The Duty of Young People to Give their Hearts Unto God, Sermon 3
Sermon III.
ACTS XVII. 28.
— For we are His Offspring.
THESE gracious Words ſpeaks of God and us; they ſpeak to us concerning God & our Selves; they ſpeak to us as unto Children, and concerning God as a Father.
You, to whom I now bring them, are our Children; ſome of the Offſpring of the People of God: And I now invite and lead you into this Conſideration of your Selves, That You are the Offspring of God. May you be a Seed which the Lord ſhall bleſs.
THE Words are quoted from an Heathen Poet, Aratus, by the Apoſtle Paul in an excellent Diſcourſe which he made to the Men of Athens, to convince them of their Folly and Impiety … in the Idolatry which he ſaw among …em. It is a very rare thing in the holy Writings to find a Quotation from a heathen Author; It is (as On ſays) like the bringing a Greek into the Temple. Yet certainly in the Caſe before us the Propriety and Wiſdom of the thing is evident; it being adapted to the Perſons ſpoken unto, and an Argument ad Hominem, to convince and ſhame 'em out of their Idolatry, from what one of their own Poets had written.
THE Apoſtle being now at Athens, one of the famous Cities of Greece, was exceedingly moved to ſee the City given wholly to Idolatry. Among other wild and abſurd Inſtances of their Superſtitious Devotion, he found one Altar erected and inſcribed to the unknown God. They had collected and gathered (it may be) the Images and Pictures of all the Gods of the Nations that had come to their know Iedge; but well imagining with themſelves that they had not light upon them all, they would have One it ſeems in compliment to Him, who ever he were, that was ſtill unknown. But ſome think that by the unknown God they indeed meant the God of the Jews, the Inviſible God, who would not allow of any Image, or likeneſs of any thing in the Heavens above or on the Earth below, whereby to repreſent Him: For what Image can be made of a Spirit infinite and immenſe, Him therefore the Apoſ… preaches to them: Whom you ignorantly worſhip (ſays he) Him declare I unto you: God that made the World and all things therein, who is Lord of Heaven and Earth, and dwelleth not in Temples made with Hands; neither is worſhiped by Mens hands as though be needeth any thing; ſeeing He giveth unto all Life and Breath and all things; and bath made of one Blood all Nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the Bounds of every ones Habitation: that they ſhould ſeek the Lord if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him … though he be not far from every one of us; For in Him we live, and move and have our Being, As certain alſo of your own P…e…s have ſaid, For we are his Offspring: For as much then as we are the Offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto Gold, or Silver, or Stone, graven by Art & by Mans device.
— THUS runs the Apoſtles Diſcourſe wherein we find my Text, with an inimitable Vein of Eloquence and Reaſoning. They that heard him might have ſeen that he was Inſpired by the Unſeen God whom he preached to 'em; if they had not been blinded and infatuated by their Idolatries. And He was inſpired in the quotation he made from the Poet Aratus, which are the words of my Text, and very meet to be the Subject of a Sermon in a Chriſtian Aſſembly; being adopted by an Apoſtle and conſecrated by the HOLY GHOST
WE are his Offspring▪ We, i. e. all Mankind; all the Sons & Daughters of men. His, i. e. Gods. Aratus meant Jupitor, the High God among the Heathen; the Father of Gods and Men; as they us'd to call him. But the Apoſtle ſpeaks of the LORD JEHOVAH, the God of Iſrael, the Poſſeſſor of Heaven and of Earth: the Father of Angels and of Men. — His Offspring. As Children proceeding from Him & hoaring his Image. The Offspring among Men are Children proceeding from their Parents. Job 5.25. Thy Seed ſhall be great, and thine Offspring as the graſs of the Harth. 21▪8. Their Seed is eſtabliſhed in then ſight, and their Offspring before their eyes.
Let the Doctrine be.
DOCT. IT is a great and ſerious Truth, worthy of our moſt devour and frequent Conſideration, that we are the Off spring of GOD.
