3. Let us well observe, what is here taught us by God himself, touching the glorious privilege of his children. Who is it, that is here said to _bear witness_? Not our Spirit only, but another; even the Spirit of God: he it is who _beareth witness with our spirit_. What is it, he beareth witness of? _That we are the children of_ God; _and if children, then heirs; heirs of_ God, _and joint-heirs with_ Christ:――――_if so be that we suffer with him_ (if we deny ourselves, if we take up our cross daily, if we chearfully indure persecution or reproach for his sake) _that we may also be glorified together_, And in whom doth the Spirit of God bear this witness? In all who are the children of God. By this very argument does the apostle prove in the preceding verses that they are so: [15]_As many_, saith he, _as are led by the Spirit of_ God, _they are the sons of_ God. _For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again, to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father!_ It follows, _The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of_ God. 4. The variation of the phrase in the 15th verse, is worthy our observation. Ye _have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby_ we _cry, Abba, Father_! _Ye_, as many as are the sons of God, have in virtue of your sonship, received that self-same Spirit of adoption, whereby _we_ cry, Abba, Father. _We_, the apostles, prophets, teachers, (for so the word may not improperly be understood) we through whom you have believed, the _ministers of_ Christ, _and stewards of the mysteries of_ God. As _we_ and _you_ have one Lord, so we have one spirit: as we have one faith, so we have one hope also. We and you are sealed with one _Spirit of promise_, the earnest of _yours_ and of _our_ inheritance: the same Spirit, bearing witness with yours and with our spirit, _that we are the children of_ God.