Christian.  Yes; when I think on what I saw at the cross, that will do it; and when I look upon my embroidered coat, that will do it; and when I look into the roll that I carry in my bosom, that will do it; and when my thoughts wax warm about whither I am going, that will do it.

Prudence.  And what is it that makes you so desirous to go to mount Zion?

Christian.  Why, there I hope to see him alive that did hang dead on the cross, and there I hope to be rid of all those things that to this day are in me, an annoyance to me:  there, they say, there is no death; and there shall I dwell with such company as I like best.  For, to tell you the truth, I love him because I was by him eased of my burden; and I am weary of my inward sickness.  I would fain be where I shall die no more, and with the company that shall continually cry, “Holy, holy, holy!”

Be often remembering what a blessed thing it is to be saved, to go to heaven, to be made like angels, and to dwell with God and Christ to all eternity.

Adoption.

The Spirit cannot, after he hath come to the soul as a Spirit of adoption, come again as a Spirit of bondage to put the soul into his first fear, to wit, a fear of eternal damnation, because he cannot say and unsay, do and undo.  As a Spirit of adoption, he told me that my sins were forgiven me and I was included in the covenant of grace, that God was my Father through Christ, that I was under the promise of salvation, and that this calling and gift of God to me are permanent and without repentance.  And do you think that, after he told me this, and sealed up the truth of it to my precious soul, he will come to me and tell me that I am yet in my sins, under the curse of the law and the eternal wrath of God?  No, no; the word of the gospel is not yea, yea; nay, nay.  It is only yea and amen; it is so, “as God is true.” 2 Cor. 17:20.

Sin, after that the Spirit of adoption has come, cannot dissolve the relations of Father and son, of Father and child.  And this the church did rightly assert, and that when her heart was under great hardness and when she had the guilt of erring from his ways; saith she, “Doubtless thou art our Father:”  doubtless thou art, though this be our case, and though Israel should not acknowledge us for such.

That sin dissolveth not the relation of Father and son, is further evident:  When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, “Father, Father!” Now mark:  “Wherefore, thou art no more a servant;” that is, no more under the law of death and damnation, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.