Of Communion with God, Part 2 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Of Communion with Christ in priviledges: of Adoption: the nature of it: the consequents of it: peculiar priviledges attending it: Liberty, Title; Boldnesse, Affliction, Communion with Christ hereby.
THe third-thing wherein we have communion with Christ is Grace of Priviledge before God: I meane as §. 1 the third head of purchased Grace. The priviledges we enjoy by Christ, are great and innumerable. To insist on them in particular, were work for a mans whole life, not a designe to be wrapped up in a few sheets. I shall take a view of them only in the Head, the spring and Fountain whence they all arise and flow. This is our Adoption. Beloved, now we are the Sons of God. 1 Ioh. 3. 2. This is our great and fountain priviledge. Whence is it that we are so? it is from the Love of the Father, v. 1. Behold, what love the Father hath given unto us, that we should be called the sons of God. But by whom immediatly doe we receive this honour? As many as believe on Christ, he gives them this power to become the Sons of God, Ioh. 1. 12. Himselfe was appointed to be the first borne among many brethren, Rom: 8. 29. and his taking us to be brethren, Heb. 2. 11. makes us become the Children of God. Now that God is our Father, by being the Father of Christ, and we his children, by being the brethren of Christ, being the head and summe of all the honour, priviledge, right, and Title we have, let us a little consider the nature of that act, whereby we are invested with this state and title; namely our Adaption.
Now Adoption is the Authorative translation of a Believer by Jesus §. 2 Christ from the family of the world and Satan, into the family of God, with his investiture in all the priviledges, and advantages of that Family.
To the compleat Adoption of any person, these five things rre required. §. 3
1. That he be actually, and of his own right, of another family, then that whereunto he is adopted. He must be the son of one family or other in his own right, as all persons are.
2. That there be a Family unto which of himselfe he hath no right, whereinto he is to be grafted. If a man comes into a family upon a personall right, though originally at never so great a distance, that man is not adopted. If a man of a most remote consanguinity, doe come into the inheritance of any family by the death of the neerer heires, though his right before were little better then nothing, yet he is a borne son of that Family, he is not adopted. He is not to have the plea of the most remote possibility of succession.
3. That there be an Authoritative legall translation of him, by some that have power thereunto, from one family into another. It was not by the Law of old, in the power of particular persons, to adopt when, and whom they would. It was to be done by the Authority of the Soveraigne power.
4. That the adopted person be freed from all the obligations that be upon him unto the family, from whence he is translated: otherwise he can be no way usefull, or serviceable unto the family, whereinto he is engrafted: He cannot serve two masters, much lesse two Fathers.
5. That by vertue of his Adoption, he be invested in all the rights, Priviledges, Advantages, and Title to the whole inheritance of the family into which he is adopted, in as full and ample manner, as if he had been borne a son therein.
Now all these things and Circumstances doe concurre, and are found in the Adoption of believers.
1. They are by their own originall right of another family, §. 4 then that whereinto they are adopted. They are by Nature the children of wrath, Eph. 2. 3. Sons of wrath: of that family whose inheritance is wrath; called the power of darknesse, Col. 1. 13. For from thence doth God translate them into the Kingdome of his deare Son. This is the family of the world and of Sathan, of which by nature believers are. What ever is to be inherited in that family; as wrath, curse, death, Hell, they have a right thereunto. Neither can they of themselves, or by themselves get free of this family: a strong man armed, keeps them in subjection. Their naturall estate is a family condition, attended with all circumstances of a family; family duties and services; rights and titles; Relations, and observances. They are of the black family of sinne, and Satan.
