(2.) We have a blessed and excellent inheritance to look for here ; all the children are heirs and 'joint-heirs with Christ,' Eom. viii. 17, as soon as we are adopted and taken into God's family, though little of this dignity appeareth or maketh any fair show in the world: 1 John iii. 1, 2, 'Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God ! therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Behold, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be ; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.' We only know who are the sons of God, but not what it is to be the sons of God ; yet that right and hope that we have may allay all our cares, and fears, and sorrows, during the time of our abasement and humiliation : Luke xii. 32, ' Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'
(3.) In all his dealings for the present, God retaineth a fatherly affection to us, pitying our miseries, and pardoning our failings : Ps. ciii. 13, ' Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.' We need not much ado, or much entreat, or hire a father to pity a child in misery. So he pardoneth our failings : Mai. iii. 27, 'I will spare them, as a man spareth his only son that serveth him.' A parent will not be inexorable, nor severe upon every failing of a dutiful child and an only son. We often forget the duty of children, but God will not
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forget the mercies of a father. As a parent saith, He is my child, though a faulty child or stubborn child, so will he spare us notwith- standing infirmities, supplying all our necessities : Mat. vi. 25, ' Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on : is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?' ver. 30, 'Wherefore if God clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, 0 ye of little faith ? ' ver. 32, ' Your heavenly Father knoweth ye have need of all these things.' God is not ignorant of our condition, nor mindless of it. Carking taketh his work out of his hands ; but the remembrance of a father dasheth all our distrustful thoughts. So protection in dangers, both for the inward and outward man. The soul is guarded by the Spirit : 2 Peter i. 3, 4, ' According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue ; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.' The body by the angels ; their charge is not cura animarum, but custodia corporis, not the care of their souls, but the safety of their bodies. God's children are well guarded and guided till they come to their final estate. Heaven is kept for them, and they for it.
[2.] It calleth for great duty at our hands. I must mention that, because we are very apt to challenge the privileges when we neglect the duties which belong to God's children. It calleth for conformity and likeness to him in all divine perfections.
(1.) In holiness and purity : 1 Peter i. 15, ' But as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.' Com- passion, mercy, and goodness : Eph. v. 1, ' Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children.' Compassion and mercy : Mat. v. 44, 45, ' But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you ; that ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven : for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and unjust ; ' Luke vi. 35, 36, ' But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for no- thing again, and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest ; for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.' So for truth : Isa. lxiii. 8, ' Surely they are my people, children that will not lie.' There is no divine virtue but there should be some repre- sentation and shadow of it at least found in us. God's dear children should be like him. All graces should be made lovely and amiable to us by his pattern and example.
(2.) In ready obedience to his laws. In one place we read, ' dear children,' Eph. v. 1, in another, 'obedient children,' 1 Peter i. 14. God taxeth his people for their unsuitable walking to this relation : Jer. iii. 4, 5, ' Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father ? Will he reserve his anger for ever ? will he keep it to the end ? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldst.' Can we call him father whom we care not continually to displease ?