Study Desk

for I experience, that in the carnal part of me dwells no good: for it is familiar to me, to will, but not to execute that which is good.

for the good that I purpose to do, I do not: but the evil which I resolve against, that I do.

for my mind takes delight in the law of God,

for the christian dispensation of a spiritual life has set me free from the legal state of sin and death.

God having sent his own son invested with a body like that of sinful men, as a sacrifice for sin, thereby destroyed its power; which the law could not effect, human nature being in such a corrupted state.

for they that are sensually affected, abandon themselves to sensuality, but the spiritual pursue their spiritual entertainments.

because a sensual disposition of mind is averse to God: for it is not subject to the divine law, nor indeed can it be.

so that they who are in a carnal state, cannot be acceptable to the divine being. as for you,

for if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you; he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall likewise restore your mortal bodies to life, by his spirit that dwelleth in you.

for if you lead a sensual life, you will be miserable: but if through the spirit you mortify the affections of corrupted nature, you will be happy.

for the spirit you have received is not servile to keep you still in fear; but it is the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, that is, father.

for I consider, that the sufferings of this present life are infinitely over-ballanc'd by that glory which shall hereafter be discovered to us.

for we know that the whole creation groans, and labours with general pain even to this day.

and not only they, but even those who have the first fruits of the spirit, even we our selves do inwardly groan for the fruit of our adoption, by the deliverance of our body from corruption.

for we are saved but by hope: but hope supposes things not yet present; for how can a man hope for what he has now in possession?

but if we hope for what is yet to come, our patience does necessarily intervene.

The spirit likewise softens our afflictions: for being at a loss to apply for the most proper relief; the spirit it self affects us with those pious ejaculations, which we can't well express.

and he that penetrates into the heart approves what the spirit desires, because what he demands for the saints is agreeable to the divine will.

We know too, that all things co-operate for the good of those who love God, who, pursuant to his purpose, has now called them:

for whom he before approv'd, he predispos'd to follow the example of his son, who was to conduct them all as their elder brother;