Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 4 · Sermon 39
SERMON XXXIX.
Declaring what both by Duty and Priviledge a Son of God is, which he becometh by the New Birth.
JOHN 3. 3.
Verily, Verily, unleſs a man be born again, he cannot ſee the Kingdome of Heaven.
THe true nature of regeneration and the counterfeit thereof being already diſcovered, I ſhall onelyonly inſiſt upon one corollary, which may be deduced from this Doctrinal point, and ſo diſmiſs it. From what therefore hath been delivered, we may by uſe of Inſtruction gather, That ſuch who are regenerated, Corollary from the Doctrine of Regeneration. It makes a man a childe of Godor new born, are thereby become the ſons of God. Thoſe who by natural propagation were children of wrath, by this regeneration are children of Grace. This therefore ſhall be the concluſion I ſhall inſiſt upon by way of inference, viz. That thoſe who are new born, are thereby made the Sons of God. They have God for their Father, and are thereby put into a condition full of Priviledges, as well as of Duties. So that in the handling of this new ſtate of Sonſhip the regenerated perſons are put into, we ſhall ſpeak firſt of the qualification of their Duties, and then of their Priviledges: But before we do ſo, ſome few particulars are to be premiſed. As
Firſt, In being ſons to God there are two things conſiderable.Premiſed particulars. 1. In this Sonſhip are conſiderable,
1. Their right to the glorious inheritance of heaven.
2. Their ſanctified nature whereby they become like God, and imitate him in his holineſs.
For as children of men do partake of their nature, and commonly imitate and repreſent their Fathers in their manners and converſation; So thoſe that are born of God, are ſaid to be Partakers of the Divine nature, and thereby reſemble God, (according to our capacity) being holy, as he is holy. Now in the Sons of God we are to make a great difference between their right to heaven, and their holy nature and converſation.
1. For the former is not grounded upon their regeneration, for that is imperfect, 1. Right to the inheritance with its true ground.and their holineſs being imperfect, doth Recipere magis and minus, doth receive more or leſſe; but this is founded upon their juſtification, and is commonly called, Their adoption. Orthodox and learned Divines differ about the Order of Adoption; ſome make it a grace next to Predeſtination, and ſo before Juſtification; others make it not indeed the ſame with juſtification, but immediately dependent on it, and grounded thereupon: and none but Papiſts make this Adoption, as it doth inveſt us with a Title to eternal Glory, to be built on our regeneration.
2. But then the other conſiderable property in our Sonſhip is, whereby we are 2. Likeneſs to God, with its ground.made inwardly holy, and upon theſe principles act holily: this floweth from our Regeneration; and ſo becauſe of our new birth we are made ſons of God, and are begotten anew by his word, becauſe hereby we reſemble God our Father: For as on the contrary, wicked men are ſaid to be of their Father the Divel, becauſe they do his works; So the Godly are of God their Father, becauſe they reſemble him: He purifieth himſelf, even as God is pure, 1 John 3. 3. So that theſe two carefully diſtinguiſhed, will keep us from proud preſumption on the one hand, and yet be a great incentive to Godlineſſe on the other hand.
Secondly, Conſider that Chriſt is the only and true begotten of God by an eternall 2. The difference between Chriſts ſonſhip and ours.and naturall generation; we are the Sons of God by a temporall, and free gracious generation: So that it is a rule of Divines, Quod Chriſtus naturâ, nos gratiâ, That which Chriſt hath by Nature, we have by Grace. Chriſt is the Son of God, not in that ſenſe as the Socinians, and ſuch blaſphemous Hereticks ſay, Non factus filius Dei, but Natus, Not the made Son of God, but the born ſon of God, and therefore homo…uſial of the ſame nature with God; and in this ſenſe the Phariſees and Jews underſtood him when they charged him with blaſphemy, Making himſelf, as they ſaid, equall with God. It is true that place of the Pſalmiſt, Thou art my ſon, this day I have begotten th…e, Acts. 13. 33. is applyed to his reſurrection, and the manifeſtation, or declaration of his Sonſhip; but thoſe places which ſpeak of Chriſts ſubſiſtency, before he was incarnated, doe evidently argue him ſo to be God, as that he was the ſame with God from all eternity: and the firſt Chap. of Johns Goſpel makes it irrefragably true, notwithſtanding all the Hereticks endeavour to elude it. Well, as Chriſt is thus naturally, ſo thoſe that are regenerated are thus graciouſly, and ſo are ſaid to be co-heirs with Chriſt: though therefore we are begotten of God, yet Chriſt is the firſt-born, and hath the preheminency in all things.
