Sermons Volume 2, Romans 8 · Sermon 23
SERMON XXIII.
ROM. VIII.15.
But ye have received the Spirit of Adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
IN the Words we have,
1. A Priviledg, Ye have received the Spirit of Adoption.
2. One special fruit and effect of it, Whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
In setting down the effect, the change is emphatical; ye received, we cry; He includeth himself, and puts in his own name, together with theirs, to shew, that it is a Priviledg common to all that receive the New Testament; the meanest and least of Gods Children have an affectionate and childlike way of praying unto God.
Doct. That the spirit which we receive under the new Covenant dispensation, is a spirit of Adoption.
I shall explain these Five Things.
1. The state of Adoption, which we obtain under the New Testament.
2. The spirit of Adoption, consequent thereupon.
3. Whether all that live under the New Testament Dispensation, have the spirit of Adoption.
4. Whether all that have it, know it.
5. The reasons why this is the fruit of the new Covenant Dispensation.
1. What is the state of Adoption? Our admission into Gods family, that he will be a Father to us, and we shall be his children, 2 Cor. 6.18. I will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Which is a great priviledg, if we consider Three Things, 1. His Relation to mankind in the general: 2. His Relation to the ancient Church under the legal Covenant: 3. The estate wherein his Grace found us, when he was pleased to take us into his family.
1. His Relation to mankind in general; So he is the Father of all the world, as he created them, and Adam is called the Son of God, Luke 3.18. He is a father to any, who giveth them being, and hath a right to govern them; so is God to us, he made us, and is the sole cause of our being and not being, and so hath a right in us to dispose of usat his own pleasure: But the Relation that we have to God by Creation, is distinct from the natural Being; this is our new Being, which we have from him as his redeemed ones; our natural being flowed from his benignity and common bounty, but our spiritual being from his special Grace and Love to us in Christ. By creation we are his children, as he formed us in the womb, and created the soul within us; called therefore the father of spirits, Heb. 12.9. in opposition to the fathers of our flesh; but he is our father by Adoption, as we are regenerated by the Holy Ghost, John 1.12, 13. To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God; being born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Our new birth and spiritual being in Christ, is the next ground of our Adoption, and so we come into a nearer relation to him, that we may be capable of receiving the fruits of his special love; 'tis the benefit of our Redemption applied by his sanctifying spirit to all them that shall be heirs of life: By the common Relation, God hath a title to our dearest love, but we have no title to his highest benefits; and therefore he is our Father in a more comfortable sense, as we are his workmanship in Christ.
2. His relation to the ancient Church through the legal Covenant: So God was a Father to them, and they his children; for Israel was called his first-born, Exod. 4.22. in opposition to other Nations who were left to perish in their own ways: And their descendants are called the children of the Kingdom, Matth. 8.12. because they had the ordinances and means of grace; but the Gospel-church is properly the church of the first-born, Heb. 12.23. As they have a clearer knowledg of the priviledges belonging to Gods children, and a larger participation, and more comfortable use of them, and so are freed from that rigour and servitude, which belonged to the first administration of the covenant of Grace; they have that which answereth the priviledg of primogeniture, jus sacerdotis & jus haereditatis; the right of Priesthood, as they are a royal Priesthood, 1 Pet. 2.9. Made Kings and Priests unto God, Rev. 1.5. Because they offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. 2.5. They are separated by the Election of God from the rest of the world, and have an unction from his Holy Spirit, 1 John 2.20. And so are qualified to offer up themselves, Rom. 12.1. and Prayers and Praises, and Alms unto God, Heb. 13.15, 16. The other Priviledg of the birth-right is, jus hereditatis; the first-born had a double portion, not only of possessions, but of Dignity and Honour above their brethren: All Gods children are heirs, and heirs of the Heavenly inheritance; the multitude of co-heirs doth not lessen the inheritance, nor make the Priviledg less glorious: They are heirs of Salvation, Heb. 1.14.
