1. The person adopting : the great and glorious God, who is so far above us, so happy within himself, and ncedeth not us, nor our choicest love and service ; who had a Son of his own, Jesus Christ the only begotten of the Father, who thought it no robbery to be equal with him in power and glory, Phil. ii. 6 ; a son that was ' the express image of his person,' Heb. i. 3 ; ' the son of his love,' Col. i. 13 ; in whom his soul found full complacency : Prov. viii. 30, 'I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.' If men adojit, it is m orbitatis solatium, a remedy found out for the comfort of them that have no children. Seldom was it heard that a father who had a son should adopt a son ; therefore it heightens the privilege, that God should vouchsafe to poor creatures such a dear and honourable relation to himself.
2. The persons who were adopted; — miserable sinners, who were once strangers and enemies, Col. i. 21 ; ' children of wrath, even as others,' Eph. ii. 3 ; who had cast away the mercies of their creation, and involved themselves in the curse. Now that strangers should be taken into the family, and put in the place of children, and dealt with as children ; that enemies should not only be reconciled, but have liberty to own the blessed God as their father in Christ ; that children of wrath should be called to inherit a blessing ; that those wlio had so often offended God, and were become slaves to Satan, should be called into the liberty of the children of God ; this is that which we may wonder at, and say, Behold what manner of love is this !
3. The dignity itself; compared,
[1.] With the honours of the world. David saith, 1 Sam. xviii. 23, ' Seemeth it a light thing to you to be a king's son-in-law ? ' We may with better reason say. Is it nothing to be taken into God's family, and to become sons and daughters of the Most High God P All relations may blush and hide their faces in comparison of this ; all the splendid titles which are so ambitiously aflectcd by the world, are but empty shows and gilded vanities, and do much come short of this privilege, both in honour and profit. Therefore it is a greater instance of the love of God, than if he had made us monarchs of the world ; or if a man could deduce his pedigree from an uninterrupted line of nobles and 2)rinces. Ala.s ! how much belter is it to be born of the Spirit, than of the froth of the blood ? and to have a title that will be our honour and interest to all eternity, than to be distinguished from others by a title that will cease at the grave's mouth ?
[2] Compared with God's relation to other creatures. There is a relation between God and all his creatures ; as he gave being to all, so he hath an interest and propriety in all. Sun, and moon, and stars are called his servants, Ps. exix. 91 ; all creatures are subject to the law of his over-ruling providence ; but man is under his proper government.
VeR. IC] SEBMONS UPON KOIIANH VIII. 123
Adam, by the covenant of works, was rallier God's subject, and hired servant, than his son. The people of Israel were his children ; but as children in their non-age ; for ' an heir as long as he is a child ovSev Sia<pip€i Sov\ov (Gal. iv. 1), differeth little from a servant, though he bo lord of all' A servile spirit was upmost in that dispensation. With respect to the covenant of grace, we are most strictly said to l)e children of God ; Gal. iii. 25, ' For ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.' Some live only under the visible administration of the new covenant, but not imder the efficacy and power ; and by the ordinances of the gospel have the badges of liberty, but they are not free indeed, sons indeed. There are among them others whom God hath begotten by his Spirit, and adopted and taken into his family ; he hath a paternal affection towards them, and they a filial disposition towards him ; he hath a paternal care and providence over them, and they have a filial confidence and dependence on him ; he expects the honour of a father, and they may expect the privileges of children. His special relation is <listinct from his common relation to other men, for it proceedeth not from his common goodness, but his special and peculiar love. The whole commerce and communion that is between us and him, is on God's part, fatherly ; on our part, child-like; he giveth us his choicest benefits, and we perform to him the best service we can.
4. The manner how it is brought about.
[1.] The first foundation of it was laid in the election of God. He is the bottom-stone in this building : Eph. i. 5, ' Predestinated to the adoption of children, according to the good pleasure of his will.' Now what are we, that the thoughts of God should be taken up about us, so long ago ?