A Body of Practical Divinity

First Sign of Adoption, Obedience; a Son obeys his Father, Jer. 35.5. I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and said unto them, Drink ye Wine. But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine. So when God saith, Drink not in Sin's enchanted Cup, an adopted Child saith, My Heavenly Father hath commanded me, I dare not Drink. A gracious Soul doth not only believe God's Promise, but obey his Command. And true Child-like Obedience must be Regular, which implies three things:

First Sign of Adoption, Obedience; a Son obeys his Father, Jer. 35.5. I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and said unto them, Drink ye Wine. But they said, We will drink no wine: for Ionadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine. So when God saith, Drink not in Sin's enchanted Cup, an adopted Child saith, My Heavenly Father hath commanded me, I dare not Drink. A gracious Soul doth not only believe God's Promise, but obey his Command. And true Child-like Obedience must be Regular, which implies three things:

1. It must be done by a right Rule: Obedience must have the Word for its Rule; Lydius Lapis: Isa. 8.20. To the law, to the testimony. If our Obedience be not according to the Word, it is offering up strange Fire; it is [Greek or Hebrew], Will-worship; and God will say, Who hath required this at your hand? The Apostle condemns worshipping of Angels, which had a show of Humility, Col. 2.18. The Jews might say, they were loath to be so bold as to go to God in their own Persons, they would be more humble, and prostrate themselves before the Angels, desiring them to be their Mediators to God. Here was a show of Humility in their Angel-worship, but it was abominable, because they had no Word of God to warrant it: It was not Obedience but Idolatry. Child-like Obedience is that which is consonant to our Father's revealed Will.