The Duty of Young People to Give their Hearts Unto God, Sermon 4

The Duty of Young People to Give their Hearts Unto God · Sermon 4

p. 118Sermon IV.

ACTS XVII. 28.

For We are alſo His Offspring.

III. MANKIND are peculiarly treated by the great God as his Offspring. The ſpecial Providence and Grace of God to Man ſhows that he is His Offſpring.

AND this is indeed the Argument in my Context: For in Him we live and move and have our Being: He is not far from every one of us: He determines our T…mes and the B…unds o… every ones Habitation: He giveth to … Life and Breath and all things: — Upon and from all which the Con… ſion p. 119is — We are his Offspring. Which is to ſay, God in his all-diſpoſing, all-governing Providence, carries it toward us and orders what concerns us as a Father to his Offspring. And herein he acknowledges us to be ſo. — My Context will not allow me to …mit this Argument; The moſt High God treats us as his Offspring; and therein owns and declares us to be ſo. But I will make this Advantage too of the Apoſtles Reaſoning, which he alſo leads me to do in the Verſes following my Text; to ſtep from the Kingdom of Providence into the Kingdom of Grace. I ſay then,

1. GOD peculiarly treats us as his Offspring here below in the daily Suſtentation granted us and Proviſion made for us in the Courſe of his Providence.

2. IN his Redeeming Love and Mer… ſhewn to us through Ieſus Chriſt. …. WE are peculiarly treated by …od as his Offspring in the daily Suſtentation granted us, and Proviſion made …r us in his fatherly Providence. In p. 120this God acknowledges us yet to be his Offspring, becauſe he cares and does for us as ſuch.

And 1. IN his daily ſustentation of us. As P…rents would if they could ſuſtain and preſerve their Offspring. They do all that they can for that end; they watch and rend and miniſter to them: But He in whom we live and move and have our Being, He that gives to us & ours life & breath and all things, (as our Context has it) his Offspring we are. He is our great and high Parent in Heaven.

WE have a neceſſary and conſtant Dependance on God, more than the Offspring has on the Parent; for our Life and Breath and Being is from the continued Concourſe of his Providence.

BY him We and all things conſiſt. Every moment we are upheld by the Word of his Power. He pr…eth Man and Beaſt. In his Hand is the Soul of every living thing, & the Breath of all Mankind; and his are all our Ways.

p. 121THIS riſes vaſtly beyond the Kindneſs & Offices of … Father to his Offſpring Pſal 22.10. I was cast upon Thee from the Womb, thou art my God from my Mothers bowels, Iſa. 38.16. By this Man lives, and herein is th… life our Spirits.

2. GOD treats us as his Offspring in the daily Proviſions of his Providence. He feeds and ſupplies us, as well as upholds us. The Parents Arms take up and embrace the Offſpring, and their Hands feed them. So we live on the Table of the Divine Providence, and have and are bid to ask of God our daily bread, as Children live upon the Care and Proviſion of their Parents. God has ſ…d us all our Life time unto this day. He …loathes us alſo and gives us all Things …ichly to enjoy. He has forbid us to …ake Tho't for our ſelves, what we ſhall …, &c. He adds, — Becauſe Your …venly Father knoweth that ye have …d of th…ſe things God as a Father to … takes knowledge of our Wams from …y to day and provides for us. We p. 122are a f…eble Offspring that can't ſupply our ſelves without Him. Gen. 28.20 If God will be with me in the way wherein I go and give me bread &c. What Iob ſays of himſelf toward the poor and deſtitute, we muſt every one of us confeſs to the Glory of God; from our Youth & from our Mothers womb, He has brought us up as a Father. — Thus we are peculiarly treated by God as his Offspring, in the daily Suſtentation granted & Proviſion made for us.

BUT you will ſay, In this reſpect every Creature of God ſhares al…ke in his fatherly Care: for he upholdeth all thin…s by the Word of his Power, and preſerve…h not Man only but the Beaſts alſo, and giveth to them their Food: All Eyes wait on Him and he give…h them their Meat in du…ſeaſon.

I anſwer, True; Behold the F…wls of th… Air, your heavenly F…th…r ſeed…h them, Mat. 6 26. What the…? as i… follow, — Are ye not much better than th… in his ſight? And is not his tende… p. 123care much more for you? His care of them is for your ſake. He feeds them to feed you of them. He gives them to you for Food In like manner, He makes the Graſs to grow for the Cattle; but the Herbs and Flocks themſelves are his Proviſion for your Tables; O Children of Men! that bear his Image, and to whom he has given the Earth and all things in it. Do you not ſee the rich Farmer look carefully to the ſtate of his Flocks, and provide Food for them with like care as he does Bread for his Family? but the Care is at laſt for the Family who who live on the Fat of the Flock, and are cloth'd with the Wool of it. So God upholds the inferior Creatures in their life, and feeds them daily; not becauſe they are his Offspring; no, but that his Offspring ſhould feed and live upon them. So in the day of Noah, when the Flo…d came God preſerv'd in the Ark ſome of every Beaſt …nd of all Fowls as well as the Family of Noah. But was his Care theirfore for the one like that which he p. 124expreſs'd for the Other? No, not at all: For as ſoon as the Flood was over, and Noah was out of the A…k, God delivered all thoſe Creatures again into the hand of Noah, and put the Fear of Man upon them, and give him every moving T…ing that liveth to be Meat for him, even as the green Herb. So then, Noah and his Sons were declared to be the Offspring, and not the preſerved inferior Creatures, who are only the rich Variety of Proviſion for the Childrens table.

