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apostle observed, that "if in this opening of his prison door, to set life only we have hope in Christ, him at liberty from his confinement, we are of all men the most misera- and to restore him to the comforts ble,” he only meant, that if a Chris- of life; and this hope would render tian could be deprived of the hope the temporary hardships of his situof heaven, and all those earnests, ation more tolerable: whereas the consolations, and lively affections rest would dread the hour when which result from it, his peculiar they were to be brought out of trials, his tenderness of conscience, their cells to an ignominious and his antipathy to sin, and his thirst- agonizing execution, which prospect ings after God and holiness, would would add to the gloom and horror be superadded to the ordinary bur- of the dungeon. We are all crimithens of life, without any propor-nals: death terminates our confinetionable counterpoise to them. But ment in this vile body, and this evil as this is not, and cannot be the world: at that important moment, case, so the Christian, with the the pardoned sinner goes to heaven, hope of glory, and his other pecu- the unpardoned sinner drops into liar privileges, may be, and actually hell; and, except as the one has is, in proportion to his diligence his views darkened by temptation, and fruitfulness, of all men the most or by a fatherly rebuke for his mishappy. In order to evince this conduct; or, as the other has his truth, it may be useful to appro-fears obviated by infidelity, or dispriate this Essay to the considera-sipated by intoxicating pleasures tion of the most distinguished pri- and pursuits, the very thought of vileges of the real Christian, which this closing scene, and its most inno other man in the world can share teresting consequences, must have with him, for they constitute "a joy a vast effect upon the inward feelwith which a stranger intermed-ings of their minds, during the undleth not;""the secret of the Lord, certain term of their remaining which is with them that fear him" lives. Nothing can be more evident, (Psalm xxv. 14; Prov. xiv. 10; than that the Scripture declares the Rev. ii. 17). And it may be pre- sins of all believers to be actually mised, that a disposition, supremely pardoned, and their persons comto desire, and diligently to seek pletely justified. "There is," says after all these blessings as the feli- the apostle, "no condemnation for city in which our souls delight, and them that are in Christ Jesus, who with which they are satisfied, is one walk not after the flesh, but after grand evidence that we are actually the Spirit" (Rom. viii. 1, 33, 34); interested in them. "for who shall lay any thing to the

I. Every real Christian is actu- charge of God's elect, whom he ally pardoned and justified in the justifieth? Or who shall condemn sight of God: and "blessed is the those for whom Christ died and man whose transgression is for- rose again," &c. And our Lord given," &c. (Psalm xxxii. 1, 2; not only assures us, that "he who Rom. iv. 6-8). Among a number believeth is not condemned," but of condemned criminals, that man also that "he hath everlasting would be deemed the happiest who life, and shall not come into conhad obtained the King's pardon, demnation" (John iii. 14-21; v. though others were more accom- 24). The same privilege was proplished, or better clothed; for he posed to the Old Testament church, would expect, in cheerful hope, the when the prophet, stating repent

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ance and conversion as the con-lingness to perform them; and yet comitants and evidences of true doubt whether he do not presume faith, declares in the name of Jeho- and deceive himself, in supposing vah, "that if the wicked man will his faith to be of a saving nature: turn from all his sins, and do that in various ways a man may doubt which is lawful and right-all his whether he be a true believer, though transgressions that he hath done he do not doubt but that Christ will shall not be mentioned to him," &c. certainly save all true believers. (Ezek. xviii. 21, 22, 27). In other Nay, the frame even of a real Chrisplaces the Lord speaks of " blotting tian's mind, and the present tenor out the sins of his people, and re- of his conduct, may render such membering them no more ;" of doubts reasonable and the necessary casting them into the depths of consequence of faith: for if a man the sea;" and of "not imputing yield to those evils, which the Scripiniquity" (Isa. xliii. 25; xliv. 22; ture enumerates as marks of unconJer. xxxi. 34; Mic. vii. 19). The version, the more entirely he credits apostles assure us, that all who be- the Divine testimony, the greater lieve are justified from "all things;" reason will he have to call his own that the blood of Christ cleanseth state in question: and I suppose them "from all sin ;" and that even that when St. Paul told the Galalittle children in Christ have their tians, that he stood in doubt of sins forgiven them, for his name's them, he meant to induce them to sake (Acts iii. 19; xiii. 38, 39; 2 examine whether they were in the Cor. v. 19; 1 John i. 7; ii. 12). faith, or whether they had hitherto So that the forgiveness and justifi- deceived themselves. We are therecation of believers are stated to be fore directed "to give diligence both already past; and their deliverance to obtain, and to preserve the full from condemnation is not repre-assurance of hope" (Heb. vi. 11; sented as a future contingency, but 2 Pet. i. 10): but this would not be as secured to them by an irrevocable proper advice to believers, if saving grant: being justified by faith, faith consisted in being sure of an they have peace with God, through interest in Christ; which doctrine our Lord Jesus Christ." (though incautiously maintained by But, though this be the privilege some very respectable persons) is of all true believers without excep- evidently suited to discourage feeble tion, yet the actual assurance that believers, and to bolster up the false the blessing belongs to them, is pos- confidence of hypocrites. In prosessed only by some, and only at portion as it is manifest that we are times, even by many of these: for regenerate, that our faith is living, true faith may be very weak, and that it works by love, and is accomit may connect with a confused panied by repentance, and that we judgment, a considerable degree of partake of the "sanctification of ignorance, many prejudices or mis- the Spirit unto obedience;" we takes, and sometimes a prevalence may be sure that our sins are parof carnal affections. So that a man doned, and that all the promises of may believe with a trembling faith, God shall be accomplished to us. and cry out with tears," Lord, help Yet misapprehension, and excessive my unbelief:" or he may firmly fear of being deceived in a concern credit the testimony, and rely on of infinite moment, exclude many, the promises of God, with a full who have these evidences, from enpersuasion of his power and wil-joying this assurance, except when