Thirdly, Conſider that we may be ſaid to be the Sons of God in three respects.3. We are Sons of God. 1. As his creatures.
1. As we are creatures, having our being from him: In which ſenſe Paul ſanctifieth that verſe of the Poet, foreign, We are his off-ſpring, Act… 17. 28. What the Poet ſaid of Jupiter, Paul applyeth to the true God. Thus God is a Father by Creation; and all men, even wicked men are his children in this ſenſe; but this is no advantage, for though a man be born of God in this reſpect, yet if he be no more, he ſhall never ſee the Kingdom of heaven. He that made them, will not ſave them, ſaith the Prophet, Eſai 27. 11. Though ye are his creatures, yet having fallen from him to take the Divels character, he will deal no more with you as with his own.
2, There are Sons to God by an externall Covenant, or adminiſtration of Grace. 2. As in an external Covenant.Thus men receiving the outward ſeal of the Covenant of Grace, and ſubmitting externally to thoſe Laws God preſcribes, are called Sons. Thus the people of Iſrael are often called the ſons of God, becauſe of that external adoption, (Of whom is the Adoption, ſaith Paul:) Even as in the new Teſtament believers are called Saints, becauſe of their external profeſſion, though they were not inwardly holy: Out of Egypt have I called my Son, which though principally applyed to Chriſt, yet Typically, as learned men think, it was true of the Iſraelites called by God out of Egypt. Now this Sonſhip is alſo but Nominal and Titular: To have no more of ſons then theſe outward badges, is but an aggravation of hell, and eternal torments, Thus Chriſt ſaith, The children of the Kingdom ſhall be caſt forth, Mat. 8. 12. Oh the terror of this: Many that are now called, and reputed ſo, the ſons of God, and the children of the Kingdom of grace, ſhall be thrown out from all thoſe hopes and expectations they had. Even as among the Iſraelites, though there came ſo many thouſand of them out of Egypt, and you would have thought that all thoſe who enjoyed ſuch miraculous mercies from heaven, ſhould have been made happy: yet two onelyonly of all that number entred into Canaan: So of thoſe many that are called, which have the name and external priviledges of the ſons of God, even few of them will be ſaved,
3. Therefore there are ſons by real Sanctification, as well as federal velation; and 3. As truly ſanctified.theſe are thoſe whom our Saviour meaneth in the Text, and to whom the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven is promiſed. Baptiſm therefore, and the Sacraments do not make you ſons of God, it is this inward work of a new Nature.
Theſe things preſuppoſed, let us conſider as I promiſed, How the ſons of God are qualified?