2. There is another family whereinto they are to be translated, §. 5 and whereunto of themselves, they have neither right nor title. This is that family in heaven and earth, which is called after the name of Christ. Eph. 3. v. 15. The great family of God: God hath an house, and family for his children, of whom, some he maintaines on the riches of his grace, and some he entertaines Heb. 5. 6.with the fullnesse of his glory. This is that house whereof the Lord Christ is the great dispenser, It having pleased the Father to gather in one all things in him, both which are in heaven, and which are in earth, even in him Ephes 1. v. 10. Herein live all the Sons and daughters of God, spending largely on the Riches of his Grace. Unto this family of themselves they have no right, nor Title: they are wholly alienated from it. Eph. 2. 12. and can lay no clayme to any thing in it. God driving fallen Adam out of the Garden, and shutting up all wayes of Returne with a flaming sword ready to cut him off, if he should attempt it; abundantly declares that he, and all in him, had lost all right of approaching unto God, in any family relation. Corrupted, cursed nature is not vested with the least right to any thing of God: therefore
They have an Authoritative translation from one of these families §. 6 to another. It is not done in a private underhand-way, but in the way of Authority. Ioh: 1, 12. to as many as received him, he gave power to become the sons of God. Power, or Authority. This investing them with the power, excellency, and right of the Sons of God, is a forensicall act, and hath a legall proceeding in it. It is called the making us meet for the inheritance of the Saints in light, Col. 1. v. 12. A Judiciall exalting us into Rom. 8. 29. Heb. 2. 12.membership in that family, where God is the Father, Christ the elder Brother, all Saints and Angells Brethren and fellow children, and the inheritance a Crowne immortall and incorruptible, that fades not away.
Now this Authoritative translation of Believers from one family into another, consisteth of these two parts. §. 7
1. An effectuall Proclamation and declaration of such a persons immunity from all Obligations to the former family, to which by Nature he was related, And this declaration hath a threefold object.
1. Angells: It is declared un to them, they are the Sons of God. They are the Sons of God, and so of the family whereunto Job. 1. 16. 38. 7. Heb. 12. 22, 23, 24. Revel. 22. 9.the adopted person is to be admitted, and therefore it concernes them to know, who are invested with the rights of that family, that they may discharge their duty towards them; unto them then it is declared, that Believers are freed from the family of sinne, and hell, to become fellow Sons, and servants with them: and this is done two waies.
1. Generally by the doctrine of the Gospell, Eph. 3. 10. Unto the principalities, and powers in heavenly places is made known by the Church, the manifold wisdome of God.
1. By the Church is this wisdome made known to the Angells: either as the doctrine of the Gospell is delivered unto it, or as it is gathered thereby. And what is this Wisdome of God, that is thus made known to principalities and powers? It is that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body with us, v. 6. The mystery of Adopting sinners of the Gentiles, taking them from their slavery in the family of the World, that they might have a right of heirship, becoming Sons in the family of God, is this wise. dome thus made known. And how was it primitively made known? It was revealed by the spirit unto the Prophets and Apostles, v. 5.
2. In Particular by Immediate Revelation. When any particular soule is freed from the family of this World, it is revealed to the Angells. There is joy in the presence of the Angells of God (that is among the Angells, and by them) over one sinner that Repenteth, Luke 15. v. 10. Now the Angells cannot of themselves absolutely know the true Repentance of a sinner in it selfe. It is a work wrought in that Cabinet, which none hath a key unto but Jesus Christ: by him it is revealed to the Angells, when the peculiar care, and charge of such an one is committed to them. These things have their transaction before the Angels, Luk. 12. v. 8, 9. Christ ownes the names of his brethren before the Angells; Revel. 2. 5. when he gives them admittance into the family where they are, Heb. 12. 22. he declares to them that they are Sons, that they may discharge their duty towards them; Heb. 1. last.
2. It is denounced in a judiciall way unto Satan, the great §. 8 master of the family whereunto they were in subjection. When the Lord Christ delivers a soule from under the power of that strong armed one, he binds him: tyes him from the exercise of that power and dominion which before he had over him. And by this meanes doth he know that such an one is delivered from his family; and all his future attempts upon him, are encroachings upon the possession, and inheritance of the Lord Christ.
3. Unto the Conscience of the Person adopted. The spirit of Christ testifies to the heart and Conscience of a Believer, that he is freed from all engagements unto the family of Satan, and is become the Son of God, Rom. 8. 14, 15. and enables him to cry Abba Father, Gal. 4. 6. Of the Particulars of this testification of the Spirit, and of its absolving the soule from its old alliance, I shall speak afterward. And herein consists the first thing mentioned.
2. There is an Authoritative engrafting of a Believer actually §. 9 into the family of God, and investing him with the whole right of Sonship. Now this, as unto us, hath sundry acts.
