A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 128 (Question 34)
SERMON CXXVIII.
QUESTION XXXIV.
WHAT is Adoption?
ANSWER.
ADOPTION is an Act of GOD's Free Grace, whereby we are received into the Number, and have a right to all the Privileges of the Sons of GOD.
WE now proceed to the Second Benefit which derives from Chriſt to his Called in this Life, Adoption, a moſt Glorious Privilege, the thoughts whereof is enough to put us into raptures of Admiration, 1 Joh. 3.1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath beſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the ſons of God. Before I come to a particular diſcourſe of the Nature of it, there are two Doubts briefly to be ſolved, viz.
1. Whether Juſtification and Adoption, are two diſtinct Privileges?
2 Whether Adoption doth in order of Nature follow after, and preſuppoſe Justification?
To both whereof I anſwer in the Affirmative, and ſhall endeavour briefly to vindicate each aſſertion.
1. JUSTIFICATION and Adoption are two distinct Privileges, and accordingly ought to be handled ap…rt, in the Doctrines of … Doubtleſs all the precious Benefits … for us by Chriſt, & conferred upon us by …irit in application, are worthy of our patience Contemplation, and to be meditated on …, by all thoſe that are ſo highly favou…d, as to be made partakers in them. There … that refer Adoption to Juſtification, and becauſe there are two parts in that, viz. The Pardon of our Sins, and the Accepting of … as Righteous, to which latter there belongs … adjudging of us to have a title to all the good that was laid up in the promiſe made … perfect Obedience, which they reckon to be the privileges of Adoption, and therefore … it thereunto; and the rather, becauſe the Apostle in the reciting the order of … S…lvation, mentions it not diſtinctly, …t c… nect Juſtification and Glorification, R…. ….30 Whom he juſtified, them he alſo …. But it is not for nothing that the G…ſp…l takes diſtinct notice of theſe two, and … ſpecial remarks on this of Adoption; … might be plentifully inſtanced, ſee, … 1 14, &c. Eph. 1.5. & elſewhere. And a … be juſtified, and yet not adopted, I …, the nature of the thing itſelf, for in the Application of the new Covenant theſe are i… rable; and though theſe do both belong … the relative change, yet the relations … by them are very different. It is one thing to be adjudged Righteous, and another to be … among Children: One thing to have God accept us as a Judge, another to do ſo as a Father. And though in both a title to the Inheritance is declared for us, yet it is upon different grounds; and the more claims may be made, the fuller is the evidence. It … had prefiſted in his Integrity, he had …yed this title in way of Juſtification but … of Adoption; for it has its rooting in the firſt Covenant, whereas this, entirely be…gs …, and hath its riſe from the new Covenant. Beſides there are the Privileges that come by Adoption which are not de…ding on juſtification; for doubtleſs, the … God's Children under the new Covenant, is better than that of Adam and his …rity, would have been under the firſt, … he kept his uprightneſs. And as Adop… as not named. Rom. 8.20. ſo neither is Juſtification, which yet is a diſtinct Benefit; … as this is included in that of Glorification, ſo that in Juſtification by a frequent Scripture Syne b…oche.
