Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

Behold, what manner of love, the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.

ADOPTION is a doctrine of christianity frequently taught us in scripture. It appears in the Old Testament, like other shadows and figures of that dispensation; but in the new, its appearance is in all the splendor of glory and wonder. It is mentioned in the Old Testament, and explained in its nature, uses, and benefits in the new. And here it is introduced by the disciple, whom our Lord loved with a note of wonder and astonishment. The word behold, is introductive to various sentences of somewhat different signification in the bible. But it is chiefly employed to command attention to something extraordinary, and out of the usual course of nature; as "behold a virgin shall con❝ceive and bear a son," &c.

When the mind contemplates the wonders of divine love, in making children of enemies and rebels, it is lost in astonishment at its nature, manner and accomplishment. With open eyes of surprize, it cries out, "Behold what manner of love." This is the true subject of admiration among all intelligences. The

length, breadth, depth and height, is as incomprehensible as the great Supreme. Love, divine love, the ineffable gift or bestowment of God, transcends created conception. "Behold, what "manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us." The term Father, how endearing, tender, and affectionate the appellation? It involves in it every blessing of comfort, provision, and protection. "I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons "and daughters saith the Lord Almighty."

This relation into which men are brought to God in our text, is not a natural one, for by nature they are children of wrath; but it is stiled adoption, receiving, acknowledging and admitting them to relations, honors, immunities and blessings, to which they had no just, natural, er meritorious claim.

In directing your attention to the important doctrine in our text, we shall, by divine assistance, endeavor to consider the nature-properties and blessings of adoption.

First, With regard to its nature-It is no distinguishing characteristic of God, that he is the Father of all by creation. In this sense he is the Father of angels, devils and wicked men, of the heavens and earth, and of all creatures animate and inanimate.

Neither again is the exercise of his conferring power and providence, whereby he provides for, and sustains all things, the foundation of this relation. But we become the children of God in a twofold respect.

The term adoption, is borrowed from the civil laws ond usages of all nations. Persons of property, and especially those who have no children, wish to have heirs to their estates-hence, they select children of other families, educate them, sometimes confer upon them their own name, constitute them their own by act of law or testament, and ordain them successors to their inheri tance. Thus Pharaoh's daughter adopted Moses to be her son, and Mordecai Esther to be his daughter. These human adoptions

proceed upon necessity, whimsical fancy, nearness of kin, and a thousand various motives, all which are very distinct from a divine adoption. But both these adoptions, human and divine, wear a similarity in some respects. They are acts of free pleasure and good will; they are not natives of, but strangers and foreigners to, the families into which they are brought; and they are both called sons, and entitled to certain priviledges..

But infinitely wide is the difference between them. The fa ther of the one is soon enrolled in the bills of mortality; or he may change his mind and will, and appoint another; native heirs. may arise and interpose; innumerable accidents may happen to disappoint the expectant; and at any rate the death of the adopter must be tarried for. None of these things can take place in a divine adoption. The Father never dies; never changes his mind, or alters his will; native heirs cannot come into existence or interpose; and the death of the adopter is not to be waited for..

Yet, as observed, there are two things which enter into, and constitute the very essence and nature of adoption, to wit, the act of the adopter, and the act of the adopted.

The act of the adopter is that operation on the heart of a sinner usually called regeneration; whereby he is born again and made a new creature in Christ Jesus. It is described in strong language by St. Peter, when he speaks of it, "as a participation "of the divine nature." Nature is propagated by nature; man begets man. Adam begat a son in his own image and likeness. So God regenerates his children in his own likeness, and after his own image. All the adoptions of men are weak and contemptible pictures, and cannot be stiled even shadows of this. The sun illuminates the world, but its solar nature it communicates not. The rains descend upon the earth, fill its fountains and cause their streams to flow, yet the earth is not made water, but the renovating influences which God gives, "become a well of

water in the soul springing up into everlasting life." Thus God, by regeneration, begets creatures and makes them his children. Surely the new born ought to lift up their voices and proclaim, "What manner of love is this?"

own consent.

In the important transaction of adoption, there is also the act of the creature. No one becomes a child of God against his Therefore, it is said, "Ye are all the children of "God by faith in Jesus Christ." Faith is the act of the creature, whereby it acquiesces in the gospel, accepts of Jesus as its Saviour, and returns to God as a prodigal to his Father. At the same time, that regeneration takes place in the soul by the pow erful grace of God, the person is justified, and he is adopted by the most High; so also by faith he chearfully consents to be a child of God. He surrenders himself to him, to be instructed, directed, corrected and provided for by him, as a child by his father. Therefore, our Apostle rejoices in this consideration : "Beloved, we are now the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

The great distinction between regeneration and adoption is, the former may be considered as a change of nature; and the latter, as a change of relation, though both constitute a change of condition. Without regeneration, we cannot be made the children of God; and without faith, we cannot commence members of the divine family. But by the one, as the work of God-and by the other, as the exercise of our own hearts, this new and marvelous relation is constituted, which fills all heaven and earth with astonishment.

It is true, adoption and justification bear a similitude to each other in certain respects, as both of them are acts, and neither of them works of grace, strictly so called; yet there is a great distinction between pardon and approbation, acquittal and acceptancce; and between justification and an admission to the high

and glorious priviledges of the children of God. Priviledges, who can conceive? Eternity will be exhausted in the retail.

Having thus described the nature of adoption, allow me to lead your contemplations to a view of its properties; which was a Second thing we proposed for your consideration.

The First property of this relation is, that it cost an immense price. Men, in certain states of society, have paid a great value for relations. Jacob gave fourteen years hard service for his wives. David risked his life and brought in the required foreskins of the Philistines for his. But who ever purchased sons, but the great eternal? And this he did at an infinite expence.— As they could be obtained by no inferior means, he gave the blood of his only begotten Son. It is generally esteemed a high favor for one person to adopt another, without any compensation; but first to pay an exceeding price, then to adopt and constitute an heir of an inheritance beyond all calculation, all that can be said is, this is marvelous in our eyes, and will be a cbject of wonder forever. "God so loved the world, that he sent "forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law, to re"deem them that were under the law, that we might receive the "adoption of sons." Here is love for the recovery and adoption of sons, that cherubs cannot comprehend, nor the extensive understanding of Seraphs explain to all eternity. Angels stand amazed at the price paid for the adoption of rebel man. All heaven is filled with wonder, and earth and hell ought to be astonished. "Hear O heavens, and give ear, O earth, I have nour"ished and brought up chiidren." Remember," he that spared "not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he "not freely with him give us all things." Here is encouragement for sinners, and consolation and joy for believers.

Secondly, Another property of this adoption is, that it is high and honorable beyond all conception. It is higher than heaven, what can we know? and the depths of hell can afford no concep

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »