certainly this evidenceth God to be our Father, when he hath given us this Child-like frame of heart, to weep for sin as it is sin, an act of Pollution, Enmity, Ingratitude. A wicked Man may mourn for the bitter Fruit of Sin, but only a Child of God can grieve for the odious Nature of Sin. 2. A Filial (or Child-like) disposition is to be full of sympathy▪ We lay to heart the dishonours reflected upon our Heavenly Father, when we see Gods Worship adulterated, his Truth mingled with the poison of Error, it is as a Sword in our Bones to see Gods Glory suffer; Psal. 119.158. I beheld the transgressors and was grieved. Homer describing Agamemnons grief when he was forced to sacrifice his Daughter Iphigenia, brings in all his Friends weeping and condoling with him; so when God is dishonoured, we sympathize, and are as it were clad in mourning. A Child that hath any good Nature, is cut to the heart to hear his Father reproached. An Heir of Heaven takes a dishonour done to God more heinous than a disgrace done to himself. 3. A Filial disposition is to love our Heavenly Father: He is unnatural that doth not love his Father. God who is crowned with excellency, is the proper object of delight, and every true Child of God saith as Peter, Lord thou knowest that I love thee: But who will not say he loves God? If ours be a true genuine love to our Heavenly Father, it may be known, 1. By the effects. 1. Then we have an holy fear: There is a fear which ariseth from love to God; that is, we fear the loss of the visible tokens of Gods presence; 1 Sam. 4.13. Eli's heart trembled for the Ark. It is not said his heart trembled for his two Sons, Hophni and ⟨p. 429⟩Phinehas, but his heart trembled for the Ark; because the Ark was the special sign of Gods Presence, and if that were taken the Glory was departed. He who loves his Heavenly Father, fears least the tokens of his Presence should be removed, least Profaneness should break in like a flood, least Popery should get head, and God should go from a people. The presence of God in his Ordinances is the glory and strength of a Nation. The Trojans had the Image of Pallas, and they had an opinion, that as long as that Image was preserved among them, they should never be conquered. So long as Gods presence is with a people so long they are safe. Every true Child of God fears least God should go, and the glory depart.
certainly this evidenceth God to be our Father, when he hath given us this Child-like frame of heart, to weep for sin as it is sin, an act of Pollution, Enmity, Ingratitude. A wicked Man may mourn for the bitter Fruit of Sin, but only a Child of God can grieve for the odious Nature of Sin. 2. A Filial (or Child-like) disposition is to be full of sympathy▪ We lay to heart the dishonours reflected upon our Heavenly Father, when we see Gods Worship adulterated, his Truth mingled with the poyson of Errour, it is as a Sword in our Bones to see Gods Glory suffer; Psal. 119.158. I beheld the transgressors and was grieved. Homer describing Agamemnons grief when he was forced to sacrifice his Daughter Iphigenia, brings in all his Friends weeping and condoling with him; so when God is dishonoured, we sympathize, and are as it were clad in mourning. A Child that hath any good Nature, is cut to the heart to hear his Father reproached. An Heir of Heaven takes a dishonour done to God more heinous than a disgrace done to himself. 3. A Filial disposition is to love our Heavenly Father: He is unnatural that doth not love his Father. God who is crown'd with excellency, is the proper object of delight, and every true Child of God saith as Peter, Lord thou knowest that I love thee: But who will not say he loves God? If ours be a true genuine love to our Heavenly Father, it may be known, 1. By the effects. 1. Then we have an holy fear: There is a fear which ariseth from love to God; that is, we fear the loss of the visible tokens of Gods presence; 1 Sam. 4.13. Elies heart trembled for the Ark. It is not said his heart trembled for his two Sons, Hophni and ⟨p. 429⟩Phinchas, but his heart trembled for the Ark; because the Ark was the special sign of Gods Presence, and if that were taken the Glory was departed. He who loves his Heavenly Father, fears least the tokens of his Presence should be removed, least Profaneness should break in like a flood, least Popery should get head, and God should go from a people. The presence of God in his Ordinances is the glory and strength of a Nation. The Trojans had the Image of Pallas, and they had an opinion, that as long as that Image was preserved among them, they should never be conquered. So long as Gods presence is with a people so long they are safe. Every true Child of God fears least God should go, and the glory depart.
