the heart, there is much sorrow arising from the sense of guilt and wrath. The gaoler's trembling, Acts xvi. 30, was a pang in the the children of God." This witness of the Spirit, snggesting that God is our Father, is not a vocal witness or voice from heaven; Spirit, in the word saith, he who is qualified, who is a hater of sin, and a lover of holiness, is a child of God, and God is his Father. If I can find such qualifications wrought, here is the Spirit witnessing with my spirit, that I am a child of God. Besides, we may carry it higher; the Spirit of God witnesseth to our spirit, by making more than ordinary impressions upon our hearts, and giving some secret hints and whispers that God hath pur. poses of love to us, here is a concurrent witness of the Spirit with conscience, that we are heirs of heaven, and God is our Father; this witness is better felt than expressed; this witness scatters doubts and fears, silenceth temptations. But what shall one do that hath not this witness of the Spirit? If we want the witness of the Spirit, let us labour to find the work of the Spirit; if we have not the Spirit testifying, labour to have it sanctifying, and that will be a support to us. new birth. God's spirit is a spirit of bondage," the Spirit, in the word witnesseth :" the before it be a spirit of adoption. This blessed work of regeneration spreads over the whole soul; it irradiates the mind; it consecrates the heart, and reforms the life; though regeneration be but in part, yet it is in every part, 1 Thess. v. 23, regeneration is the signature and engraving of the Holy Ghost upon the soul; the new born Christian is bespangled with the jewels of the graces, which are the angels' glory. Regeneration is the spring of all true joy; at our first birth we come weeping into the world, but at our new birth there is cause of rejoicing, for now, God is our Father, and we are begotten to a lively hope of glory, 1 Pet. i. 3. We may try by this our relation to God. Hath a regenerating work of God's Spirit passed upon our souls? Are we made of another spirit, humble and heavenly? this is a good sign of sonship, and we may say, "Our Father which art in heaven." 3d. By having the conduct of the Spirit; we are led by the Spirit; Rom. viii. 14, "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." God's Spirit doth not only quicken us in our regeneration but leads us on till we come to the end of our faith, salvation. It is not enough the child have life, but he must be led every step by the nurse, Hos. xi. 3, "I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms." Their arms; as the Israelites had the cloud and pillar of fire to go before them, and be a guide to them, so God's Spirit is a guide to go before us, and lead us into all truth, and counsel us in all our doubts, and influence us in all our actions, Ps. lxxiii. 24, "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel." None can call God Father, but such as have the conduct of the Spirit. Try then what spirit you are led by. Such as are led by a spirit of envy, lust, avarice, these are not led by the Spirit of God; it were blasphemy for them to call God, Father; these are led by the spirit of Satan, and may say, "Our Father which art in hell." 4th. By having the witness of the Spirit, Rom. viii. 16, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are A. 4. If God be our Father, we are of peaceable spirits: Matt. v. 9, "Blessed be the peace-makers, they shall be called the children of God." Grace infuseth a sweet, amicable disposition; it files off the rugged. ness of men's spirits; it turns the lion-like fierceness into a lamb-like gentleness, Isa. xi. 7. They who have God to be their Fa ther, follow peace as well as holiness. God the Father is called the "God of peace," Heb. xiii. 20; God the Son, the Prince of peace,' Isa. x. 6; God the Holy Ghost is a Spirit of peace," it is called "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," Eph. iv. 3. The more peaceable, the more like God. It is a sad sign God is not their Father, 1st. Who are fierce and cruel, as if with Romu. lus, they had sucked the milk of a wolf, Rom. iii. 17, "The way of peace have they not known," they sport in mischief; these are they who are of a persecuting spirit, as Maximinus, Dioclesian, Antiochus, who (as Eusebius) took more tedious journies, and ran more hazards in vexing and persecuting the Jews, than any of his predecessors had done in getting of victories. These furies K cannot call God Father! if they do, they will have as little comfort in saying Father, as Dives had in hell, when he said, "Father Abraham," Luke xvi. 24. 