cannot c.nll dod FatluM- ! if llicv do, tlirv will liavft as little comfort in Jiaviiifj Fatlicr. as Dives liad in lu'll, w licfi he sai<l, " Fatlu r Abraham," Liil<e xvi. 24. 2f////. Who an' makers of division, Rom. xvi. 17., " Mark them which cause divisions, and avoid them. Such as are horn of (j'od, are ma- kers of peace ; what shall we think of such as are nuikei's of divisions ? \Vill Ciod father these? The de\il made the fnst dixision in heaven; thev may call the devil father; they may jijivc the cloven f<»ot in their coat of Hrms ; their sweetest music is in discord : they unite to divide. Samson's fox tails were tied to'i'ether, only to set the Philis- tines' corn on fire, Judq^cs xv. 4. Pajiists unite, only to set the church's jieace on fire. Satan's kingdom grows up by division. St. Chrysostom observes of the church of Co- rinth, when many converts were bnuight in, Satan knew no belter way to dam uj> the ciureut of rcli^Jon, tlian to throw in an apj)le of strife, and divide them into ])ar- ties; one was for Pau-1, and another for A- pollos, but few fitr Christ. Would Clirist not have his coat rent, and can heendirre to have his body rent? Sure (lod will never father them who are not sons of jjcace. Of all them whom Cod hates, he is named for one, who is a sower of discord among bre- thren, Prov. vi. 19.
y}. 5. If Cod be our Father ; tben we love to be near God, and have converse with him. An ingenuous child delights to approach near to his father, and go into his presence. David envied the birds that they built their nests so near Cod's altars, when he was debarred his Father's house, Ps. Ixxxiv. 3. True saints love to get as near to God as they can ; in the word they draw near to liis holy oracle, in the sacrament they draw near to his table ; a child of Cod delights to be in his Father's presence ; he cannot stay away long from Cod ; he seetli a sabbath-day apj)r<iaching, and rejoiceth ; his heart hath been often melted and (piick
Use \sf. Of instruction. Sec the amaz- ing goodness of Cod, that is pleased to en- ter into this sweet relation of a Father. Cod lu'cded not to adopt us ; he did not want a Son, but we wanted a Father. Cod showed power in being our Maker, but mercy in being our Father; when we were enemies, and oiu- hearts stood out as garri- sons against Cod, that he should conquer our stubboriMiess, and of enemies make us children, and write his name, and put his image upon us, and liestow a kingdom of gh ry, what a miracle of mercy is this! Every adopted child may say, " Even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight," Mat. xi. 26.
2(/. Branch, or Inference. If Cod be a Fa- ther, then hence I infer. Whatever he doth to his children, is love.
1. If he smiles upon them in prosperity, it is love ; they have the w(»rld not only with Cod's leave, but with his love. Coel saith to every child of his, as Naaman to (Jeha/i, 2 Kings v. 23., " 13e content, take two talents." So saith (iod to his child, ' I am thy Father, take two talents.' Take health, and take my love with it ; take an estate, and take my love with it ; take two talents, (iod's love is a sweetening ingre dient into every mercy.
QuEsr. Huw r/o(h it appear that a child of God hath icorUIUi things in /ore ?
Ans. 1. Because he hath a good title to them. Cod is his Father, therefore he hath a good title. A wicked man hath a civil title to the creature, but no more ; he hath it not from the hand of a father ; he is like <»ne that takes uj) cloth at the drapei's, and it is not paid for; but a believer halh a good title to every foot of land he hath ; his Father hath settled it upon him.
A. 2. A child of Cod hath worldly things ill love, because they are sanctified to him : I. They make him better, and are loadstones to draw him nearer to Cod. 2. lie hath his Father's blessing with them. A littlo enod ill an ordinance ; he liath tasted the j blest is sweet, Exod. xxiii. 2,)., " lie shall Lord is good, therefore he loves to be iii bless thy bread and thy wafer." Esau had Lis Father's presence; he cannot keep a- j the venison, but Jacob got the blessing, way long from God. Such as care not for j While the wicked have their meat sauced ordinances cannot say, " Our Father which | with (u.d's wrath, Ps. Ixxviii. 30, 31., he- art HI heaven." Is (Jod their Father, who \ 1 evers have their comforts seasoned with a
cannot endure to be in his presence ■
I blessing. It was a sacred blessing from
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OF THE PREFACE TO THE LORD'S PRAYER.
Gofl made Daiiiol's pulse nourish liim more, and made liim look fairer than they that ale of the kini^'s meat, Dan. i. 15.
A. 3. A child of (jod haih worldly tilings in love, because whatever lie hath is an ear- nest of more ; every bit of bread is a pledge and earnest of glory.