An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

In the next place, God is here described relatively, a Father. The word Father is sometimes taken absolutely, as it denoteth God the Creator and Governor of all things; sometimes relatively, as denoting the first Person in the Trinity. Although the Socinian flight this distinction, denying the Son to be called the Father, unless once, Isa. 9. which they would wrest to another sense, and that the holy Ghost is never called Father; yea, that the Father is never called Father in respect of the first creation of all things; ⟨p. 120⟩but because of his fatherly love and care to the things created; yet these things might be cleared against them, were it in our way so much. Here indeed God the Father is named relatively, and not so much from the first creation, and making of all things; as from the Covenant of grace, whereby through Christ we are made his sons, and what Christ hath by nature, we have by grace. So that the paternal relation here mentioned, is more peculiar and sweet, than that general one to all the creatures, even wicked men, who yet are preserved by him, and like Ishmael have many gifts, though they have not with Isaac the inheritance. Observe,

In the next place, God is here described relatively, a Father. The word Father is sometimes taken absolutely, as it denoteth God the Creatour and Governour of all things; sometimes relatively, as denoting the first Person in the Trinity. Although the Socinian flight this distinction, denying the Sonne to be called the Father, unless once, Isa. 9. which they would wrest to another sense, and that the holy Ghost is never called Father; yea, that the Father is never called Father in respect of the first creation of all things; ⟨p. 120⟩but because of his fatherly love and care to the things created; yet these things might be cleared against them, were it in our way so much. Here indeed God the Father is named relatively, and not so much from the first creation, and making of all things; as from the Covenant of grace, whereby through Christ we are made his sonnes, and what Christ hath by nature, we have by grace. So that the paternal relation here mentioned, is more peculiar and sweet, than that general one to all the creatures, even wicked men, who yet are preserved by him, and like Ishmael have many gifts, though they have not with Isaac the inheritance. Observe,