2dly. Who are makers of division, Rom. xvi. 17, "Mark them which cause divisions, and avoid them. Such as are born of God, are makers of peace; what shall we think of such as are makers of divisions? Will God father these? The devil made the first division in heaven; they may call the devil father; they may give the cloven foot in their coat of arms; their sweetest music is in discord; they unite to divide. Samson's fox tails were tied together, only to set the Philistines' corn on fire, Judges xv. 4. Papists unite, only to set the church's peace on fire. Satan's kingdom grows up by division. St Chrysostom observes of the church of Corinth, when many converts were brought in, Satan knew no better way to dam up the current of religion, than to throw in an apple of strife, and divide them into parties; one was for Paul, and another for Apollos, but few for Christ. Would Christ not have his coat rent, and can he endure to have his body rent? Sure God will never father them who are not sons of peace. Of all them whom God hates, he is named for one, who is a sower of discord among brethren, Prov. vi. 19. A. 5. If God be our Father; then we love to be near God, and have converse with him. An ingenuous child delights to approach near to his father, and go into his presence. David envied the birds that they built their nests so near God's altars, when he was debarred his Father's house, Ps. lxxxiv. 3. True saints love to get as near to God as they can; in the word they draw near to his holy oracle, in the sacrament they draw near to his table; a child of God delights to be in his Father's presence; he cannot stay away long from God; he seeth a sabbath-day approaching, and rejoiceth; his heart hath been often melted and quickened in an ordinance; he hath tasted the Lord is good, therefore he loves to be in his Father's presence; he cannot keep away long from God. Such as care not for ordinances cannot say, "Our Father which art in heaven." Is God their Father, who cannot endure to be in his presence? Use 1st. Of instruction. See the amazing goodness of God, that is pleased to enter into this sweet relation of a Father. God needed not to adopt us; he did not want a Son, but we wanted a Father. God showed power in being our Maker, but mercy in being our Father; when we were enemies, and our hearts stood out as garrisons against God, that he should conquer our stubbornness, and of enemies make us children, and write his name, and put his image upon us, and bestow a kingdom of glory, what a miracle of mercy is this! Every adopted child may say, "Even so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight,” Matt. xi. 26. 2d. Branch, or Inference. If God be a Father, then hence I infer, Whatever he doth to his children, is love. 1. If he smiles upon them in prosperity, it is love; they have the world not only with God's leave, but with his love. God saith to every child of his, as Naaman to Gehazi, 2 Kings v. 23, "Be content, take two talents." So saith God to his child, I am thy Father, take two talents.' Take health, and take my love with it; take an estate, and take my love with it; take two talents. God's love is a sweetening ingredient into every mercy. QUEST. How doth it appear that a child of God hath worldly things in love? ANS. 1. Because he hath a good title to them. God is his Father, therefore he hath a good title. A wicked man hath a civil title to the creature, but no more; he hath it not from the hand of a father; he is like one that takes up cloth at the draper's, and it is not paid for; but a believer hath a good title to every foot of land he hath; his Father hath settled it upon him. A. 2. A child of God hath worldly things in love, because they are sanctified to him: 1. They make him better, and are loadstones to draw him nearer to God. 2. He hath his Father's blessing with them. A little blest is sweet, Exod. xxiii. 25, “He shall bless thy bread and thy water." Esau had the venison, but Jacob got the blessing. While the wicked have their meat sauced with God's wrath, Ps. lxxviii. 30, 31, believers have their comforts seasoned with a blessing. It was a sacred blessing from God made Daniel's fetch their pedigree from hell, John viii. 44, pulse nourish him more, and made him look" Ye are of your father the devil." Such as fairer than they that ate of the king's meat, Dan. i. 15. A. 3. A child of God hath worldly things in love, because whatever he hath is an earnest of more; every bit of bread is a pledge and earnest of glory. 