1. By Duty. And then
2. By priviledge.
By Duty: Firſt, They have the Affections of a ſon in holy fear and reverence: If 1. By duty, ſhewing like affections in holy fear.I be a Father, where is my honour, ſaith God, Mal. 1. 6. If we are to honour our earthly Parents, who give us onelyonly (and that but inſtrumentally neither) a bodily being, how much rather ought we with an holy fear to deport our ſelves before him, who is ſuch an Omnipotent Father, and hath other chaſtiſements even upon the ſoul and heart, which earthly Fathers have not. Now this filial fear is an excellent bridle & check to all that wantonneſs and inſolency we many times run into, through our Fathers goodneſſe and kindneſſe to us: There is a ſervile mercinary fear, and there is a Filial ingenuous fear: the firſt is unworthy and unbeſeeming the ſon of God, but the ſecond is a requiſite condition. Obſerve theu thy ſelf: If thou art a Son of God, What holy trembling and fear will be upon thee in all thy approaches to him? His Word, his Ordinances will cauſe much inward reverence and lowlineſſe of heart in thee: Earthly parents are not Omnipreſent, and ſo cannot be every where with their ſons, which imboldens them to do many things which they would never do, if their parents did behold them, nay they would not for a world their father ever ſhould come to know them. Jacobs children when they had committed that horrible act on their brother Joſeph, all their care was to hide it from their Father: but now God is a Father every where preſent; he is all Eye, There is nothing done in ſeceret, but thy Father ſeeth it. There is no heart-pride, no heartearthlyneſſe, but thy Father ſeeth it. There is never a time thou prayeſt, heareſt the word, but thy Father ſeeth with what frame of Spirit it is. Oh therefore if thou art a Son of God, thou wilt diſcover it in thy whole carriage: a Son feareth the frowns of his Father; I dare not do this; my father will be offended; and I, Whither ſhall I go? Thus the Apoſtle Peter, If ye call him Father, paſſe your ſojourning here with fear, 1 Pet. 1. 17.
Secondly, The Affections of Sons are ſeen in a patient ſubmiſſion to all his chaſtiſtiſements, 2. In ſubmiſſion to chaſtiſements.for who may better afflict thee, then a Father? Whom I love, I chaſten, ſaith God: And the Apoſtle argueth ſtrongly from the leſſe to the greater, If we ſuffer our earthly Parents after the fleſh to chaſtiſe, how much rather the Father of ſpirits, Heb. 12. 9. He is a Father of our ſpirits, and ſo he may chaſtiſe us in them: fill us with darkneſſe, ſadneſſe, trouble, and grief of ſoul. Now this conſideration would greatly quiet the waves and winds which are ready to riſe up in us. What is the ground of all our impatience, diſcontent, and trouble againſt Gods diſpenſations? Is it not becauſe we look not upon him as ſo wiſe, and ſo potent a Father? Who can do it better? Can the Artificer know when his gold hath been enough in the furnace, and he will not let it ſtay a moment longer: and ſhall not God know when he hath chaſtiſed thee enough: If thou hadſt a Child-like diſpoſition, thou wouldſt ſay, although all I feel be bitter, yet he is a Father ſtill. I have been an ill Child, and this makes him a Good Father in chaſtiſing.
Thirdly, The affections of a Son are ſeen in being carried out in all our obedience to him from an inward ſweet principle of love. In this ſenſe they are ſaid, Becauſe 3. In obedience flowing from love.they are the ſons of God, they are not under the Law. Not as if the Law were not a rule to them, but onelyonly they are carryed out to obey it from a fountain of love: even as a dutiful child will obey his Fathers commands, although he had no eſtate, or great inheritance to give him. And thus it is here, Though there were no Heaven or glory to beſtow upon a regenerated perſon, yet he hath that principle of love which would perſwade him to obey God. Thus the Apoſtle, As many as are led by the ſpirit, are the ſons of God, Rom. 8. 14. Such who have the ſpirit of God renewing their natures, and ſo guiding them by the word to their duties, theſe are the ſons of God: Not that it is unlawful for a child of God to have an eye to the reward: for it is ſaid of Moſes, He had an eye to the recompence of reward, Heb. 11. 26. The greek word ſignifieth a fixed intent eye: and every amor mercedis, is not mercenarius, every love of a reward is not mercenary, unleſſe it be wholly and totally for this, being joyned with no love to God at the ſame preſent.
Fourthly, His affections are ſeen in his joy and delight in all thoſe duties whereby 4. Joy and delight in duties.he may have communion with him. John 8. He that is of God, heareth his word. A Son delights to have letters from his Father, to have diſcourſe about him, eſpecially to enjoy his preſence. Truely we have communion with the Father, ſaith the Apoſtle John: O… then, What a diſcovery is this of thy ſonſhip? How art thou affected in praying, in hearing, in all religious duties? They are a conſtant burthen and trouble to thee; this argueth thee to be no ſon of God. Let not therefore vain deluſions carry thee aſide: It is not thy coming to Church, thy ſtanding within Gods Courts, that demonſtrates thee to be of God; but it is an heavenly and ſpiritual joy in theſe approaches. Doth faith work ſtrongly in God as a Father? Doth that improove with much ſweetneſs this relation, and hereupon thy ſoul be enlarged in much fervency of this ſpirit? This is to be the Son of God. Even as the Angels which in Job are called, The Sons of God, with much alacrity and joy delight in Gods preſence.
