A. 2. God is the best Father, because he is perfect, Mat. v. 48., "Your Father which is in heaven is perfect;" lie is perfectly ^ood. Earthly fathers are subject to in- firmities: Elias (though a prophet) "was a mail subject to like passions," James v. 17., but God is perfectly good. All the perfection we can arrive at in this life is sincerity : we may a little resemble God, but not equal him ; he is infinitely perfect
A. 3. God is the best Father in respect of wisdom, 1 Tim. i. 17., " The otily wise God." He hath a perfect idea of wisdom in himself; he knows the fittest means to bring about his own designs ; the angels light at his lamp. In particular this is one branch of his wisdom, that he knows what is best for us. An earthly parent knows not, in some intricate cases, how to advise his child, or what may be best for him to do : but God is a most wise Father, — lie knows what is best for us, — he knows what comfort is best for us, — he keeps his cor- dials for fainting, 2 Cor. vii. 6., " God that comforteth those that are cast down," — he knows when affliction is best for us, and when it is fit to give a bitter potion. 1 Pet. i. 6., " If need be ye are in lieaviness." He is the only wise (Jod ; he knows how to make evil things work for good to his chil- dren, Rom. viii. 28. He can make a sove- reign treacle of poison : thus lie is the best Father for wisdom.
A. 4. He is the best Father, because the most loving, 1 J(»hn iv. 16., " God is love." He who causeth bowels of affection in o- thers, must needs have more bowels him- self; quod efficit tale. The affections in pa- rents are but marble and adamant in com- parison of God's love to his children ; he gives them the cream of his love, electing love, saving love, Zeph. iii. 17., " He will
rejoice over thee with joy, he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with sing- ing." No father like God for love ! If thou art his child, thou canst not love thy own soul so entirely as he loves thee.
A. 5. God is the best Father, for riches : God hath land enough to give to all his children, he hath unseareha!)le riches, Epli. iii. 8. He gives the hidden manna, the tree of life, rivers of joy, (Jod hath treasures that cannot be completed, gates of pearl. Who ever saw gates of pearl, — pleasures that cannot be ended? Earthly fathers, if they should be ever giving, they would have nothing left to give : God is ever giv- ing to his children, yet hath not the less ; his riches are imparted not impaired; like the sun that still shines, yet hath not the less light. He cannot be poor who is in- finite. Thus God is the best Father; he gives more to liis children, than any father or prince can bestow.
A. C. God is the best Father, because he can reform his children. A father, when his son takes bad courses, knows not how to make him better; but God knows how to make the children of the election better; he can change their hearts. When Paul was breathing out persecution against the saints, God soon altered his course, and set him a-praying, Acts ix. 11,, " behold he prayeth." Ncme of those who belong to the election are so rough-cast and unhewn, but God can polish them with his grace, and make them fit for the inheritance.
A. 7. God is the best Father, because he never dies, 1 Tim. vi. 16., " Who only hath immortalitv." Earthlv fathers die,
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and their children are exposed to many in- juries, but (iod lives for ever, Rev. i. 8., " I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end." God's crown hath no suc- cessors.
Quest. 6. Wherein lies the dignity of such as have God for their Father ?
Ans. 1. They have greater honour than is e()nferr(>d on the princes of the earth ; they are precious in (iod's esteem, Isa. xliii. 4., " Since thou wast j)reeious in my eyes, thou hast been honourable ;" the wicked are dross, Ps. cxix. 119., and chaff, Ps. i. 4., but (tod numbers his children among his jewels, Mai. iii. 17. He writes all his
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OF THE FREFACE TO THE LORD'S PRAYER.
oliildren's names in the book of life, Phil. iv. 3., '• Whose names are in the book of life." Amonji^ the Romans tlie names of their senators were written down in a book,
pntres conscripti : God enrols the names
of his children, and will not blot their names out of the register. Rev. iii. 5., " I will not blot his name out of the book of life." God will not be ashamed of his children, Heb. xi. 16., " God is not ashamed to be called your God." One might think it were some- thing below God, and he might div;dain to father such children as are dust and sin minjrled: but he is not ashamed to be call- ed our God ; and that we may see he is not ashamed of his children, he writes his own name upon them. Rev. iii. 12., " I will write upon him the name of ray (jod;" that is, I will openly acknowledge liim be- fore all tlie angels to be my child ; I will write my name upon him, as the son bears bis father's name: what an honour and dionitv is t'.iis !