Hence you may see the difference between the liberty that slaves assume, and the liberty which is due to children : —
[Is^.] Slaves take liberty from duty; children have liberty in duty. There is not a greater mistake in the world, than that the liberty of sons in the house of God consists in this, — they can perform duties, or take the freedom to omit them ; they can serve in the family of God (that is, they think they may if they will), and they can choose whether they will or no. This is a Hberty stolen by slaves, not a liberty given by the Spuit unto sons.
The liberty of sons is in the inward spiritual freedom of their hearts, naturally and kindly going out in all the Avays and worship of God. When they find themselves straitened and shut up in them, they wrestle with God for enlargement, and are never contented Avith the doing of a duty, unless it be done as in Christ, with free, genuine, and enlarged heai'ts. The liberty that servants have is from duty; the liberty given to sons is in duty.
[2cZZy.] The liberty of slaves or servants is from mistaken, deceiv- ing conclusions; the liberty of sons is from the power of the indwell- ing Spirit of grace : or, the liberty of servants is from outward, dead conclusions ; the liberty of sons, from an inward, living principle.
{2dly.) Love, as to the manner of their obedience, gives them de- light and joy. John xiv. 15, " If ye love me," says Christ, " keep my commandments." Love is the bottom of all their duties ; hence our Saviour resolves all obedience into the love of God and our neigh- bour; and Paul, upon the same ground, tells us " that love is the ful- filling of the law," Rom. xiii. 10. Where love is in any duty, it is complete in Christ. How often doth David, even with admiration, express this principle of his walking with God ! " O," saith he, " how I love thy commandments ! " This gives saints delight, that the com- mandments of Christ are not grievous to them. Jacob's hard service was not grievous to him, because of his love to Rachel. No duty of a saint is grievous to him, because of his love to Christ They do from hence all things with delight and complacency. Hence do they long for advantages of walking with God, — pant after more ability; and this is a great share of their son-like freedom in obedience. It gives them joy in it. 1 John iv. 18, " There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear." When their soul is acted to obedience by love, it expels that fear which is the issue of bondage upon the spirit. Now, wdien there is a concuri'ence of these two (life and love),
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 215
there is freedom, liberty, largeness of heart, exceedingly distanced from that strait and bondaged frame which many walk in all their days, that know not the adoption of sons.
2dly. The object of their obedience is represented to them as de- sirable, whereas to others it is terrible. In all their approaches to God, they eye him as a Father; they call him Father, Gal. iv. 6, not in the form of words, but in the spirit of sons. God in Christ is con- tinually before them ; not only as one deserving all the honours and obedience which he requkes, but also as one exceedingly to be de- lighted in, as being all-sufficient to satisfy and satiate all the desires of the souL When others napkin their talents, as having to deal with an austere master, they draw out their strength to the uttermost, as drawing nigh to a gracious rewarder. They go, from the principle of life and love, to the bosom of a Hving and loving Father ; they do but return the strength they do receive unto the fountain, unto the ocean.
odly. Their motive unto obedience is love, 2 Cor. v. 14. From an apprehension of love, they are effectually carried out by love to give up themselves unto him who is love. What a freedom is this! what a largeness of spirit is in them who walk according to this rule! Darkness, fear, bondage, conviction, hopes of righteousness, accompany others in their ways ; the sons, by the Spirit of adoption, have light, love, with complacency, in all their walkings with God. The world is a universal stranger unto the frame of children in their Father's house.
Hhly. The manner of their obedience is willingness. " They yield themselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead," Rom. vi. 13; they yield themselves, — give up themselves willingly, cheer- fully, freely. " With my whole heart," saith David. Rom. xii. 1, " They present themselves a living sacrifice," and a willing sacrifice.
bthly. The ride of their walking with God is the law of liberty, as divested of aU its terrifying, threatening, killing, condemning, cursing power; and rendered, in the blood of Jesus, sweet, tender, useful, di- recting,— helpful as a rule of walking in the life they have received, not the way of working for the life they have not. I might give more instances. These may suffice to manifest that hberty of obedience in the family of God which his sons and daughters have, that the poor convinced Gibeonites are not acquainted withal.