2. God being a Father, if he frown, if he dip his pen in gall, and write bitter things; if he correct, it is in love; a father loves his child as well when he doth chastise and discipline him, as when he settles his land on him, Rev. iii. 19, "As many as I love, I rebuke." Afflictions are sharp arrows (saith Gregory Nazianzen) but they are shot from the hand of a loving Father. Correctio est virtutis gymnasium. God afflicts with the same love he gives Christ; he doth it to humble and purify; gentle correction is as necessary as daily bread, nay, as needful as ordinances, as word and sacraments. There is love in all God smites that he may save. 3. God being a Father, if he desert and hide his face from his child, it is in love. Desertion is sad in itself, a short hell, Job vi. 9. When the light is withdrawn, the dew falls. Yet we may see a rainbow in the cloud, the love of a father in all this. 1st, God hereby quickens grace. Perhaps grace lay dormant, Cant. v. 2. It was as fire in the embers; and God withdraws comfort, to invigorate and exercise grace; faith is a star sometimes shines brightest in the dark night of desertion, Jonah ii. 4. 2dly, When God hides his face from his child, yet still he is a Father, and his heart is towards his child; as Joseph, when he spake roughly to his brethren, and made them believe he would take them for spies, still his heart was full of love, and he was fain to go aside and weep so God's bowels yearn to his children, when he seems to look strange, Isa. liv. 8, "In a little wrath I hid my face from thee, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee." Though God may have the look of an enemy, yet still he hath the heart of a Father. 3d. Branch, or Inference. Learn hence the sad case of the wicked: they cannot say, "Our Father in heaven;" they may say, Our Judge,' but not Our Father;' they are unclean and profane are the spurious brood of the old serpent, and it were blas. phemy for them to call God, Father. The case of the wicked is deplorable; if they are in misery, they have none to make their moan to; God is not their Father, he disclaims all kindred with them, Matt. vii. 23, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity;" the wicked, dying in their sins, can expect no mercy from God as a Father; many say, He that made them will save them; but, Isa. xxvii. 11, "It is a people of no understanding, therefore he that made them, will not have mercy on them." Though God was their Father by creation, yet because they were not his children by adoption, 'therefore he that made them would not save them.' Use 2d. Of exhortation. To persuade all who are yet strangers to God, to labour to come into this heavenly kindred; never leave till you can say, "Our Father which art in heaven." QUEST. But will God be a Father to me, who have profaned his name, and been a great sinner? ANS. If thou wilt now at last seek to God by prayer, and break off thy sins, God hath the bowels of a father for thee, and will in no wise cast thee out. When the prodigal did arise and go to his father, "his father had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him," Luke xv. 20. Though thou hast been a prodigal, and almost spent all upon thy lusts, yet, if thou wilt give a bill of divorce to thy sins, and flee to God by re pentance, know that he hath the bowels of a father; he will embrace thee in the arms of his mercy, and seal thy pardon with a kiss. What though thy sins have been heinous! the wound is not so broad as the plaster of Christ's blood. The sea covers great rocks; the sea of God's compassion can drown thy great sins; therefore be not discouraged, go to God,-resolve to cast thyself upon his fatherly bowels,-God may be entreated of thee as he was of him: see Manasseh's case, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 13. Use 3d. Of comfort, to such as can upon good grounds call God, Father. There's He begets all the mercies and bowels in the QUEST. Wherein lies the happiness of cious in my sight." A father prizeth his having God for our Father? 66 child above his jewels; their names are preANS. 1. If God be our Father, then he will cious, for they have God's own name written teach us. What father will refuse to counsel upon them, Rev. iii. 12, "I will write upon his son? Doth God command parents to him the name of my God." Their prayers instruct their children, Deut. iv. 10, and will are a precious perfume; their tears God botnot he instruct his? Isa. xlviii. 17, "I am tles, Ps. lvi. 8. God esteems his children as the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to a crown of glory in his hands, Isa. lxv. 3.— profit." Ps. lxxi. 17, "O God thou hast 2. God loves the places they were born in taught me from my youth!" If God be our the better for their sakes, Ps. lxxxvii. 6, “ Of Father, he will give us the teachings of his Zion it shall be said, This man was born in Spirit: “The natural man receiveth not the her;" this and that believer was born there; things of God, neither can he know them," God loves the ground his children tread upon; 1 Cor. ii. 14. The natural man may have hence Judea, the seat of God's children and excellent notions in divinity, but God must chosen, God calls a "delightsome land," teach us to know the mysteries of the gospel Mal. iii. 12. It was not only pleasant for after a spiritual manner. A man may see the situation and fruitfulness, but because God's figures upon a dial, but he cannot tell how the children, who were his Hephzibah, or deday goes, unless the sun shine; we may read light, lived there.