II. WE are more eſpecially cared for and treated as the Offspring of God, in what God has done for our Redemption and Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt. We were in our Original State the Children of God even as the Angels: Like them Man was created in the Image of God and in his Love, holy and obedient as they are. But by our Sin and Fall we caſt our ſelves out of this bleſſed State and Relation: We loſt the Image of God, and are Alienated from God, turn…d Enemies and Rebels to him. We loſt the Diſpoſition p. 125of Children, became Children of Diſobedience, and ſo Children of Wrath: We are d…ſinherited by our heavenly Father whom we rejected, and by fin we are of our Father the devil to whom we revolred and ſold our ſelves. Yet God, the Father of Merc…es, did in an Eternal Council decree the Recovery of a Remnant of the apoſtare Children of Men into the glorious State, Liberty & Privibedges of Children to God. To which End the Only begotten and Beloved of the Father took our Nature, from the everlaſting and infinite delight he had in his Fathers Glory and our eternal Salvation. Behold what manner of love the Father has beſtowed on us, that we ſhould be again the Sons of God! The Son of the Higheſt, God bleſſed for …e…more, took not the Nature of Angels, … reſtore thoſe once Sons of the Morning into the Dignity and Seats of Children from which they had fallen; …t the Elect Children are taken from …nong the ſi…ful Sons and Dau'ters … Men. And becauſe the Children are p. 126partakers of Fleſh and Blond, He alſo himſelf took part of the ſame, that he might call us Brethren: Heb. 2.14. He became the Seed of the Woman whom the devil had beguiled, and was made under the Law, was made Sin, ſuffered the Curſe for us, yet we might become the Sons of God and Heirs of Heaven. Gal. 4.4. But when the fulneſs of Time was come, God ſent forth his Son made of a Woman, made under the law. In ſhort, the whole Deſign and glorious Effect of the Incarnation and Death of the Son of God is this, his bringing many Sons to Glory; a numerous Election of Grace given him by the Father. As it is written, 2 Cor. 6.18. I will be a Father to you, and ye ſhall be my Sons and Daughters, ſaith the Lord Almighty.

THUS all the Elect in Chriſt, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, are from the days of Eternity choſen and fredeſtinated unto this Dignity & …dery, to become the Children of God. And in time they receive Power to be ſo, by an effectual p. 127Vocation: As we read Joh. 1.12. As many as received him (i. e. Chriſt, by beleiving on his Name, & ſubmitting to Him in the Offices of a Saviour, on the terms of the Goſpel) to them gave be power to become the Sons of God.

THERE is a glorious Adoption in Jeſus Chriſt, for ſome of the Children of fallen Man, whereby they are again made the Children of God. This Name is put upon the viſible Seed, the Children of the Covenant: The Name of the Father and of the Son is put upon us in Baptiſm; and to the Viſible Church belongs the Adoption and the Covenant: (I am a Father to Iſrael, and out of Egypt have I called my Son.) But the Thing really helongs to all the Children of the Promiſe, who are counted for the Seed; being made the Children of God by a new Birth by a bleſſed Regeneration; born again, born from Above, born of God; receiving of …im a new Heart and Nature, the ho…y Diſpoſitions of Children to God: …m. 1.18 Of his own Will begat beaus … the Word of Truth. Of ſuch & … p. 128ſuch it is that the Apoſtle John ſays, 1 Joh. 3.2. Behold, now we are the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we ſhall be.

FVERY Believer in Chriſt has Acceſ unto God as his Father. Becauſe ye are Sons God has ſent forth the Spirit of his Son into year Hearts, crying, Abba Father. i. e enabling you to go to God in Prayer with the Freedom and Confidence of Children to a Father. They have boldneſs to enter into the holiest by the blo…d of Jeſus, with a true heart in the full aſſurance of Faith They have an Aſſurance of a Fathers Heart and Ear and Care for them in God; and they have the ſenſe and feeling of the hearts of Children in themſelves toward Him. Mat 7 9 What Man is there whom if his Son ask Bread will give him a Stone? if ye then b…ng evil know how to give good Giſts to your Children, ſhall not your heavenly Father give his holy Spirit to them that ask Him?

