(2.) The second thing which the children of God have by adoption is title. They have title and right to all the privileges and advan- tages of the family whereinto they are translated. This is the pre- eminence of the true sons of any family. The ground on which Sarah pleaded the ejection of Ishmael was, that he was the son of the bond- woman. Gen. xxi. 10, and so no genuine child of the family; and therefore could have no right of heirship with Isaac. The apostle's arguing is, "We are no more servants, but sons; and if sons, then
21 G OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
heirs," Rom. viii. 14-17, — "then have we right and title: and being not born hereunto (for by nature we are the children of A\Tath), wo have this right by our adoption."
Now, the saints hereby have a double right and title: — 1st. Proper and direct, in respect of spirituals. 2dly. Consequential, in respect of temporals : —
[1.] The first, also, or the title, as adopted sons, unto spirituals, is, in respect of the object of it, twofold: — (1st.) Unto a j^'i^esent place, name, and room, in the house of God, and all the privileges and administrations thereof {-dhj.) To a future fulness of the great inheritance of glory, — of a kingdom purchased for that whole family whereof they are by Jesus Christ : — -
\st. They have a title unto, and an interest in, the whole admi- nistration of the family of God here.
The supreme administration of the house of God in the hand of the Lord Christ, as to the institution of ordinances and dispensation of the Spirit, to enliven and make effectual those ordinances for the end of their institution, is the prime notion of this administration. And hereof they are the prime objects; all this is for them, and exer- cised towards them. God hath given Jesus Christ to be the " head over all things unto the church, which is his body," Eph. i. 22, 23: he hath made him tlie head over all these spiritual things, committed the authoritative administration of them all unto him, to the use and behoof of the church ; that is, the family of God. It is for the benefit and advantage of the many sons whom he will bring unto glory that he doth all these things, Heb, ii. 10; see Eph. iv. 8-13. The aim of the Lord Jesus in establishing gospel administrations, and admini- strators, is " for the perfecting of the saints, the work of the ministry," etc. All is for them, all is for the family. In that is the faithfulness of Christ exercised ; he is faithful in all the house of God, Heb. iii. 2. Hence the apostle tells the Corinthians, 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23, of all these gospel administrations and ordinances, they are all theirs, and all for them. What benefit soever redoundeth to the world by the things of the gospel (as niTich doth every way), it is engaged for it to the children of this family. This, then, is the aim and intendment of the Lord Christ in the institution of all gospel ordinances and admini- strations,— that they may be of use for the house and flimily of God, and all his children and servants therein.
It is tiTie, the word is preached to all the world, to gather in the children of God's purpose that are scattered up and down in the world, and to leave the rest inexcusable; but the j^rime end and aim of the Lord Christ thereby is, to gather in those heirs of salvation unto the enjoyment of that feast of fat tilings which he hath pre- pared for them in his house.
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Again : they, and they only, have right and title to gospel admini- strations, and the privileges of the family of God, as they are held out in his church according to his mind. The church is the " house of God," 1 Tim. iii. 1 5; Heb. iii. 6; herein he keeps and maintains his Avhole family, ordering them according to his mind and will. Now, who shall have any right in the house of God, but only his children? We will not allow a right to any but our own children in our houses: will God, think you, allow any right in his house but to his children? Is it meet, to " take the children's bread and cast it unto the dogs?" We shall see that none but children have any right or title to the privileges and advantages of the house of God, if we consider, —
(1st.) The nature of that house. It is made up of such persons as it is impossible that any but adopted children should have right unto a place in it. It is composed of " living stones," 1 Pet. ii. 5 ; — a " chosen generation, a I'oyal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people," verse 9 ; — " saints and faithful in Christ Jesus," Eph. i. 1 ; — " saints and faithful brethren," Col. i. 2 ; — a people that are " all righteous," Isa. Ix. 21 ; and the whole fabric of it is glorious, chap. hv. 11—14, — the way of the house is " a way of holiness," which the un- clean shall not pass through, chap. xxxv. 8 ; yea, expressly, they are the " sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty," and they only, 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18; all others are excluded, Bev. xxi. 27. It is true that oftentimes, at unawares, other persons creep into the great house of God ; and so there become in it " not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth," etc., 2 Tim. ii. 20; but they only creep in, as Jude speaks, verse 4, they have no right nor title to it.