Twenty-Four Sermons, Sermon 18
SERMON XVIII.
March 9. 1697.
GAL. IV. vi.
And becauſe ye are Sons, God hath ſent forth the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
3. THE Spirits uſual way of evidencing our Sonſhip to us, is nbot by any vocal Teſtimony, or immediate Revelation. Every Servant muſt not look to be as his Lord in this reſpect, who had the Spirit of God viſibly deſcending upon him at his Baptiſm, with a voice from Heaven, ſaying, This is my beloved Son, &c. Matth. 3.16, 17. What ſudden Divine Suggeſtions to this purpoſe, filling the Soul in a moment with extraordinary Joy, may be ſometimes afforded to ſome peculiar Perſons at peculiar ſeaſons, I will not diſpute; it may be, when a Soul is under ſtrong and violent Temptations from Satan, to throw up all its hopes; or after long Attendance upon God in ſome ſoleme ſecret Duties, or before our Entrance upon ſome very difficult and hazardous publick Services; but ſuch things are not commonly to be expected. God does not tie or confine himſelf to ordinary means, but yet he generally makes uſe of them, and works by them. 'Tis poſſible ſome may be wone without the Word, 1 Pet. 3.1. but yet the most are born again by the Word, chap. 1.23. ſo 'tis poſſible, that the Spirit may in ſome caſes reveal himſelf to our Comfort without the Word (though never againſt it) but this is not the Method which he commonly takes.
4. The uſual way of the Spirit in the declaring and confirming of our Sonſhip to us, is by a particular powerful Application of Goſpel Promiſes to us, and an illuſtration of his own Fruits in us.
1. By an Application of Goſpel Promiſes. There are many Promiſes to the ſame Effect with that, 2 Cor. 6.18. I will be a Father to you, and you ſhall be my Sons and Daughters, &c. This avails but little to us, till by a Spirit of Faith we are enabled to take hold of it; 'tis great and precious in it ſelf, but we are not at all the richer, till it is applied and ſet home with a mighty power upon the Soul; then 'tis an ineſtimable Treaſure, a Mine, a Spring of everlaſting Conſolation. The Spirit takes of Chriſt's, and ſhews them unto us; not only Chriſt's things, but Chriſt's words too; and that word among the reſt, John 14.8. I will not leave you comfortleſs, Gr. Orphans. Such a word as this is enough, if he do but imprint it.
2. By an illuſtration of his own Fruits. Theſe are the Marks of our Adoption which the Word refers us to, and ſo the Spirit ſpeaks according to the Word, in helping us to argue from them. As the Grace of God in Truth, is by his Operation, ſo the diſcovery of the Truth of Grace, is by his Light reflected upon it; that Chriſt formed in the Soul may be even felt, as when the Babe leaped in Elizabeth's Womb, at Mary's Salutation, Luke 1.44. The Spirit of God ſubmits his witneſſing Act to be tried by what he hath wrought in us, which is no more diſhonour to him, than it was to Chriſt, who requir'd the Jews to believe him for his Works ſakes, John 14.11. As Jacob's Sons pointed him to the Waggons which Joſeph ſent, for a proof that he was alive, Gen. 45.27.
5. The Spirit of God is very Arbitrary, both in the giving and continuing of his Divine Teſtimony. He is an infinitely free Agent as to both; He ſhines as well as breaths upon whom he pleaſes, and when he pleaſes.
1. The Spirit acts Arbitrarily, after a Sovereign way, in the giving of this Teſtimony concerning our Adoption. The Liberty of the Divine Will appears in the Communication of Grace, and yet more in the diſpenſing of Comfort. The Spirit of God is not at our command, any more than the Wind which Chriſt compaes him to, and which God is ſaid to gather in his Fiſts, Prov. 33.4. and to bring forth out of his Treaſure, Jer. 10.13. He is not ſuch a Witneſs as Men may ſummon and produce to clear and ſtrengthen their Cauſe in Humane Courts, who ſometimes are oblig'd under certain Penalties to appear and give in their Evidence. There can be no neceſſity laid upon him; as God ſometimes holdsl his peace and is ſtill, when he might anſwer by terrible things, ſo the Spirit of God might be ſilent in our Hearts, when he cryes, Abba, Father.