Fifthly, The Son of God manifeſts himſelf in his hatred and oppoſition unto all ſin; For 5. In hatred of ſin.every creature acteth according to its kinde; the Lamb according to the nature of a Lamb: and thus becauſe he is born of God, he acteth according to a Divine principle, That as God is a God of purer eyes then to behold iniquity, Hab. 1. ſo he is of a purer heart then to love and delight in ſin. He that is born of God ſineth not, neither indeed can he, becauſe the ſeed abideth in him, 1 John 5. 18. All men are divided into theſe two rancks (ſaith Auſtin) they are either Filii Dei, or Filii Diaboli, The Sons of God, or the Sons of the Divel: Now their works will manifeſt them. Art thou a man afraid of ſin, carefully ſtudying to avoid it in thy whole life? Haſt thou no more accord with it, then light hath with darkneſſe? And ſo for wicked men; Thou haſt no love to their company or councel; thou hateſt them with a perfect hatred; thou canſt with no more love and delight be with them, then the Dove among Jays, or the Lamb among the Wolves, then thou haſt a ſure ſign of a Son of God: But if on the contrary, thou art prophane in thy life; thou loveſt thoſe that live diſſolutely; men that damn, ſwear, and prophane the Sabbath; thou art ſo fat from having thy righteous ſoul tormented with hearing and ſeeing ſuch things, as Lots was, as that rather thou rejoyceſt in them, and makeſt much of ſuch: What can be a greater demonſtration that thou art of the Divel then this? If the Divel were to act viſibly in the world, would he not live ſuch a life as this is? Men therefore need not think it ſuch an hard matter to know what they are: They need not ſay, Who will aſcend into heaven to let us know how it is with us? For thy out ward life and way doth proclaim to all the world that thou art of the Divel: And although it would make thy heart ſwell with rage to be called a childe of the Divel, yet know aſſuredly by the Scripture rules, we can give thee no other name. Oh that a multitude of thoſe who call themſelves Chriſtians, ſhould not be aſtoniſhed at theſe things: What to be children of the Divel, to be limbs of Satan? Yet by their works they demonſtrate themſelves to be ſo.
Sixthly, The Sons of God they imitate God their Father in his love and goodneſs … imitation … goodneſs ….to all. Our Saviour amplifieth this excellent property of God, That he cauſeth the Sun to ſhine upon the good and bad, and hence concludeth, Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect, Mat. 5. 48. If we conſider the matter precedent, we ſhould have judged the natural conſequence to be, Be ye patient as your heavenly Father is patient; but becauſe goodneſs even to bad men, to enemies, is the higheſt degree of graces, and as it were the perfection of all, and without which, let a man speak with the tongue of Angels, and work all kind of Miracles, yea be eminent in all matter of Godlineſs, yet be without this, he is not a perfect Chriſtian. Therefore under all the injuries, oppreſſions, and deſperate perſecutions, although revenge, as the heathen ſaid, be ſweeter thou hony it ſelf: yet conſider what God thy Father doth: How do wicked men provoke him every day, yet for all that he doth not make the earth preſently gape to devour them! He hath not put out the glorious light of the Sun: He doth not diſſolve the work of the creation, and blaſt every thing into duſt. What an excellent pattern is this for thee to write after? Eſpecially conſidering vengeance is Gods, and doth properly belong to him: and as you have God, ſo Chriſt alſo for an admirable pattern. Father forgive them, they know not what they do: Though he could have prayed for legions of Angels to deliver him, and deſtroy his adverſaries, yet he ſubmitteth to Gods will. The Scripture giveth many ſigns of Grace, yet none is ſo remarkable and commended as this, Mat. 5. And howſoever ſome Papiſts think, to love our enemies is a meer counſell for perfect men, not a duty to all Chriſtians, yet it is plain our Saviour preſſeth it upon all who would be the children of God: and howſoever this be not ſo much preſſed and preached, we Chriſtians do not among other ſymptomes of Grace look after this, yet it is plain the Scripture makes this one of the chiefeſt, and is a ſign Grace hath great dominion over thee when thou art enabled to do this. Some malicious heathens once met with a Chriſtian, and beat him even unto death almoſt, asking him, What great matter ever Chriſt did? Even this great thing, replieth the Chriſtian, That I can for give you, though you uſe me thus cruelly. I confeſſe many who yet live in their ſins, and diſcover no power of Grace, will yet proclaim their love to their enemies, and that they forgive them with all their hearts: but this is eaſilier ſaid then done; and although we read of heathens who have been admirable in this way, yet they not doing of it by the ſpirit of Chriſt, but from an humane generoſity, obtained thus much onelyonly, That they ſhall he leſs puniſhed then malicious revengefull perſons.
