V.

are invited to enter into a more extenfive, SERM. as well as fpiritual Covenant,---into the new Covenant ratified by Jefus Chrift, which gives them a prefent foederal Title to the Adoption of Sons.

THIS State however, of Dignity and Advantage, though we are introduced into it by the Favour of God and the Charity of Men, yet we cannot be kept in it by Compulfion, without our own voluntary Confent ;---the Relation may be cancelled, as well as at firft acquired; and to thofe alone is the Character of being the Sons of God continued, who on arriving at Years of Difcretion, having been before bound by Covenant unto him, confcientiously attend to the Obligations they are brought under, and often folemnly renew them according to the established Form,---who are not only born of Water, and initiated into the Chriftian Church by Baptism, but born also of the Holy Ghoft,---who are truly fanctified in the inner Man, ever freely led by the Impulfes of divine Grace, obtained in the right Ufe of the Means thereof, and being enabled, are diligent to perform the Terms and Articles they ftand engaged in. These are they, who fhall be accounted worthy to poffefs the eternal In

SERM. heritance of God's Children,---to enjoy the V. Happiness of the World to come, and confequently may most truly be called the Sons of God, being the Sons of the Refurrection to everlasting Glory.

BUT waving the Privileges of the Sons of God in this Place, I fhall proceed as I propofed, previously to confider the Duties incumbent on them, to which these Privileges are annexed.

AND here, as Chriftians are the Sons of God, not only by Creation, but Adoption, it is their principal Duty to attempt the nearest Imitation of their heavenly Father, that his infinite Superiority will admit of. If we are his Children, it is a laudable Ambition to aim at fome Refemblance of him in all his communicable Perfections, and these are his moral Attributes of Justice, Truth, Goodness, Purity, the Display of which, and the like, is intended to be a Pattern for us to copy after, and in this Refpect we are commanded to be Followers of God as dear Children (x). That a Son fhould be the very Image of his Father is commonly feen: It is natural for Children to

(x) Ephef. v. 1.

be

be like their earthly Parents, as in Perfon, SERM. fo in Behaviour; and our standing in that V. Relation to God, muft call for our Likenefs of him in the one View, fince there can be none in the other. So that we do very abfurdly boaft of our divine Original, whilft our Actions notoriously give the Lye to our Words.

PROFLIGATE Manners can only argue a Man to be of bafe Extraction: And what induced our Saviour to brand fome of the Jews, who all prided themfelves with the Title of the Sons of God,---with being in Reality the Children of the Devil, was their indulg ing the Lufts in their Hearts, and tranfcribing in their Lives the Works, of fuch a Father. He rightly concluded, that a proud envious Temper, could be derived but from the Parent of Pride and Envy, and a malicious murdering Spirit from him alone, who was a Murderer from the Beginning (y).

As a Tree is known by its Fruits, fo are the Sons of God by an holy Demeanour, confonant to that moft honourable Parentage. They who are fenfible of the Dignity

M 4

(y) St. John viii. 44.

ས.

SERM. Dignity of their new Birth and of that divine Life, to which they are begotten again, will be very cautious, how they fashion themselves according to the Carriage of fuch, as are without God, or without juft Notions of God, in the World,---as inftead of recommending themfelves to the Endearments of his Love by studying to resemble him, strive to provoke his Anger by engaging in thofe vile Courses, which are equally oppofite to his Nature and his Will.

BUT his genuine Children, knowing their Duty, and fixing their Eyes on the Rock from whence they were bewn (z), will mind nothing fo much, as how to fhine in their native Brightness, and to behave in an harmlefs and itreproveable Manner, as the Sons of God without Rebuke. Their great Care will be to discharge their Obligations, in Kind, though not in Degree, arifing from this their Lord's Command, Be ye perfect, even as your Father, which is in Heaven, is perfect (a). They will labour to adorn their Souls with the like fpiritual Excellencies, though in a vaftly inferior Measure,--they will conform their Ways, as much as may be, to the compleat Model placed before them.

As

(z) Ifai. li. 1.

(a) St. Matth. v. 48.

As their infinite Father is abfolutely righteous in all his Doings, and holy in all his Works, fo will they in their Proportion be no Strangers to Righteousness and true Holiness ;---as all his Proceedings are full of Judgment and Juftice, and he is a God of Truth, and altogether free from Iniquity, so will they give earnest Heed to be strictly true and just both in their Speech and Dealings;---as he is perfectly good and gracious, exercifing loving Kindness, and difpenfing Mercy over all his Works, fo will they studiously display a fervent, unfeigned, univerfal Charity, whilft they have Opportunity, doing Good unto all Men, and ferving one another in Love ;---and, in fhort, as far forth as they can difcover, either by Reafon or Revelation, the imitable Excellencies of the God and Father of all, which may never fo faintly be copied out by them, will they use all Diligence to draw them forth in their Manners and Behaviour, as becomes affectionate and obedient Children.

AND as the Sons of God muft follow his Example dutifully, fo muft they submit to his Difpenfations patiently; nay, whatever Afflictions he is pleafed to visit them

with,

SERM.

V.