1. The giving a believer a new name in a white stone, Revel. 1. 17. they that are adopted are to take new names: They change their names they had in their old families, to take the names of the families whereinto they are translated. This new name is, A Child of God: that is the new name given in adoption: and no man knoweth what is in that name, but only he that doth receive it. And this new name is given, and written in a white stone; that is the Tessera of our admission into the house of God. It is a stone of judiciall acquitment. Our adoption by the spirit is bottomed on our Absolution in the blood of Jesus: and therefore is the new name, in the white stone; priviledge grounded on discharge. The white stone quits the claime of the old family; The new name gives entrance to the other.
2. An enrolling of his name in the Catalogue of the houshold of God. Admitting him thereby, into fellowship therein. This is called the writing of the house of Israel, Ezek. 13. 9. that is the roll, wherein all the names of the Israel, the family of God are written. God hath a Catalogue of his houshold; Christ knows his sheep by name. When God writeth up the people, he counts that this man was borne in Sion, Ps. 87. 6. This is an extract of the Lambs book of life.
3ly Testifying to his Conscience, his Acceptation with God, enableing him to behave himselfe as a child, Rom. 8. 15. Gal. 4. 5, 6.
The two last things required to Adoption are, that the adopted person be freed from all Obligations to the family from §. 10 whence he is translated, and invested with the Rights and Priviledges of that whereunto he is translated. Now because these two comprize the whole issue of Adoption, wherein the Saints have Communion with Christ. I shall handle them together, referring the concernments of them unto these foure heads.
1. Liberty: 2. Title, or right: 3. Boldnesse: 4. Correction. §. 11 These are the four things in reference to the family of the Adopted person, that he doth receive by his Adoption, wherein he holds communion with the Lord Jesus.
1. Liberty: The spirit of the Lord, that was upon the Lord Jesus did anoint him to proclaime liberty to the captive: Esay: 67. 1. And where the spirit of God is, (that is the spirit of Christ given to us by him because we are Sons) there is Liberty: 2 Cor. 3. 17. All spirituall liberty is from the spirit of Adoption. What ever else is pretended, is licentiousnesse. So the Apostle argues, Gal. 4. 6, 7. he hath sent forth his spirit into their hearts crying Abba Father, wherefore ye are no more Servants, no more in bondage, but have the liberty of Sons; And this Liberty respects in the first place, the family from whence the adopted person is translated; it is his setting free from all the obligations of that family.
Now in this sense, the liberty which the Saints have by Adoption, §. 12 is either from that which is reall, or that which is pretended; that which is reall respects a twofold issue of Law, and Sinne. The morall unchangeable Law of God, and Sin, being in conjunction, meeting with reference to any persons, hath, and hath had a twofold issue;
1. An Oeconomicall institution of a new Law of Ordinances, keeping in bondage those to whom it was given, Col. 2. 14.
2. A Naturall (if I may so call it) pressing off those persons with its power and efficacy against sin, whereof there are these parts.
1. Its rigor, and terror in commanding.
2. Its Impossibility for accomplishment, and so insufficiency for its primitively appointed end.
3. The Issues of its transgression, which are referred unto two heads: 1. Curse: 2. Death. I shall speak very briefly of these, because they are commonly handled, and granted by all.
2. That which is pretended, is the power of any whatever §. 13 over the conscience, when once made free by Christ.
First then, Believers are freed from the instituted Law of Ordinances, which upon the testimony of the Apostles, was a yoke §. 14 which neither we nor our Fathers (in the faith) could beare, Acts 15. 10. Wherefore Christ blotted out this hand writing of Ordinances that was against them, which was contrary to them, and took it out of the way, nayling it to his Crosse: Col: 2. 14. and thereupon the Apostle after a long dispute concerning the Liberty that we have from that Law, concludes with this instruction, Gal. 5. 1. stand fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.
2. In reference to the Morall Law! the first thing we have liberty from, is its rigor, and terror in commanding, Heb. 12 §. 15 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. We are not come to the Mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, to the whirle-wind, darknesse, and tempest, to the sound of the trumpet, and the voice of words, which they that heard besought that they might heare it no more; But we are come to mount Sion &c. As to that administration of the Law wherein it was given out with dread, and terror, and so exacted its obedience with rigor, we are freed from it, we are not called to that estate.
2. Its Impossibility of accomplishment, and so insufficiency §. 16 for its primitive End by reason of sin. Or we are freed from the Law as the instrument of Righteousnesse, since by the impossibility of its fulfilling as to us, it is become insufficient for any such purpose. Rom. 8. 2, 3. Gal. 3. 21, 22, 23. There being an impossibility of obtaining life by the Law, we are exempted from it as to any such end, and that by the righteousnesse of Christ, Rom. 8. 3.