-3. He charged the great many truths in the Bible, but we cannot know ones of the world not to prejudice his chilthem savingly, till God by his Spirit shine dren; their persons are sacred, Ps. cv. 14, upon our soul. God teacheth not only our 15, " He suffered no man to do them wrong; ear, but our heart; he not only informs our yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, saying, mind, but inclines our will; we never learnTouch not mine anointed.'" By anointed, till God teach us. If God be our Father, he is meant the children of the high God, who will teach us how to order our affairs with have the unction of the Spirit, and are set discretion, Ps. cxii. 5. How to carry our-apart for God.-4. God delights in their selves wisely, 1 Sam. xviii. 5, “ David behaved himself wisely." He will teach us what to answer when we are brought before governors; he will put words into our mouths, Matt. x. 18, 19, 20, “Ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, but take no thought how or what ye shall speak; for it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." 2. If God be our Father, then he hath bowels of affection towards us. If it be so unnatural for a father but to love his child, can we think God can be defective in his love? All the affections of parents come from God, yet are but a spark from his flame. He is the "Father of mercies," 2 Cor. i. 3. company; he loves to see their countenance, I sometimes is asleep; but God is a Father but a sigh for sin, God hears it, Ps. xxxviii. that never sleeps. Ps. cxxi. 4, He neither slumbereth nor sleepeth.-7. He thinks nothing too good to part with to his children; he gives them the kidneys of the wheat, and honey out of the rock, and "Wine on the lees well-refined," Isa. xxv. 6. He gives them three jewels more worth than heaven, the blood of his Son, the grace of his Spirit, the light of his countenance. Never was there such an indulgent, affectionate Father. -8. If God hath one love better than another, he bestows it upon them; they have the cream and quintessence of his love; "he will rejoice over thee, he will rest in his love," Zeph. iii. 17. God loves his children with such a love as he loves Christ, John xvii. 26. It is the same love, for the unchangeableness of it; God will no more cease to love his adopted sons, than he will to love his natural Son. 3. If God be our Father, he will be full of sympathy, Ps. ciii. 13, "As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him," Jer. xxxi. 20, "Is Ephraim my dear son? my bowels are troubled for him." God pities his children in two cases; 1st. In case of infirmities; 2d. Injuries. 9, "My groaning is not hid from thee." If (1). In case of infirmities. If the child be deformed, or hath any bodily distemper, the" I was an hungered and ye fed me." What father pities it if God be our Father, he pities our weaknesses, and he so pities them as to heal them, Isa. lvii. 18, “I have seen his ways, and will heal him." As God hath bowels to pity, so he hath balsam to heal. comfort is this! God spies the least good in his children; he can see a grain of corn hid under chaff, grace hid under corruption. 5. If God be our Father, he will take all we do in good part. Those duties we our selves censure, God will crown. When a child of God looks over his best duties, sees so much sin cleaving to them, that he (2). In case of injuries. Every blow of the child goes to the father's heart: when the saints suffer, God doth sympathize, Isa. lxiii. 9, "In all their afflictions he was afflict-is even confounded: "Lord," saith he, ed." He did, as it were, bleed in their "there is more sulphur than incense in my wounds. "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou prayers." But for your comfort, if God be me?" When the foot was trod on, the head your Father, he will crown those duties cried out, Judges x. 16; God's soul was which you yourselves censure; God sees grieved for the children of Israel. As when there is sincerity in the hearts of his chil one string in a lute is touched, all the rest of dren, and this gold-though light-shall the strings sound: when God's children are have grains of allowance; though there stricken, his bowels sound, Zech. ii. 8, "He may be defects in the services of God's that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of my children, yet God will not cast away their eye." offering, 2 Chron. xxx. 20, "The Lord healed the people." The tribes of Israel being straitened in time, wanted some legal pu 4. If God be our Father, he will take notice of the least good he sees in us; if there be |
