believers; that, in the tenth verse, he represents Christ as being in them; and that again, in the eleventh verse, he twice repeats the expression of the Spirit that dwelleth in believers. May not this be intended as a word of special encouragement and comfort to believers, after what the apostle had said, in the preceding chapter, respecting indwelling sin? And should not all this remind us how necessary it is to pray that the "sin,” which "dwelleth in us," may become daily weaker and weaker; and that the grace, which dwelleth in us, may daily become stronger and stronger?

But not content with leaving this to be inferred by us, the apostle adds, in the twelfth and thirteenth verses, Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Mark the force of this expression, If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body. The Holy Spirit is here plainly represented, not as a forcing, but as an assisting power; not as suspending, but as strengthening our faculties. It is the Holy Spirit, indeed, who works in us both to will and to do; but, at the same time, it rests with ourselves whether we will avail ourselves of his blessed influences. We must, ourselves, do what

God commands, though we must do it through the Holy Spirit, and in dependence upon his neverfailing strength. If ye, says the apostle, through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. There is also a peculiar energy in the very form of the original word, which is here rendered ye shall live: it is not merely, ye shall attain unto life, but, ye shall continue to live. Ye shall complete, in the kingdom of glory, the life which ye have now commenced in the kingdom of grace. Ye shall experience, in all its blessedness, the fulness of that life and peace, which is even now enjoyed, in a measure, by all who love God. Yes, brethren, I repeat, by all who love God; and if any shall ask why believers may be thus described as those who love God, I would remind them how it was once said, in answer to one who asked, why are the beautiful loved? is a blind man's question.' Certainly we are blind, says Leighton, if we see not cause enough, not only to desist from enmity, but to be inflamed with the love of God. One glance of his countenance is enough to cause the most rebellious heart to lay down arms, and for ever to devote itself to his service. Alas! we know him not, and therefore it is that we hold out against him. For is he not the living spring of all our comforts? Have

It

7 Snoeσbe, not, according to the construction of the first clause, μελλετε ζην. Bengel in loc.

8 Leighton's Works, vol. iii.

we not from him life, and breath, and all things richly to enjoy? And must we not be persuaded, therefore, that if we, through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, we shall live?

SECTION XXIII.

CHAP. VIII. ver. 14-17.

WHAT IT IS TO BE GOD'S CHILDREN.

At the thirteenth verse, St. Paul dismisses the subject of the "carnal mind," that he may enlarge, in the remainder of the chapter, upon the prevailing character, and the glorious privileges, of the true believer. He had said, in the latter clause of that verse," If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live," or, "shall continue to live;" completing, in the kingdom of glory, the life, which has been commenced in the kingdom of grace. And in the following verses, to which I am now to invite your attention, he goes on to prove the declaration contained in the above clause, by shewing that all who, "through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body," are the children of God. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of

God. 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. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 1

In this short but highly animated and striking passage, the apostle gives us three characteristics of the children of God; first, that they are led by the Spirit; secondly, that they call upon God, as upon a Father; and, thirdly, that the Spirit beareth witness with their spirit, that they are the children of God.

1. St. Paul says, in the first place, of all the children of God, that they are led by the Spirit." In the preceding section, I observed to you how the Scriptures invariably represent the Holy Spirit as an assisting, not a forcing power; as not suspending our own faculties, but strengthening and improving them. And I would now remark, that the same important truth is plainly inculcated in this expression of being led by the Spirit. "He leadeth the willing; he haleth not the unwilling." 2 Yes, brethren, the Holy Spirit moves and inclines only, but does not compel. He leads and conducts, as many as will be led and conducted by him; but he does not so forcibly attract them as

+ Ver. 14-17.

See Note 42.

2 T. Wilson in loc.

to overrule all stubborn resistance or reluctant perverseness. God has not seen fit to provide a remedy for malicious wickedness, or proud obstinacy; but, in such cases, the Holy Spirit, "grieved," and "resisted," leaves the incorrigible to themselves, and to their own certain destruction; plainly teaching us that if we will not be led by the Spirit, we shall not be driven. But if this is really one of the marks of the children of God, that they are led by the Spirit, are we careful, brethren, to examine ourselves in this matter? Is it our daily prayer that, in the discharge of the several duties and relations of life, and in the employment of our time, our opportunities, our influence, and all our other talents, we may be led by the Spirit of God? For to adopt, with some little alteration, the language employed by St. Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews, if we have "fathers of our flesh," who lead us, and advise us, and we 66 give them reverence;" shall we not "much rather" follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit," and live?" *

4

2. I proceed to the second characteristic of the children of God, viz. that they call upon God, as upon a Father. Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.† In these words, St. Paul places before us the man3 Acts vii. 51. Eph. iv. 30.

4 See Heb. xii. 9.

*See Note 43.

+ See Note 44.