Secondly; More especially, there is a particular Sort of Men, to whom God is a Father in Christ, and that is, to Believers. John 1. 12. To as many as received him, to them gave he Power to be called the Sons of God. Those which in their natural State and Condition were Children of Wrath, and Slaves to Sin and Satan; when they come, and are willing to welcome and receive Christ into their Hearts; in a sense of their Misery, are willing to make out after God and Christ; they have an Allowance to call God Father, and may have Child-like Communion with him, and run to him in all Straits, and lay open their Necessities to him. 2 Kings 4. 19. When the Child cried unto his Father, he said, Carry him to his Mother: So when we are ill at ease, and in any Straits, this is the Privilege of our Adoption, that we have a God to go to; we may go to our Father, and plead with him, as the Church, Isa. 63. 16. Doubtless thou art our Father, tho Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer. It is good to know God under this special Relation ⟨p. 83⟩of a Father in Christ; and this is that which is the Grace of Adoption. Adoption is an Act of Free-Grace, by which we that were Aliens and Strangers, Servants to Sin and Satan, are, in and by Christ, made Sons and Daughters of God, and accordingly are so reckoned, and treated with, to all Intents and Purposes. It is a great and special Privilege, given to God's own Children, by virtue of their Interest in Christ; and therefore it is said, 1 John 3. 1. Behold what Love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God! That is; Behold it as a certain Truth, and admire it as a great Privilege. This second Relation is a very great Privilege, and it will appear to be so, if we consider,
Secondly; More especially, there is a particular Sort of Men, to whom God is a Father in Christ, and that is, to Believers. Iohn 1. 12. To as many as received him, to them gave he Power to be called the Sons of God. Those which in their natural State and Condition were Children of Wrath, and Slaves to Sin and Satan; when they come, and are willing to welcom and receive Christ into their Hearts; in a sense of their Misery, are willing to make out after God and Christ; they have an Allowance to call God Father, and may have Child-like Communion with him, and run to him in all Straits, and lay open their Necessities to him. 2 Kings 4. 19. When the Child cried unto his Father, he said, Carry him to his Mother: So when we are ill at ease, and in any Straits, this is the Privilege of our Adoption, that we have a God to go to; we may go to our Father, and plead with him, as the Church, Isa. 63. 16. Doubtless thou art our Father, tho Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer. It is good to know God under this special Relation ⟨p. 83⟩of a Father in Christ; and this is that which is the Grace of Adoption. Adoption is an Act of Free-Grace, by which we that were Aliens and Strangers, Servants to Sin and Satan, are, in and by Christ, made Sons and Daughters of God, and accordingly are so reckoned, and treated with, to all Intents and Purposes. It is a great and special Privilege, given to God's own Children, by virtue of their Interest in Christ; and therefore it is said, 1 Iohn 3. 1. Behold what Love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the Sons of God! That is; Behold it as a certain Truth, and admire it as a great Privilege. This second Relation is a very great Privilege, and it will appear to be so, if we consider,