I ſhall endeavour
1. To explain and wave the Thing aſſerted.
2. To lead you into a proper Improvement of it.
I. And firſt, To explain and prove his Truth, that We are the Offspring of God. A high & noble Truth, which ſhould be awful as well as pleaſant to confider of. We muſt limit & ſtate it aright, leaſt we debate God and elate our ſelves. We ſhould do both in a very hainous manner, if we ſhould call our ſelves the Offspring of God in the higheſt ſenſe, or ſhould we call our ſelves ſo as to our Bodies, out earthly part; or ſhould we count out ſelves leſs his Creature and his Work in our Souls, though they are Spirits that bear his Image and likeneſs.
HERE then let me premiſe, and ſay,
1. WE are not the Offspring of God in the higheſt fe…ſe, which is ſingular & peculiar to the Only begotten and eternal Son. There is an Only-begotten of the Father; a S…n by an eternal Generation; His only Son our Lord. He is a Divine Perſon, his Nature and Glory is Divine. Joh. 1.1. In the beginning was the WORD, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ver. 14. And the Word w… made Heſh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his Glory, the Glory as of the Only begotten of the Father. O this eternal Exiſtence of Chriſt, the Wiſdom and Power of God, we read Prov. 8.22. The Lord poſſeſſed Me in the beginning of his ways, before his Works of old: I was ſet up from Everlaſting, from the Beginning, or ever the Earth was: Then I was by Him, as one bro t up with Him, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing a ways before Him: rejoicing in the habitable parts of the Earth, and my Delights were with the Sons of Men. This Divine Offspring of God is ſo by an Ineffable everlaſting Communication of Eſſence, having Life in Himſelf, even as the Father bath life in Himſelf. He and the Father are One, in Eſſence, in Glory and Power. Joh. 10.30. I and my Father are One. His glory is incomprehenſible and incommunicable. Phil. 2.6. Who being in the Form of God tho't it not robbery to be Equal with God. Heb. 1.3. The Brightneſs of the Fathers Glory, and the expreſs Image of his Perſon. Col. 2.9. In Him dwelleth all the Fulneſs of the Godhead bodily.
THIS is the Myſtery of God; of the Father & of Christ; which we receive and adore, as it is revealed and becauſe it is revealed, without pretending to comprehend it. Prov. 30 4. What is his Name, and what is his Sons Name, if thou canst tell? No, we muſt anſwer, I neither learned Wiſdom, nor have the Knowledge of the Holy. Far be it from us. (and as far is it above all Angels) to call our ſelves the Offspring of God in ſuch a ſenſe; Far b… the Tho't from us, and deteſted by us. The Only begotten Son it Chriſt, whoſe Name is above every Name, and Angels in Heaven as well as we on Earth how down before it.
2. WE are the Offspring of God eminently or only in our Souls, not call'd ſo with reſpect to our Bodies or outward Form. When the Creation of Man came on, the Crown and finiſhing peice of God's Creation here below, the Lord God ſaid — Let us …ks Man in our Image, ofter our likeneſs: and he formed the Body of Man out of the duſt of the Ground, and breathed into his Noſtrils the Breath of Life, and Man became a Living Soul. Mans Body is a wondrous peice of Divine Workmanſhip, and great is the glory of the Wiſdom and Power and Bounty of the CREATOR ſhining in it. But the living Soul or Spirit which God breathed into this Body, bears the Image of the wiſe, eternal ever living SPIRIT, whoſe breath it is. God is the Father of Spirits. Angels and Souls, intelligent and immortal Beings, are his Offſpring; and not Bodies. There is a Spirit in Man, and the Inſpiration of the Almighty giveth him Underſtanding. Souls are His, all Souls are ſo; his Offspring in his Image.
AND this is the manner of Reaſoning in our Context; that it is abſurd to worſhip the inviſible and immenſe. SPIRIT, that gives to all Life and Breath and all things, under any dead and bodily Form, whether of Man or Beaſt; for in HIM we live & move, being made living Souls by Him and active Spirits, and ſo his Offspring.
