But does not his Lordship here argue from a mistaken supposition, that the Apostle, in the 8th of the _Romans_, is speaking of the miraculous power our LORD gave to his first Apostles to work miracles, in confirmation that their doctrine was of GOD? Is there any such thing so much as hinted at through the whole chapter? Is not the whole scope of it to shew the privileges of those, who “being justified by faith” alone, chapter 5th, “have peace with GOD through our LORD JESUS CHRIST?” Does not the Apostle therefore at the first verse say, “That there is no condemnation to them who are in CHRIST JESUS?” Does he not say, verse the 9th, that “the Spirit of GOD dwelt in them?” Does not his Lordship allow, page 16, &c. That the Apostle in this and the preceding verses treats of that “_spiritual principle_ in christians which enables them to mortify the deeds of the body, and overcome carnal inclinations?” And what shadow of a reason can be given to prove that the same _spiritual principle_ is not spoken of in verse 16th, as bearing witness with believer’s spirits that they were the children of GOD? Is it not said, verse 15th, to be something that they had received? “But ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby ye cry Abba, Father.” And is not the obvious sense of these verses put together plainly this, “That true believers, those who are christians indeed, have the Spirit of GOD dwelling in them, verse 9th; are led by this Spirit, verse 14th; have gotten an inward witness from this same Spirit, that they are GOD’s children, and therefore need not be brought into bondage, and fear, lest GOD would reject them, but may have free access, and with a full assurance of faith, and a holy child-like simplicity, draw near unto him, crying ABBA, FATHER?”
His Lordship, to prove that this is not the sense of this passage, but that the testimony of the Spirit here spoken of, is a public gift of working miracles, refers, page 19th, to _Galatians_ iii. 2. where the Apostle puts this question to them: “Received ye the Spirit, (_i. e._ according to his Lordship, the power of working miracles) by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” which (says his Lordship) the same Apostle presently after explains, when he says at verse 5th, “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” But is not here a plain antithesis between administring the Spirit and working miracles? Do they not evidently imply two distinct things? And can it be supposed, that the Spirit which the Apostle asks, verse 2d, “Whether they had received by the works of the law, or the hearing of faith,” was a power to perform such miracles, at least that only? Would it not then follow, since he declares in the 8th of the _Romans_, “that if any man have not the Spirit of CHRIST he is none of his,” that either all believers did receive his Spirit in his miraculous gifts, or that no one is a believer that has them not? And doth not the Apostle in this very epistle make it appear, that the Spirit here spoken of is not this miraculous outward testimony? For what says he, _Galatians_ iv. 6. “And because ye are sons, GOD hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts (whereby it is plain the Spirit was received into the heart) crying, Abba, Father?” And does not this quite clear up that passage of _Romans_, chapter viii. verse 15. about the witnessing Spirit and the Spirit of adoption, _viz._ that believers (besides seeing the miracles which the Apostles wrought) had an _inward testimony_ of the Holy Ghost, he making an inward application of the merits of CHRIST to their souls, and giving them an inward testimony that they were indeed the adopted sons of GOD, and therefore in a holy confidence they might cry, Abba, Father? Is there any thing forced in this interpretation? And consequently (notwithstanding what appears to the contrary from his Lordship’s explanation) may not persons assert, that there is such a thing as a witness or testimony of the Spirit given to our own consciences, to prove that private christians are the Sons of GOD and heirs of salvation, without being censured for so doing as modern enthusiasts?
May I not likewise venture to affirm, that his Lordship is equally mistaken in his interpretation of the 26th and 27th verses of the same chapter, which runs thus: “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the heart, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of GOD?”