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immediately favoured with the con- and holiness of the Lord, and consolations of the Spirit: whilst con-trast with them the meanness, guilt, formity to the world, in this day of pollution, provocations, and ingratioutward peace and prosperity, pre- tude with which we are chargeable; vents many others from attaining when we consider, that he could to that decision of character which easily, and might justly have dewarrants it; and an abatement in stroyed us; that we cannot profit diligence and fervency of affection him, and that he could have created causes others to lose the assurance by his powerful word innumerable which once they enjoyed, and to millions of nobler creatures to do walk in doubt and darkness, because him service; and when we further they have grieved their holy Com- advert to the enmity of the carnal forter. Hence it appears, that the mind against his omniscience, omassurance of salvation is rather the nipotence, holiness, righteousness, gracious recompence of a fruitful truth, sovereignty, service, cause, and diligent profession of the gos- and people: we shall perceive, that pel, than the privilege of all, who we never can sufficiently admire his are in a state of acceptance: and marvellous love, and our own unthough all doubting may originate speakable felicity, in being admitted directly or remotely from unbelief; to this blessed peace and friendship yet frequently it is the evidence with the God of heaven; which is that a man credits the testimony of still more enhanced by the consiGod, concerning the deceitfulness deration, that "Christ is our peace, of the heart, the subtlety of Satan, and that he made it for us by the and the characters of those who are blood of his cross" (Eph. ii. 14-19; in the broad, and those who are in Col. i. 14-22). Nor can the adthe narrow way. These same ob- vantages resulting from it be suffiservations are equally applicable to ciently valued: whilst believers, by all the other privileges, which we the grace bestowed on them, are are about to consider: for in every taught to love the character, serone of them, the distinction between vants, cause, truths, precepts, and a title to the blessing, in the sight worship of God; to hate the things of God, and the actual assurance which he hates, to separate from and enjoyment of it in our own his enemies, and to seek their lisouls should be carefully noted:berty and felicity in his service; the the former is not affected by the Lord considers all kindnesses or believer's varied success in his spi- injuries done to believers, as done ritual warfare; the latter must be to himself; and "will bless those continually influenced by the as-that bless them, and curse those saults and temptations of the enemy, that curse them." All his perfecand by his own conduct respecting tions, which before seemed with them. united force, to insure their deII. The true Christian, "being struction, now harmoniously engage justified by faith," "is reconciled to make them happy: his wisdom to God:" a perfect amity succeeds, chooses their inheritance, his omand a covenant of peace and friend- niscience and omnipresence are their ship is, as it were, signed and rati- ever-watchful guard, his omnipofied; and therefore he is honoured tence their protector, his veracity by the appellation of the friend of and faithfulness their unfailing seGod. When we contemplate the curity; his satisfied justice, coninfinite majesty, authority, justice, nected with mercy, vindicates their

rights, and recompenses the fruits term was borrowed from the custom of his grace; and his bounty surely of the ancients, who frequently took supplies all their wants. Nor does the children of others, and by a sothe Lord conceal from these his lemn legal process adopted them friends the reasons of his conduct in into their own family, gave them such matters as concern them (Gen. their name, educated them as their xviii. 17-19; John xv. 15): and own, and left their estates to them. be encourages them to open their So that regeneration communicates inmost souls, and to pour out their to the soul a divine nature, and sorrows and fears before him; so makes us the children of God; and that they can rejoice that he is ac- adoption recognizes us as such, and quainted with those things, which admits us to the enjoyment of the they could not mention to the dearest privileges belonging to that relation. and most intimate of their earthly Thus pardoned rebels become the friends. But indeed this privilege children and heirs of the almighty of reconciliation to, and friendship and everlasting God, by faith in with God, comprises all our other Jesus Christ (Gal. iii. 26). But blessings and expectations, here and what words can express the value hereafter: yet it may be more in- of this distinguished privilege! The structive to speak of them under adoption of the meanest beggar, or different heads. the vilest traitor, into the family of