3. IT muſt moreover be premiſed & conſidered, That Angels and humane Souls, though vaſtly in their Nature excelling Bodies and bearing the Image of the Inviſible God; yet they are as much at laſt the Creatures of God and infinitely below Him, as any and every part of the inferior World. At laſt the diſtance is infinite between God and the higheſt created Intelligence. There is no proportion between Finite and Infinite: there is no meaſuring that which is Eternal and which is Immenſe. An eternal Exiſtence is juſt the ſame to a million Years before the World, as to a million after it: And ſo is an immenſe Preſence juſt the ſame to the Heaven of heavens and to this Houſe which we are in. That is to ſay, There is neither greater not leſs if compared to Infinity: the Heaven of heavens do no more contain God than this Room can. In like manner the higheſt created Beings are but Creatures, and the leaſt Worm or Mire is one of Gods Creatures. If therefore ſome of God's Creatures are call'd his Offspring, what then? they are never the leſs as much below the eternal and immenſe Creator, as the leaſt and loweſt thing that he has made. Wherefore He putteth no Truſt in his Angels, he charge them with Folly, they cover their Faces before Him; the Heavens are not clean in his ſight. And as for the Spirits in Fleſh, what are they but Duſt and Aſhes before Him? as Abraham beheld himſelf, when God ſpake to him, and gave him leave to ſpeak before him. — As our Context has it, — God that made the World and all things in it, ſeeing he is Lord of Heaven and Earth, is as much above the higheſt as the leaſt of his Creatures. So then, although our Souls are the Offspring of God, yet pride muſt be hid from Man, and he is before his Maker but a Worm of the duſt. Lucifer, the Son of the Morning, in his high ſtate grew proud, not conſidering that his diſtance from the Throne of the Majeſty on High, was as great as if he had been the leaſt of Angels or only a Spirit here below in fleſh; and ſo he fell —. But having ſaid this to keep us low under the Priviledges of our Nature and the Favours of God to us; I come now to ſay,
4. YET it pleaſes the High God to call ſome of his Creatures his Offſpring, and to require them ſo to account of & eſteem Themſelves. For we are his Offspring.
ANGELS and Men may ſay this. They both are ſo. God calls them ſo, owns them ſo, puts them among his Children.
1. ANGELS are the Sons of God. Job 38.7. When the Morning Stars ſang together and all the Sons of God ſhouted for Joy. i. e. The Angels did ſo when God made this Earth of ours. The bleſſed Angels are among Creatures, the Firſt born of the Father of lights; and they ſhone bright in the Morning of time; before that God commanded the Light to ſhine out of Darkneſs here below. They ſaw God rear the Earth for Men their younger Brethren, immortal Spirits like themſelves; and they rejoiced at it; (in the habitable parts whereof the Son of God was before rejoicing.) The holy Angels ſhine bright in the Image of God; love him as their Father, he delights in them as his Sons, their delight is to do his Will, they dwell in his Houſe above, and they inherit everlaſting Life and Light.
2. MAN was created a Son of God as well as the Angels. So we read, Luk. 3. ult. Adam, which was the Son of God. He was immediately the Offſpring of God in his Creation; We are mediately, Deut. 32.6. Is he not thy Father? hath he not made thee? Mal. 2.10. Have we not all our Father? hath not one God created us?
Now there are two Reaſons why Angels and men ſhould be called the Offspring of God, more than the other inferior Creatures which God has made.
1. They are made more in the Image and Likeneſs of God than the inferior Creatures. And
2. They are in an eminent & exalted ſenſe made for God, his Service and Praiſe more than the other Creatures.
3. They are treated by God in a peculiar manner as his Offspring.
I. ANGELS and Men are the Offſpring of God becauſe they are made more in the Image and Likeneſs of God than the inferior Creatures are. This is the Diſtinction that God put, and the Difference he made, in the Creation of other Creatures and of Man: Let us make Man (ſaid He) in our Image and likeneſs. Which means not that the inferior Creatures do not bear the manifeſt ſtamp of God's Wiſdom, Power and Goodneſs upon them; They evidently do ſo, and His eternal Power and Godhead are clearly ſeen in the things which are made. But in Man there is the Image of God's Spirituality, Dominion and Government, Knowledge, Rectitude, Immortality, as is not to be found in the Inferior Creatures.
IMAGE and likeneſs; i. e. ſays One, the likeſt Image, the neareſt Reſemblance of any of the viſible Creatures: It is this Image of God on Man, this Likeneſs to God in him, that makes us the Offspring of God: As Children bear the Image, and are in the Likeneſs, of their Parents.
