alter it, but whom God adopts he sancti- fies ; he doth not only give them a new name but a new nature, 2 Pet. i. 4. God turns the wolf into a lamb ; he makes the heart humble and gracious ; he works such a change as if another soul did dwell in the same body.
Quest. From lohat state doth God take us when he adopts us ?
Ans. From a state of sin and misery. King Pharaoh's daughter took Moses out of the ark of bulrushes in the water, and adopted him for her son. God did not take us out of the water, but out of our blood, and adopted us, Ezek. xvi. God a- dopted us from slavery ; it is a mercy to redeem a slave, but it is more to adopt him. Quest. To what God adopts us ? Ans. He adopts us to a state of excellen- cy. It were much for God to take a clod of dust and make it a star ; it is more for God to take a piece of clay and sin and adopt it for his heir.
1st. God adopts us to a state of liberty. Adoption is a state of freedom ; a slave be- ing adopted, is made a free man, Gal. iv. 7., " Thou art no more a servant, but a son."
Quest. How is an adopted son free ? Ans. 1. Not to do what he lists : he is free from the dominion of sin, the tyranny of Satan, the curse of the law.
A. 2. He is free in the manner of wor- ship ; he hath God's free Spirit, which makes him free and cheerful in the service of God ; he is " joyful in the house of prayer," Isa. Ivi. 7.
2d. God adops us to a state of dignity. God makes us heirs of promise ; God in- stalls us into honour, Isa. xliii. 4., " Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable." The adopted are God's treasure, Exod. xix. 5. : his jewels, Mai. iii. 17. ; his first-born, Heb. xii. 23. ; they have angels for their life-guard, Heb. i. 14. ; they are of the blood royal of heaven, 1 John iii. 9. The scripture hath set forth their spiritual herahlly ; they have their escutcheon or coat-armour ; sometimes tliey give the lion for their courage, Prov. xxviii. 1. ; sometimes the dove for their meekness, Cant. ii. 14. ; sometimes the eagle for their Bublimeness, Isa. xl. 31. Thus you see
their coat of arms displayed : but wha* is honour without inheritance ? God adopts all his sons to an inheritance, Luke xii. 32., " It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." It is no disparagement to be the sons of God. To reproach the saints, is as if Shimei had reproached Da- vid when he was going to be made king ; adoption ends in coronation. The king- dom God gives his adopted sons and heirs, excels all earthly monarchies.
1. In riclics. Rev. xxi, 21. The gates are of pearl, and the streets of pure gold, and as it were transparent glass.
2. In tranquillity. It is peaceable ; the white lily of peace is the best flower in a prince's crown, — Pax una irinmphis innu- meris melior. No divisions at home, or in- vasions abroad ; no more the noise of the drum or cannon, but the voice of harpers harping, the hieroglyphic of peace. Rev. xiv. 2.
3. In stability. Other kingdoms are corruptible ; though they have heads of gold, yet feet of clay ; but this kingdom, into which the saints are adopted, runs pa- rallel with eternity ; it is " a kingdom that cannot be moved," Heb. xii. 28. The heirs of heaven reign for ever and ever. Rev. xxii. 5.
Quest. What is the organical or instru- mental cause of adoption ?
Ans. Faith interests us in the privilege of adoption. Gal. iii. 26., " Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." Before faith be wrought, we are spiritually illegitimate, we have no relation to God as a father ; an unbeliever may call God judge, but not father ; faith is the filiating grace, it confers upon us the title of sonship, and gives us right to inherit.
Quest. Why is faith the instrument of a- doptioji more than any other grace !
Ans. 1. Faith is a quickening grace, it is the vital artery of the soul, Heb. ii. 4., " The just shairiive by his faith." Life makes us capable of adoption, dead chil- dren are never adopted.
A. 2. Faith makes us Christ's brethren, and so (iod comes to be our father.
Use \st. Branch 1. See the amazing love of God in making us liis sons. Plato gave God thanks that he had made him a
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man, and not only a man but a philoso- pher : but it is infinitely move that he should invest us with the prerogative oF sons. It is love in God to feed us, but more to adopt us, 1 John iii. 1., " Behold what manner of love the Father hatli be- stowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God !" It is an ecce adtniydn- tis, — a behold of wonder. The wonder of God's love in adopting us, will appear the more if we consider tiiese six things.