2. ADOPTION doth in order of Nature fol… after, and preſuppoſe Juſtification. It is … a matter worthy of hot debate, in what … we put theſe two Benefits, provided … allow them their diſtinctneſs; and yet it is of advantage, to be rightly informed in this, and to help to guard us againſt errors, that are obtruded more eaſily upon us, when … have a confuſed or diſturbed method of … Principles, not agreeable to the form of ſoul …ds. That theſe Benefits are together in time, is certain, they come in upon, and with effectual Vocation, in the ſame in…t that the man is juſtified, he is adopted. …, there is a Precedency in the nature … thing, and there are ſome that give this a Adoption; but ſurely, as it is ſomething … to be adopted, than meerly to be juſti…, ſo it is requiſite that the Sinner be re…ed in order to his being adopted. A… in reaſons preſuppoſeth Reconciliation, whereas Reconciliation cannot preſup… Adoption. We cannot with reaſon think … will take a perſon for a Son and an …, and yet hold him under a ſentence of condemnation, though it is eaſy enough to … Him to be reconciled to one, though … doth not give Him this dignity. Beſides, … Privilege in order of nature, following …, is Juſtification, by which juſtifying … are introduced into this Privilege of Adoption, Job. 1.12. It now follows, … look into, and take ſome account of … wonderful Benefit. And here we may … …der the Name, and then the Thing. 1. THE Name put upon this Privilege, viz. …; the Greek word uſed for it in the …ment fignifies, the putting of one for a … the giving of him the Honour and …tive, that belongs by right to a Son, …. This word Tranſlators render, by that Adoption; and the word is not pro… … analogical and alluſive. The Spirit … God making uſe of the civil cuſtom among men, in adopting ſtrangers to hear their names, and inherit after them, to ſet forth this dignity by; though the …llitude doth abundantly fall ſhort, and is incumparably exceeded by the thing it is uſed to repreſent. When God uſeth any earthly ſimilitudes, to expreſs any Spiritual thing by, it is in condeſcendency to our infirmity, and to accommodate it to our manner of und … ſtanding. But yet it always ſuppoſeth th… there is ſome analogy in it, elſe it were in vain propoſed to us, under ſuch a Notion, and inſtead of helping, it would but confound our apprehenſion of the thing. But yet, becauſe ſuch reſemblances do not fully expreſs what they are uſed for, we are not to tarry at them, and reſtrain the conception of the thing to them, but endeavour to uſe them as helps to our Faith, in ſoaring higher in our Contemplation thereof. Accordingly, the agreements and the differences between Humane and Divine Adoption, are well to be obſerved by us. Here,
1. THE things, wherein they agree are, whatſoever is offential to on Humane Adoption. For from thence it is, that the term is borrowed. Now, a man is then ſaid to adopt a perſon, when he doth freely chuſe and conſtitute a ſtranger, to be his Heir. The thing intended to be conferred by the Adopter, on the adopted, is Heirſhip; he hath a Name, Honour, and Eſtate of Inheritance at his diſpoſe, which he is willing to convey to another, in doing thereof he puts the title and privilege of a Son upon him. The Subject of this is a ſtranger, i. e. one whom he was not obliged by any bond of nature to beſtow ſuch a favour upon; for, if he were his own Son, the name, title, and heirſhip, would not derive to him, by right of Adoption, but of Nature. The way in which this is introduced, is upon free choice of the perſon; he was at his full liberty, he might have paſt by this Perſon, and put in another, without wrong or injuſtice done him, it was his own meet motion, and the reaſon of it was with himſelf. The act itſelf is in the conſtituting the Perſon to have a ſure right to this Heirſhip. And this is uſually done by a Will or Teſtament, ſigned, ſealed, & atteſted. Now in all theſe reſpects, the reſemblance holds, as will appear in laying open the Deſcription given.
2. THE Differences between theſe are manifold. The moſt obſervable whereof are theſe,
1. IN the grounds or reaſons of their adopting. Men indeed act their liberty in chuſing the Perſons, yet there is a ſort of neceſtaty conſtraining them to the Thing itſelf, and that is double, neither of which can be ſaid of God. (1.) MEN muſt die and leave their Eſtates behind them, and their name would be forgotten, if they had no Heir to ſucceed them. Pſal. 49.10. For he ſeeth that wiſe men die, likewiſe the fool, and the brutiſh perſon periſh, and leave their wealth to others. They therefore take this way to perpetuate their memory after they are gone. But God lives forever, and his memorial in to all generations.