AND truly the Care of God for Believers in Chriſt, is the ſpecial Care p. 129of a Father for his Children, both on temporal Accounts and alſo on ſpiritual. As a Father pitieth his Children ſo the Lord pities them that ſear him. And as a Father cares for his Offſpring, ſo theſe are aſſured that God cares for them, and are required to caſt all their Care upon him. As a Father chaſtens his Son whom he loves, ſo the Lord their God chaſtens them; …nd the Exhortation ſpeaketh to them as unto Children; My Son deſpiſe not thou, nor ſaint. Who ever do, don't You: You will find the fatherly Kindneſs and Love of God conſtant to you …o their dying day, and thro' Death: As Parents change not in their love to their Children, but their Te…derneſs for 'em increaſes if they ſee 'em ready … die. The Believer may breathe …ut his Spirit into the hands of Grace …s Chriſt did his, — Father, into thy …nd. And after Death the Saint …es to the Inheritance of Children, in …bt above. He goes to the Preſence … God, to his Houſe eternal in the …avens, to his Table, to the Company p. 130of Angels, the Elder Brethren: He goes to be with Chriſt, to inherit Everlaſting Glory in his Right; who as He was going to his Croſs ſaid — In my Fathers Houſe are many Manſions, I go to prepare a Place for you; and when he was to be taken up ſaid —, I aſcend to my Father and your Father. Upon all then we muſt conclude and ſay of all Believers in Chriſt, in the Words of the beloved Apoſtle, — Behold, now ye are the Sons of God and it doth not appear what we ſhall be But this we know, that He that fitteth upon the Throne on high will ever treat them as his high Children; he will array them in Robes of Glory he will poſſeſs them of the eternal Kingdom; he will for Chriſt's ſake ſay of them as he did of Him, that in them his Soul is ever well pleaſed: they ſhall be ever dear to him, and bleſſed in him; and ſhall rejoice in his Love, and love him with the Ardor of Children and Seraphims, and do his Will as the Angels do for ever.

p. 131AND this is the laſt and utmoſt Proof, that We among the Creatures below are the Offspring of God; becauſe fallen as we are from God there is an Elect Number that are adopted in Chriſt, and made the Children of God by Regeneration, who are treated by him already as becomes the Name and Relation, and ſhall be ſo for ever hereafter in the moſt glorious manner.

USE. I come now to the Im… ment and Uſe of the Doctrine, An… in the firſt place,

1. ARE we the Offspring of God? We learn then what God is. There is no like Looking glaſs in Nature wherein we may ſee the Image and Face of God, like our own Souls. The Image of God is within us. Look in then and ſee what thy own Soul is; Conſider its Spiritual Nature, its Underſtanding and Knowledge & Power of thinking; its Freedom and Will and Affections; its Self conſciouſneſs, and immortal Nature: And then from p. 132the Effect argue to the Cauſe, what God is: He that made Me this Soul muſt be a glorious, immenſe & eternal Spirit: He that teacheth Man Knowledge ſhall not be know? Yes, He muſt be perfect in Knowledge, his Underſtanding is infinite, He is the Only wiſe! And he muſt be moſt Good and Holy; For it is very plain to us that he made us with theſe Affections and with this Conſcience under a holy Rule, a Law of Rectitude: From which we muſt … …arily again infer, that He is our Sovereign, Lawgiver and Judge. — Well therefore has One ſaid on my Text, That the Soul of Man conſidered in its three noble Faculties of Underſtanding Will and active Power, is the cleareſt Glaſs we have wherein to ſee God; and whereby to form our Conceptions of his Spirituality Knowledge, Rectitude; that he is a Mind & Spirit m…ſt holy, wiſe and good.

2. ARE we the Offspring of God … we ſee the Folly and Abſurdity of the Idolatries which have been common p. 133in the World, in the Worſhip of Images, The Apoſtle means my Text as a plain and direct Argument againſt this Impiety. He ſaw the City of Athens given wholly to Idolatry, & his Spirit was moved within him at the Stupidity of the learned and polite City; as they valued themſelves and were eſteemed of by others; and in a holy Fervour and zeal of Spirit, he tries to convince them of their barbarous Superſtition and ignorant Worſhip. He asks them whether the Mak… … Lord of the Univerſe could be …pr… ſented by a lifeleſs Idol, ſet up in temple, there to ſtand a ſtock, without Senſe or Motion? He asks 'em, If they could think that an Image made with Mens hands could be any Repreſentative of the living One, that giveth unto all Life and Breath and all things? Their own Life & Breath …ight convince them that an Idol was …hing, for it had not ſo much as any …fe or breath in it. He bids them …ok over all the Nations of Men welling on all the face of the Earth, p. 134whom the Creator has made of one Blood; and then put it to themſelves whether the Father of ſo many immortal Spirits can be fitly repreſented by an Image of wood or ſtone, of ſil-and gold? He tells them that the Soul of Man was made to ſeek God and find Him of it ſelf and in it ſelf; and that indeed God is not far from every one of us, but is always preſent with and to a devout Mind that de…i…es to know and worſhip Him. He …er the nearer for an Image ſet before us; That does not at all repreſent Him who is always and every where preſent. Yea ſays the Apoſtle, We live and move & have our Being in him, & are an Immortal Offspring of this Eternal Spirit; and can we be ſo abſurd at laſt as to think that the God head is like unto Silver and Gold, or Stone graven by art and mans device? Unworthy to be called Men are they that can think ſo. Why has God made us Souls, if we repreſent him by things Corporeal? we forfeit ou… Souls and Reaſon, we forget & deba… p. 135our ſelves in acting thus. A Son honoureth his Father, and ſhall the immortal Offspring ſo diſhonour the Father of their Spirits? He made them living Souls, and ſhall they make Him a dead, dumb and deaf Idol? that can neither ſee, nor ſpeak, nor move? Shall Man change the Glory of his Maker into that which is ſo much beneath himſelf? Yet how often have Mankind done ſo? and how many Nations upon Earth ſtill do it? Rom. 1.25. Who changed the Truth of God into a lye, and worſhipped and ſerved the Creature, more than the Creator. ver. 23. Who profeſſing themſelves to be wiſe become fools; (ſo did the Men of Athens) and changed the Glory of the Incorruptible God, into an Image made like to corruptible Men; and to Birds and fourfooted Beaſts and creeping things.