3. The estate wherein his Grace found us, when he was pleased to take us into his family. We were by nature children of Wrath, wretched children, Eph. 2.3. that had deprived our selves of the inheritance, wasted our Patrimony, forfeited our right to the Promises; but our inheritance is redeemed, and the forfeiture taken off by Christ; and we are brought back again into the family; dignified with the priviledges of the first-born, made Priests unto God; and above all his other creatures do become his special Portion, Jam. 1.18. Of his own will begat he us, to be a kind of first fruits to his creatures. And made heirs of the Kingdom, Jam. 2.5. Now for us to have the Blessed God, whom we had so often offended, to become our reconciled Father in Christ: Oh what wonderful love is this! That we should be admitted into the Church of the first-born, have free liberty to worship God, and have a right to such a blessed and glorious inheritance!
2. What is the spirit of Adoption? First, We are made sons, and then we have the spirit of his Son, Gal. 4.6. Being adopted into Gods Family, we have a spirit suitable: They that use to adopt children, give them some kind of token, to express their love; so here is a gift answerable to the dignity of our estate, and the love of a Father, and that is the gift of the spirit; the dignity is inward and spiritual; and the gift answereth it: He hath sent the spirit of his Son into your hearts: God would not distinguish the good … na fall about the Tents of Israel, and the people will not go for to gather it to fill their Homer, they may starve. Tho the Bread of Heaven be dispensed by such a liberal provision, the Spirit is ready, but they are lazy: The Spirit, by accident, is a cause of servile fear; but these Motions are his proper effects.
2. A superficial Christianity is rewarded with common gifts, but the real Christianity with special Graces. All that profess the Faith, and are baptized into Christ, Gal. 3.26, 27. are visibly adopted by God into his Family, and are under a visible Administration of the Covenant of Grace. So far as they are adopted into God's Family, so far they are made partakers of the Spirit. Christ giveth to common Christians those common gifts which he giveth not to the Heathen World; knowledg of the mysteries of godliness, abilities of utterance, and speech, about spiritual and heavenly things; some affection also to them, called, tasting of the good Word, the heavenly Gift, and the powers of the World to come, Heb. 6. These will not prove us true Christians, or really in Gods special favour, but only visible professed Christians.
3. Among the sincere, some have not the spirit of adoption at so full a rate as others have; neither so pure and fervent a love to God, nor such a respectful obedience, and submission to him; nor such an Holy confidence and boldness, becoming that great happiness which they are called unto, who have the right and hope of the Blessed inheritance, and so not so much of that son-like disposition, which the spirit worketh by revealing the Love and Mercy of God, contained in the Gospel, in the Hearts of his People; some do more improve their priviledges, than others do; now they cannot rationally expect the best and richest Fruits of this gift, and to be inabled and inlarged by the spirit, who do not give such ready entertainment and obedience to his motions, as the more serious and fruitful Christian doth.
4. But do all that have it, know that they have it? I Answer.
1. The spirit of adoption is in some weak, and therefore not so perceptible as it is in others; for small and weak things, are hardly discerned. All Gods Children have the spirit of adoption in the effects, though not in the sense and feeling of it. They have the spirit of comfort, though not the comfort of it; for if any have not the spirit of Christ, they are none of his, Rom. 8.9. The Witness of his spirit is spoken of, as distinct from receiving the spirit, v. 16. There is a Child-like inclination and impression left upon them, tho they know it not, own it not. There is a difference between the thing its self, and the degree; we cannot say, we have not the spirit of adoption, because we have not so much of this spirit, calming our hearts, rebuking our fears, and filling us with joy and peace in believing. The spirit was given to Christ without measure, but to Christians in a different measure and proportion, as they yield up themselves more or less to the conduct of his grace, and overcome the enemies of their peace, the Devil, the World, and the Flesh; the impression is left upon some in a smaller, upon some in a larger character; all are not of a growth and size; some are more real Christians, others only foreign eminent grace will more discover its self, than a little grace under an heap of imperfections; a fervent love will be felt, and a lively hope of Heaven demonstrate its self, and an exact obedience less liable to dispute; as we increase in Love, and Heavenly mindness, so the spirit discovereth his presence in us.
