VI. Observation. They to whom Christ is a lord, to them God is a father. His special fntherly love tlosvetli in the channel of redenii)tion, and is brought al)out by tlie gos[)el. The Lord, from all eternity, pre- determinated some to the adof)tion of sons : Ei)h. i. 5, ' Having j)redestinated us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.' But how doth he bring to pass this decree ? By the redemption of Christ. It is no mean pri-
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vilege, Cliristian?!, that needeth so much ado to establish it : Gal. iv. 4, 5, ' But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth liis Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.' Christ came to be the foundation of a new covenant, before we could have this privilege. Well, but whence ariseth our actual interest ? I answer — By accepting the offer of the gospel, or receiving and own- ing Christ to the ends for which he came into the world, or God sent him into the world: John i. 12, ' But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name ;' that is, by depending on his merits for our reconciliation with God, and submitting to his laws, that he might reduce us to our primitive obedience and love to them.
Use. Therefore, if you would have a share in this blessed privilege: —
1. You must be regenerated by his Spirit ; for the relative change dependeth on the real : our state is not changed till our natures be changed : John i. 12, 13, ' Being born again of the will of God.' If you would enter into God's family, and enjoy the privileges thereof, you must be changed by the Spirit.
2. There is required on our part an entrance into the kingdom of the Mediator by faith and repentance : Mat. xviii. 3, ' Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of God.' As little children are newly entered into the world and beginning their life, all things are become new to them ; so those that have the privileges of God's children must become as little children, enter into a new state, carry on a new life and trade, with which they were not acquainted before. Our first admission is by a consent to the new covenant : Gal. iii. 26, 'Ye are all made children of God by faith in Christ ;' depending on the merit of Christ's sacrifice, and binding ourselves by a solemn word to perform the duties required of us, which we renew again in the Lord's Supper.
VII. That we most comfortably come to God by Christ for grace, when we consider our interest in him and relation to him. Our relation is here intimated, for Jesus Christ is our Lord, and God is our Father ; and surely our Lord will not refuse his own subjects, nor our Father be strange to his own children.
1. It is certain that among men relation to any person or thing endeareth them to us. To avrwv irdaiv rj Sea ^CKoreKvou} men love their own children ; though not so fair and good as others, yet they are their own. And is it not so as to God ? See John xiii. 1, ' Having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them unto the end ;' and John xvii. 6, ' I have manifested thy name to the men which thou gavest me out of the world ; thine they were, and thou gavest them me, and they have kept thy word.'
2. Interest giveth us more encouragement : Isa. Ixiii. 19, ' We are thine : thou never barest rule over them ; they were never called by thy name ;' that is, we are thy people, thy subjects, so called, so accounted. That interest giveth some hope and confidence is evident, because sometimes the saints plead the common relation that they are
^ A misprint, -which can only be conjecturally rectified. Perhaps to. avrCiv iracxiv ijb^a <pi\oTiKvois. — Ed.
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146 THE FIFTEENTH SERMON. [2 TlIES. II. 16.
the workmanship of his hands : Ps. cxix. 73, ' Thy hands have made me and fashioned me ; give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.' They will not quit their interest in God ; if they cannot come as his special servants, yet as his creatures, one way or another, they will entitle themselves to him.
Use. To direct the servants of God, when they ask any grace of him, to bring it to this still, ' Our Lord and our Father/ But how shall they do so, if they have no assurance ? I answer : —
1. There are some titles which imply a claim to benefits and pri- vileges; others that infer an obligation to duty: these latter may be used without any usurpation : John xx. 28, ' My Lord, and my God.'
2. Resignation of yourselves to him showeth you are his, and in time you will come to know that he is yours, if you make it good : Ps. cxix. 94, ' I am thine ; save me, for I have sought thy precepts.' Eesolve to obey him, and serve him, however he deal with you. Choice of God for our portion, and Christ for our Lord, showeth you are resolved to be his.