3. From the Issue of its transgression.
1. §. 17 Curse. There is a solemne curse enwrapping the whole wrath of Cod, annexed to the Law, with reference to the transgression thereof: and from this are we wholly at liberty, Gal: 3. 13. By being made a curse, he hath delivered us from the curse.
2. Death: Heb: 2. 14, 15. and therewith from Satan; Heb. 2. 15. Col. 1. 13. and Sin, Rom. 6. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 18. with the World, Gal. 1. 14. with all the attendances, advantages, and claime of them all, Gal. 4 3, 4, 5. Col. 2. 20. without which we could not live one day.
That which is pretended, and claimed by some, wherein indeed §. 18 and in truth we were never in bondage, but are hereby eminently set free, is the power of binding Conscience by any Lawes and constitutions, not from God, Col. 2. 20. 21 22.
2. There is a Liberty in the family of God, as well as a liberty §. 19 from the family of Satan; Sons are free: their obedience is a free obedience, They have the spirit of the Lord, and where he is, there is Liberty: 2 Cor. 3. 18. as a spirit of Adoption he is opposed to the spirit of bondage, Rom: 8. 15. Now this liberty of our fathers family, which we have as Sons and children, being adopted by Christ through the spirit, is; a spirituall largenesse of heart, whereby the children of God do freely, willingly, genuinely, without feare, terror, bondage, and constraint go forth unto all holy obedience in Christ.
I say this is our Liberty in our Fathers family; what we have liberty from, hath been already declared.
There be Gibeonites outwardly attending the family of God: that doe the service of his house, as the drudgery of their lives; the principle they yeeld obedience upon, is a spirit of bondage unto feare, Rom. 8. 15. the Rule they doe it by, is the Law in its dread and rigor, exacting it of them to the utmost, without mercy and mitigation; the End they doe it for, is to fly from the wrath to come, to Pacify conscience, and seek righteousnesse as it were by the workes of the Law. Thus servilely, painfully, fruitlessely, they seek to serve their own conviction all their daies.
The Saints, by Adoption have a largenesse of heart in all holy obedience, saith David, I will walk at liberty, for I seek thy precepts, §. 20 Psal. 119. 4, 5. Esay 61. 1 Luke 4 18. Rom 8. 2, 21. Gal. 4. 2. 5. 1, 13. Iames 1. 25. Ioh. 8. 32, 33, 36. Rom. 6. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 16. Now this Amplitude, or Son-like freedome of the spirit in obedience, consists in sundry things.
1. In the Principles of all spirituall service, which are Life, and Love: The one respecting the matter of their obedience, giveing them power, the other respecting the manner of their obedience giving them Joy, and sweetnesse in it. It is from Life, that gives them power as to the matter of obedience, Rom. 8.
3. The Law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, sets them free from the law of sin and death: it frees them, it carries them out to all obedience freely. So that they walk after the Spirit, v. 1. that being the Principle of their workings, G. 2. 20. Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, is by the faith of the Son of God: the life which I now live in the fiesh, that is the obedience which I yeeld unto God, whilest I am in the flesh, it is from a Principle of life, Christ living in me: There is then power for all living unto God, from Christ in them, the spirit of life, from Christ carrying them out thereto. The fruits of a dead root, are but dead excrescencies; living Acts are from a principle of life.
Hence you may see the difference between the liberty that §. 21 slaves assume, and the liberty which is due to children.
1. Slaves take liberty from duty; children have liberty in duty; there is not a greater mistake in the world, then that the liberty of Sons in the house of God, consists in this, they can performe duties, or take the freedome 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 liberty stolne by Slaves, not a liberty given by the Spirit unto Sons.
The liberty of Sons is in the inward spirituall freedome of their hearts naturally and kindly going out in all the ways and worship of God. When they find themselves straitened, and shut up in them, they wrestle with God for enlargement, and are never contented with the doing of a duty, unlesse it be done as in Christ, with free genuine and enlarged hearts. The liberty that servants have is from duty, the liberty given to Sons is in duty.
2. The liberty of slaves or servants is from mistaken deceiving conclusions; The liberty of Sons is from the power of the indwelling Spirit of Grace; or the liberty of servants is from outward dead conclusions, the liberty of Sons from an inward living principle.