Seventhly, The Sons of God, being born of him, have a more noble and heavenly 7. In being of a noble & heavenly ſpirit.spirit then men of the world. There are men ſo plunged into earthly affairs; that you would think that were true of their ſouls, which the Scriptures ſaith of their bodies, Duſt thou art, and to duſt thou ſhalt return. Theſe are worms (I do not ſay and no men) but no ſons of God. Thou who art born of God, ſhouldſt do things like God. Fortes creantur fortibus, and thus that new birth of thine will not onelyonly lift thee up above ſin, and all ſuch baſe defilements, but even above all earthly temptations. And thy body is not made more upright towards heaven, then thy ſoul is made that way by grace. Hence we are ſaid, To ſit with Chriſt in heavenly places: and as pearls and precious ſtones, though for the matter of them they be of inferiour ſubſtance, yet in their colour, luſtre, and glory, they reſemble the heavens, from whom comes the greateſt influence to make them: Or as the Clouds, though generated from Vapours and exhalations ariſing from the earth, yet in their motions are wholly carried up and down according to the heavens; ſo theſe men though they have earthly bodies, live on the ſame food, breath in the ſame air as others do, yet are formed into the glorious likeneſſe of God; and being ſons of God, diſdain to ignoble and debaſe themſelves by any filthy luſts: As Jacobs ſon, becauſe he was loved had a coat of divers colours beſtowed on him, ſo God beſtoweth ſeveral graces upon his people. The Queens daughter is in curious needle-work, and for her to go and tumble in the mire, is more beſeeming a ſwine then a Queens daughter. Oh then that men who by birth or education being above others, judge it baſeneſs to do ſervile work, would much more abhor ſin as the greateſt vileneſs of all. It is ſin onelyonly makes a man like a beaſt, or a Divel: when therefore thou art ſollicited, or tempted to any ſin, ſay, Remember this is not becoming the ſon of God: though wicked men, and ungodly ones will do thus and thus, yet the children of God are better bred.
In the next place let us conſider their qualification by way of Priviledges, and By priviledges.they are wonderful, in ſo much that John by way of admiration, calls upon all to be aſtoniſhed at it, Behold what manner of love he hath ſhewn, that we ſhould be called the ſons of God, 1 John 3. 1. Let his condition be never …o poor and miſerable in the world, yet if a Son of God, we may ſay, Behold Gods love to ſuch an one! Now their priviledges, Are
Firſt, To be made conformable unto Christ in his ſufferings. This is a ſtrange priviledge, 1. Conformity to Chriſt in his ſufferings.yet the Scripture commends it as one, viz. when for his ſake we are oppoſed and troubled. To you it is given to ſuffer for his name, Phil 1. …9. And bleſſed are ye when all men speak all manner of evil againſt you for my names ſake. And ſo, He hath predeſtinated us to be conformable unto the image of his ſon, Rom. 8. which as the context ſheweth, is ſufferings and tribulations, and we ſhall reign with him, if ſo be we ſuffer with him. Thus they thought it a priviledge, when they glorified God, that they were accounted worthy to ſuffer for his names ſake.