2. The Spirit Acts after the ſame Arbitrary manner in the continuing of this Teſtimony, after 'tis once given. He can weaken and abate it, he can ſuſpend and with-draw it, at his own Pleaſure. He that bears Witneſs at one Time, may not do it at another. Evidences may be darken'd and obſcur'd, which were very bright and plain; hidden Manna, like that in the Wilderneſs, is not conſtantly gather'd every Day; but very often is like that Veſſel, in Peter's Viſion, which was let down thrice to the Earth, And then received up again into Heaven, Acts 10.16. This makes the Ebbings and Flowings in our Hopes and Joys.
6. The Spirits teſtifying of our Adoption is therefore diſtinct from our Adoption it ſelf, and not indiſpenſibly Eſſential to it. The Truth of the Relation does neither include, nor depend upon our Knowledge of that Relation. A Man may be really a Child of God, and not know himſelf to be ſo by the infallible Declaration of the Spirit of God; he may have (as Job had, Chap. 16.19) A Witneſs in Heaven, and a Record on high, and yet want a legible Copy of it in his own Boſom for his preſent Satisfaction. The Spirits witneſſing is not that which makes us the Children of God, but ſuppoſes us to be ſo before; he Witneſſes that we are Children, and therefore we are not the leſs Children, though he ſhould not Witneſs it. We ſhould loſe the Comfort of our Sonſhip very much indeed, but the fundamental Priviledge it ſelf would remain however. Things which for a while are not perceiv'd to be, do not therefore ceaſe to be; we may be taken into the number of the Sons of God, and yet want the Manifeſtation of our being ſuch (Rom. 8.19.) I ſpeak not this to diſcourage any in the leaſt from looking after the clearing up of theſe Matters as much as can be to their own Souls, but to prevent thoſe from being too much diſcouraged, who are yet kept in the dark by God; that they may not conclude poſitively againſt themſelves, but rather take Courage with the Church under the hidings of God's Face; But thou art our Father, Iſa. 64.7, 8.
IV. How is this Priviledge of a Believer's Sonſhip improve'd by the Spirit's help? The Text ſeems to have a ſpecial Reference to Prayer, and to our Challenging and Pleading of this filial Relation in that Duty. I ſhall endeavour the opening of this Point in theſe eight Things.
1. That the Spirit of Chriſt is particularly promis'd and given as a Spirit of Supplication, Zech. 12.10. His Influence is eminently needful in this Service. We ſhould never ſind in our Hearts to Pray one acceptable Prayer to God throughout our Lives, if the Spirit did not put it into our Hearts firſt. We cannot ſpeak to God in any Language which he will hear, upon any occaſion whatſoever, without the Spirits Direction. They are all vain Words, which are not of his Teaching; the froth and ſcum of Man's Invention, which however eſteemed among Creatures here below, bears no Price at all in Heaven. Every Petition which the Father receives, is dictated and drawn up by the Holy Ghoſt. God never inclines his own Ear, but when he thus prepares our Hearts: Except this Advocate be at Work in us, there is no finding of Audience with him. And therefore they that prophanely renounce all Supplication in and by the Spirit (as ſome have done) may as well go a little further, and lay aſide all Supplication in general; for whatever Prayer they pour out, is as Water ſpilt on the Ground.
2. Effectual Prayer, ſuch as the Spirit teaches and helps us in, is put up to God as a Father. Jeſus Chriſt is a Pattern to us; and if we examine the ſtyle of his Prayers, we ſhall find, that they are all grounded upon this Relation. Mat. 11.25. I thank thee, oh Father, &c. which Title is repeated, ver. 26. Even ſo Father, &c. John 12.27. Father, ſave me from this Hour. Father, glorifie thy Name. And no leſs than ſix Times over, Chap 17. Again in the Garden, Mat. 26.39. O my Father, if it be poſſible, &c. Yea, ſome of his laſt Words upon the Croſs were in the ſame ſtrain, when he came to give up the Ghoſt, Luke 23.46. Father into thy Hands, &c. And that we might not think, this was proper and ſuitable to him only, the Directory which he gave to his Diſciples, is ſo likewiſe: After this manner Pray ye, Our Father, &c. Mat. 6.9. When the Scripture ſpeaks of making Supplication to our Judge, Job 9.15. We muſt underſtand it of Praying that he would not deal with us as a Judge, Pſalm 143.2. Enter not into Judgment, &c.