2. Love, as to the manner of their obedience gives them delight and joy: Ioh. 14. 15. If yee love me (saies Christ keep my Commandements: Love is the bottome of all their dutys: hence our Saviour resolves all obedience into the love of God, and our Neighbour: and Paul upon the same ground tells us, that Love is the fullfilling of the Law: 1 Cor. 13. 10. where love is in any duty it is compleate in Christ. How often doth David even with admiration expresse this principle of his walking with God: Oh (saith he) how I love thy Commandements. This gives Saints delight, that the Commandements of Christ are not grievous to them: Jacobs 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 doe from hence all things with delight and Complacency: Hence doe they long for advantages of walking with God, pant after more ability, and this is a great share of their Son-like freedome in obedience. It gives them joy in it: 1 John 4. 18. there is no feare in Love, but perfect love casteth out feare: when their soule is acted to obedience by love; it expells that feare which is the issue of bondage upon the Spirit. Now when there is a concurrence of these two, Life, and Love, there is freedome, liberty, largenesse of heart, exceedingly distanced from that straight, and bondaged frame, which many walk in all their days, that know not the Adoption of Sons.
2. The Object of their Obedience is represented to them as desireable, when to others as 'tis terrible. In all their approaches §. 23 to God, they eye him as a Father; they call him Father; Gal. 4. 6. not in a forme of words, but in the spirit of Sons. God in Christ is continually before them not only as one deserving all the honour and obedience which he requires, but also as one exceedingly to be delighted in, as being all sufficient to satisfie and satiate all the desires of the soule; when others napkin their tallents, as having to deale with an austeer master, they draw out their strength to the uttermost, as drawing nigh to a gracious rewarder. They goe from the principle of life, and love to the bosome of a living and loving Father; they doe but returne the strength they doe receive unto the fountaine, unto the Ocean.
3. Their Motive unto obedience is love 2 Cor. 5. 15. §. 24 from an apprehension of love they are effectually carryed out by love, to give up themselves unto him who is love: What a freedome is this, what a largenesse of spirit is in them who walke according to this rule? Darkenesse, feare, bondage, conviction, hopes of Righteousnesse, accompany others in their ways: The Sonns by the Spirit of Adoption have light, Love with complacency in all their walkings with God; the world is an universall stranger unto the frame of children in their Fathers house.
4 The Manner of their obedience is willingnesse. They yeild §. 25 themselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead. Rom. 6. 13. they yeild themselves, give up themselves willingly, cheerfully, freely; with my whole heart (saith David): Rom. 12. 1. they present themselves a living sacrifice: and a willing sacrifice.
5. The Rule of their walking with God is the law of §. 26 liberty, as divested of all its terrifying, threatning, killing, condemning, cursing power, and rendred in the blood of Jesus, sweet, tender, usefull, directing, helpfull 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 liberty of Obedience in the family of God which his sons, and daughters have, that the poor convinced Gibeonites are not acquainted withall.
2. The second thing which the Children of God have by §. 27 Adoption, is Title. They have Title & right to all the priviledges and advantages of the family whereinto they are translated; This is the preheminence 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 bondwoman: Gen. 21. 10 and so no genuine Child of the family, and therefore could have no right of heir ship with Isaak. The Apostles arguing is, we are no more servants but Sons, and if Sons then heires Rom. 8. 14, 16. then have we right and Title, and being not borne hereunto (for by nature we are the Children of wrath) we have this Right by our Adoption.
Now the Saints hereby have a double right, and Title: 1 Proper and direct in respect of spiritualls. 2. Consequentiall in respect of temporalls.
The first also, or the Title as adopted Sons unto spiritualls is in respect of the object of it, twofold;
1. Unto a present place, name, and roome in the House of §. 29 God, and all the priviledges and administrations there of
2. To a future fullnesse of the great inheritance of Glory, of a Kingdome purchased for that whole family, whereof they are by Jesus Christ.