So,
1. WE bear the Image and are the Offspring of God becauſe we are living Souls and Spirits. God is a Spirit, Joh. 4.24. The Lord is that Spirit. 2 Cor. 3.17. The eternal and infinite Mind; inviſible, incorporeal, immaterial, incorruptible; that is GOD. Material and viſible things cannot give us any Image of God, like things Spiritual which only fall under the diſcerning of our Minds, which are Spirits, and capable of Spiritual Operations. In his we are like God, that our Souls are Spiritual Subſtances; that there is a Spirit in Man; inviſible, incorruptible, immortal; a Power & Principle intelligent, active, free, ſelf-conſcious: God made us this Soul, and herein we reſemble God, whoſe Spirituality and Simplicity of Eſſence is infinitely above the Nature of created Spirits, as theſe are above ſtupid and groſs Matter.
2. We bear the Image and are the Offspring of God becauſe intelligent and rational Creatures. We are Minds; God has given us Knowledge and Underſtanding. Man is a Spiritual Intellect, as the Angels of Heaven alſo are Intelligences. The Inſpiration of the Almighty has given Us an Underſtanding. An Underſtanding to know HIM, and to form Ideas of things ſpiritual, inviſible, immaterial & eternal. In this we muſt needs ſee & conſider the Image of God upon us. Job. 35.10. Where is God my Maker, who teacheth us more than the Beaſts of the field, and hath made us wiſer than the Fowls of Heaven? The LORD is a God of Knowledge; Angels bear his Image in their Knowledge and Wiſdom, and ſo doth Man on Earth, Col. 3.10. Created after God in Knowledge. Christ the expreſs Image of the Father has his Name, foreign the Word and Wiſdom. So Man is a thinking reaſoning Creature. And this Spirit of Man is the Candle of the Lord, Prov. 20.27. As a Candle is light from ſome Fire, and then ſhines and gives light it ſelf.
3 WE bear the Image and are the Offspring of God, in our Will, Freedom, Election and Choice, in our Actions. We are Agents by Counſel. We judge, deliberate, adviſe, chuſe o… refuſe; upon reaſoning and conſidering of things. This is the property of a ſpiritual & intellectual Nature, and ſhows very much of God's Image on us. Hence we are capable of moral Perfection; Virtue, Grace, Goodneſs: A Mind rightly diſpoſed and inclined to chuſe the Good & refuſe the Evil. This was the Image of God at firſt on man: God made him spright. Eccl. 7.29 God made him holy, beheld him very good, and forbad him to Sin. And this is the Image of God in Man reſtored by Grace … Eph. 4.24. Created after God in Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs. We are made to be good, and do good, and love the things that are holy and good: As to know God and his Will ſo to pleaſe and obey Him; to place our Affection on him, and to chuſe the things that pleaſe him. This the inferior Creatures are not capable of; They have neither knowledge not will for moral Government; the Government of themſelves; to be rul'd by a Law propoſed to them. They are not capable of chufing for themſelves, or of yeilding Obedience to Another; from a ſenſe of Duty; and becauſe what he commands is wiſe and right, juſt and good.
4. MAN is made for Dominion and Rule, and therein bears the Image and appears to be the Offspring of God, The Words of the Great CREATOR are very remarkable about the formation of Man; Let us make Man i… Our Image, after our likeneſs, and … him have Dominion over the inferio… Creatures. God is the Lord, Proprietor and Poſſeſſor, Ruler and Governour of all things. Man as the Offspring of God bears this part of God's Image, that he was made Lord, Proprietor and Governour of the Earth, and the Creatures on it. The Begotten Son is the Heir and Lord of all things, viſible and inviſible. Of the Angels we read that they are Thrones and Dominions, Principalities and Powers: And their Agency, Influence and Rule in the Kingdom of Nature and Grace, and over the Kingdoms and in the Hearts of Men, may be much more than we conceive of: But Man the Offspring of God on Earth has that for his Poſſeſſion and Dominion. He ſhould be Lord of Himſelf, and have the dominion of his own Soul; and then act as God's Repreſentative and Vice-toy in the uſe of the Creation. He is made and accompliſh'd for his Place and Dominion by the ſupreme Power; and then limited in it, as it is meet … ſhould be. He muſt rule for God, …le Himſelf & reign over the Creatures of God. They are not endowed to fear and ſerve God, but are made to ſerve Man, whoſe Fear is put by God upon them. Gen. 9.2. By the Government of himſelf Man ſhines in the moral Image of God, and by his Poſſeſſion and Uſe of the Creature he bears the Image of Gods viſible and univerſal Government.
