ighteousness, (John xvi.) that there is a way of justifying a sinner or
ungodly person, without wrong to God's righteousness; and this being well
pondered in the heart, and received in love, the great business is done.
After that, particular application is more easy, of which I shall not
speak now, because occasion will be given in the next verse, about the
Spirit's witnessing with our spirits, which is another of the Spirit's
workings: only I say this, that which makes this so difficult, is a defect
in the first. But the common principles of the gospel are not really, and
so seriously apprehended, because many souls do not put to their seal to
witness to the promises and truth of it. Therefore the Lord often denies
this seal and witness to our comfort. It is certainly a preposterous way
Satan puts souls upon, first, to get such a testimony from the Spirit
before they labour to get such a testimony to Christ, and echo or answer
in their hearts to his word. This way seems shortest; for they would leap
into the greater liberty at the first hand. But certainly it is farthest
about, because it is impossible for souls to leap immediately out of
bondage to assurance, without some middle step. They cannot pass thus from
extremes to extremes, without going through the middle state of receiving
Christ, and laying his word up in the heart; and therefore it proves the
way furthest about, because when souls have long wearied themselves, they
must at length turn in hither.

But there is another working of the Spirit I wish you were acquainted
with. As the first work is to beget a suitable apprehension of God's mind
and heart towards sinners, so the next is, to beget a suitable disposition
in our hearts towards God as a Father. The first apprehends his love, the
next reflects it back again with the heart of a sinner to him. The Spirit
first brings the report of the love and grace of God to us, and then he
carries the love and respect of the heart up to God.

You know how God complains in Malachi, "If I be a Father, where is my fear
and honour?" For these are the only fitting qualifications of children,
such a reverent, respective observance of our heavenly Father, such
affectionate and humble carriage towards him, as becometh both his majesty
and his love. As these are tempered one with another in him, his love not
abasing his majesty, and his majesty not diminishing his love; so we ought
to carry, as reverence and confidence, fear an