 18, 19, ' I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee ; and am no more worthy to be called thy son ; make me as one of thy hired servants.'
(3.) Come to him, as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ : Eph. iii. 14, ' For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Certainly God will love and accept all those that come to him by Christ.
(4.) There is a child-like inclination, when there is not a child-like familiarity and boldness. The soul cannot keep away from God, and that is an implicit owning of him as a father : Jer. iii. 19, ' Thou shalt call me father, and shalt not turn away from me.' We call him father, optando si non affirmando; unspeakable groans discover the spirit of adoption, as well as unutterable joys; we own him by way of option and choice, though not by actual assurance of our special relation to liim, and interest in his fatherly love ; there may be a child-like love to God, when we have no assurance of his paternal love to us.
(5.) There is a child-like reverence and awe, when not a child-like con- fidence. Their heart standeth in awe of (as the Eechabites), their father's command, dare not displease him for all the world ; these in time will overcome. In short, God hath a title to our dearest love, ■when we cannot make out a title to the highest benefit.
SEEMON XXV.
If children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs ivith Christ; if so be that lue suffer with him, that lue may also be glorified together. — Kom. VIII. 17.
The Apostle had showed, ver. 13. That if we through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the botly, we shall live. He proveth it by this medium and argument ; that as many as obey the sanctifying motions of the Spirit, are children of God ; and children may look for a child's portion. He proveth they are children, because the Spirit accompanieth the dispensation of the new covenant, whereby we are adopted into God's family ; and this Spirit acts suitably, as is evident by his impression, ver. 15, by his tastimopy and witness, ver. 16. Now he goeth on further, and proveth, that if we be children, we are heirs ; and that we shall live, if we mortify the deeds of the body, is more abundantly proved, for our inheritance is eternal life and glory, 'And if children then heirs,' &c. In the words observe, —
1. A dignity, inferred from our adoption.
2. The amjilification of it, from the excellent nature of this inherit- ance, ' Heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.'
3. It is applied as a comfort against adversities ; ' If so be that we suiTer with him, that we may also be glorified together.'
VkR. 17.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VIII. 131
proiniises; that is, the thing promised, spiritual and eternal blessings and rewards.