3. ARE we the Offspring of God? Learn the original and the laſt Dignity of our Nature. It is the higheſt Honour that the higheſt Creatures are …apable of, to be called by God his …ons, his Children, his Offspring. The p. 136Angels of God have no greater honour, nor can have. They are the First-born, and the Elder Brethren. They were made before us, and but a little above us. We are made a litter lower than they; yet are crowned with the like Honour & Glory that they are; in that we are the Offspring of God as well as they. They have not Bodies as we have; But we are immortal Spirits, and are made for an intellectual Happineſs and moral Perfection as well as they. We bear the Image of God and are formed for Him; to know him, and love him, and do his Will, and to enjoy him as well as they: They and we have one Father, one Houſe and Heaven for our everlaſting Abode; and one Work and Bleſſedneſs for ever: They are Principalities and Thrones in the Heavens, and to Man was given the Dominion here below.

IN a word; We ought ever to keep in mind our Original and high Deſcent; our Alliance to Heaven; tha… we are made for it, are near akin … p. 137Angels, and are the Offspring of the ſame Father. We are not of the Earth earthly, nor to reſolve finally into duſt, but to return unto God, and be …he Heirs of heavenly Glories and Honours, in a bleſſed Immortality. For nothing leſs we were firſt deſigned, …nd unto this we are redeemed by the Blood of Chriſt and called by the Goſpel. We need every day we live …o bear this in mind; Who and what we are; not to elate our Selves, yet that we may know and reverence our Selves; and remember our chief End; our Relation and Duty to God.

4. ARE we the Offspring of God … let us lay to heart and be deeply affected with our Sin and Miſery in our …all from Him. We are fallen from God: That the Scripture teaches us, …nd how it came to paſs; how ſuddenly & eaſily it was effected by the …vils Malice and Subtlety. We feel …ithin ourſelves that we are no more …orthy to he called the Offspring of we ſee how little others about worthy of this Honour. The p. 138poor Heathen perceiv'd this but could give no account of it, knew not what to think or ſay of it, or how to act. But God has revealed to us how it came about, and what we now are, through the Fall of our first Parents.

LET us conſider,

1. The Sin, and

2. The Effects of it.

1. THE Sin. By one (the firſt) Mans Diſobedience we all are made ſinners. "We ſinned in him and fell with him in his firſt Tranſgreſſion". But O the horrid Nature of that firſt Sin! the unnatural Rebellion in it againſt God, and Revolt from him! Hear C Heavens and give ear O Earth! the Offspring of God, juſt formed in his Image and inclined for his Glory and provided for as a Son; plac'd in a Paradiſe, viſited & bleſs'd & taught and commanded by his Maker; immediately rebelled againſt Him, flew in the Face of his high Parent, renounced Him and denied him Faith, Love, Fear, Honour, Worſhip and Obedience! What Impudence! Ingratitude! — the Aggravatio p. 139that the Offspring could treat the Parent with ſuch Indignity!

2. THE miſerable Effects of this firſt Sin were a very dreadful but righteous Puniſhment of it. And here we might conſider how the holy Image of God upon the Soul of Man, the Crown where with his Maker had crowned him in the day wherein he had created him, was vilely thrown away, as if the Holy One had never ſo anointed him: — The Relation …o God as Son and an Offspring was utterly forfeited; the Diſpoſition of Children was entirely loſt: Of a Son the Creature Man was become an Enemy, an impotent Rebel; and his Poſterity in his loins, to be hereafter begotten in his Likeneſs (for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?) were of neceſſity and in the courſe of Nature Children of wrath, ſhapen in Iniquity, conceived & born in ſin; odious to the Holineſs and obnoxious to the Juſtice of God, and condemned already. Thus all Mankind by the fall loſt Communion with God, are under p. 140his Wrath and Curſe, and ſo mad… liable to all Miſeries in this life to Death it ſelf and to the pains o… Hell for ever.

INTO this ſtate of Sin and Miſery is Man fallen, who was at firſt a So… of God, and among whom God ye… has many Children, whom he wi… bring to Glory. The Diſhonour an… Offence, Injury and Grief has been great to God; and ſo is the Guilt an… Miſery to …. O let us lay both … heart, and mourn before the Lord an… weep for our ſelves! Our Bodies ar… ſunk among the beaſts, and become vile, ſenſual and mortal: Our Soul are ſunk down into the number of u… clean Spirits; we are naturally … our father the devil in reſpect of ſpiritual Luſts and Impurities; we be… his Image & do his Works; are pro… to what is evil and averſs to what … good and holy! Alas! whither are … fallen! what are we become! to who… are we like! and what is like to b… come of us for ever? — We have deſtroyed our ſelves and we all peri… p. 141Well did the Lord God ſay to the …man, What is this that thou haſt done? …d well might they hide themſelves … Shame & Fear from God; for they … themſelves naked and miſerable, …d their hearts ſmore 'em for their …ilt.— In ſhort, We were made the …spring of God—, think then what … have done, and what we are be…e, by our Fall from Him!