III. The believer is also adopted the greatest monarch, to be the into the family of God, and admit- heir of all his dignities, would proted to all the honour and felicity of duce but a trivial alteration in his his beloved children. "Behold circumstances: for vexation, sickwhat manner of love the Father ness, and death would still await hath bestowed on us, that we should him; and the distance between the be called the sons of God" (1 John mightiest and the most abject of iii. 1). "Having chosen us in men or of creatures, is as nothing, Christ before the foundation of the compared with that which subsists world, that we should be holy and between the great Creator, and all without blame before him in love; the works of his hands (Isa. xl. and predestinated us to the adoption 13-26). But to be adopted as the of children by Jesus Christ unto children of God is not a mere name: himself, according to the good plea- it is a substantial good, an honour, sure of his will," &c. (Eph. i. 3—a dignity, and an advantage which 15); he calls to us by his word eclipses, and, as it were; swallows "to come out and be separate-up all other benefits which can be and he will receive us; and will be obtained by any creature. "If chilto us a Father, and we shall be the dren, then heirs; heirs of God," sons and daughters of the Lord &c.; and we may be sure that every Almighty" (2 Cor. vi. 17, 18). thing, which can prepare us for, and This call being accompanied by the put us in possession of our incorregenerating power of the Holy ruptible and eternal inheritance, Spirit, our minds are influenced to will be conferred by the love and obey it; thus we are brought " to bounty of our Almighty Friend and repentance and faith in Christ," Father. But "we know not what our sins are pardoned, and we pass we shall be:" " eye hath not seen, from the family and kingdom of the nor ear heard, neither hath it enwicked one, into the household of tered into the heart of man to conGod, by a gracious adoption. This ceive the things which God hath

prepared for them that love him."perity of his people, &c.; we have And lest we should imagine, that" the witness in ourselves, that we any possible honour, advantage, or are born of God," and adopted into felicity was excepted, when the in- his family, even though weakness heritance of the children of God was of faith, misapprehension, or tempmentioned; he hath been pleased tation should create an hesitation to expand our views, and enlarge in our minds, whilst addressing him our expectations, by language taken as our Father. This privilege, therefrom all the other most endeared fore, consists in the allowance and relations of life. The obedient dis-liberty of approaching the Lord at ciples of Christ are his brethren, his all times and for all things; of ensisters, and his mothers; yea, their trusting all our concerns in his Maker is their Husband, the Lord hands, and of considering them all of Hosts is his name (Isa. liv. 5; as managed by him in perfect wisMatt. xii. 46-50; Eph.v.25-27). dom, truth, and love, for our pre

They who are thus adopted into sent and everlasting good. Indeed, the family of God, receive the spirit the very disposition, produced by of adoption (instead of the spirit of the Spirit of adoption is our privibondage), and are thus disposed lege, and constitutes the seal, the and encouraged to say " Abba, Fa- first fruits, and the earnest of our ther;" or to address him as their felicity (Rom. viii. 14-17; Gal. Father, whatever language they iv. 6, 7).

speak, or to whatever country they IV. The believer has the firmest belong. We ought not to under-ground of confidence that all his stand this expression merely of a temporal wants will be supplied, confidence that God is our Father: and that every thing which can for believers are often actuated by possibly conduce to his advantage, the spirit of adoption when they will be conferred on him by his are harassed with doubts whether Almighty Friend and Father. We they be the children of God or not; are not indeed authorized to expect, and many are very confident in this or allowed to desire great things for matter, while their actions demon- ourselves in this world; and indeed strate that they belong to another it is evident to every reflecting perfamily (John viii. 41-47). This son, that power, wealth, or constant indeed more properly belongs to prosperity, have so great a tendency the believer's temper and character, to excite the envy or enmity of than to his privileges: yet it is ne- others, and to feed the distempers cessary here to observe in general, of men's own minds, that they add that the Holy Spirit producing in nothing to the real enjoyment of us that disposition towards God, life. But he who hath the security which a dutiful son bears towards of the promise and providence of a wise and good father, manifests God, is more sure never to want our regeneration and adoption, and any thing really good for him, than bears witness with our spirits, that that man is who possesses the greatwe are the children and heirs of est wealth; for riches often strangely God and whilst we feel our minds" make themselves wings and flee habitually influenced to apply to away:" but the unchangeable God, him in all our difficulties, to revere him, rely on, love, and obey him, to seek his glory, and rejoice in the success of the gospel and the pros

the possessor of heaven and earth, who has all hearts in his hand, can never be unable to provide for those who trust in him. "Bread shall be

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