1. They have a Title unto and an interest in the whole administration of the family of God here.
The supreame 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 effectuall 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 exercised towards them; God hath given Jesus Christ to be the head over all things unto the Church which is his body, Ephes. 1. 22, 23. he hath made him the head over all these spirituall things, committed the authoritative administration of them all unto him to the use & 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. 2. 17. see Eph. 4. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. the aime of the Lord Jesus in establishing Gospell Administrations, and Administrators, is for the perfecting of the Saints, the worke of the Ministry, &c. All is for them, all is for the Family; In that is the faithfullnesse of Christ Exercised, he is faithfull in all the house of God Heb. 3. 2, Hence the Apostle tells the Corinthians Ephes. 2. v. 22, 23. of all these Gospell administrations, and ordinances they are all theirs, and all for them. What benefit soever redoundeth to the world by the things of the Gospell (as much doth every way,) it is engaged for it to the children of this family: This then is the aime and intendment of the Lord Christ in the institution of all Gospell Ordinances and administrations, that they may be of use for the House and Family of God; and all his Children and servants therein.
It is true the word is preached to all the world, to gather in §. 30 the Children of Gods purpose, that are scattered up and down in the world, and to leave the rest inexcusable: But the prime end and aime of the Lord Christ thereby, is to gather in those heires of Salvation unto the enjoyment of that feast of fat things which he hath prepared for them in his house.
Againe they, and they onelyonly have right, and Title to Gospell §. 31 administrations, and the priviledges of the Family of God, as they are held out in his Church according to his minde. The Church is the house of God 1 Tim. 3. 15. Heb. 3. 6. herein he keeps and maintaines his whole family, ordering them according to his minde 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 Childrens bread and to cast it unto doggs? We shall see that none, but children have any right or Title to the priviledges & advantages of the house of God, if we consider,
1. The nature of that house, it is made up of such persons, §. 32 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. …5. a chosen Generation, a roy all people, an holy Nation, a peculiar. people. v. 9. Saints & faithfull inChrist Jesus Eph. 1. 1. Saints, & faithfull brethren Col. 1. 2. a People that are all righteous Isa. 60. 61. And the whole fabrick of it glorious Is. 54. 11, 12, 13, 14 The way of the house is a way of holinesse which the uncleane shall not passe through Ch. 35. 8. Yea expressly they are the sons, and daughters of the Lord God Almighty, and they only 2 Cor, 6. 17, 18. All others are excluded Revel. 21, 27. It is true that oftentimes at unawares other persons creep in into the great house of God; and so there becomes in it not only vessels of Gold & Silver, but also of wood and clay, &c. 2 Tim. 2. 20. But they only creep in as Jude speakes: v. 4. they have no right nor title to it.
2. The Priviledges of the House are such, as they will not §. 33 suit nor profit any other. To what purpose is it to give food to a dead man? will he grow strong by it? will he increase upon it? The things of the family, and house of God, are food for living soules: Now Children only are alive, all others are dead in trespasses and sinnes. What will outward signes availe, if life and power be away. Look upon what particular you please of the Saints enjoyments in the family of God, you shall find them all suited unto Believers: and being bestowed on the world would be a pearle in the snour of a swine.
It is then onelyonly the Sons of the family that have this Right; they have fellowship with one another, and that fellowship with the Father and the Son Jesus Christ: They set forth the Lords death till he come; They are entrusted with all the Ordinances of the house, and the administration of them: and who shall deny them the enjoyment of this right, or keep them from what Christ hath purchased for them: And the Lord will in the end give them hearts every where to make use of this Title accordingly; and not to wander on the mountaines, forgetting their resting place.
2. They have a Title to the future fullnesse of the inheritance that is purchased for this whole family by Jesus Christ So the §. 34 Apostle Argues Rom. 8. 17. If children then heires &c. All Gods Children are first borne Heb. 12. 23. & therefore are heires: hence the whole weight of Glory that is prepared for them, is called the Inheritance Col. 1 12. The inheritance of the Saints in light: If you be Christ's then are you Abraham's seed, and heires according to the Promise Gal. 3. 29. heires of the Promise, that is of all things promised unto Abraham in and with Christ.
There are three things that in this regard the Children of God are said to be heires unto.
1 The Promise as in that place of the Gal: 3. 29. and Heb. 6. 11. God shewes to the heires of the Promise the immutability of his Councell: §. 35 As Abraham. Isaack, and Jacob, are said to be hetres of the same promise, Heb. 11 9. God had from the foundation of the world, made a most excellent promise in Christ, containing a deliverance from all evill; and an ingagement for the bestowing all good things upon them: It containes a deliverance from all the evill which the guilt of sinne, and dominion of Satan had brought upon them, with an invest ture of them in all spirituall blessings in heavenly things in Christ Jesus: hence Heb. 9. 15. The Holy Ghost calls it a promise of the eternall inheritance. This in the first place are the adopted children of God heirs unto. Look what ever is in the promise which God made at the beginning to fallen man, and hath since solemnely renewed, and confirmed by his Oath; they are heires of it, and are accepted in their claime for their inheritance in the Court of heaven.
