Tropes and Figures · Benjamin Keach
Tropes and Figures, Treatise 1 · Head 8 · Part 5
Saints compared to Children.
Rom. 8.17. If Children, then Heirs, &c.
Gal. 3.16. For ye all are the Children of God, by Faith, in Christ Jeſus.
Eph. 5.1. Be ye Followers of God, as dear Children.
SAints are God's dear Children, not only Children, but dear Children. Dear Children hath reference to two things: 1. To that high Eſteem their Parents have of them; 2. To that gracious and ſweet Diſpoſition ſuch Children are of.
| Children. | Parallel. |
| CHildren are begotten of their Parents, and brought forth into this World. | THe Saints are begotten of God: Of his own Will begat he them. Every one that …veth him that begat, 1 John 5.1 loveth him alſo that is begotten of him. They are alſo brought forth by him into a State of Grace. |
| II. Children partake of the Nature of their Parents, even of their very Fleſh and Bone. | II. The Saints, by their being begotten of God, through Faith, In a myſtical ſort, are Partakers of the Divine Nature: That which is born of the Spirit, 2 Pet. 1.4. is Spirit. |
| III. Children are called after the Names of their Parents. | III. So the Saints are called after God's Name, Holy, Heavenly, Godly, &c. Chriſtians, from Chriſt; Spiritual, from the Spirit. |
| IV. Children are not in every thing alike, in Stature, Quality, and Condition. Some are gentle, dutiful, and humble, and have a clearer Sight, and more perfect Knowledg than others, yet ought to love one another. | IV. So the Saints of God are not in every thing alike; tho all have Grace, yet not a like meaſure of it; ſo tho all ſee, yet all have not the ſame degree of Sight and Knowledg in Divine Things. From hence it is that there are ſo many Differences amongſt the Godly; but ſince they are all God's Children, it behoveth them to ſee that they love one another. |
| V. Children do not grow alike. Some thrive better upon hard Fare, than others do, who feed upon more choice and delicate Food every day. | V. So ſome of the Saints thrive, and grow faſter in Grace, and in the Knowledg of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, (who ſit under the Miniſtry of ſuch Men, whoſe Preaching is accounted by ſome but as brown Bread) than others, who are daily fed with the delicate Food of the moſt acute and elegant Preacher. |
Dear Children.
| I. A dear Child, one that the Father eſteems ſo, is teachable, ready to learn what he is taught; he will give his Mind to it, is very flexible. | I. So a dear Child of God is very flexible and yielding to the Teachings of God. If God hath any thing for Abraham to do, he cries, Here am I. They are like holy Job, What I know not, teach thou me. |
| II. A dear Child is humble and meek, not proud, ſtubborn, or ſelf-conceited. | II. So a dear Child of God is little in his own Eyes. How humbly did Abraham expreſs himſelf to God!Gen. 18.27. Pſal. 22.6. 1 Cor. 3.9. I who am but Duſt and Aſhes, &c. and Job, I abhor my ſelf. David cries out, I am a Worm, and no Man. And the holy Apoſtles eſteemed themſelves as nothing: Who then is Paul, and who is Apollo? Ʋnto me who am the leaſt of all Saints, &c. I am nothing, &c. |
| III. A dear Child greatly loves his Father. Many Inſtances may be given of this, both from Scripture and Hiſtory. | III. So a dear Child of God dearly loves his heavenly Father, he loves him with all his Soul, with all his Heart, and with all his Strength, loves him ſincerely. |
| IV. A dear Child doth not only love his Father, but alſo his Mother. and is grieved when ſhe is in diſtreſs. | IV. So a dear Child of God doth not only love God, who is his Father, but alſo dearly loves the Church, who is his Mother. Thus did David, Pſal. 137.5, 6. that precious Child and Servant of God: If I forget thee, O Jeruſalem,Pſal. 137.5, 6. let my Right-hand forget her Cunning; if I I do not remember thee, let my Tongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth; if I prefer not Jeruſalem above my chief Joy. Jer. 4.19. How greatly was the Prophet Jeremiah troubled for poor Zion, when he cried out, My Bowels, my Bowels! The Church lay near his Heart, he laments like a poor Child, for the Miſery of his Mother that bare him. |
| VI. A dear Child is very obedient to his Parents, will do whatſoever is right, which either Father or Mother doth require. | V. So a dear Child of God is in all things obedient to God's Commands, as is recorded concerning Zacharias and Elizabeth, and many others: They endeavour to behave themſelves as obedient Children in all reſpects, will not baulk one of God's holy Precepts:Pſal. 119. Then ſhall I not be aſhamed, ſaith David, when I have reſpect to all thy Commandments. And as they are obedient to God their Father, ſo likewiſe to the Church their Mother. As it is a horrid Evil to rebell againſt God, ſo ſuch will be left inexcuſable who ſlight the Church. Whatever ſhe requires, that is agreeable to God's Word, muſt be carefully obeyed; and ſuch as err herein, as diſorderly Perſons, ought to be proceeded againſt. See Mother. |
