6. Lastly, since a believer need not come into condemnation, even tho’ he be _surprized_ into what his soul abhors, (suppose his being surprized is not owing to any carelessness or wilful neglect of his own:) if thou who believest, art thus over-taken in a fault, then grieve unto the Lord; it shall be a precious balm: pour out thy heart before him, and shew him of thy trouble. And pray with all thy might to him who is _touched with the feeling of_ thy _infirmities_, that he would stablish and strengthen and settle thy soul, and suffer thee to fall no more. But still he condemneth thee not. Wherefore shouldst thou fear? Thou hast no need of any _fear that hath torment_. Thou shalt love him that lovest thee, and it sufficeth: more love will bring more strength. And as soon as thou lovest him with all thy heart, thou shall be _perfect and entire, lacking nothing_. Wait in peace for that hour, when _the God of peace_ shall _sanctify thee wholly, so that thy whole spirit, and soul and body may be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ_! SERMON IX. THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AND OF ADOPTION. ROMANS viii. 15. _Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again unto fear: but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father._ 1. ST. _Paul_ here speaks to those who are the children of God by faith. Ye, saith he, who are indeed his children, have drank into his Spirit. _Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again unto fear._ But _because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts. Ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father._ 2. The spirit of bondage and fear is widely distant from this loving Spirit of adoption. Those who are influenced only by slavish fear, cannot be termed, the sons of God. Yet some of them may be stiled his servants, and are _not far from the kingdom of heaven_. 3. But it is to be feared, the bulk of mankind, yea, of what is call’d _The Christian world_, have not attain’d even this; but are still afar off, _neither is God in all their thoughts_. A few names may be found of those who love God: a few more there are that fear him. But the greater part have neither the fear of God before their eyes, nor the love of God in their hearts. 4. Perhaps most of you, who by the mercy of God, now partake of a better spirit, may remember the time, when ye were as they, when ye were under the same condemnation. But at first ye knew it not, tho’ ye were wallowing daily in your sins and in your blood: till in due time ye _received the spirit of fear_ (_ye received_; for this also is the gift of God:) and afterwards, fear vanished away, and the Spirit of love filled your hearts.