Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Thirdly, Adoption ushers in an Heavenly freedom; whilst the Law is only without in the letter, and the terrors of Sinai flash in the Conscience, the man with his old heart of enmity, drudges in the ways of God, and brings forth all his Duties as the Bond-woman did her Son, in the power of nature, in a dead, carnal servile manner: Moses with the cords of Hell and Death drags the outward man to this and that Duty; but old Adam with his lusts, reigning within, holds back the love and the joy, and the delight from the work: all renders to bondage, till Adoption come, and spirit him for holy things: Because ye are Sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, Gal. 4.6. The same Spirit which led the Humane Nature of Christ into all Sinless Obedience, leads the Adopted into a true willingness to all the Ways of God, that Spirit engraves a Law within answering the outward one, and inspires such a Divine Love, as casts out the ⟨p. 246⟩Bond woman and her Son, I mean the servile fears, and services; the Will is set upon the wheels of Faith and Love, and the Duties are brought forth in the power of Grace, and of the Promise; that Promise, I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, Ezek. 36.27. is sweetly experimented in every act of Obedience; this glorious and almost Angelical freedom grows upon Adoption, and no where else; no will of man ever seemed out such a thing; should any man go about to strike it out of his own power, it would fare with him as it did with the person reported of by one of the Jewish Rabbis, who in the night lighted his Candle, and it went out, lighted it again and again, and still it went out; at last weary of such vain labours, he resolved with himself to wait for the Sun. Such an one may strike and strike again to fetch such a liberty out of his own will; but at last the Conclusion must be, If the Son make us free, we shall be free indeed, Joh. 8.36. and, Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, 2 Cor. 3.17.

Thirdly, Adoption ushers in an Heavenly freedom; whilest the Law is only without in the letter, and the terrors of Sinai flash in the Conscience, the man with his old heart of enmity, drudges in the ways of God, and brings forth all his Duties as the Bond-woman did her Son, in the power of nature, in a dead, carnal servile manner: Moses with the cords of Hell and Death drags the outward man to this and that Duty; but old Adam with his lusts, reigning within, holds back the love and the joy, and the delight from the work: all renders to bondage, till Adoption come, and spirit him for holy things: Because ye are Sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts,