The child's portion, or, The unseen glory of the children of God asserted and…

3. What is the profit and advantage coming by this Relation?

A. The Apostle John using it as a present Argument to engage us to constancy in times of Antichristian Tyranny, thereby intimates that it is a relation of infinite worth, and would have us therefore to consider of it, and take a large view of its worth and eminency; and indeed there is so much in it as we may lose our selves in the contemplation: all the good which is wrapped up in the promise, is made ove• and becomes the propriety of the Believer in and by his Son-ship; I cannot rehearse all, but the choice advantages of Adoption are […] as these that follow.

A. The Apostle John using it as a present Argument to engage us to constancy in times of Antichristian Tyrany, thereby intimates that it is a relation of infinite worth, and would have us therefore to consider of it, and take a large view of its worth and eminency; and indeed there is so much in it as we may lose our selves in the contemplation: all the good which is wrapt up in the promise, is made ove• and becomes the propriety of the Believer in and by his Son-ship; I cannot rehearse all, but the choice advantages of Adoption are 〈…〉 as these that follow.

1. The Name and Title it self is a great benefit and advantage: it is a dignity, an honour, to be called the Children of God: the Apostle seems to place much weight upon the denomination it self, ver. 1. What manner of love, that we should be called the Sons of God? Jacob honoured Joseph's two eldest Sons, when he willed that his name should be called upon them; so ⟨p. 15⟩