3. The Praying Diſpoſitions of Children are firſt infus'd into them by the Spirit. Every Babe in Chriſt is furniſh'd with them, and as he increaſes in ſpiritual Strength and Stature, they grow up with him. Children naturally apply themſelves to their Parents for what they want, rather than to other Perſons; and this alſo is natural to all the Children of God. 'Tis a part of their new Nature, which is the Work and Product of the Spirit. He that hath not a Divine Principle in him, which leads him to call on the Father, deſerves not to be call'd a Chriſtian. Aſſoon as the Soul is born again, it crys, and its cry is immediately to him whom it is born of. This cry is renewed every Day, ſeveral times in a Day; for there is an Habit of this kind emplanted in the Soul, which puts forth it ſelf in frequent Acts. The Spirit's quickening is always accompanied with inward groaning; ſo that, where no ſuch groans are, we may be ſure that Death hath Dominion ſtill, and the Man hath not begun to Live.
4. The Spirit fills the Mouth with Arguments in the very Act of Prayer, ſuch as are fit to be us'd and urg'd to a Father. Holy and humble Argumentations with God, are truly the very ſinews of Prayer, wherein its great Strength lies. It does not ſo much conſiſt in the bare propoſing of our Requeſts to God, as in the alledging of proper Pleas for God's anſwering and fulfilling of them. Such as that of the Church, Iſa. 63.15. Where is the ſounding of thy Bowels, and of thy Mercies towards me? are they reſtrained? This is Connected with their. Claim of God as a Father in the next Words twice, ver. 16. A fatherly Relation ſpeaks Tenderneſs and Compaſſion, Pſalm 103.13. Like as a Fasther pitieth his Children, &c. Whoever are void of Pity, Fathers are wont to put on Bowels; or if the Fathers of our Fleſh ſhould be unnatural, the Father of our Spirits cannot be ſo; and therefore this was a very apt and agreeable Plea, which the Spirit of God hath Regiſter'd for us. Whatever you need to have done, intreat of God to do, as becomes a Father.
5. The Spirit enables us to go to God as a Father, with Confidence; for whom can Children repair ſo freely to, as to their own Parent? Whom can they with ſo much certainty expect Relief from, as from him that begat them? Therefore as we have Acceſs by one Spirit unto the Father, Eph. 2.18. So we are ſaid to have boldneſs and acceſs; or acceſs with boldneſs, Chap. 3.12. The Command of God is to ask in Faith; to truſt him and depend upon him for the ſeaſonable Accompliſhment of all our regular Deſires; and this dependance is as much our Duty, as Subjection is; and it is every whit as difficult, yea as impoſſible to be perform'd, without the help of the Spirit. 'Tis far eaſier to utter many thouſands of Petitions before God, than to lift up one to him believingly. But when the Soul is ſtrengthen'd with all might by the Spirit in this Duty, all the workings of unbelief are inſtantly ſubdued; Doubts and Fears of our Acceptance and Succeſs are made to vaniſh; like Shadows that fly away upon the Appearance of the Sun.
6. The Spirit inſtructs us how to Addreſs our ſelves to God as a Father with becoming Reverence. There muſt be a mixture of this with our Conſidence, or elſe we abuſe our Priviledge, inſtead of improving it. The ſame Spirit is a Spirit of the fear of the Lord, as well as of Faith, Iſa. 11.2. We are not to make ſo bold with God, as not to ſtand in awe of him. The Freedom which God allows us in his Preſence, is not a rude Familiarity; this is not Child-like, for a Father ought to be reſpected by thoſe that deſcend from him. He muſt be conſider'd as a Superiour, and honour'd accordingly; and the more Kind and Indulgent he is, the more Honour is due. Any behaviour that betrays a ſlight eſteem, or a preſumptuous Contempt of God, is offenſive to him; and they that carry themſelves ſo, have Reaſon to try and condemn the Spirit which they are acted by. He is our Father in Heaven, and we his Children on Earth, Eccleſ. 5.2. He ſits upon a Throne, and we muſt remember that we Worſhip at his Footſtool.
