Yet again, “Every one that is born of God, and doth not commit sin, by his very actions saith, Our Father which art in heaven, _the Spirit itself bearing witness with their spirit, that they are the children of |God|._” ibid. According to _Origen_ therefore, this _testimony of the Spirit_, is not any _publick_ testimony by _miracles_, peculiar to the first times, but an _inward_ testimony, belonging in common to all that are _born of_ God. And consequently the authority of _Origen_ does not “confirm that interpretation” neither; but absolutely destroys it. 18. The last authority your Lordship appeals to on this text is, “that of the great _John Chrysostom_, who reckons the _testimony of the spirit_ of adoption by which we cry Abba, Father! among the _miraculous_ gifts of the Spirit.” “I rather chuse (your Lordship adds, page 26.) to refer you to the words of St. _Chrysostom_, than to transcribe them here, as having almost translated them in the present account of the _testimony of the Spirit_.” However, I believe it will not be labour lost to transcribe a few of those words. It is his comment on the 14th verse, that he first mentions, St. _Paul_’s comparison between a _Jew_ and a _Christian_. How fairly your Lordship has represented this, let every reader judge. _As many as are led by the Spirit of |God|, they are the sons of |God|._――“Whereas the same title had been given of old to the _Jews_ also,――he shews in the sequel, how great a difference there is, between that honour and this. For though, says he, the titles are the same, yet the things are not. And he plainly proves it, by comparing both what they had received, and what they looked for. And first he shews what they had received, viz. _A Spirit of bondage_. Therefore he adds, _Ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again unto fear: but ye have received the Spirit of adoption_. What means _the spirit of fear_?――*Observe their whole life, and you will know clearly. For punishments were at their heels, and much fear was on every side, and before their face.――But with us it is not so. For our mind and conscience are cleansed, so that we do all things well, not for fear of present punishment, but through our love of God, and an habit of virtue. They therefore, though they were called sons, yet were as slaves; but we, being made free, have received the adoption, and look not for a land of milk and honey, but for heaven.” *“He brings also another proof, that _we have the Spirit of adoption, by which_, says he, _we cry, Abba, Father_.――This is the first word we utter μετὰ τὰς θαυμαστάς ὠδῖνας ἐκείνας, καὶ τὸν ξένον παράδοξον λοχευμάτων νόμον: after those amazing throes (or birth-pangs) and that strange and wonderful manner of bringing forth.”