2. Men many times ſeal of Heirs of their even Bodies, and ſo muſt take in a ſtranger of they will have one. True, Hisſtories give us the account, of ſome that have aſſumed a ſtranger into Co-heirſhip with their own Sons, which more nearly reſembleth this, Rom. 8.17. If children, then bears, heirs of God, and joy…-heirs with Chirſt. But uſually it is for want of a lineal deſcent, hence that, Gen 15.3. And Abram ſand, Behold, to me that baſt given no ſeed: and to, one born it my houſe is mine heir. Whereas God hath an only begotten Sea, who ever pleaſed him, and one whom he hath conferred the heirſhip Hob. 1.2. And we are adopted in and with him.
2. AMONG men, the adopted mast wait for the death of the ad peer. in order to his inheriting. It comes by ſucceſſion; the one muſt go off the ſtage, to make way for the others ex…ance, and taking poſſeſſion: whereas in this, there is no ſucceſſion. God lives, and though Chriſt died to purchaſe the Inheritance for us, yet he is alive, and lives forever; and we live, and have a joynt participation; with him; hence that, Joh. 14.19. Becauſe I love, ye ſhall live alſo.
3. MEN may change their minds while they live, and put one out, and take another in if they pleaſe. So, that as long as they live, the adopted hath no aſſurance, but is at uncertainty, and may on the leaſt diſguſt be diſ…rded. Men may make new Teſtaments, and the laſt Will muſt ſtand. But God's Adoption is immurable, it once he puts any into the number of his Children, they ſhall abide ſo forever. We read, Rom. 11.29. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. And this is one of thoſe Gifts; for, although it paſſeth in Time, yet it was purchaſed in the days of Eternity, Eph. 1.5.
4. THEY differ in the impulſive Cauſe that moves them to c…uſe this rather then another. For, though men do act ſpontaneouſly, and without compulſion; yet, they ſee ſomething in the perſon ſo choſen, which is the motive, and determines them, either nearneſs of kindred, or winning natural endowments, or verta… inclinations, which make them hope they will be credit to them; and many times, their finding their expectations fruſtrate in their life time, is the reaſon why they alter their Wills; whereas God ſaw no difference, between thoſe whom he purpoſed to adopt, and others, and when he comes actually to apply the Adoption to them, there is nothing in them at all to commend them to him more then others; He doth not find, but makes the difference there is between his adopted Children and others Eph. 2.7, 3. Tit. 3 3. Hence,
5. THEY differ in the manner of the introduction of the adopted into Heirſhip. Men indeed act their own prudence in their choice, and preſume they take ſuch … prove themſelves worthy: but … them as they are, and muſt r… … of it. They may wiſh, but th… … fuſe good qualities into them, whom … in order to the adopting of say, … retate them; ſo that he makes … relative charge, by working a … them. And here, that we may … in our conceptions of the Adop… … conſideration; we muſt obſerve, … are two ways in which we are … Goſpel, to become the Children of … By Regenerative and Ad…yti…, and … beware that we do not could … make them one. The charge … wrought in a Sinner, in Convenant … Vocation, is in Scripture … New Burch, and thoſe that are ſo … are ſaid to be burn of God because … work hath a reſemblance to a … ſo the Spirit of God is the author of … the end of it is, that we may live …, to the Glory of God. And, … God will have no adopted Children, … as ſhall thus live to his Glory, He … fore makes ways to their Adoption by … Regeneration, hence that, Gal. 3.2…. … are all the children of God by ſaith … Jeſus. And it is on believing that … vilege is beſtowed upon them, John. … as many as believed …n him, to them … power to become the Sons of God, … this believe on his Name. And … the new Covenant Benefits come to … of God upon their being ſo called; … Juſtification, Adoption and the reſt; … formerly been obſerved. Our buſi… … fore at preſent, is not with rege… … which it is introduced, but Adop… … ſelf, which is brought in upon it.
LET us proceed to the conſideration … as it is laid open before us, in the … on given of it; in which, as in the … we are to obſerve the general and they … nature of it.