7. The Spirit ſtirs up filial Affection to God in Prayer. This makes it a delightful Exerciſe, as indeed it ſhould be. Do Children count it a burdenſome Task to go to a Father, or are they not rather glad of the Opportunity of Converſe with thoſe that are ſo dear to them? A Slave indeed hath an Averſion to the Preſence of his Lord, as the Bond-woman, When Sarah dealt hardly with her, fled from her Face, Gen. 16.6. But when a Child hath to do with a tender Parent, 'tis quite contrary; 'tis ſweet Employment to pour out the Soul into a Father's Boſom. We ſet about it with Pleaſure, and a Pleaſure which exceeds the Fruition of any Creatures whatſoever. The Spirit of Adoption is a Spirit of Love; and this Love breaths out it ſelf in Holy Deſires to him. The Soul loves to commune with him, for his own ſake, even though we could ſuppoſe; that there were no preſſing occaſion for it; it loves to viſit him not only in Trouble, when Neceſſity drives, but at all other Times, being drawn by internal Motives.
8. The Spirit helps us to Pray with unwearied Fervency. It behoves us ſo to do, when we are dealing with a Father, who will certainly be won and prevail'd upon, how deaf or regardleſs ſoever he may ſeem to be for a Time Dull and ſtupid formality does not ſuit with the Relation wherein we ſtand; where we look for cold Entertainment, 'tis apt to cool our Requeſts; but Eſau's Opinion of his Fathers Favour, made him the more earneſt for his Bleſſing, Gen. 27.34, 38. The Children of God are baptized with Fire, their Hearts burn within them, and it would be ſtrange, if their Words ſhould freeze. Theirs is not an Artificial Zeal, which is quickly ſpent; but a Zeal which holds out, till the deſire comes; and by this means they are always Conquerors; and as 'tis ſaid of I uther (Iſte vir potuit apud Deum quicquid voluit) they can do what they will with God; they will take no denial, but wreſtle and ſtrive, till they have obtain'd. All this is done by the Aſſiſtance of the Spirit of our Father.
V. Ʋſe.
I Information.
1. The Love of God is to be ſeen and admir'd in our Adoption, as much as in any Thing beſides: The Love of the Father in predeſtinating us to it, the Love of the Son, in procuring it for us, and the Love of the Spirit in teſtifying it to us. 'Tis God's loving us as Children, which is the Foundation and Root of all our Love to him as a Father; for his Love deſcends, before ours aſcends. 'Tis marvellous that God ſhould anſwer to any ſuch Name, when we call him by it, and that he ſhould give us any ſuch Name himſelf, the Apoſtle breaks forth into a kind of Ecſtaſie and Raviſhment of Spirit, when he conſider'd it; 1 John 3.1. Behold, what manner of Love the Father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the Sons of God? That in the Place, where it was ſaid to us Gentiles, Ye are not my People, it ſhould be now ſaid, You are the Sons of the Living God? Hoſ. 1.10. Rom. 9.26. Are ſuch vile Prodigals as we, Worthy to be call'd his Sons? Luke 15.21. That cannot be ſuppos'd; nor is it for want of other Objects; that he beſtows this Favour upon us. He hath an Eternal Son, in whom his Soul delighteth, whom he poſſeſt with Infinite Joy before all his Works of Old; or this Favour might have been directed to fallen Angels; but God hath preferr'd us Inferiour Creatures to that which they are excluded from.
2. The Dignity of Believers excels all the Titles of Honour in the World; 'tis of a more glorious Nature, and confirm'd by a greater Teſtimony. By Faith, Moſes refuſed to be call'd the Son of Pharaoh's Daughter, though Pharaoh was a mighty Prince, Heb. 11.24. It pleaſed David to be Son-in-law to the King before he was ſo, but he found little Comfort in it afterwards, 1 Sam. 18.26. Theſe Relations to the greateſt of Men, are poor trifling, mean and empty Things, in Compariſon of Believer's Relation to God. Magiſtrates are called Children of the moſt High, becauſe they bear ſome little faint Repreſentation of God's Authority, Pſalm 82.6. But the leaſt of Chriſt's little ones are God's Children in a ſublimer Senſe. 'Tis Ten Thouſand Times more honourable to be a Child of God, then Lord of the whole Earth.
