January 20

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear: but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.— Romans 8:15, 16.

THE spirit of bondage must of necessity go before; so that if you never had the spirit of bondage, certainly you never had the Spirit of adoption. For the apostle speaks of it here, as the common condition to all Christians; they do not receive the spirit of bondage again; you had it once, but now you have the Spirit of adoption: I say, every man must have this spirit of bondage; because no man can come to Christ, except the law be a schoolmaster to bring him to Christ. Now the law is not a schoolmaster—it teacheth no man, except the spirit of bondage work fear, and put an edge upon it. You may hear the law, and the threatenings and curses applied to you ten thousand times over, and yet no fear be bred in you, unless the spirit of bondage join with it, and make it effectual. Though the spirit of bondage is not just alike in all; it is sometimes in a greater degree, sometimes less, but all have it more or less; sometimes its influence is not so much discerned. But God intends to bestow upon some men a great measure of grace, and therefore he gives them a greater measure of the spirit of bondage. Because God means to teach them more to prize Christ, and to baptize them with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, therefore he baptizeth them with a greater measure of the spirit of bondage; they shall drink deeper of that spirit, because his intention is, they shall drink deeper of the Spirit of adoption.

The things which go with it are these three; the testimony of the blood, of the water, and of our own spirits. First, there is the testimony of the blood. When the spirit of bondage makes a man fear, it empties a man of all righteousness, as a man empties a cask, that there is nothing left in it; it pulls away all other props and stays from him; it leaves a man in this case, that he sees nothing in the world to save him, but the blood of Christ. When a man sees this, he takes fast hold of that, and will not let it go for any thing; and though it be told him, you shall have many troubles and crosses; you must part with all that you have; he cares not though it costs him his life; if he may have this blood to wash away his sins, it is enough; this he lays fast hold on. And when a man doth this, at that very hour he is entered into covenant; he is translated from death to life. When a man can say, "I know I have taken and applied the blood of Christ; I rest upon it; I believe that my sins are forgiven; I grasp it; I receive it;" this is the testimony of the blood. But the Lord comes not by blood only, but by water also; that is by sanctification; he sends the Spirit of sanctification, that cleanseth and washeth his servants; that washeth away, not only the outward filthiness, but the evil nature. He washeth every man that believeth thoroughly. There is not one place in the soul, not one place in the conversation, but it is rinsed in this water. And then, when a man comes to find this, that he hath been able to purify himself, and by the work of

Christ's Spirit joining with him, to cleanse his conscience from dead works; this is the second testimony. Now follows the testimony of our own spirits, which gathers conclusions from both these, and saith thus: "Seeing I have received the blood, and seeing I am able to purify myself, I conclude I am a partaker of the covenant." Though a man could argue thus truly, "Whosoever believes shall be saved, but I believe," this is the testimony of the blood only; but when a man can say, "I purify myself; I desire nothing in the world so much; I do it in good earnest;" this is the testimony of the water to the sign and testimony of the blood; which shows that it is true, that it is a lively hope. But some men say, this testimony of a man's own spirit may deceive him. I answer it can not; because though it be called the testimony of our own spirit, yet it is a spirit enlightened; it is a spirit sanctified with the Spirit of Christ.

But above all these is the testimony of God's Spirit. When a man hath put to his seal that God is true, then the Lord seals him again with the Spirit of promise; that is, the Lord sends the Spirit into his heart, and assures him that he hath received him to mercy. You will say, "What is the witness of the Spirit?" It is a thing that we can not express. It is a certain Divine expression of light; a certain inexpressible assurance that we are the children of God; a certain secret manifestation that God hath received us, and put away our sins; I say, it is such a thing that no man knows, but they that have it. Beloved, this is the testimony of the Spirit. I confess, it is a wondrous thing, and if there were not some Christians that did feel it and know it, you might believe there were no such thing; and that it were but a fancy and enthusiasm; but it is certain, there are a generation of men that know what this witness of the Lord is. Indeed, you must remember this, to distinguish it from all delusions, this Spirit comes with the water and the blood; and therefore, if any man have flashes of light and joy, that witness he is in the covenant, and for all this hath not the things that go before it, he may well take it for a delusion. So likewise if he hath not the consequence of it, which is the Spirit of prayer. So I will conclude all: He that hath the witness of the Spirit, is able to cry, "Abba, Father." If you have an assurance of a good state, and yet are not able to pray, you are deceived; for that is the property of the Spirit, it makes a man cry to God, and call him Father. You will say, "Is that such a matter? Every man can pray." Beloved, the Spirit of prayer is another thing than the world imagines it to be. He that hath this Spirit is mighty in prayer; he is able to wrestle with God, as Jacob did. By the Spirit of adoption "he hath power with God;" he is able to prevail with the Lord; and why? Because he can speak to him as to a Father; he can continue in prayer, and watch thereunto with all perseverance. He can speak to him as one that he is well acquainted with; he can cry, "Abba, Father;" that is, he can pray with fervency and confidence; and there is no man in the world that is able to do it besides.

"My Father, God! that gracious word Dispels my guilty fear; Not all the notes by angels heard Could so delight my ear.

"Come, Holy Ghost, thyself impress On my expanding heart; And show that in the Father's grace I share a filial part.

"Cheered by that witness from on high, Unwav'ring I believe; And Abba, Father, humbly cry; Nor can the sign deceive."