2. Where the spirit of adoption acteth at the lowest rate, there is something to difference it from the spirit of bondage.
1. They are carried on to wait upon God, upon Gospel grounds; though they cannot apply the comforts, and enter themselves heirs to the priviledges thereof; some know they are of the truth, and can make out their title with clearness and satisfaction, 1 John 3.14. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him; others depend on Gods general offer, while their claim and sincerity is as yet questionable: God offereth to be a Father in Christ to all penitent believers, and so we are incouraged to come to him by Christ: the Apostle telleth us, Heb. 7.19. That the gospel brought in a better hope, by vertue of which we draw nigh to God. There is a Child-like inclination, when there is not a Child-like familiarity and boldness; the soul cannot keep away from God, but will come to him that he may pardon our sins, and heal our souls, and save our persons; now this is the spirit of adoption in the lower, or more obscure way of addressing our selves to God as a Father.
2. There are child-like groans, as well as child-like comforts, compare Rom. 8.26. The spirit it self maketh intercession for us, with sights and groans, which cannot be uttered; with 1 Pet. 1.8. In whom though now you see him not, yet believing, ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. In some the spirit only discovereth himself by hungring and thirsting after righteousness; in others he worketh peace, which passeth all understanding, and joy unspeakable and full of glory.
3. There is a child-like reverence, when there is not a child like confidence. They are affraid to offend their Heavenly Father, though they cannot challenge all the fruits and effects of his Fatherly love, as belonging to them; when they cannot own him as a Father with delightful confidence, yet they dare not offend him; for all Gods Children have a Child-like love to him, when they have not a full sense and assurance of his paternal love to them; for he hath a title to our dearest love, before we can make out a title to his benefits; now they that love God, hate evil; Psal. 97.10. are tender of omitting any duty, or committing any offence; where there is this Holy awe, there is a spirit of adoption; 'tis an owning of God as a Father, 1 Pet 1.17. If ye call on the Father, &c. And therefore this reverence we call filial fear.
4. The heart is carryed out to heavenly things, though we cannot call them ours. All that are children, do look after a childs Portion; there is a twofold hope, First, an hope which is the effect of regeneration, 1 Pet. 1.3. And an hope which is the effect of experience, Rom. 5.4. Now this puts a difference between the spirit of Bondage, and the servile mercenary spirit, when the currant of thine affections is carried out after the eternal inheritance; servants and mercenaries must have pay in hand, they covenant with you from day to day, or from quarter to quarter, or from year to year; a child in the Family tarryeth for a Childs Portion, Math. 6.4. When thou dost thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee as … hypocrites do in the synogogue, and in the street; they have their reward foreign present wages they look for, discharge God from other things; if he wi…l give them the honour and pleasure of the world, they are satisfied and look for no more.
5. Why this is the fruit of the new covenant dispensation? There are three things which must not be severed, 1. The object. 2. A powerful agent. 3. The disposition of the subject thence resulting.
1. There is an object, and that is the Gospel offering pardon and life, reconciliation with God, and the everlasting fruition of him in Glory. In the Gospel or new covenant, we have the highest discovery of Gods Fatherly goodness, that he might be more amiable and lovely to us, and be loved by us; the great end of reconciling and saving lost man by Christ▪ his wonderful condescention in his incarnation, life, sufferings and death, was to commend his love to us, Rom. 5.8. Herein God commended his love to us, in that when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. To this end also tend his merciful covenant and promises, that we might not look upon God as a condemning Judg, but as a gracious and reconciled Father, offering to be so to all that will accept Christ, and submit to him. God would not immediately beget this perswasion in our minds, by his own secret power, but use this objective means, work upon our love by love, because he will work on man agreeably to the nature of man; his covenant shall speak him a Father, that we may apprehend him as a Father.