— But

…. ARE we the Offspring of God? …re is a worthy Reaſon why Chriſt has …e ſo much for our Redemption. In…d it was the Miſery of the Crea…e made it the Object of redeeming …rcy; but if the Creature had not …n of ſuch a Dignity it had not been …eemed. Nor yet was it for the …gnity of the Creature meerly that …eeming Mercy was ſhown to Man; … by the Dignity of Nature the fal… Angels would have claim'd before

…. The free Grace of God, with …ite Wiſdom, pitch'd upon the Ob… of miſery; and choſe one fallen p. 142Nature and not the other, and ſome of one only and not all. God ſaw Man his Offspring periſhing, and ſent his Son into the World, in the Nature of Man, to ſave him. If Man had not been a Son by nature, the Son of God would not have left the Fathers Boſome, come down and died to ſave him. Though the Dignity of Mans nature could not deſerve this, yet it recommended him unto ſo great a Favour. Each Soul of Men is unſpeakably precious, and therefore was this ineſtimable Price given for Our Redemption. 1 Pet. 1.18. For ye are not redeemed with corruptible things as Silver and Gold, but with the precious Blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemiſh, and without ſpot. Had Man been a corruptible thing, he might have been redeemed with ſome corruptible Price: But being a Soul, made in the likeneſs of the Incorruptible God, and for his Everlaſting Glo… and Love, therefore this incorruptibl… Price was given for his Ranſom, eve… p. 143the Life of the dear and Only-begotten Son.

BESIDES, the Offspring elected unto Salvation, are a vast number of theſe precious Souls; and the Salvation to be procured for them was from ſpiritual & eternal Miſeries, unto infinite and eternal Glories. They were to be redeemed to God from the Earth (from Sin and Hell, to heavenly Holineſs & Glory) out of every Kindred and People and Tongue, through every Age of the World. Theſe are an exceeding great number. If the Redeem…d had not been Such and ſo Many, …uch a Redeemer had not been raiſed up.

THE Harmony of our Redemption by Chriſt very much lies in this, that He is the Son and we belong to the Offspring. The loſt Children were Par…akers of Fleſh and Blood, and the Word …as made Fleſh (God was manifeſted in …e Fleſh) to ſave 'em.

THE Son of God bears a ſpecial Re…at…on to all the Offspring of God; for p. 144by Him God formed them. Why then did he paſs by the Angels that ſinned, and take the Humane Nature? We know not why; Unleſs we might ſay —that the ſinning Angels were the Original of Sin, and ſinned even in Heaven, and the whole Nature of Angels were not loſt, and they ruin'd the whole Offspring of God on Earth; and therefore the Mercies of God are denied them and offer'd to us.

THE Redemption being of a fallen Offspring, to make them again Children; to reſtore them again into the Liberty of the Sons of God; the eternal Son himſelf became the Redeemer. The Only begotten Son bears and brings theſe …ons to God: Behold I (ſays He to the Father) and my Children, which are all thine: And to Us he ſays, My Father is your Father; in my Right you are Children. Our Adoption is in Chriſt the Son: He gives the Power to us to become the Sons of God.

HERE then is a worthy Reaſon wh… Chriſt has done ſo much for our Redemption; He is the eternal Son …nd p. 145we among the created Offspring; and He by the Travel of his Soul ſees a glorious Number of a loſt Offspring reſtored into the Relation, Diſpoſitions, Priviledge & Inheritance of the Children of God.

6. ARE we the Offspring of God? ſee how the Grace of God by Jeſus Chriſt, as revealed in the Goſpel; agrees both to the Original and lapſed State of Man as it is given us by Moſes. There is an admirable Harmony between the Two Teſtaments, the Old and New; And they give in a marvellous Light, and bear a ſtrong Teſtimony, the one to the other. As in the Inſtance before us:

1. THE redeeming Mercy of God by Chriſt admirably agrees to the Doctrine of mans Original State; that he was made in the Likeneſs of God, and in his Love, and perfectly good & happy, and in ſhort a Son of God. For what is it that Chriſt by the Goſpel propoſes, but to recover us into the Favour and Grace of God; and into the Relation, D…gnity and Priviledges p. 146of Children to God. For the whole Deſign and Scope of the Goſpel is to make us again the Children of God. This it propoſes to us, the Way to this it reveals to us, and in its ſaving Efficacy this it produces in us and for us. It reveals to us a gracious Adoption in Chriſt, a bleſſed Way for our Reconciliation to God, by a bleſſed Regeneration and Renovation paſſing on us. It tells us of our being born again, renewed after the Image of God in Knowledge and Holineſs; it ſhews and teaches the Spirit and Diſpoſition of Children which God is ready to reſtore in us. It would beget in us the Love of Children to God, & bring us into the ready Obedience of Children; and it would bring us into the Communion of Children with God; to be known of God, and lov'd by him; to converſe with him, hear his voice, ſpeak to him, walk before him, & live with him for ever and ever. — Thus on the one hand the Doctrines of Goſpel Grace agree unto the Account given p. 147us of the Original State of Man; that he was made a Son in the Image and Love of God.

2. IT agrees alſo to the Account given us of Mans Fall and of his lapſed State; in being a Doctrine & Precept of Repentance.