2. They are heirs of Righteousnesse, Heb. 11. 7. Noah was an §. 35 heir of the righteousnesse which is by faith: which Peter calls a being heir of the grace of life, 1 Pet. 3. 9. and James puts both these together, Jam. 2. 6. heirs of the Kingdome which God hath promised: that is, of the kingdome of Grace, and the righteousnesse thereof, and in this respect it is that the Apostle tels us, Eph. 1. 11. that we have obtained an inheritance; which he also places with the righteousnesse of Faith, Acts 26. 13. Now by this righteousnesse, grace, and inheritance, is not onelyonly intended that righteousnesse which we are here actually made partakers of, but also the end, and accomplishment of that righteousnesse in glory, which is also assured in the
3d Place; They are heirs of Salvation, Heb. 1. 14. and heirs according to the hope of eternall life, Titus 3. 7. which Peter calls an inheritance incorruptible, 1 Pet. 1. 4. and Paul the reward of the inheritance, Col. 3. 24. that is, The Issue of the inheritance of light, and holinesse which they already enjoy. Thus then distinguish the full salvation by Christ, into the foundation of it, the Promises, and meanes of it, Righteousnesse and holinesse, the end of it eternall Glory; The Sons of God have a right and Title to all in that, that they are made heires with Christ.
And this is that which is the maine of the Saints Title and right which they have by adoption: which in summe is, that the Lord is their portion, and inheritance, and they are the inheritance of the Lord; And a large portion it is that they have. The lines are fallen to them in a goodly place.
2. Besides this Principall, the adopted Sons of God have a second §. 36 consequentiall Right: a Right unto the things of this world that is, unto all the portions of it, which God is pleased to entrust them here withall. Christ is the heir of all things, Heb. 1. 3. All Right, and title to the things of the Creation was lost, and forfeited by sin. The Lord by his soveraignty, had made an originall grant of all things here below for mans use; he had appointed the residue of the works of his hands in their severall stations, to be serviceable unto his behoofe. Sin reversed this whole grant, and institution: all things were set at liberty from the subjection unto him: yet that liberty being a taking them off from the end, to which they were originally appointed, is a part of their vanity, and curse. It is evill to any thing to be Layed aside as to the end, to which it was primitively appointed: by this meanes the whole Creation is turned loose from any subordinate ruler; And man having lost the whole Title whereby he held his dominion over, and possession of the creatures, hath not the least colour of interest in any of them, nor can lay any claime unto them; but now the Lord intending to take a portion to himselfe, out of the lumpe of fallen mankind, whom he appointed heirs of Salvation, he doth not immediately destroy the works of creation, but reserve them for their use in their pilgrimage. To this end he invests the whole right and title of them in the second Adam, which the first had lost; he appoints him, heire of all things. And thereupon his adopted ones, being fellow heirs with Christ, become also to have a right and title unto the things of this creation.
To cleare up this right what it is, I must give some few observations. §. 37
1. The Right they have, is not as the right that Christ hath: That is Soveraigne, and supreme, to doe what he will with his own: but theirs subordinate, & such, as that they must be accountable for the use of those things whereunto they have a right and title. The right of Christ, is the right of the Lord of the house, the right of the Saints is the right of Servants.
2. That the whole number of the children of God have a right unto the whole earth, which is the Lords and the fullnesse thereof, in these two regards.
1. He who is the Soveraigne Lord of it, doth preserve it meerly for their use, and upon their account: all others whatever being malae fidei possessores, invading a portion of the Lords territories, without grant or leave from him.
2. In that Christ hath promised to give them the Kingdome and dominion of it, in such a way and manner, as in his providence he shall dispose; that is, that the government of the earth shall be exercised to their advantage.
