An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

1. Effectivè, When it doth enable the conscience of man to cast off all legal terrors and tormenting fears, and so in serenity of spirit, to believe God is our Father. And for this end it is called, The Spirit of Adoption. For (alas) take the conscience of the most holy man, without this Spirit of Adoption. How legal and timorated is it? How slavish and unbelieving? Hence is it, that the people of God need so many instructions and informations. Hence is it, that they are often in prayers and groans unutterable, ere they can truly and cordially call God Father. They fear him as a Judge, and fly from him rather as an enemy. Even as if there be never such glorious and delightful objects to refresh the eyes with; yet if a man be in the dark, he cannot take any pleasure therein. Thus many of Gods dear children, who walk with a tender conscience, who are diligent in all the ways of holiness, yet have not this testimony of conscience to comfort them, it is hid from their eyes, only because the Spirit of God doth not enable them thereunto. Now the Apostle telleth us, 1 Cor. 2. 17. It is the Spirit of God, whereby we know the things, that we have freely received of God.

1. Effectivè, When it doth enable the conscience of man to cast off all legal terrors and tormenting fears, and so in serenity of spirit, to believe God is our Father. And for this end it is called, The Spirit of Adoption. For (alas) take the conscience of the most holy man, without this Spirit of Adoption. How legal and timorated is it? How slavish and unbelieving? Hence is it, that the people of God need so many instructions and informations. Hence is it, that they are often in prayers and groans unutterable, ere they can truly and cordially call God Father. They fear him as a Judge, and flie from him rather as an enemy. Even as if there be never such glorious and delightfull objects to refresh the eyes with; yet if a man be in the dark, he cannot take any pleasure therein. Thus many of Gods dear children, who walk with a tender conscience, who are diligent in all the wayes of holiness, yet have not this testimony of conscience to comfort them, it is hid from their eyes, only because the Spirit of God doth not enable them thereunto. Now the Apostle telleth us, 1 Cor. 2. 17. It is the Spirit of God, whereby we know the things, that we have freely received of God.