FOR if Man be the Offspring of God, and be fallen from God, it muſt needs be that the way of his Recovery and Return to God be by an ingenuous and deep Repentance: And if God be a Father to Man by Nature, as his Creator, and he will pleaſe to become his Father again by Grace after his Sin and Fall, we may be aſſured then of the Sinning Creatures Reception and Pardon upon his Repentance. And accordingly the Goſpel addreſſes unto lapſed Man.

1. IT invites and calls him to Repentance. And 2. It aſſures him of Gods Pardoning Mercy upon his Repentance. A Penitential Return to God is the leaſt that can be enjoyned on the Sinning Offspring; and the Repentance p. 148which the Goſpel requires is a filial Repentance, ſuch as becomes Children to an offended Father: A filial Fear and Shame and Sorrow. So our Lord Jeſus has repreſented it in the Parable of the Prodigal; Luk. 15 The Sinner is a Son that has left the Houſe of a tender and loving Father, and acted ſhamefully to his great Offence and Diſhonour; yet at laſt pinch'd with his Needs and with the Senſe of his miſerable and loſt Condition, he bethinks himſelf of his Sin and Folly, and reſolves to ariſe and go to his Father, confeſs his Fault and beg Forgiveneſs and caſt himſelf upon his Pity: — I will ſay unto Him, Father I have ſinned againſt Heaven and Thee. You ſee then that Evangelical Repentance is the Holy Sorrow of a fallen Offspring in a penitential Return to an offended God and Father. — And it muſt be added, The Goſpel aſſures the Penitent of ſuch a Reception from God as an offending Child may look for from a Father upon his Repentance. God pardons like a Father, freely, p. 149fully and for ever; and moſt tenderly and affectionately. So the Parable repreſents the Prodigals Reception; While he was yet a great way off the Father ſaw him, and ran, and ſell on his …eck and kiſſed him. And all the Anſwer to his hun…le Confeſſion and Petition is the Fathers ſaying to the Servants, Bring forth the beſt Robe and put it on him, and put a Ring on his hand; And bring hither the fatted C…, and kill it, and let us eat and be merry. So the tender fatherly Compaſſions of God are alſo repreſented upon the Repentance of ſinning Ephraim: Jer. 31.20. Is he a dear Son? is he a pleaſant Child?

UPON all then we ſee the Harmony of the Doctrines and Laws of Chriſt, with the Original and lapſed State of Man. Man was at firſt a holy Offspring, now he is a ſinning one; and our Holy Saviour brings him by Repentance back to his Father, into his Heart and Arms again. The Sin of Man is the Sin of a Son againſt his Father; the Repentance which the p. 150Goſpel requires is a-filial Mourning and Return to God Renewing Grace reſtores us to our Original Dignity and makes us again meet to be called the Offspring of God. — But I come to a ſeventh Inference.

7. ARE we the Offspring of God? Let us act and behave as becomes this high and worthy Name: Live as the Offspring of God ſhould do. And to be ſure that is to ſay,

1. Negatively, Not as the Beaſts here, nor as the Devils below.

2. Poſitively, live as the Angels do in Heaven & as CHRIST did here on Earth.

1. Negatively. NOT as the Beaſts on Earth, nor as the Devils in Hell. The moſt of Mankind do both. It is ſad to ſay; By Fleſhly Lusts, Men live like the Beaſts that periſh: and by Spiritual Luſts they become like the Devils below But

1. THE Offspring of God may not live like the Beasts of the Earth in fleſhly Luſts, and to the Gratification of their Senſes. The brute Creatures are not the Offspring of God, wherefore p. 151tho' we have a Body of Fleſh like them, yet we muſt not live to the fleſh as they do that know no higher Good. We debaſe our Selves if we do ſo; and it might be juſtly ſaid and done to us as it was to Ne…uchadnezzar, Let a Beaſts heart be given him, and let him be driven from among Men. Alas! This ſpiritualiz'd is the Caſe of all ſenſual Men, that live in Drunkenneſs and Laſciviouſneſs and the like fleſhly Luſts: And it is verified alſo in the earthly and worldly Heart that ſeeks its Portion in Riches, Honours or Pleaſures here on Earth: The Perſon forgets that he is a Soul made in the Image of God, and for ſuperior and eternal things. Pſal. 49.20. Man that is in Honour and underſtandeth not, is like the beaſt that periſhes.

2. THE Offspring of God muſt not live like Devils. This were worſe …et; and yet it is too poſſible for the Children of Men to act like Incarnate devils. Many of the once glorious Angels of God are by Sin turn'd into p. 152foul & deformed devils. Of the nobleſt Order of Beings in the Creation of God they are become the baſeſt and moſt ignoble Creatures. Of the moſt beauteous and lovely Creatures they are now moſt odious and ugly, filthy and loathſome. They are unclean Spirits, & ſpiritual Wickedneſſes. Our Souls are capable of like ſpiritual Luſts, Wickedneſs and Uncleanneſs. There is in Man on Earth Filthineſs both of the Fleſh & of the Spirit. 2 Cor. 7.1. As ſome Sins render him like a Beaſt, ſo other Sins render him like the Devil. So does enmity to God, hatred of Holineſs, tempting to Sin; Pride, Hatred, Cruelty, Malice, Revenge, &c. Theſe are Sins of our Spirits, and are the complexion of Hell upon a Soul; They ſhow the Seed of the Serpent and The Children of the wicked one. Joh. 8.44. Ye are of your Father the Devil. Spiteful they were againſt Chriſt, Truth and Holineſs. Act. 13.10. O full of all Subtlety and Miſchief, thou Enemy of all Righteouſneſs, thou child of the devil. p. 153Miſecheivous Subtlety and ſpiteful Enmity ſhows the Old Serpent all over.