1. THE general nature of it is, It is … of God's Free Grace, and, herein it … with Juſtification, which alſo hath the … general nature aſſigned to it.
1. IT is an Act. What is intended … and how it differs from that which … a Work, hath been already taken … of under the head of Juſtification, … mount in ſum to thus much, viz. … change produced by it being relative, … not work any alteration in his … only applies to him a new ſtate, … done by an act of favour; and hence … Regeneration though it accompany … cauſe in that there is a change in the … according to, 2 Cor. 5.17. Therefore … be in Chriſt be is a new Creature; old … are paſt away, behold, all things are … As alſo becauſe it is paſt at once, and … ſected in an inſtant; whereas a Work … poſed to be ſuccedaneous. There are … in Adoption. A Believer is as much a … God, in the firſt inſtant of his being … ſo, …, not are they in Heaven … ſo, than thoſe on Earth, 1 Job. 3.2. It …, …ere are the degrees of the manifeſ… of it, and that both to themſelves and …ors; they may now doubt about it; … i…g it ſhall be put quite beyond …; the World do not at preſent know … but they ſhall appear ſhortly like … 1 Job. 2.2. Hence we read of … of the ſ… of God. Rom. 8.19. … this is …ded by the Adoption ſpoken … viz. the bringing them to poſſeſs … Inheritance, which they are adopted to. … alſo there are ſteps and degree… of … the p…nilege of Adoption … only in …. Forever … they … have it to full peaſeſſion. … only receive the firſt fruits and … of …e Inheritance, at Death their … go to fierc it, and Soul and Body after … …ſerrection. But theſe things though they are conſequent upon it, yet do not pro…uly belong to the nature of Adoption, but … to Glorification, and may be there ſpo… of. Adoption as it is an Act, is done by …, though it terminates on the perſon adopted. And here it may be inquireſ, Whether it be an imminent and eternal or tranſient … unper…ry Act? For both of theſe Acts … to God, in our manner of coa… To this it may be repine…, that the …tion for this was laid in the Eternal … of God which is an immanent Act; … b…ppointed us to be made partakers … Privilege, and it was there ſecured, … it c…ot fail, Eph. 1.1. Having predeſ… us unto the …ption of children by Jeſus … himſelf, according to the good pleaſure … will. And indeed, all the good that … …take of in Time, had its beginning …. This Privilege alſo was indented for … Covenant of Redemption, and according …haſed for us by Chriſt, and ſo it … us, through his merit, according to me promiſe of the Father, Gal. 4.5. … that were under the law, that … receive the adoption of ſons. But the … itſelf by which we are put among …, and made actual Heirs of God, is … temporary Act, and is applied up… believing in Chriſt. Before this time … aliens, enemics, in the ſame ſtate … reſt of the rubbiſh of Mankind. … we read, Eph. 2.3. ver. 12.13. We are … acquainted with a temporary put… among Children, and the way how … …ought about.
… is an Act of God's Free Grace, i. e. it … dependance on any thing in the …, to move God to it, but flows from … good pleaſure. We have before …, how Juſtification is ſo, all which … applied hither, and argue as ſtrong… …iciently for this. And indeed, if … Free Grace to juſtify us, who were in our natural eſtate under Condemnation, how much more then moſt it be, to adopt ſuch Creatures as Children, which is an higher Honour put upon them, and a more eminent Privilege. But, beſides that, there may be ſomething more particularly noted here reſpecting the Grace of God, ſhining out in our Adoption. We obſerved, that the Grace appearing in Juſtification, is God's pardoning and pronouncing us righteous, without any merit of ours, yea, when we deſerved the contrary. Now there may be this peculiar remark, made on our Adoption, that God doth it without any lovelineſs or deſireableneſs in us but the contrary unlovelineſs and odiouſneſs that was upon us. It is true, in as much as theſe Benefits accompany Converſion, that as God together with juſtifying us, puts an Evangelical Righteouſneſs and Holineſs into us, and doth not leave us under the reigning power of our luſts, ſo together with adopting us, he puts a beauty & a lovelineſs upon us adorning us with his Image and Grace; which Chriſt declareth how much he is taken with, Cant. 4.4. But this doth not obſcure, but enhance this Grace of his; in as much as he doth it, and it flows from tee ſame love wherewith he adopts us. This is excellently ſet forth, in allegorical expreſſions, Ezek 16. begin. Here then let us obſerve,
1. THAT God is an holy God, and loves Holineſs and bates Iniquity. This therefore is one peculiar diſplay which he makes of his. Holineſs, as we art told, Hob. 1.13. And no wonder, ſince his Holineſs is bound for his Glory, and will advance it in all his Works, and there is nothing that ſets itſelf directly in oppoſition to his Glory but Sin, and that doth, Rom. 3.33. For all have ſinned, and come ſhort of the glory of God.