2. There is an internal powerful agent, and that is the spirit. Besides the external objective means, there must be an internal effective cause; for though Gods Fatherly love doth shine resplendently without us, in the person of the Mediator, and the riches of the Gospel; yet the dead and dark heart of man is not affected with it, John 1.5. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not, till God shine into our Hearts, 2 Cor. 4.6. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Unless this Doctrine of Gods Fatherly Love and Grace, be accompanied with his illuminating, Sanctifying, Comforting Spirit, who sheds abroad this Love in our Hearts which is revealed in the Gospel.
3. The disposition thence resulting from the application of this object to us by the spirit: such as the object is, such are the affections stirred up in us; as by Law-truths the spirit worketh conviction, terrors of conscience, legal contrition, Acts 2.37. and thence Bondage ariseth; so by the Gospel, where God is represented as the Father of Mercies, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in him our God and Father; the Impression must be suitable; this Spirit that worketh by the Gospel, must needs be the Spirit of Adoption, or such a Spirit as worketh a Child-like disposition in us, for the Impression must always be according to the stamp.
1. USE, To perswade us to look after the spirit of adoption; we never do seriously and closely christianize, till we get it, but either have a literal Christianity, a form of knowledg in the Gospel, without the Life and Power; or a legal Old Testament Spirit. To quicken you, consider these Motives or Priviledges which you will have by it.
1. Peace of conscience, Or a rest from those troubled and unquiet thoughts, which otherwise would perplex us, Rom. 14.17. For the Kingdom of God is not meat, and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; and Rom. 15.13. Now the God of hope, fill you with all joy, and peace in believing. This calm of mind differeth from the deadness and benummedness of a stupid conscience; that's a thing we never laboured for, groweth upon us we know not how; 'tis maintained by idleness, rather than by Watchfulness and Diligence; and is inconsistent with serious thoughts of God, and our eternal condition; but this is the fruit of our reconciliation with God, and those Blessed priviledges we injoy in his Family, it stirreth up admiration and thankfulness.
2. Liberty in Prayer. For the great help we have in Prayer, is from the Spirit of Adoption, Zech. 12.10. I will pour out upon you the spirit of grace and supplication. That Spirit which cometh from the Grace and free Favour of God, stirring up Child like addresses to God, Rom. 8.26. Jude. 21. Building up your selves on your most holy faith, Praying in the Holy Ghost. Without this, our Prayers are but a vain babling.
3. Readiness in duty, 2 Cor. 3.17. Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. They serve God with a free spirit; the Holy Life is carried on with more sweetness and success, not by compulsion, but with ready mind, Psal. 51.12. Vphold me with thy free spirit, John 8.32. If the truth shall make you free, then are you free indeed; men are under shackles and Bondage if they have not the Spirit of Adoption, they drive on heavily, have not largeness of heart, and love to God, Heaven, and holiness, Psal. 119.32. I will run the ways of thy commandments, when thou shalt inlarge my heart. When the heart is suited to the work, there needs no other urgings: but if we force a course of Religion upon our selves, contrary to our own inclination, all is harsh, and ingrate, and cannot hold long.
4. Comfort in afflictions. Their true consolation and support in afflictions, is the Spirit of Adoption, Heb. 12.5. Have you forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children? and therefore he pursueth it all along. They that injoy the priviledges of the Family, must submit to the discipline of the Family; God will take his own course in bringing up his Children, he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth, Heb. 12.6, 7, 8. while we have flesh in us, there is use of the rod; if God should suffer us to go on in our sins, we were not legitimate, but degenerate Children; Children take it patiently if beaten by their Parents for their faults, Pro. 9.10. Parents may err through want of wisdom, their chastisement is arbirtary, and irregular; there is more of compassion, than passion in God. Gods rod is regulated with perfect Wisdom, ordered by the highest love, and tends to the greatest end, our Holiness here, and Happiness for ever; and we have Christs example, John. 18.11. The cup which my father hath given me, shall I not drink it? The bitterest Potions came not from God as a Judg, but as a Father; are tempered by a Fathers hand.