5. MAN bears the Image and is the Offspring of God in his Immortality. GOD is the King Immortal; He only hath Immortality. He is to Everlaſting. In like manner Angels are immortal Spirits; they liue for ever, can never die. Man was indeed from his Original Make and Conſtitution capable of Death. He is a living Soul in a Body of Fleſh, or Earth. The Union is wonderful, of things very diſtant in their own Nature. The Separation of them is therefore the leſs wonderful. Never the leſs without the Sin of man it had never been God by his power would have kep… Soul & Body together if he had no… …ed. Diſſoluble they wore, an… God let him know it, and told him in the day he eat he ſhould ſurely find it. Never the leſs the Soul of Man is an immortal Spirit. That lives when it leaves the body. That is liable thenceforth to no other Death than the ſinning Angels themſelves are under, ſcil. Guilt & Miſery eternal. We read therefore of the Souls returning to God that gave it. Eccl. 12.7. and of the Spirits of good Men immediately in Abraham's boſome; and of the Souls of the wicked in the place of Torment, Luk. 16.23. The Soul is the Man, and that is as much immortal in its own Nature as any Angel in heaven. Herein then it bears the Image of the E…ernal God as much as they, and as much as a Creature …an do; for it is eternal in its duration, it lives and laſts to all Eternity. Mat. 25. ult. Theſe ſhall go away into verlaſting Puniſhment, but the righteous into Life eternal. The Offspring …f the eternal God muſt be an immor…l Creature. What Image of the …ing Being were a ſhort liv'd, periſhing Nature? as the ſpirit of a Beaſt that goes entirely out into Air, and downward to Earth. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. The living only are meet to be call'd the Offspring of God. But then too — Immortal, living Spirits muſt needs be in their original State the high Offspring of God. Theſe are each of them as the Children of the King Eternal: they bear a high Image and Reſemblance of his Immortality. This is a high Honour and Glory, wherein Man is at laſt not a whit below the Angels, thoſe Sons of God. They both inherit Glory. Honour & Immortality: …e eternal Life.
AND ſo much for the fi…ſt Reaſon why we are called the Offspring of God; namely, Becauſe made in the Image and Likeneſs of God.
II. WE are the Offspring of God, becauſe eminently and in an …a…ed ſenſe made for God, for his Serv…c… and Praiſe, more tha… any other Creatures here on Earth. The Offspring belongs to the Parents; ſo we among the Creatures do more immediately to God. We are his more than other Creatures; his Propriety & Peculiar.
Here, 1. IT is true that all things are Created for the Glory and Praiſe of God. Of Him, and to Him, are all things, Rom. 11.36. For his Glory they are & were. Created, Rev. 4.11. Every Creature of God bears more o… leſs the Stamp & Impreſs of his Image; of his Wiſdom, Power & Goodneſs; which declare it to belong to God and to be made for his Praiſe. Job. 12.7. Ask now the Beaſts and they ſhall teach thee, and the Fowls of the Air and they ſhall tell thee; or ſpeak to the Earth and it ſhall teach thee, and the Fiſhes of the Sea ſhall declare unto thee: Who knoweth not in all theſe that the Hand of the Lord hath wro't this? in whoſe Hand is the Soul of every living thing, and the Breath of all Mankind. Go to any Creature of God on Earth and you will ſee the Perfections of God ſhining forth in it. Theſe declare it to belong to God and made for his Glory. The Creature does herein in eff… …peak to us and ſay Whoſe and for what it is … and in this ſenſe God is the Father of all things.
2. BUT in a more ſpecial Manner and in a higher ſenſe Mankind are made for G…d, his Glory, Praiſe and Service. Of the inferiour Creatures God has ſaid, the Beaſts of the Earth ſhall honour Me; But of Man he adds, Iſa. 43.21. This People have I formed for my Self, that they ſhould ſhew forth my Praiſe. Man is more peculiarly formed and endowed for God than other Creatures are; as in bearing more of his Image, ſo to deſign and act more peculiarly to his Honour, And this I ſhall ſhow of Man both as to his Soul and Body.