3. Walking after the Commandments of Men is a very ungrateful requital of God. Certainly we owe moſt Duty, where we receive the greateſt Priviledge; and what can Men do for us, to be compar'd with what God hath done, that we ſhould pay any Homage to them, in Oppoſition to him? 'Tis baſely diſingenuous for Children to regard what others ſay, more than the Injunctions of their own Parents. The Senſe of this unſpeakable Benefit of God's adopting us to himſelf, is enough to reſtrain us from yielding Obedience to Men, that is inconſiſtent with our Obedience to God. This is the meaning and ſcope of that Caution given by Chriſt; Mat. 23.9. Call no Man your Father upon Earth, for one is your Father, which is in Heaven. That one God whoſe Children we are, hath the only Supream Title to our Allegiance.
4. The poſſibility of Aſſurance, one would think, ſhould be without all Controverſie. To call it in Queſtion, is to give the lye to this very Text, and to caſt a blaſphemous Reproach upon the Witneſs of the Spirit. 'Tis matter of rejoicing, to have the ſingle Teſtimony of our own Conſcience for us, 2 Cor. 1.12. For Conſcience (as one ſays) is like a kind of Eccho which makes our ſpiritual Actions reſound, after they are paſt and gone from us; but when we have the concurrent Teſtimony of the Spirit of God, this makes our Joy a great deal more full, Rom. 8.16. The Spirit it ſelf beareth Witneſs with our Spirit, that we are the Children of God. The Spirit is more preſent and converſant with the Soul, than the Soul with it ſelf, and is better acquainted with its State; He knows every Child of God by Name, and therefore is beſt able to make us know, if we are ſuch; if an Angel from Heaven were ſent to tell us, it would not be ſo ſure, The Spirit that beareth Witneſs of thoſe things, is Truth in the abſtract, 1 John 5.6. Some may be deluded by a lying Spirit, inſtead of him, but does it follow, that there muſt be no Perſuaſion which comes of him that call us? Becauſe there are Counterfeits in the World, are there no Realities? So, the Aſſurance of the ſtrongeſt Believer's may not be compleat perhaps, but is it therefore not true? Our Graces, the Fruits of the Spirit, are all imperfect, but that does not make them falſe and feigned; and Perfection in Comfort is above the ſtandard of this Life, as well as in Holineſs.
II. Exhortation.
1. Enquire into your own Adoption. 'Tis not a Priviledge common to all, ſee whether you have juſt Cauſe to apprehend that 'tis yours. The World hath a mixt Multitude in it; there are Sons of Belial, and Children of the Devil, as well as of God, 1 John 3.10. There are Strangers and Dogs, as well as Children. And there be many who are called the Children of God, and are not ſo indeed; being ſuch only by viſible external Profeſſion, as they were, Gen. 6.2. We deceive our ſelves, if we are ſatisfied with this, for this will be of no more Advantage to us, than the National Adoption which once belong'd to the Jews, is uſeful to them; with Reſpect to which the Apoſtle poſitively ſays, They which are the Children of the Fleſh, are not the Children of God, Rom. 9.8. Think not that 'tis enough to be Chriſtians outwardly (any more than to be Jews outwardly) but look after a real Change of State.
2. Apply your ſelves to God for this Benefit, if yet destitute of it. Conſider what miſerable helpleſs Creatures you are in your preſent Caſe, like a wretched Infant that is cast out into the open Field, in the Day that it is born, Ezek. 16.5. Go and bemoan your Caſe at the Foot of God; And as Abraham ſaid to him, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, ſeeing I go Childleſs, Gen. 15.2. You may much better ſay, what wilt thou give me, ſeeing I go Fatherleſs? What canſt thou give that I can receive any Comfort in? Tell him, that you can never call your ſelves Happy, till you can call him Father, and that you deſire nothing beſides this, in Compariſon of it. The Chief of Sinners may take Encouragement from that bleſſed Text, Jer. 3.19. Juſtice ſeems to argue againſt it in the former Part of the verſe, and Mercy concludes for it in the latter.
