Wesley Corpus

The Apostle goes on, * But ye are not in the flesh, but m the spirit, if fo be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. But if Christ be in you, the body is dead, because of (or with regard to) fin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit which dwelleth in you. 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. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God.“ Verse 9--14. Ils there one word here, is there any the least intimation of miraculous gifts, or of the Jewish law ? * It 200 A 'raxtures APPEAL. Part I. It follows, For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again, to fear (such as all sinners have, when they are first stirred up to seek God, and begin to serve him from a slavish fear of punishment) But ye have received the spirit of adoption (of free love) whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself (which God hath sent forth into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father,) beareth witness with our Spirit, that we are the children of God.” Verse 15, 16. g I am now willing to leave it, without farther comment, to the judgment of every impartial reader, whether it does not appear from the whole scope and tenor of the text and context taken together, that this passage does not refer to the Jewish law, and to the public testimony of miracles: neither of which can be dragged in, without putting the utmost force on the natural meaning of the words. And if so, it will follow, that this witness of the Spirit is the private testimony given to our own consciences: which, consequently, all sober Christians may claim, without any danger of enthusiasm.