If I were to speak to persons of quality and great parts, as I am to speak to mean, let them be put in mind of their condition. Nothing should raise us up so high, as to forget the everlasting relation of brother. Infirmity should not so far prevail with us, as to forget that which the children of God have to eternity. And for other persons more eminent, if he be a king, let him not so mind that, as to forget all other. For all relations determine in death, and must be laid in the dust ; all must stand on equal ground before God's bar, and they that have most to answer for, have the highest account of all, and therefore it is ground of humility to all. Let them that are in greatest eminency consider this. Paul, after conversion, could say, ' Henceforth, I know no man after the flesh,' 2 Cor. v. 16. There is a great deal of humanity in the world : compliment is very ordinary, which is the picture and outside of humanity ; but Christian love, which is a degree above humanity, the apostle calleth it <l^rAadi/.(pia, ' brotherly love,' that is the scorn of the world. They will own a brother in office ; but owning them in the sweet bonds of brotherhood, as they are the sons of God, here is heaven ; make much of them in that kind, that is a strange thing in the world. But we must know what it meaneth, before we come to heaven. We must respect a Christian, be he what he will be, under all his infirmities, if he hath a good spirit in him, which God the Father seeth and Christ seeth. We must bear love to all saints. Some will make much of an eminent man, that hath excellent parts, because there may be some countenance from such persons ; but here is sincerity that beareth love to all saints. He wraps them up all in the general term, ' Go, tell Peter,' among the rest, that hath offended more than the rest.
If you will know whether you be true brethren or no, or sons of God or no, make a use of trial, by what is formerly delivered. I shall enlarge myself in that point, because all dependeth upon it. God is the Father of all by creation ; he is the Father in a general covenant, of all that receive the sacrament and are baptized. But if they have no other rela- tion to God but so, they may go to hell, as Judas and others did : there- * That is, ' Blessed are the peace-makers.' Of. Slat. v. 0. — G.
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fore we must know whether we may claim this relation of Father on good grounds or no, else it is an usurpation.
1. Those that helong to God, the Spirit of God n-itncsscth to them that they are sons. They that are adopted have the Spirit of adoption in some degree. God sendeth his Spirit into their hearts, that assures them that they be God's children. And howsoever this is the first, yet God giveth some intimation by his Spirit, that they look to God in another familiar manner than before ; and he looks on them in a fatherly manner. So there be some intimations, and insinuations, and hints, though the Spirit of adop- tion witnesseth not fully and gloriously to the soul always, because we are not fitted for it ; but sometimes in great afflictions and desertions. Where the Spirit of God is, there is communion with God in the Spirit of adoption. And when the voice of the Spirit of adoption speaks not loudly, yet there is a work of the Spirit. There is something to us renewed by the Spirit ; there is something of the new creature. When a Christian cannot hear God say to his soul, ' I am thy salvation,' yet a man may see a work of grace. There is a love to God, to the ordinances, to the people of God ; a mourning, because he cannot mourn ; a sighing, because he hath not an heart pliable. He is discordant with his condition when he is disconsolate. So that there is a work of the Spirit helpeth him in his worst condition.
Besides, there is a spirit of supplication in some measure. Though he cannot make set discourses to God, yet he can in a sweet manner lay open his sorrow and grief to God, and leave them in his bosom. They be broken words, perhaps, but God can pluck sense out of them. God knoweth the meaning of the sighing of his own Spirit^ though broken speeches. So that where there is any tongue for God in a man, there is a spirit of prayer; there is not a strangeness of God to go altogether by, but the spirit hath a kind of acquaintance with God ; and it goeth to God in a familiarity, and iayeth forth grief, and putteth forth petitions, in another manner than the world doth.
Again, A Christian in the worst condition, God not only shineth on him through the cloud, but there is a spirit in him that sigheth to go through all thick clouds to God. There is a spirit of supplication and of love in some degree, for that is promised. ' The Spirit shall help our infirmities, when we know not how to pray,' Rom. viii. 26. The intercourse and com- munion with God is never broken ofi' where there is any Spirit of adop- tion. Therefore Jonas and David, and the rest, though they could not pray, yet they sighed to God, and would not leave him. If they could embrace Christ, they would not leave him. If they could not embrace Christ, they would touch the hem of his garment. They will not yield to the stream altogether, but strive against it. And though they be carried away with the strength of the stream, and see no goodness in them- selves, yet they that be with them shall see a- spirit striving to another condition than they are in. Something of Christ's, something of God's Spirit there will be in them. And take them at the worst, they will appear better than the civil man, that thinks himself a glorious man, though he hath nothing but for show and fashion. Who would be in such a man's condition without some brokenness of heart, some sighs ?