1.
(_b_) "_The love of God shed abroad in our hearts_ by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

[Note 14] (_c_) It is the testimony of "the Spirit bearing witness with our spirits that we are children of God." [Note 15] "He that believeth hath the witness in himself." [Note 16] (_d_) It is the _fruit of the Spirit_, exhibited in the believer's life, "which is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." [Note 17] (_c_) It is "being led by the Spirit of God," for then, says the apostle," [sic on punctuation] they are the sons of God.
[Note 18] All these evidences presuppose or involve that great change of heart and life, termed by the Saviour new birth, by which the sinner becomes morally qualified for that pardon, purchased by the blood of Christ, and appropriate to the believer by his faith.

But no outward rites _necessarily_ imply such moral preparation, and hence they could not be the conditions of justification, according to the analogy of God's Word.
V.Hence the sacraments, baptism and the Lord's Supper, are not the _immediate_ conditions or means of pardon or justification; _but they are means of grace, like the Word of God, and seals of grace to all worthy recipients_.

They have _an intrinsic efficacy_ by virtue of the truths symbolically represented by them, and an _additional specific efficacy_ in virtue of their peculiar nature, in connexion with the influence of the Holy Spirit, to awaken, convert and sanctify the soul.
The distinguished Lutheran divine, _Dr.Baumgarten_, speaking of adult receivers of these ordinances, thus expresses his view: "The sacraments stand in the same relation to these influences, (namely, those of covenant grace,) as does the _Word of God_.

Hence they are also called the visible word of God, _verbum visible;_ because the _offer_ of their reformatory, changing and restoring influence is universal, and reaches every recipient of these ordinances; but its actual communication and full effect take place only in those, who permit themselves to be made susceptible of it." [Note 19] In regard to children, however, he with equal propriety adds, that the blessings which baptism confers on them, are bestowed irrespectively of any action of their own.
These sacraments, however, do not necessarily prove the existence of any particular progress in the work of conversion, or any definite state of mind, except, a general disposition to seek the Lord, which is implied in the willingness to attend on these ordinances.