1 THE Soul of Man is gloriouſly form'd for God; in the following Reſpects:
1. To know Him; as the Offspring in due time knows the Parent tha… nouriſhes and brings it up. The inferior Creatures can't know or acknowledge their Maker; but we may and muſt, Job 35.10. Where is G…d … Maker that teacheth me more than the Beaſts of the earth? All the People ſee his Glory; ſays the Pſalmist. If they will but uſe their Eyes and look about 'em, and look up, they may do ſo: they can't help doing it, … they will but uſe the Reaſon & Underſtanding that God has given them. The …tute Creatures are not made to know God, they are not capable of it, it is too high for them to attain unto: But we are made to know God, that he is, what he is, who he is, and how he will be worſhipped, and what his will is; to know him from his Works, and from his Word, and from within our ſe…ves; to know him in part here, and more hereafter. In this we are made meet to be called the Offspring of God.
2. THE Soul of Man is form'd to love God, and deſign his Glory; propoſe it and act for it, and herein is meet to be called the Offspring of God. The dumb Creature honours God, but it does not love him. As it does know that he is, ſo it cannot deſign his Honour. But Man that is an Agent by Counſel can and ſhould propoſe to himſelf this ſupream and governing End, to which all things are to be ſubordinated by him 1 Cor. 10 31. Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatſoever ye do, do al… to the Glory of God. How abſurd a Precept would this be to the brute Creatures, that eat and drink, but know not who gives them their Graſs and Water? But Man the Offspring of God knows and ſhould conſider the God that makes the Graſs to grow for the Cattle and Herb for the ſervice of Man; that the Rain has a Father who by it brings forth Food out of the Earth. They are the Offspring, that live on the Table of their Father in Heaven, and can acknowledge Him in their daily Bread. The firſt & great Commandment of God to Man is that, Mat. 22.37. Thou ſhalt love the Lord thy God. This becomes the Offspring; but the Creatures that can't love, can't be put among the Children. Now to love God is to deſign his Praiſe and Glory, with a ſupream Regard to his W…ll. Knowledge and Love are eſſentially requiſite (i. e. a Capacity for them is ſo) to denominate an Offspring.
3. THE Soul of Man is made to obey G…d, which is the duty of the Offspring, and the Expreſſion of love due from us to God. This is the Love of God that we do his Commandments; do his Will, as Angels (the Offspring above) do. This it is that God ſays to us and requires of us, — Only obey my Voice. This muſt be done with all the Underſtanding, and with all the Soul-Obedience is of the Soul. It muſt be a reaſonable and free ſervice. This is what Man only is capable of on Earth, and therefore he only is the Offspring of God here below.
4. THE Soul of Man is made for Communion with God; as to know him and love him, and deſign his Glory and act for it; ſo to be known of God and beloved by Him; and taken …nto Fellowſhip with Him. The Soul …an draw nigh to God, and God comes down into it. The Soul by Faith and Love converſes with God in mental Acts of Prayer and Praiſe, or in oral ones. It can delight it ſelf in the Almighty, and in holy Affections and Deſires go forth to God. It can wing away and aſcend to Him. And God takes pleaſure in the Soul ſo diſpoſed and exerciſing it ſelf, and manifeſts himſelf unto it as to his own. This is the Priviledge of the Offspring; to ſtand in the Parents preſence, to ſit at his feet, to hear his Words and learn of Him; to ask and receive; to be beloved & delighted in; to be takes into the Arms & Boſome, upon their drawing near with Reverence & Confidence. This is the Offsprings Priviledge,— As Children to a Father.
5. THE Soul of Man is made to live with and enjoy God for ever and ever. The Fathers Houſe & Preſence is proper to the Offspring and them only. The immediate Servants in the preſence of God are all Children. Angels are therefore Sons becauſe they live and ſerve in the Houſe eternal in the Heavens, and as Children do the Will and enjoy the Love of God. And ſo we are the Offspring becauſe made for the ſame Felicity and Bliſs, the ſame high Dignity and Joy. He that is the Son by an eternal Generation, the Bleſſed and only Beloved of the Father, has ſaid to redeemed Souls I aſcend to my Father and your Father: in my Fathers houſe are many Manſions. In Heaven the Saints do perfectly know God, perfectly love him, perfectly obey him, and their Communion with God, their Enjoyment of him is perfect; Then & there therefore will it be ſeen that they are the Offspring of God, and what it is to be ſo; when they ſhall ſhine forth in the Kingd…m of their Father, and be with Chriſt in his Glory.
