Now, where the Spirit of Christ is, there is liberty and freedom from that bondage that we are in by nature and which is strengthened by a wicked course of life. For though we are all born slaves by ...  Read More

The words ‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom' imply that we are in bondage before we have the Spirit of the Lord. For outside of Christ we are slaves, the best of us all are slaves. I...  Read More

(4) The Spirit of God glorifies us. Besides liberty in this world, there is a liberty of glory, called 'the liberty of the children of God' (Rom. 8:21). The liberty of our bodies from corruption, the...  Read More

When we are called out of Satan's kingdom, we are not only called out of that cursed state we are also made a part of a better kingdom; we are made the members of Christ. And so, in justification we ...  Read More

By the Spirit of Christ in sanctification we are made kings to rule over our own lusts to some degree. We are not kings to be freed altogether from them, but kings to strive against them. It is a lib...  Read More

In a wicked man there is nothing but flesh, and so there is no resistance. We must understand the nature of this spiritual liberty in sanctification. It is not a liberty freeing us altogether from co...  Read More

(3) The Spirit of God sanctifies us. In sanctification we are liberated from the slavery to sin. The same Spirit that assures me of the pardon of my sin sanctifies my nature. The Spirit of sanctifica...  Read More

(2) The Spirit of God justifies us. In justification the Spirit liberates our conscience from sin and the curse of sin. But you will say, the liberty of justification is wrought by Christ; we are jus...  Read More

The Spirit of God sets us at liberty, in the whole course of salvation, from the beginning to the end, when he calls us, justifies us, sanctifies us, and fully glorifies us. (1) The Spirit of God cal...  Read More

If we will have the Holy Spirit, study the gospel of Christ. Why, before Christ, was there was so little of the Spirit? Because there was but little measure of the knowledge of Christ. The more Chris...  Read More

(2) By the conviction given by the Spirit. The Spirit of Christ convinces (John 14:8). That is, he brings a clear, evident conviction that the truth of God is the truth of God. It is not doubtful. Th...  Read More

How can we know whether or not we have the Spirit of Christ? (1) By the activity of the Spirit. The Spirit is a vigorous working being, and therefore all three persons of the Trinity take upon themse...  Read More

It is a point of much comfort, that there is such abundance of Spirit in Christ, that we have a fullness from which to receive. Is it not a comfort for Christians to know that Christ has the Spirit t...  Read More

The most powerful means that ever was ordained for our good will be dead and heartless if Christ is not there by his Spirit to put life into it. The Scriptures profit nothing, preaching profits nothin...  Read More

The scope of the whole Scriptures is Christ. What are all the Scriptures without Christ? The law is a dead letter; and indeed, so is the gospel without Christ. He is that Spirit which gives life to a...  Read More

Christ has the Spirit in himself in a more eminent and excellent manner than all others; and it must be so for these reasons: (1) From the near union between the human nature and the divine. There is...  Read More

(6) Keep the graces of the Spirit, that emerge from a true faith, in continual exercise. For grace exercised, brings certain comfort. Sincerity alone will not comfort a man, unless it grows up to frui...  Read More

(4) Let us make conscience not to yield to any base doubts, fears, objections of Satan, and our own hearts. When we find any work of grace, deny not the work of God, lest we grieve the Spirit of God....  Read More

My faith is weak! (1) The office of faith is to knit us to Christ, and the weakest faith will do that, as well as the strongest. Faith is to bring us to Christ; and then to look to him for all perfec...  Read More

(7) And because there can be no more comfort than there is care of duty, therefore, together with innocence, let us be careful of all duties in all our several relations. Let us consider in what rela...  Read More

(4) When we have these promises, let us labour to thoroughly understand them and our comfort in them. Next, to believe the truth of them, which are as true as God, who is truth itself. Then to love t...  Read More

Ways we labour to comfort our hearts. (1) There must be a search into the heart for the grounds of our trouble. Oftentimes Christians are troubled, but they cannot tell from where. They must search t...  Read More

Reasons we should not yield to excessive sorrow in trouble. (1) We wrong our own selves when we give way to grief and sorrow that is immoderate and inordinate. The soul is put out of joint by it. We ...  Read More

'Let not your hearts be troubled.' Hear the dying words of our Saviour to his disciples. Comforts must be founded on strong reasons. He stays our spirits by reasons stronger than the trouble. For wha...  Read More