The second Ground. He that is the adopted son of God, shall undoubtedly be saved. This point the Apostle plainly declareth, when he saith: Beloved now are we the sons of God. 1—And we know, that is, we are undoubtedly assured by faith, that when Christ shall appear in glory, we shall be like unto him, for we shall see him as he is. That the latter part of these words, is thus to be expounded, I gather out of Chap. 2. 28. as also by comparing this text with that of S. Paul, where he saith, When Christ which is 2our life shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory. And again, If we be sons, we are also heirs, even the heirs of God, and 3heirs annexed with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. Now put the case, that the conscience of the believer, will not rest in this, but desires to be further resolved, touching the certainty of his adoption? Then I answer, that he must have recourse unto the signs, whereby a son of God may be discerned from a child of the devil: and these are principally three. First is, truly to believe in the name of the son of God: for ⟨p. 71⟩those that have God for their father, are made the sons of God, by faith in Jesus Christ. And4 this faith shows it self by obedience. For hereby we are sure that we know Christ, that is, that we believe in him, and apply him with all his benefits unto our souls, If we keep his commandments. Nay further, He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the trueth is not in him, chap. 2, 3, 4. The second sign is, a hearty desire, and earnest endeavour to be cleansed of his corruptions. Every son of God that hath this hope, purifieth himself, even as Christ is pure, chap. 3. vers. 3. The third is, the love of a Christian, because he is a Christian: for hereby says the Apostle, are the children of God known from the children of the devil: because the sons of Satan do hate their brethren, (as Cain did his brother Abel) even for the good works which they do. On the other side, Gods adopted sons, may hereby know themselves to be translated from death to life, because they love the brethren, Chap. 3. 10, 11, 12, &c.
The second Ground. He that is the adopted sonne of God, shall vndoubtedly be saued. This point the Apostle plainely declareth, when he saith: Beloued now are we the sonnes of God. 1—And we knowe, that is, we are vndoubtedly assured by faith, that when Christ shal appeare in glory, we shal be like vnto him, for we shall see him as he is. That the latter part of these words, is thus to be expounded, I gather out of Chap. 2. 28. as also by comparing this text with that of S. Paul, where he saith, When Christ which is 2our life shall appeare, then shall we also appeare with him in glory. And againe, If we be sonnes, we are also heires, euen the heires of God, and 3heires annexed with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. Nowe put the case, that the conscience of the beleeuer, will not rest in this, but desires to be further resolued, touching the certainetie of his adoption? Then I answer, that he must haue recourse vnto the signes, whereby a sonne of God may be discerned from a child of the deuill: and these are principally three. First is, truely to beleeue in the name of the sonne of God: for ⟨p. 71⟩those that haue God for their father, are made the sonnes of God, by faith in Iesus Christ. And4 this faith shewes it selfe by obedience. For hereby we are sure that we knowe Christ, that is, that we beleeue in him, and apply him with all his benefits vnto our soules, If we keepe his commandements. Nay further, He that saies, I knowe him, and keepes not his commandements, is a liar, and the trueth is not in him, chap. 2, 3, 4. The second signe is, a heartie desire, and earnest indeauour to be clensed of his corruptions. Euery sonne of God that hath this hope, purifieth himselfe, euen as Christ is pure, chap. 3. vers. 3. The third is, the loue of a Christian, because he is a Christian: for hereby saies the Apostle, are the children of God known from the children of the deuill: because the sonnes of Satan doe hate their brethren, (as Cain did his brother Abel) euen for the good workes which they doe. On the other side, Gods adopted sonnes, may hereby know themselues to be translated from death to life, because they loue the brethren, Chap. 3. 10, 11, 12, &c.
- 1Chap. 3. v. 2.
- 2Col 3 26.
- 3Rom. 8. 19.
- 4Gal. 3. 2•.