3. This right is a spirituall right, which doth not give a civill interest, but only sanctifies the right and interest bestowed God hath providentially disposed of the civill bounds of the inheritance of men, Acts 17. 26. suffering the men of the world to enjoy a portion here, and that oftentimes very full, and plenteous, and that for his childrens sake, that those beasts of the forrest, which are made to be destroyed, may not breake loose upon the whole possession. Hence
4. No one particular adopted person, hath any right by vertue thereof, to any portion of earthly things, whereunto he hath not right and Title upon a civill interest given him by the Providence of God. But
5. This they have by their Adoption, that
1. Look what portion soever God is pleased to give them, they have a right unto it, as it is reinvested in Christ, and not as it lies wholly under the Curse and vanity that is come upon the Creation by sin, and therefore can never be called unto an account for usurping that which they have no right unto, as shall all the sons of men, who violently graspe those things which God hath set at liberty from under their dominion because of sinne.
2. By this their right, they are lead unto a sanctified use of what thereby they doe enjoy: in asmuch as the things themselves are to them pledges of the Fathers Love, washed in the blood of Christ, and endearements upon their spirits to live to his praise, who gives them all things rithly to enjoy.
And this is a second thing we have by our Adoption: and §. 38 hence I dare say of unbelievers: they have no true right unto any thing of what kind soever; that they do possesse.
They have no true, vnquestionable right I say even unto the temporall things they do possesse; it is true they have a civill right in respect of others, but they have not a sanctifyed right in respect of their own Soules. They have a right and Title that will hold plea in the Courts of men, but not a right that will hold in the court of God, and in their own Conscience. It will one day be sad with them when they shall come to give an account of their enjoyments. They shall not only be reckoned withall for the abuse of that they have possessed, that they have not used, & laid it out for the glory of him whose it is but also that they have ever layed their hands upon the Creatures of God, and kept them from them for whose sakes alone they are preserved from destruction. When the God of Glory shall come home to any of them, either in their consciences here, or in the Judgement that is for to come, and speake with the terror of a revengefull judge: I have suffered you to enjoy Corne, Wine, and Oyle, a great portion of my creatures; you have rolled your selves in wealth and prosperity, when the right heires of these things lived poor, and low, and meane at the next doores; Give in now an answer what, and how you have used these things, what have you laid out for the service and advancement of the Gospell? what have you given unto them for whom nothing was provided? What contribution have you made for the poor Saints? have you had a ready hand, and willing minde to lay down all for my sake? When they shall be compelled to answer as the truth is, Lord, we had indeed a large portion in the world, but we tooke it to be our own, & thought we might have done what we would with our own, we have eat the fat, and dranke the sweet, and left the rest of our substance for our babes; we have spent somewhat upon our lusts, somewhat upon our friends, but the truth is we cannot say that we made friends of this unrighteous mammon, that we used it to the advancement of the Gospell or for ministring unto thy poor Saints, and now behold we must dye, &c. So also when the Lord shall proceed further and question not only the use of these things, but also their Title to them, and tell them the Earth is mine and the fullnesse thereof: I did indeed make an originall grant of these things to man, but that is lost by sin; I have restored it only for my Saints, why have you laid then your fingers of prey upon that which was not yours, why have you compelled my creatures to serve you, and your lusts, which I had set at loose from under your dominion: Give me my flax, my wine and wool, I'le set you naked as in the day of your birth, and revenge upon you your rapine, and unjust possession of that which was not yours. I say at such a time what will men doe? §. 39
3. Boldnesse with God by Christ is another priviledge of our Adoption; but hereof I have spoke at large before, in treating of the excellency of Christ in respect of our approach to God by Him; so that I shall not reassume the consideration of it.
4. Affliction also as proceeding from love, as leading to §. 40 Spirituall advantages, as conforming unto Christ; as sweetned with his presence is the priviledge of children; Heb. 12 3, 4, 5, 6. but on these particulars I must not insist.
This I say is the Head, and sourse of all the priviledges §. 41 which Christ hath purchased for us, wherein also we have fellowship with him: fellowship in name, we are (as he is) Sons of God; fellowship in Title and right, we are heires, coheires with Christ; Fellowship in likenesse, and Conformity, we are predestinated to be like the first borne of the family; fellowship in honour; he is not ashamed to call us brethren; fellowship in sufferings, he learned obedience by what he suffered; and every Son is to be scourged that is received; Fellowship in his Kingdome; we shall raigne with him; of all which I must speake peculiarly in another place, and so shall not here draw out the discourse concerning them any farther.