2. THAT we in our natural ſtate, are under the mo…d barrible Deformity and Pollution; and thereby are juſtly adieus to an holy God. Sin is called the abominable thing &c. Jer. 44. … And the Sinner by it, renders himſelf vile, 1 Sam. 3.13. And Sin is in Scripture compared to the moſt filthy and loathſome things, and this is the natural ſtate of all, ſet forth by the ſad condition of an expoſed Infant, E…ek 16. begin. We are born in the Image of fallen Adam, and God cannot but deſpiſe this Image, wherever he ſees it.
3. WHEN God comes to pick us out of the World, and make us his Children, he finds us thus defiled and loathſome. We were not only ſo before in our birth, but he found us ſo, and ſaw us ſo, in the very inſtant when he paſt the word or us, by which we were regenerated, Ezek. 16.5. Whatſoever is done preparitorily to make us ſenſible of our Miſery, yet it abides upon us, and is not removed till he con es by his Spirit, to produce it in us, in our Converſion, in which is our firſt paſſage from Death to Life.
4. THAT in and with His renewing us be Adopts us. There is indeed an order of nature to be obſerved in theſe things, elſe we ſhall not know the true reference of one to the other. But there is no inſtant of Time that poſſeth between them; Adoption is inſeparable from Regeneration; we obſerved therefore, that this relation is introduced upon out believing, from Gal 3 26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Chriſt Jeſus.
5. HENCE, together with this be puts his own Comelineſs upon us, to make us lovely. In Converſion, there is a renovation, there is a beauty and amiableneſs which God will beſtow upon his Children: They ſhall have the image and likeneſs of their Father upon them, and be no longer like other men. Hence we are excited to holineſs from the conſideration of this rotation, 1 Pet. 1.15, 16. But as he which hath called you is holy, ſo be ye holy in all manner of converſation; becauſe it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy. And God doth it, by adorning them with the Graces of his Spirit. Hence that, Ezek. 16.9, 14.
6. HENCE he doth not Adopt us, becauſe we were lovely, but that we might be ſo. This Benefit, in the conferring it on us, had no reſpect to any antecedaneous deſire ableneſs in us, for there was none, but to one that was to follow it, which we were to receive by the indwelling of the Spirit in us, who is given with it, and is for that reaſon called the Spirit of Adoption, in, Rom. 8.15. God ſaw as much beauty in others as in us, and that was none at all. And hence, that yet he ſhould adopt us, is a demonſtration of his unconceivable Grace.
LET then the thoughts of this wonderful Priviledge, and the joynt conſideration of our own vileneſs when God came to bring us into a participation in it, fill us with Soul abaſing thoughts, and tranſport our hearts with inexpreſſible Admiration, at the incomparable Love of God herein manifeſted to us, & help us to commorate, and make pathetical commentaries on that tranſporting paſſage of the Apoſtle, 1 Joh. 3.1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath be ſtowed upon us, that we ſhould be called the Sons of God.
[JANUARY 17. 1698.]