T| A rich man, well educated, " adopts " a poor illiterate child. The child moves in the circle of the society of his adopted father, and shares with him in the indulgences of his wealth. But because that child has no sense of affection towards his adopted father, or because he has no previous training to qualify him for his elevation, or because he has no habit of life to fit and prepare him for his position, the connection is absolutely irksome and injurious to that child ; it were better that he never should be " adopted." If the benefactor of that child be indeed a wise man, he will endeavour by kindness and education to give him a filial spirit, and the qualifications which are necessary for his elevation. But, if not, the " adoption," however well intended, and however actually in itself a good thing, will only issue in disappointment and unhappiness.
acts & rom. — 30
466 THE SPIRIT OF A SON
3. How, then, will the spirit of adoption reveal itself ?
(1) The spirit of adoption is a spirit of reverence. Not of slavish fear, but of filial reverence. No man can be happy without having some one to revere ; some one whom, the more he knows of him, the more he reveres ; some one towards whom that process of discovery which is inseparable from prolonged inter- course is a process wholly of increasing reverence, insomuch that they who stand nearest to His throne in heaven veil their faces as they worship (Isa. vi. 2), and they who live nearest to Him on earth are ever found the most humble, the most self-abased, the most full of reverence and awe and godly fear.
^f David says, " Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice before him with trembling." Let some one make this rhyme for me ; — to be joyful and to fear. My little son Hans can do it to me ; but I cannot do it with God. For when I sit and write, or do anything, he sings a little song to me the while ; and if he makes it too loud, and I tell him so, then he still sings on, but makes it softer, crooning on with a sweet, little, subdued voice, shyly watching me all the time. So would God have it with us ; that we should be always rejoicing, yet with fear and reverence towards Him.1
(2) The spirit of adoption is a spirit of submission. The cry, Abba, Father, is the expression of an entirely resigned will. It was so used on earth by Him who, though He was a Son, yet condescended to learn obedience by the things which He suffered (Heb. v. 8). " Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee ; take away this cup from me : nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done " (Mark xiv. 36 ; Luke xxii. 42). " If this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done " (Matt. xxvi. 42). God grant us all betimes that spirit of adoption from which alone that prayer can rise heartily or be heard with acceptance ! Well may he who knows that he has indeed a Father in heaven submit himself in all respects to His wise and fatherly will.
^| The son cannot be true to his sonship unless he is obedient to his father's will ; and whenever the Spirit of God is bearing witness to the Divine adoption, whenever the Christian is really living responsive to this witness, there always must be, not constraint, but a glad, free delight in obedience. How practical, how beautiful, is life thus lived under the sweet power of
1 Luther.
ROMANS viii. 15 467
the witnessing Spirit, the Spirit of adoption, in the light of the Fatherhood of God, whom I may call Father. Aye, when memory grieves me for the past, here is my rest : " Like as a father pitieth his children, even so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." To be living thus in relation with the Lord God as my own Father, is to be living in peace and security, like a child shielded in its home amidst all the sorrows and perils of life. Then the joy of dying may be mine — I may fall asleep in the knowledge of the Fatherhood of God, with this last utterance issuing from my failing spirit, " Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."1
1[ There are few finer stories of obedience than that of Fenelon, the Prince-Archbishop of Cambrai. When his book was condemned by the Pope and cardinals, a book his own judgment told him to be orthodox and helpful, he accepted the public rebuke without a sign of protest. He received the news that the book was proscribed just as he was about to preach to his people in the cathedral. He at once laid aside his sermon, preached on obedience, and showed that he could practise what he preached by the following letter, which he sent to all the clergy: — "Our holy Father, the Pope, has condemned the book entitled Explication des Maximes des Saints, in a brief which is spread abroad everywhere, and which you have already seen. We give our adhesion to this brief, dear brethren, as regards the text of the book and the twenty-three points simply, absolutely, and without a shadow of doubt ; and we forbid the faithful of the diocese to read or retain the book. God grant that we may never be spoken of save as a pastor who strove to be more docile than the least sheep of the flock, and whose submission knew no limit. Dear Brethren, may the grace of God be with you all. Amen.