with God as clear children, and to live habitually as in his presence; they " dwelling in God, and God in them;" yea, being " one with God, and God with them." As brought into the family of God, they now, through the power of that same blessed Spirit, live in a humble dependence upon God for all that they stand in need of for body and for soul, for time and for eternity. " All their care is cast on Him who careth for them;" and the life which they live in the flesh they live by the faith of the Son of God, " receiving every thing out of his fulness," in the time and measure that Infinite Wisdom seeth best for them. Nor are these heavenly gifts uninfluential on their conduct. They now walk in the habit of grateful obedience to God, desiring and striving to be " perfect, even as their Father which is in heaven is perfect." They serve their God no longer from fear, as slaves, but from love, as obedient children, whose ambition is to do their Father's will on earth, as it is done in heaven. Elevated thus, and sanctified by the Spirit's influence, they are filled with a joyful expectation of dwelling speedily, and to all eternity, in the immediate pre- sence of that Saviour, " whom unseen they loved, and in whom even here they rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory." They " look for, and haste unto, the coming of that blessed day," when they shall behold him face to face : the time seems long till they shall enjoy that bliss ; and, with a holy impatience, they are ready to cry, " Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." They know that, as children, they are heirs: they have already, in the consolations of the Spirit, had " an earnest of their inheritance;" and they long for the full pos- session of it, " desiring to depart, that they may be with Christ." Thus does the Spirit work, though certainly in different degrees, on all the children of God, inspiring them with filial joys, as he fills the unregenerate with slavish fears.~\
In conclusion, we would entreat all of you to inquire, What spirit you have received ?
1. Have you received the Spirit of God at all?
[Many, alas! have scarcely so much as " heard whether there be any Holy Ghost :" or, if they have, they regard all idea of his agency upon the soul as visionary and delusive. But let such persons know, that they are altogether dead in trespasses and sins. If the Spirit of God have not so far wrought upon our minds as to convince us of our lost estate, we have not as yet taken one single step towards heaven. The declaration of St. Paul in the preceding context is, " If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."]
2. Have you received the Spirit as a spirit of bondage ?