Spiritual Liberty (3)

(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 sanctification breaks the ruling power of sin. Before then the whole life is nothing but continually sinning and offending God. But now there is a gracious liberty of disposition, a largeness of heart which follows the liberty of condition.
When a man is under the bondage of the law and under the fear of death with its sting, he does everything with a slavish mind. Where the Spirit of God is, there is the spirit of adoption, the spirit of sons, which is a free spirit. The son does not do his duties to his father out of constraint and fear, but out of nature. God enlarges the hearts of his children. We are redeemed to be a 'peculiar people, zealous of good works' (Titus 2:14). For then we have a low esteem of all things that hinder us from freeness in God's service.
What shall we think, then, of those who, if we get anything of them, it is like a spark out of the flint? Duties come from Christians as water out of a spring, they issue naturally, and are not forced, so far as they are spiritual. I confess that there are remainders of bondage where the Spirit sets at liberty; for while we live in this world there is a double principle of nature and grace. There will be a conflict in every holy duty. When the Spirit would be liberal, the flesh will draw back and say, 'Oh, but I may want!’ When the Spirit would be most courageous, the flesh will say, 'But there is danger in it.’ We must resist. But still here is liberty to do good, because here is a principle that resists the backwardness of the flesh.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 36-37 [40-42]
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