A ſecond priviledge is, The spirit of Adoption, whereby we are enabled to call 2. The ſpirit of Adoption.God Father, Rom 8. Gal. 4. Servants might not call their Mal…e…s Father; but theſe children may appropriate God unto themſelves, ſaying, Our father: Oh what a comfortable condition is this, eſpecially in ſad times, when we cannot ſay any thing is …u…s, yet upon juſt grounds to ſay, God is ours. And having this ſpirit of Acopion, we are thereby enabled to go with boldneſs into the preſence of God. … and ſlaviſhneſs, which is like a torment in the ſoul, is for a great degree quite caſt out. Thou therefore mayſt go with an holy and humble confidence unto God, … ſay, O Lord, to call thee Father, to be aſſured of thy love in particular, this is childrens bread, children are to feed on it: And what Father when his ſon asketh for bread, will give him a Scorpion? O, my Father, Why is it that I have asked for bread ſo long, and yet have a Scorpion? Do not thou then who expreſſiſn the duties of: Son, queſtion the priviledges of a Son: If thou liveſt like a child of God, believe alſo, be …old alſo like a ſon of God.
A third priviledge is, The working of all things together for their good, Rom. 8. 3. The working of all things for good.Being the ſons of God, they are made co-heirs with Chriſt, and by him have every good thing promiſed them, Whether things paſt, or things preſent, life or death, all is yours, 1 Cor. 3. Though men may admire outward honour and dignity in the world, yet certainly this is the ſtate of glory to be ſought for. When men are put into ſuch a relation to God, that now what ever doth befall them ſhall turn to their advantage. They have the promiſe of God, which is better then the Philoſophers ſtone; for this turneth every thing not into gold but into grace and glory. No marvel though Moſes adopted to be a ſon to Pharaohs Daughter, yet refuſeth the pleaſures of Egypt, and accepteth the reproaches of Chriſt before them; for to Phara…h all good things turned to his evil: his greatneſs, his power, his pomp, and all the miracles God did to him, but to Moſes all his evil things proved for his great advantage. Oh then, with what ſpiritual content, and holy ſecurity of ſoul may the ſons of God live in the moſt dangerous times.
The laſt priviledge is, Gods care and protection over them. Fathers treaſure up for their children; and thus they being the ſons of God. God layeth up for them: Our Saviour bringeth this argument to confirm his Diſciples, and in them all believers, againſt ſinful cares, and worldly thoughts, what to do. Your heavenly Father knoweth what you have need of. Oh then in any exigence, in any great ſtrait, ſay, O my Father, though I know not what to do, yet thou doſt: Though I am unworthy to be a ſon, yet thou art gracious and good to be a Father. What encouraged the Prodigal but this, He would go to his Father: that was a ſweet name, and would work ſweet things: If ye who are evil know how to give good things to your children, how much rather ſhall your Father which is in heaven? Oh beloved, wee need no other fountain to draw out water of ſalvation from: we need no other hony comb to ſuck the ſweetneſſe out then this, God is a Father to his Children.
Uſe, Are we by regeneration the ſons of God, and do the ſons of God imitate and reſemble God, holy as he is, pure as he is? Then Who can bewail enough the Uſe.curſed and hopeleſs eſtate of moſt men who live under the Goſpell? How are they affected with this glorious eſtate of ſonſhip? How careful are men to get their Leaſes, their Evidences made ſure about earthly advantages, and not in the leaſt manner carefull to make ſure this heavenly inheritance? And as for their lives, their fruits may make you know what they are. Is it for the ſons of God to wallow in their ſwiniſh luſts? is it for the ſons of God to curſe, ſwear, and blaſpheme the name of their Father? Oh let the heavens be aſhamed, and the ſun bluſh to ſee the wickedneſs committed amongſt us, who yet would be all thought the Children of God. Thou calleſt God Father in thy prayer; Oh blaſphemy! Is God the Father of prophane wicked men?