CHAP. VII.

Of Grace, as it reigns in our Adoption.

THOSE whom God has justified, and admitted into

a state of reconciliation with himself, he has also adopted for his children. Hence their interest in all the blessings of grace, and in the unknown riches of glory, depends not merely on the favour of friendship, though that be of the noblest kind; but also upon an indisputable right of inheritance, which. right they have in virtue of adoption.

The word Adoption, signifies that act by which a person takes the child of another, not related to him, into the place, and entitles him to the privileges of his own son. In the Grecian and Roman states, it was customary for a man of wealth, in default of issue from his own body, to make choice of some person upon whom he put his name; requiring him to relinquish his own family, never to return to it again, and publicly declared him his heir. The person thus, adopted was legally entitled to the inheritance, upon the decease of his adopter; and though previously. void of all claim to such a benefit, or any expectation of it, was invested with the same privileges, as if he had been born an heir to his benefactor.*

That spiritual and divine adoption about which we treat, is, God's gracious admission of strangers and aliens, into the state, relation, and enjoyment of all the privileges of children, through Jesus Christ : according to that glorious promise of the new covenant; I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty

Mr. VENN'S Complete Duty of Man, p. 470, 471, edit. 20.

Reconciliation, justification, and adoption, may be thus distinguished. In reconeilation, God is considered as the injured party, and the sinner as an enemy to him. In justification, our Maker sustains the character of supreme Judge, and man is considered as a criminal standing before his tribunal.-In adoption, Jehovah appears as the fountain of honour, and the apostate sons of Adam as aliens from him—as belonging to the family of Satan, and as denominated children of wrath. In reconciliation, we are made friends; in justification, we are pronounced rightcous; and in adoption, we are constituted heirs of the eternal inheritance.

That believers are the children of God, the scrip-tures expressly declare. They may be so called, as they are begotten. and born from above; as they stand in a conjugal relation to Christ; and as they are adopted into the heavenly family. These different ways in which the scripture speaks of their filial relation to God, are intended to aid our feeble conceptions when we think upon the grand ineffable blessing; one mode of expression supplying, in some degree, the ideas that are wanting in another. To express the original of spiritual life, and the restoration of the divine image, we are said to be born of: God. To set forth, in the liveliest manner, our most intimate union with the Son of the Highest, we are said to be married to Christ. And, that we might not forget our naturak state of alienation from God, and to intimate our title to the heavenly patrimony, we are said to be adopted by Him. The con-dition therefore of all believers is most noble and excellent. Their heavenly, birth, their divine hus-band, and their everlasting inheritance, loudly proclaim it. The beloved apostle, amazed at the love of God manifested in the privilege of adoption,

could not forbear exclaiming with astonishment and rapture; Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called THE SONS OF GOD! Here grace reigns. The vessels of mercy were predestinated to the enjoyment of this honour and happiness before the world began. The great Lord of all chose them for himself, chose them for his children, that they might be keirs of God and joint heirs of Christ. This he did, not because of any worthiness in them, but of his own sovereign will. As it is written, Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace. According to the good pleasure of his will; this is the eternal source of the heavenly blessing. By Jesus Christ; this is the way of its communication to sinners.To the praise of his glorious grace; this is the end of bestowing it.

The persons adopted are sinners of Adam's race; who, considered in their natural state, are estranged from God, and guilty before him; under sentence of death, and obnoxious to ruin. Their translation therefore out of this deplorable condition, into a state and relation so glorious, is an instance of reigning grace. That the children of wrath should be. come the inheritors of glory, and the slaves of Satan be acknowledged as the sons of Jehovah; that the enemies of God should be adopted into his family, and have an indefeasible right to all the privileges of his children, are astonishing to the last degree. Our character and state, by nature, are the most indigent, wretched, and abominable; such as render us fit for nothing, after this life, but to dwell with damned spirits and accursed fiends, in the abodes of darkness and of despair. But, by the privi

ege of adoption, we are invested with such a character, and are brought into such a state, as render us fit to associate with saints in light, with angels in glory. What but omnipotent, reigning grace, could be sufficient to effect so noble, so astonishing, so divine a change?

If we take a cursery view of those invaluable privileges which, in virtue of adoption, the saints possess, and of which they are heirs, our ideas of the superlative blessing will be still heightened. They have the most honourable character; for they are called, not merely the servants, or the friends, but the sons of God. This dignified character is unalterable; for the Lord himself declares, that it is an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.* If David so highly esteemed the character of son-in-law to an earthly kingit how much more should believers esteem that sublime title, the sons of God; of Him, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords? They are also called kings and priests; besides which august and venerable titles, they are distinguished from the world by a rich varie ty of others, that are obvious to every intelligent reader of the sacred writings. The dignity of their relation is immensely great. For, being the children of God, Jehovah himself is their father, and Christ acknowledges them for his brethren. Nor do they stand in relation to Jesus merely as brethren; they are also his bride. Than their conjugal relation to Him, nothing can be conceived more honourable, or more beneficial. For He is the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely. When David, though not yet in possession of the crown, sent his men to Abigail to take her to wife; that discreet widow bowed herself to the earth, and said; Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash +1 Sam. xviii. 23.

Isa. Ixii. 2. and Ivi. 5.

the feet of the servants of my Lord. Now, may not the believer, for infinitely greater reasons, with gratitude and astonishment, adore that beneficent hand which broke off his yoke of basest vassalage, and joined him to David's Antitype, the heavenly Bridegroom; joined him in a marriage covenant that shall never be broken, in a union that shall never be dissolved?..

Believers, being the children of God, are the objects of his paternal affection and unremitting care. As a father, He guides them by his counsel and guards them by his power. Their disobedience he visits with a rod of correction; and in their distresses he feels for them with bowels of parental compassion. In the whole of his dealings with them he manifests his love, and causes all things to work together for their good. Yes, they are the darlings of providence, and the charge of angels. Those ministering spirits, who are active as flame, and swift as thought, encamp around them; and in ways unknown to mortals, subserve the designs of grace in promoting their best interests..

Nothing can exceed the riches and excellency of that inheritance to which they have a right, in virtue of their adoption; that eternal inheritance which is bequeathed to them by an inviolable testament: This testament, recorded in the sacred writings, was confirmed by the death of Christ. Their inheritance includes all the blessings of grace here, and the full fruition of glory hereafter. Though, as to temporal things, they be frequently indigent, and much afflicted; yet the blessings of common providence are dispensed to them in such measures as paternal wisdom sees best for their spiritual welfare, and the glory of God. For godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, as well as of that which

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