come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerufalem, and to ❝an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the fpirits of juft men made perfect.' Eph. iii. 15. forecited. All thefe are the Sons of God. Jefus Chrift is the Son of God, by eternal Generation: Pfal. ii. 7. 'I will declare the decree: the Lord hath faid unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.' John. i. 14. And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.' The holy Angels are the Sons of God, by Creation in his Image, which is confirmed on them: Job xxxviii. 7. The morning-ftars fang together, and all the fons of God fhouted for joy. Compared with Eph. i. 19. That in the difpenfation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Chrift, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him.' The Saints are the Sons and Daughters of God, by fpiritual Marriage with Christ, by Adoption, and by Regeneration: Pfal. xlv. 10. Hearken, O daughter, and confider, and incline thine ear; forget alfo thine own people, and thy father's house.' Eph. i. 5. forecited. i John iii. 9. 10. Whofoever is born of God, doth not commit fin; for his feed remaineth in him: and he cannot fin, because he is born of God. In this the children ' of God are manifeft.' And by Adoption we are made Sons of God too, Eph. i. 5. Gal. iv. 4. 5.

forecited.

The peculiar Dignity of our Lord Jefus Chrift among that Number, is, That he is the First-born,

the

the eldest Brother, Rom. viii. 29. Col. i. 18. The Pre-eminence he has among his Brethren, as he is the First-born, is, that his is the Dominion and Headship of the Family, the Priesthood, the Bleffing, and the double Portion: Heb. iii. 6. Chrift " was faithful as a Son over his own house. Chap. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren; that he might < be a merciful and faithful high priest, in things ⚫ pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the fins of the people.' Pfal. xlv. 2. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips therefore God hath bleffed thee 'for ever. verf. 7. Thou loveft righteousness, and hateft wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladnefs above thy fellows.' The Bleffing is peculiarly his, though all his Brethren are bleffed too, inafmuch as he is the prime Receptacle of the Bleffing, from whence it is conveyed unto his Brethren, who are bleffed only in him: Gen. xii. 2. 3. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou fhalt be a bleffing. And I will blefs them that bless thee, and curfe him that curfeth thee: and in thee fhall all the families of the earth be blef* fed.' Compared with Gal. iii. 8. And the fcripture foreseeing that God would juftify the heathen through faith, preached before the gofpel unto Abraham, faying, In thee fhall all nations be bleffed.' Eph. i. 3. Bleffed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Christ, who hath bleffed us with all fpiritual bleffings in heavenly places in Chrift. Phil. ii. 9. 10. Wherefore God alfo hath highly exalted him,

" and

and given him a name which is above every name that at the name of Jefus every knee 'fhould bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth." Compared with Eph. i. 10. That, in the difpenfation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Chrift, both which are in heaven, and 'which are on earth, even in him.'

The Advantage we have by the Dignity of Sonfhip to God, is, that thereby we have a Right to all the Privileges of the Sons of God: Rom. viii. 17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of "God, and joint heirs with Chrift.' The Privileges of the Sons of God are, Access to him as a Father, his fatherly Pity, Protection, Provision, and Correction, and the eternal Inheritance: Eph. iii. 12. In Chrift Jefus our Lord we have boldnefs and accefs with confidence by the 'faith of him.' Compared with Matth. vi. 9, After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.' Pfal. ciii. 13. Like as a father pitieth his children; fo the Lord pitieth them that fear him.' Prov. xiv. 26. In the fear of the Lord is ftrong confidence and his children fhall have a place of refuge. Matth. vi. 30. 31. 32. Wherefore if God fo clothe the grafs of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is caft into the oven, fhall he " not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, faying, What fhall " we eat or what hall we drink? or wherewithal fhall we be clothed? for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all thefe things."' Heb. xii. 6. Whom the Lord loveth, he chaftenC eth, and fcourgeth every fon whom he receiveth' L

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Rom.

Rom. viii. 17. forecited. Our Right to thefe Privileges by Adoption, is not our only Right to them : We have another Right to them alfo, by our Juftification: Hab. ii. 4. The juft fhall live by his faith.' Tit. iii. 7. That being juftified by his < grace, we fhould be made heirs according to the < hope of eternal life.' Rom. v. 1. 2. Therefore 'being juftified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. By whom alfo we have access by faith into this grace wherein we ftand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of 'God.' The Difference between these two Rights to these Privileges lies here, That our Right to them by Juftification is our fundamental Right, our Right to them by Adoption is an honorary Right of Inheritance fuperadded thereto : Rom. v. 18. By the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto juftification of life.' verf. 19. By the obedience of one shall many be 'made righteous.' John i. 12. As many as re

ceived him, to them gave he power to become 'the fons of God, even to them that believe on ❝ his name.'

The

The Earneft of the eternal Inheritance, which God gives to his adopted Children, till they come to the full Poffeffion of it, is the Spirit of Adoption, Rom. viii. 15. Compared with Eph. i. 13. 14. Spirit of Adoption is, the Spirit of his Son, fealing them with the Son's Image, and working in them a Son-like Difpofition and Affection towards God: Gal. iv. 6. And because ye are fons, God hath fent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.' Compared with Eph. i. 13. 14. In whom [Chrift] ye alfo trufted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of

your

your falvation': in whom alfo after that ye be lieved, ye were fealed with that Holy Spirit of promife, which is the earnest of our inheri tance, until the redemption of the purchased pof'feffion, unto the praife of his glory. And 2 Cor. iii. 18. But we all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the fame image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." And that is done, on and in them, in their Sanctification: 2 Cor. i. 21. 22. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Chrift, and hath anointed us, is God: who hath alfo fealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.' Chap. iii. 3. Ye are manifeftly declared to be the epiftle of Chrift, miniftered by us, written, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. verf. 18. forecited.

Queft. 35. What is Sanctification? Anf. Sanctification is the Work of God's free Grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole Man, after the Image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto Sin, and live unto Righteousness.

EXPLICATION.

All who are effectnally called, are fanctified: And the Effect of their Sanctification on them is, real Holiness in their own Perfons: 1 Thes. v. 23. 24. And the very God of peace fanctify you wholly and I pray God your whole fpirit, and

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