5. Hope of the benefits of the new Couenant, pardon and life. 1. Pardon. We often forget the duty of Children, but God doth not forget the Bowels of a Father; our Adoption giveth us hope, that he will not deal severely with us, Mal. 3.17. Psal. 103.13. The relation of a Child is more durable, not so easily broken off, as that of a servant: a Child is a Child still, and therefore allowed to remain in the family, when a servant must be gone. Secondly, For life everlasting, and Glory, Rom. 8.17. And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him, 1 John 3.1, 2. The Spirit of Adoption doth both incourage, and incline us to wait for it, Rom. 8.2, 3. But what shall we do to get this Spirit of Adoption?
1. 'Tis certain that the gift of the spirit, is the fruit of our reconciliation with God; the general reconciliation with mankind, was evidenced by pouring out the Spirit. Personal and particular reconciliation with God, is the ground of giving the Spirit of Adoption to us, Rom. 5.11. We joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the Atonement. Therefore do what God requireth in order to reconciliation; enter into conditions of peace, enter into Covenant with God, abhor your former disobedience, cast away the weapons of defiance, and love God, and delight in him.
2. Steep your minds in frequent thoughts of Gods fatherly goodness, 1 John 3.1. Behold what manner of love is this, that we should be called the sons of God! Consider it, and admire it!
2. USE, Reflection. Have we the Spirit of Adoption? 'Tis known,
1. By a kind of naturalness to come to God, and open our hearts to him; in all our wants go and cry Abba Father: The spirit of Adoption much worketh, and discovereth its self in prayer; to cry to our Father, is an act becoming the Sons of God; the manner is fervent, affectionate; this cry is not by the tongue, but by the heart, Exod. 13.14 The Lord needeth no interpreter between him and the hearts of his children; he that heareth without earts, can interpret our desires, tho not uttered by the tongue; desires are strong cries, Psal. 10.17. Thou hast heard the desires of the humble, Psal. 38.9. Lord! all my desire is before thee, and my groaning is not hid from thee: This crying is opposite to that careless formality and deadness, which is in other mens prayers; this crying to God, as one that is able and ready to help us, is a great fruit of the spirit of Adoption; 'tis a childlike boldness.
2. A childlike ingenuity in the course of obedience to him; both in our abstaining from sin (as the Rechabites are an Emblem, Jer. 35.6. We dare not break the commands of our father): And in a ready diligence in our obedience, 2 Cor. 5.14. The love of God constraineth us; for we thus judg, if one dyed for all, then were all dead, &c. The Will of our Father is instead of all Reasons; Christ ever urged this, This is the will of my Father, John 6.26, 38. So to Christians, 1 Thes. 5.18. This is the will of God in Christ concerning you. 1 Thes. 4.3. This is the will of God, even your sanctification: That's enough, beyond all enforcements.
3. As to the inheritance, they are very chary of it, and will not hazzard the hope and comfort of it upon easie terms, Heb. 12.16. Let there not be found a prophane person, as Esau, who sold his birth-right for a mess of pottage, 1 Kings 21.3. And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my Father to thee.
3. USE is Direction to us in the Lords Supper: This is the seal of the new Covenant; the Table which God keepeth for the entertainment of his family, the feast for souls; Gods Children are sure of Welcome; 'tis childrens bread we eat; we come hither both to remember the grounds of our Adoption, and to receive the comfort of it; we come to meditate on the fatherly love of God, and to get a new tast and experience of it in our own souls; here we have special communion with him as children with a Father; we come for a further participation of the spirit, for we all drink into one spirit, 1 Cor. 12.13. Here we look up unto God, and in our hearts cry, Abba, Father: We bind our selves also to perform the duty of children, by new resolution to submit to his fatherly government, both in his Laws and Providences; to his commanding and disposing will, and lift up our hope for the eternal inheritance.