2. There is another family whereinto they are to be translated, and whereunto of themselves they have neither right nor title. This is that family in heaven and earth which is called after the name of Christ, Eph. iii. 15,— the great family of God. God hath a^ house and family for his children ; of whom some he maintains. on the riches of his grace, and some he entertains with the fulness of his glor}^ This is that house whereof the Lord Christ is the great dispenser, it having
1 Hal), iii. 6.
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pleased the Father to " gatlier together in one all things in him, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him," Eph. i. 10. Herein live all the sons and daughters of God, spending largely on the riches of his grace. Unto this family of themselves they have no right nor title; they are wholly alienated from it, Eph. ii. 12, and can lay no claim to any thing in it. God driving fallen Adam out of the garden, and shutting up all ways of return with a flaming sword, ready to cut him off if he should attempt it, abundantly declares that he, and all in him, had lost all right of approaching unto God in any family relation. Corrupted, cursed nature is not vested with the least right to any thing of God. Therefore, —
3. They have an authoritative translation from one of these fa- milies to another. It is not done in o. private, underhand way, but in the way of authority. John i. 1 2, " As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God," — power or authority. This investing them with the power, excellency, and right of the sons of God, is a forensical act, and hath a legal proceeding in it. It is called the " making us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light," Col. i. 12; — a judicial exalting us into mem- bership in that family, where God is the Father, Christ the^ elder brother, all saints and angels brethren and fellow-children, and the inheritance a crown immortal and incorruptible, that fades not away.
Now, this authoritative translation of believers from one family into another consisteth of these two parts : —
(1.) An effectual proclamation and declaration of such a person's immunity from all obligations to the former family, to which by na- ture he was related. And this declaration hath a threefold object: —
[1.] Angels. It is declared unto them; they are the sons of God. They are the^ sons of God, and so of the family whereinto the adopted person is to be admitted ; and therefore it concerns them to know who are invested Avith the rights of that family, that they may discharge their duty towards them. Unto them, then, it is declared that be- lievers are freed from the family of sin and hell, to become fellow-sons and servants with them. And this is done two ways : —
1st. Generally, by the doctrine of the gospel. Eph. iii. 10, "Unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places is made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God."
By the church is this wisdom made known to the angels, either as the doctrine of the gospel is delivered unto it, or as it is gathered thereby. And what is this wisdom of God that is thus made known to principalities and powers? It is, that "the Gentiles should be felloAV- heirs and of the same body with us," verse 6. The mystery of adopt- ing sinners of the Gentiles, taking them from their slavery in the
I Rom. viii. 29; Heb. ii. 12. 2 Job i. 6, xxxviii. 7; Heb. xii. 22-24; Rev. xxii. 9. VOL. II. 14
210 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
family of the world, that they might have a right of heirship, becom- ing sons in the family of God, is this wisdom, thus made known. And how was it primitively made known? It was "revealed by the Spirit unto the prophets and apostles," verse 5.
2dly. In particular, by immediate revelation. When any parti- cular soul is freed from the family of this world, it is revealed to the angels. " There is joy in the presence of the angels of God" (that is, among the angels, and by them) " over one sinner that repenteth," Luke XV. 10. Now, the angels cannot of themselves absolutely know the true repentance of a sinner in itself; it is a work wrought in that cabinet which none hath a key unto but Jesus Christ; by him it is revealed to the angels, when the peculiar care and charge of such a one is committed to them. These things have their transaction before the angels, Luke xii. 8, 9. Christ owns the names of his brethren before the angels, Rev. iii. 5. When he gives them admittance into the family where they are, Heb. xii. 22, he declares to them that they are sons, that they may discharge their duty towards them, Heb. i. 14.
[2.] It is denounced in a judicial way unto Satan, the gi'eat master of the family whereunto they were in subjection. When the Lord Christ delivers a soul from under the power of that strong armed one, he binds him, — ties him from the exercise of that power and dominion which before he had over him. And by this means doth he know that such a one is delivered from his family; and all his future attempts upon him are encroachings upon the possession and inheritance of the Lord Christ.