A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

4. There may be a Child-like Love to God, when yet we have not a Sense and Assurance of his Paternal Love to us. God hath a Title to our choicest and dearest Love, before we can make out a Title to his highest Benefits. We owe our Hearts to him. Prov. 23. 26. My Son give me thy Heart. If you give him your Hearts, you are Sons, tho you know it not. God may be owned as a Father, either by our Sense of his Fatherly Love, or by our Choice and Esteem of him, Optando, si non affirmando. Come as Fatherless without him, Hos. 14. 3. or (to speak it in other Words) the unutterable Groans of the Spirit, do discover the Spirit of Adoption, as well as the unspeakable Joys of the Spirit, 1 Pet. 1. 8. There is an Option and Choice, tho we be not assured of our special Relation.

5. God is glorified by an Affiance, and a resolute Adherence, where there is no Assurance. When you are resolved, let him deal with you as an Enemy, you will stick to him as a Father. Job. 13. 15. Tho he slay me, yet will I trust in him. Faith can take God as a Friend, and Father, and put a good construction upon his Dealings, when he seems to come against us as an Enemy. And we give Glory to God, when we can adhere to him as our only Happiness, and trust his Fatherly Kindness and Goodness, tho he cover himself with Frowns, and hide himself from our Prayers; and you own him as the Father of Mercies, tho it may be you have no Sense and Feeling of his Fatherly Love to you.

6. There is a difference between the Gift it self, and the Degree. We cannot say we have not the Spirit of Adoption, because we have not so much of the Spirit of Adoption as others have; I mean as to the Effects: We may have the Spirit as a Sanctifier, tho not as a Comforter; tho he doth not calm our Hearts, and rebuke our Fears, yet if he doth sanctify us, and incline us to God. The Spirit was only given to Christ without measure, but to Christians in a different Measure and Proportion; and usually, as you submit more to his gracious Conduct, and overcome the Enemies of your Peace, the Devil, the World, and the Flesh. The impression is left upon some in a smaller, and upon others in a larger Character. All are not of one growth and size; some are more explicitly Christians, others in a Riddle. Much Grace doth more discover it self, than a little Grace under a heap of Imperfection. Some are more mortified and Heavenly-minded than others.