I need not add as a diſtinct Head here, That the Soul of man is the Offspring of God becauſe in it God will be glorified for ever. Service and Enjoyment go together, both now and hereafter. So does our Happineſs in God and God's Glory from us. The Offspring of God are growing eternally in the Knowledge of God, in the Love of him, in Obedience to him, in his Praiſes; to the everlaſting Glory of God from them. He has Glory from them, & they Bleſſedneſs in him to eternal Ages. He the King of Glory makes his Offspring Kings and Prieſts to Himſelf; a Crown, a Kingdom, an everlaſting Reign is their high Portion. This, this is the Manifeſtation of the Sons of God at last: This Man was form'd, endow'd, deſign'd for in his firſt Formation; and this the Elect of God are redeemed unto by Jeſus Chriſt and called to by the Goſpel.
2. To deſcend lower, Man in his Body is deſign'd & form…d apparently for God and for his Glory more than all the other Creatures here on earth. As the Body of Man is apparently form'd for Superiority and Dominion over the Creatures here below, ſo is it alſo for the Knowledge of God and the Service of God. The heathen Poet could obſerve this long ſince, O… Homini ſublime dedit, Caelumque tueri …ſſit. The Face & Eyes of Man were …or made to look down on the Earth …s the Brute Creatures that know no…hing more than how to find their …ood there; but the erect Form of man's Body bids him ſurvey the Heavens and all the Works of God, and …ee his Perfections ſhining in them, …nd obſerve what they demand from …s. Man's Eye was made to read the …ook of Nature & of Scripture, what the one and the other ſpeaks of God …nd our Duty to Him. Mans Tongue, which is his Glory among the Crea…ures, was made to ſpeak of God …d to diſcourſe of Him and of …is Will, in more familiar and pri…ate manner, or in more publick and …lemn form. Our Speech is given … to ſpeak to God in Prayer and …iſe & Thanksgiving; to bleſs and …d his Name, alone by our Selves …d alſo in Company; to ſing his …iſes too; to utter the Admiration, …e and Devotion of our Souls; yea … to call upon our Soul and all that is within us to admire and love and laud Him. Mans Ear is manifeſtly made to try Words, receive Knowledge, and Faith which comes by Hearing; to hear from God and of him and of all his Wonders in the Works of Nature & of Grace. Once more, the curious Hand and Fingers of Man are made to write and work for the Honour and Praiſe of God; as much as the Mind & Tongue to think and ſpeak to his Glory. And again, this Social Nature in Man, which joyns us in Families, in Towns, in Churches, and which brings us together this day to worſhip is intended firſtly and ultimately for the Glory of God; that we may joyn together in Worſhip, and by Love ſerve one another; that we may edify one another, excite and animate each other to every thing that is holy and juſt and good. And finally, As our Souls and Bodies are wonderfully united by the Power of the God of Nature, ſo he has given us a Power of Self-conſecration, that we ſhould preſent our Selves Soul and Body a living Sacrifice, holy and acceptable through Chriſt; that He may be glorified both in our Bodies and Spirits which are his.
MAN only is capable of all this, which I have but hinted at; & therefore he only among the Creatures here below is meet to be called the Offſpring of God. He has a he…ven b…rn Soul to know and admire and love and …huſe and obey God and enj…y Him for ever. He is an immortal Soul that can be happy in nothing below God A…d he only has a Body formed for religious Purpoſes; to ſee the Glo…y of God in the Univerſe, to ſee it by …elliſcopes & by Microſcopes in things …o minute or distant for the naked …ye to re…ch. He only has a Tongue … ſpeak, an Eye to lift up an Far to …eat, as well as a Heart to underſtand. … o…ly has a Hand to wri…e, or Hands … lift up i… God's Name, & K…ees to … bef…re Him. He only is form'd … W…ſh…p in Mind and in B…dy; … this is …is Honour and P…e…oga…e among the Creatures that He is the Offspring and they God's Works; God is his Father and their Maker.