[2.] He giveth us an allowance of such temporal things, of outward mercies, as are convenient for us : Mat. vi. 25, 30, ' 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 ? If God so clothe the grass of the field, which to- day is, and to-morrow is cut down ; shall he not much more clothe you, 0 ye of little faith ? ' A christian hath two things to relieve him against all his distrustful fears and cares — adoption and particular providence.
VeR. 1.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 445
He hath his Father, and his Father is not ignorant of his condition and mindless of it ; and therefore though he hath little or nothing in his hand, it is enough that his Father keepeth the purse for him, whose care extendeth to all things and persons, who hath the hearts of all men in his hands, and performeth all things according to his own will. He knoweth their persons, necessities, and temptations ; and if we trust him for our heavenly inheritance, we may well trust him for our daily maintenance, which he vouchsafeth to the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field, and also to his enemies ; nay, sometimes while they are sinning against him, and dishonouring his name, oppressing his servants, opposing his interest in the world. He that feedeth a kite, will he not feed a child ? He that supplieth his enemies, will he not take care of his family ? You would think that person monstrously cruel that should feed his dogs and starve his children. This cannot without blasphemy be imagined of our gracious and heavenly Father. If God be your Father, you can want nothing that is good ; but the de- termination of what is good must be left to his wisdom, for we are not so fit to judge of it, and to discern our own good, and therefore must commit all to his fatherly care and wise providence. Indeed he chooseth rather to profit us than to please us in his dispensations, and it is your duty to refer all to his wisdom and faithfulness.
2. With respect to the life to come. Eternal blessedness is the fruit of adoption : Eom. viii. 17, ' If sons, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint- heirs with Christ : if we suffer with him, we shall be glorified together.' We have a blessed inheritance to look for as soon as we are adopted and taken into God's family, we have a right to it though not admitted into the fruition of it ; and the right and hope that we have now is enough to counterbalance all temptations both on the right hand and on the left. The blessedness we hope for doth infinitely outweigh the carnal pleasures and delights of sin, which tempt us to disobey our Father's will. What are the pleasures of sin, which are but for a season, to those blessed delights and glorious things which our Father hath pro- vided for us in heaven ? It was Esau's profaneness to part with his birthright, Heb. xii. 16, and Naboth's generosity to refuse it, 1 Kings xxi. 3. On the left hand there is enough to allay the fears and sorrows of the present life : Luke xii. 32, ' Fear not, little flock, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' If we have the king- dom at last, it is no great matter what we suffer by the way : Eom. viii. 18, ' For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.' So that during the time of our hope we have great encouragement. But more of this in the following part of the text. But hereafter we fully receive the fruits of our adoption : Eom. viii. 23, ' Waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of our body.' The manifestation is at the resur- rection, the fruition in heaven: Eom. viii. 19, 'The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.' Then God's children are seen in all their glory. But in heaven, there we have the fullest and largest demonstration of God's love and favour. It is love and grace now that he is pleased to pass by our offences and take us into his family, to give us a taste of his love, and a right to his heavenly kingdom, and to employ us in bis service, but then it is another man-
446 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN IH. [SER. I.
ner of love ; grace, indeed, when not only taken into his family, but into his presence and palace : John xii. 26, ' Where I am, there also shall my servant be.' Not only have the right, but the possession : Mat. xxv. 34, ' Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' And not only have some remote service and ministration, but be everlastingly employed in loving, de- lighting, and praising God among those blessed creatures who are our blessed companions with us in this work.