THUS by Sin the once Offspring of God become viler than crawling toods and hiſſing ſnakes. — But this Negatively; We are the Offspring of God and muſt not live like Beaſts or Devils.

2. Poſitively. We muſt be like the Angels of God in Heaven, and live as the Son of God did here below, and as his Goſpel teaches.

1. THE Offspring of God ſhould be and do as the Angels of God are and do in Heaven. We ſhould be knowing and wiſe as they are: We ſhould be full of Devotion and Worſhip as they are; We ſhould be meek and lowly like them: We ſhould be kind and benificent as they are; we ſhould be holy Ones as they in Heaven are holy: We muſt endeavour to obey and do the Will of God here on Earth …ey do it above; univerſally, con…ly, delightfully. We ſhould love … as they do fervently; we ſhould … with holy Zeal for his Glory p. 154and Honour as thoſe Seraphims and Charubims, do; who are Flames of Fire. We ſhould worſhip and ſerve God with that profound A we & Reverence which they do; who cover their Faces and cry Holy, Holy, Holy. We ſhould love Them for the Image of God on them, and for their high Place in his Favour, and rejoice in their Felicity and Glory, as they love us and miniſter moſt affectionately to the Heirs of Salvation. We ſhould love One Another as they love each other, and love us, deſiring our eternal Felicity with them. We ſhould love Them becauſe they are the Offspring of God, and love one another for the ſame reaſon; as they do us: Rev. 19.…0. I am thy fellow ſervant, and of thy Brethren that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jeſus.

2. THE Offspring of God on earth ſhould be and live as CHRIST the Son of God was and co…verſs'd here … Earth. Angels may learn of Him of Son, who is higher & holier than the They cried before HIM, Holy, holy! p. 155holy! when they ſaw his Glory. On Earth Men behold his Glory, the Glory as of the Only begotten of the Father. He is the Holy one of God. He was ſeparate from Sin and higher than the Heavens. Higher than Angels in Holineſs, more perfect than they in his Obedience. He took our Nature for this End among others, to give a Pattern as well as a Law; how we muſt walk and pleaſe God; live and act as the Children of God. We muſt receive Him and become the Sons of God; have Him formed in us and ſhine in the Kingdom of our Father. This makes and declares us Children; Rom. 8.29. Conformed to the Image of his Son, that He may be the Firſt born among many Brethren. How then did CHRIST walk? So let us that we may act up to the Dignity of this Style, the Offſpring of God. Let the ſame Mind be in you which was in Chriſt Jeſus. Let there be that Spirit of Devotion toward God which was in Him; ſo let is love and honour our Father in Heaven; ſo let us worſhip Him; pray to p. 156and praiſe Him; ſo let us keep his Sabbaths and obſerve his Ordinances; ſo let us truſt in Him and reſign to him; and ſo let us obey Him & work the Works of God with diligence and induſtry; ſo let us delight to do his Will, and let the Law of God be within us; ſo let it be our Meat and Drink to do his Will; ſo let us do no Sin, nor Guile be found in us; ſo let us be perperfect even as our Father in Heaven is perfect. And ſo let us carry to One Another, in all Love and Goodneſs. Meekneſs and Humility. Beneficence and Mercifulneſs: ſo good let us be unto the Evil and unto our perſonal Enemies; let us pray for and forgive them, and overcome Evil with Good: that we may be the Children of our Father in Heaven.

3. THE Offspring of God muſt from a Principle of holy Love live in an entire Obedience …o the Goſpel. Only let your Converſation be as it becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt, & you ſhall live as becometh Children. Obedience is the Duty, and diſtinguiſhing Character of p. 157the Offspring; a filial Obedience, with all the Heart and with all the Soul. The Law is, Children obey your Parents in all things: This is what belongs to the Offspring, to know and do the will of God. Diſobelience to or Tranſgreſſion of the Law of God cuts us off from his fatherly Love, & from the Relation of Children. The Father & Mother were to bring forth the rebel Son in Iſrael to be ſtoned. God has doom'd the rebel Offspring to an eternal Death an Everlaſting Deſtruction.

THE Goſpel is a Fathers Law, a Law for Children. The Exhortation ſpeaketh to us as unto Children: My Son, attend unto my Wiſdom and bo…o thine Ear unto my Undeastanding; Hear ye Children the Inſtruction of a Father, for I give you good Doctrine. It is the royal Law of Love; the perfect Law of Liberty; a Law meet for the King of Heaven to give unto Them whom he has choſen and called to his Kingdom and Glory. Therefore do but obſerve …d keep this Law and you will act p. 158up to the Dignity of … Nature; Worthy of God unto all pleaſing. John 15.10. Keep my Commandments and abide in my Love as I have kept my Fathers Commandment and abide in his Love.

THUS let us act and behave as becomes the Offspring of God. I might enlarge here on many filial Duties, proper to ſuch.

