The new covenantThe nevv covenant

And therefore, my belo•ed, you must make this account, if you have never been affrighted with the terror of God, if you have never bin put into any fear by this spirit of bondage, be assured that you have not yet the spirit of Adoption. If men would have looked to the brazen Serpent, without being stung of the fiery Serpents, God would have spared the spirit of bondage; but, beloved, who doth it? who is able to do it? We be all in a dead sleep, and, except we be wakened with the terrors of the Almighty, there is no man would seek after Jesus Christ; we may preach the Gospel long enough, and men, for the most part, turn the deaf ear to us, till the LORD open their ears by afflictions, and especially by the spirit of bondage: it cannot be, but there must be some precedent work, we will not come home to the Lord without it. We do all as the Woman that had the bloody issue, as long ⟨p. 164⟩as she had money in her purse, or that there were Physicians to go to, that she had ability to have them, she would not come to Christ, but when she had spent all, when she saw there was no more hope, then she comes to Christ, and was healed of her bloody issue: so do we, so long as we can live in sin, we consider not the greatness, nor the dearness of the disease; but if we can but subsist with them, we go on, we come not to Christ, but when we are spoiled of all by the spirit of bondage, when we are put in fear of death, that is it that brings us home to Jesus Christ, and therefore we must make an account of it as a general rule, there must be such a spirit of bondage to bring us home: we do in this case as Joab did with Absalom, when he lived in the Cour•, in ease and pleasure, he would not come to Absalom, he might send again, and again, but he would not come at him, till his Corn was set on fire, and that brought him: beloved, except there be some such cross as may make an impression upon us, such a cross as hath the spirit of bondage joined with it, to cause it to wound our spirits, (as it is said, they were pricked in their hearts when they heard Peter) I say, we would not come home unto the LORD, we must have such an avenger of blood, to pursue us, before we seek to the City of refuge. And therefore consider, whether thou hast tasted of this spirit;

And therefore, my belo•ed, you must make this account, if you haue neuer been affrighted with the terrour of God, if you haue neuer bin put into any feare by this spirit of bondage, be assuted that you haue not yet the spirit of Adoption. If men would haue looked to the brazen Serpent, without being stung of the fiery Serpents, God would haue spared the spirit of bondage; but, beloued, who doth it? who is able to doe it? Wee bee all in a dead sleepe, and, except we be wakned with the terrours of the Almighty, there is no man would seeke after Iesus Christ; wee may preach the Gospell long enough, and men, for the most part, turne the deafe eare to vs, till the LORD open their eares by afflictions, and especially by the spirit of bondage: it cannot bee, but there must be some precedent worke, wee will not come home to the Lord without it. Wee doe all as the Woman that had the bloody issue, as long