| VI. A dear Child in all things ſtrives to pleaſe his Father, ſeeking his Approbation, whether at home or abroad, preſent or abſent. | VI. So a dear Child of God ſtrives in all things (like our Saviour) to pleaſe his heavenly Farher: Wherefore we labour, 2 Cor. 5.9. that whether preſent or abſent, we may be accepted of him,Col. 1.10. — Walking in all well-pleaſing, &c. |
| VII. A dear Child loves Peace, and cannot endure Quarrelling and Diſcord in his Father's Houſe. | VII. A dear Child of God greatly delights in, and loves Peace and Union amongſt his Brethren; and he hates Diſcord and Quarrelling in the Church. Bleſſed are the Peace-makers for they ſhall be called the Children of God. Behold, Mat. 5.9. Pſal. 133.1 Eph. 4.3. ſaith David, how good and pleaſant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Ʋnity! Endeavouring to keep the Ʋnity of the Spirit, in the Bond of Peace. |
| VIII. A dear Child is very tender of his Father's Honour, and is much troubled to hear any ſpeak againſt him, or any way reproach him. | VIII. So a dear Child of God is ſorely troubled, to hear the ſacred Name of God reproached and blaſphemed, and his holy Laws contemned.Pſal. 119.136. Joſh. 7.9. Rivers of Waters run down mine Eyes, becauſe Men keep not thy Law. How much were Moſes and Joſhua concerned for the Honour of God's holy Name! |
| IX. A dear Child is greatly grieved, when his Father is offended with him, and will endeavour to obtain his Favour again. | IX. So a dear Child of God is grieved, when he hath diſpleaſed his heavenly Father: Thou hiddeſt thy Face, Pſal 51.4. and I was troubled. How did David mourn for his Sin, and ſtrive to obtain the Love and Favour of God again: Againſt thee, thee only have I ſinned, and done this Evil in thy Sight, &c. |
| X. A dear Child will not be at undue Times out of his Father's Houſe, but make up his Place there, eſpecially when he knows his Father and Mother call for him, and require his Preſence. | X. So a precious Saint of God will not be abſent from the Church, or heavenly Family, at any time when his Preſence is expected there, if it be poſſible, eſpecially when God calls his People to Prayer and Humiliation, or when ſacred Ordinances are adminiſtred, or any Work is to be done, which eminently tends to the Glory of God, and the Churches Good. |
| XI. A dear Child deſireth rather to dwell in his Father's Houſe, than in any other place whatſoever. | XI. So a dear Child of God had rather be a Door-keeper in the Houſe of God, than to dwell in the Tents of Wickedneſs. One thing have I deſired of the Lord, Pſal. 27.4. and that will I ſeek after, that I may dwell in the Houſe of the Lord all the days of my Life, &c. |
| XII. A dear Child will ſtrive to imitate his Father, and walk in his Steps, in all things that are juſt and right. Thus Solomon was exhorted to follow the good Example of his Father David. | XII. So a dear Saint takes care to follow God: Be ye Followers of God, Eph. 5.1. as dear Children. Be ye holy, for I am holy: That is the Precept, and a ſincere Soul labours ſo to be; it is his great deſire to be like God and Chriſt as near as he can. Be ye Followers of me, as I am of Chriſt Jeſus. 1. A Saint ſtrives to follow God and Chriſt in Love: We are taught of God to love one another. 2. In Humility. What a Pattern hath God in Chriſt laid before us herein!Mat 11.28 Phil. 2.5, 6 Learn of me, ſaith our Saviour, for I am meek and lowly in Heart, &c. Let the ſame Mind be in you, which was alſo in Chriſt Jeſus. 3. In being merciful and kind to all. Be ye merciful, Mat. 5.45.48. as your Father that is in Heaven is merciful. 3. In hating and abominating that which is evil. God loaths Sin, and ſo doth every ſincere Chriſtian. 5. In Forgiveneſs; they ſtrive to be like God in this. He is ready to pardon, forgive, and forget Injuries done to him, and ſo ought his Children.Eph. 4.34. And be ye kind one to another, and tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God for Chriſt's ſake hath forgiven you. God forgiveth freely, univerſally, and for ever; ſo muſt they. |
Inferences.
LAbour to follow God, as dear Children, 1. Sincerely, not in Hypocriſy, not for Loaves. 2. Speedily; do not defer it: I made haſte, ſaith David, &c. 3. In whatſoever he commands you. 4. Diligently. 5. Follow him through all Difficulties and Hardſhips, as Caleb did, &c. and as Ruth followed Naomi. 6. Follow him humbly. 7. Follow him joyfully. 8. Follow him, when others leave him. 9. Follow him conſtantly, even to the end. 10. And laſtly, follow none but him; forſake all thoſe that would lead you aſtray. Chriſt's Sheep will not follow Strangers; they will follow God, and not Baal.
II. From hence every one may perceive, whether they are God's Children, yea or no.
III. This ſhews alſo what great Dignity God hath conferred upon Believers. Behold what manner of Love is this God hath beſtowed upon us, 1 Joh. 3.1, 2that we ſhould be called the Sons of God. If David thought it no ſmall thing to be Son in Law to an earthly King, what an Honour hath God conferred on us!
Rom. 8.IV. Saints may from hence read their Privileges: If Children, then Heirs, Heirs of God, and Joynt-Heirs with Christ.