3. Take heed of grieving the Spirit, you who have this Benefit, that you may not loſe the comfortable Senſe of it. This depends upon his ſealing Work; and therefore provoke and offend him not, if you would keep the Impreſſion clear, Eph. 4.30. Two Things are eſpecially grievous to the Spirit, which we ſhould beware of, neglecting his Motions, and oppoſing his Teſtimony.
1. Neglecting his Motions. When he ſtirs us up to ſeeking of God, and any Act of Communion with him, we ſhould ſtir up our ſelves. It is a part of the Character of God's Children, to regard the Spirit's Conduct, Rom. 8.14. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, &c.
2. Oppoſing his Testimony. The indulging of unbelief in our own Hearts, is a Contradiction to the Spirit's Witneſs. He is ſent forth to cry, Abba, Father, unbelief ſays nay, God is not ſo unto me. It will be helpful to Souls in ſuch Temptations, to look to God as the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, for this will bring them to Eye him as theirs alſo. See John 20.17. Eph. 1.2, 3. That Promiſe ſeems to concern both Chriſt and the Believer too; Pſalm 89.26. He ſhall cry unto me, thou art my Father, &c. You may venture to ſay that after Chriſt, which otherwiſe you could not.
4. Evidence the Truth of your Sonſhip unto others. Make it appear that there is indeed a ſubſtantial Difference between you and the Children of this World in every Thing that hath a reſpect to Sin and Duty. If you do as others do, they will have Reaſon to ſuſpect that you are not what you pretend to be. The Jews were not to disfigure themſelves, like other People, becauſe they were the Children of the Lord their God, Deut. 14.1. Let your ſpot therefore be the ſpot of his Children; let his Image be ſeen upon you, as well as his Name, that you may (like them, Judg. 8.18.) Reſemble the Children of ſuch a King. You muſt be Followers, and Imitators of God, Eph. 5.1. Or elſe you will give occaſion to Men to think you a ſpurious Brood. You muſt be blameleſs and harmleſs, and without rebuke (exemplary and inoffenſive) in the midst of a perverſe Nation; for ſo are the Sons of God, Phil. 2.15. Diſorderly Children are a ſhame and ſcandal to their Parents; therefore Credit the Relation wherein you ſtand, by a ſtrict and regular Deportment. Particularly,
1. By a ſober and thankful uſe of every Mercy. Wanton Prodigals that waſt their Subſtance and miſpend their Portion, are a diſhonour to God's Family, and deſerve to be renounc't. Your Father expects that all which is given by him, ſhould be improved for him. Men reckon it barbarous and unnatural, if their Children turn Rebels againſt them with the Eſtates which they beſtow upon them.
2. By a patient and humble bearing of every Affliction. Not that a Fathers Anger is a Light thing, and to be deſpis'd; they muſt be very profligate that think ſo; but all his Rebukes ſhould be receiv'd with great Submiſſion. Nor muſt they drive us from him, but make us come the nearer, and cling the faſter to him; conſidering that God's Corrections endur'd in a right Manner, are Proofs of our Legitimacy, Heb. 12.6, 7, 8.
3. By a reconcileable and forgiving temper towards the worst of Men. Mat. 5.9. Bleſſed are the Peace-makers, for they ſhall be called the Children of God. So ver. 44, 45. Love your Enemies, bleſs them that Curſe you, do good to them that Hate you, &c. That you may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven, &c. For this is to tranſcribe his Pattern, and do as he does.
4. By living in Love with all our Holy Brethren. They do not walk worthy of ſuch a Relation as this is, that ſhew any Unchriſtian bitterneſs, or unreaſonable ſtrangeneſs towards thoſe that are of the ſame ſtock with themſelves. Let us check our ſelves in this Caſe with thoſe Words of the Prophet, Mal. 2.10. Have we not all one Father? Why do we then deal treacherouſly every Man against his Brother? To Conclude, Brotherly Kindneſs is the neceſſary Duty of all God's Children, and a neceſſary Token to convince all others that we are ſo.