THE Offspring ſhould love their FATHER with all their Heart & with all their Soul. The Offspring ſhould love One another with a pure heart ſervently. The Name, and Honour of God ſhould be exceeding dear to his Offspring, and all the Intereſts of his Glory. We ſhould Pray always and every day give Thanks to God with the Dependance, Reverence, Gratitude and Confidence of Children to a Father; and be always in a Childlike Submiſſion and Subjection to his Will, how ever made known to us, whether by his Precept or by his Providence.

p. 159ALL this, and whatſoever more the Relation of an Offspring infers of Duty from us, is contained in thoſe Words of the Apoſtle immediately preceeding my Text, That they ſhould ſeek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him and find Him, tho' He be not far …rom every one of us.

SURELY it is the Offsprings part to ſeek and enquire after God, to find the Knowledge of Him and of his Will; how we may pleaſe & honour H…m, worſhip and ſerve him aright, be for Him, and live to him, & come to the everlaſting Enjoyment of.

This is the Whole of Man, the End on his Being; his Perfection and Bleſſedneſs. As the Offspring are to know and acknowledge their Parent, ſo are we to ſeek the Knowledge of God, and render Him all Love, Fear, Reverence and dutiful Obſervance. — But O wretched and miſerable We! if we live in ignorance of God, or alienated from Him, or in Enmity to Him! O what an Off caſt and Outvaſt is that Offspring, that has not the p. 160ſaving Knowledge of God! A Child that has no part in his Parent, by reaſon of his undutiful behaviour! What a Cain and Vagabond in the Earth, i… this Son of Adam? a Fugitive from God, and driven from his Face! Ah who can bear this Exile and Baniſhment! whither wilt thou ſtray from thy Fathers Houſe and Preſence Whom wilt thou find to love & ſerv… beſides Him? or whoſe Love & Bleſſing ſhall ſuffice thee inſtead of His? or what ſhall make up unto thee the loſs thereof? Can any earthly thing … for thy Heaven born and immortal Soul? can you live on theſe busks & feed with theſe Swine, which you hi… out your ſelf to keep? When will you …ome to your Self, and ſay, "Am I not the Offspring of God? am I not a living Soul? made in his Image and formed for his Praiſe? to know and love & ſerve Him here and for evermore? How many Myriads o… …hol… Spirits do ſee his Face in Glo…y? …ng Whom I ſhould be, a… … be, …o' Grace, for ever p. 161I will ariſe therefore, and go to my Father; for I alſo am his Offspring.

THIS becomes the Offspring of God: Bewail thy Fall from Him; ſeek a Recovery; ſeek it inſtantly and earneſtly: Thank God for the Goſpel of Ieſus Christ which calls thee into that bleſſed State and Relation, from which Sin caſt thee. See that you be the Children of God in an Evangelic Senſe, by Faith in Chriſt and by the Spirit of Holineſs; adopted in Chriſt & begotten of God: To which End may He ſend forth … Spirit of his Son into your Hearts: Your Heavenly Father will give his Holy Spirit unto them that ask Him.

I will cloſe all with a Word to the Afflicted Children of God. The fallen Offspring have brought the Rod upon themſelves, but God corrects & chaſtens as a Father. This we are commanded to conſider in our Hearts, and it is a moſt gracious Precept, That as a Man chaſtens his Son, ſo the Lord thy God chaſtens thee. Deut. 8.5. Behold, p. 162Happy then is the Man whom God correctet…. A Fathers Heart & Hand is in all the Afflictions of the Children of God. As a Father pitieth his Children, ſo the Lord pitieth them that …o…r Him. And in all their Affliction he as affl…cted. If n…ed be they are in Hea…eſs; but it is for their Pr…fit. It … parental Diſcipline. Though He …ſe Grief yet will he have Comp…ſſion; & the humbled Sinner is yet a pleaſant Child. — If the Offspring is Sick, will not the careful Parent viſit him? if he is in Pun, how tenderly does the Parent feel it? if he is naked and needy, will not the Parent ſend in Supplies and Clothing? O… if the Rod is uſed to ſubdu… …quer and reduce …he rebel Off…ing, how … therly and good & … is his? Or if the gracious … pl…ſe to try, prove, exe… and …e…ſe the Love, Faith, Truſt, Pen…ce, Submiſſion and Dev… of the beloved Offspring; let th…m ſhow Reverence, Silence, Obedience, and be thankful. Surely it is meet to be ſaid unto God, I p. 163have born Chastiſement, I will not offend any more; that which I know not teach thou me, and if I have done Iniquity I will do ſo no more.

LET pious Parents, bereaved of their dearest Offspring, learn to reſign them unto God, as His more than theirs: And let pious Children, bereaved of their deareſt Parents, go to God as His Offspring, when Father and Mother forſake them: And let the deſolate Widow, truſting in God, leave her Fatherleſs … God as the heſt of Fathers.

NOW unto GOD an…. …lory, for ever and ever

ERRATA.

Pag. 1. l. ult. r. ſhould. p. 12. l. 19. r. God. … l. 10. r. God. p. 55. l. 14. 85. l. 3. r. are alſo. l. 4. r. ſpeak. … p. 97. l. 24. r. three. p. 12…. 126. l. 7. for yet read that p.

End of the text · Benjamin Colman, The Duty of Young People to Give their Hearts Unto God (1728)