I. A dear Child, one that the Father esteems so, is teachable, ready to learn what he is taught; he will give his Mind to it, is very flexible. | I. So a dear Child of God is very flexible and yielding to the Teachings of God. If God hath any thing for Abraham to do, he cries, Here am I. They are like holy Job, What I know not, teach thou me.
⟨p. 143⟩II. A dear Child is humble and meek, not proud, stubborn, or self-conceited. | II. So a dear Child of God is little in his own Eyes. How humbly did Abraham express himself to God!1 I who am but Dust and Ashes, &c. and Job, I abhor my self. David cries out, I am a Worm, and no Man. And the holy Apostles esteemed themselves as nothing: Who then is Paul, and who is Apollo? Unto me who am the least of all Saints, &c. I am nothing, &c.
III. A dear Child greatly loves his Father. Many Instances may be given of this, both from Scripture and History. | III. So a dear Child of God dearly loves his heavenly Father, he loves him with all his Soul, with all his Heart, and with all his Strength, loves him sincerely.
IV. A dear Child doth not only love his Father, but also his Mother. and is grieved when she is in distress. | IV. So a dear Child of God doth not only love God, who is his Father, but also dearly loves the Church, who is his Mother. Thus did David, 2that precious Child and Servant of God: If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,3 let my Right-hand forget her Cunning; if I I do not remember thee, let my Tongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief Joy. 4How greatly was the Prophet Jeremiah troubled for poor Zion, when he cried out, My Bowels, my Bowels! The Church lay near his Heart, he laments like a poor Child, for the Misery of his Mother that bare him.
VI. A dear Child is very obedient to his Parents, will do whatsoever is right, which either Father or Mother doth require. | V. So a dear Child of God is in all things obedient to God's Commands, as is recorded concerning Zechariah and Elizabeth, and many others: They endeavour to behave themselves as obedient Children in all respects, will not baulk one of God's holy Precepts:5 Then shall I not be ashamed, saith David, when I have respect to all thy Commandments. And as they are obedient to God their Father, so likewise to the Church their Mother. As it is a horrid Evil to rebel against God, so such will be left inexcusable who slight the Church.
I. A dear Child, one that the Father esteems so, is teachable, ready to learn what he is taught; he will give his Mind to it, is very flexible. | I. So a dear Child of God is very flexible and yielding to the Teachings of God. If God hath any thing for Abraham to do, he cries, Here am I. They are like holy Job, What I know not, teach thou me.
⟨p. 143⟩II. A dear Child is humble and meek, not proud, stubborn, or self-conceited. | II. So a dear Child of God is little in his own Eyes. How humbly did Abraham express himself to God!1 I who am but Dust and Ashes, &c. and Job, I abhor my self. David cries out, I am a Worm, and no Man. And the holy Apostles esteemed themselves as nothing: Who then is Paul, and who is Apollo? Ʋnto me who am the least of all Saints, &c. I am nothing, &c.
III. A dear Child greatly loves his Father. Many Instances may be given of this, both from Scripture and History. | III. So a dear Child of God dearly loves his heavenly Father, he loves him with all his Soul, with all his Heart, and with all his Strength, loves him sincerely.
IV. A dear Child doth not only love his Father, but also his Mother. and is grieved when she is in distress. | IV. So a dear Child of God doth not only love God, who is his Father, but also dearly loves the Church, who is his Mother. Thus did David, 2that precious Child and Servant of God: If I forget thee, O Jerusalem,3 let my Right-hand forget her Cunning; if I I do not remember thee, let my Tongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief Joy. 4How greatly was the Prophet Jeremiah troubled for poor Zion, when he cried out, My Bowels, my Bowels! The Church lay near his Heart, he laments like a poor Child, for the Misery of his Mother that bare him.
VI. A dear Child is very obedient to his Parents, will do whatsoever is right, which either Father or Mother doth require. | V. So a dear Child of God is in all things obedient to God's Commands, as is recorded concerning Zacharias and Elizabeth, and many others: They endeavour to behave themselves as obedient Children in all respects, will not baulk one of God's holy Precepts:5 Then shall I not be ashamed, saith David, when I have respect to all thy Commandments. And as they are obedient to God their Father, so likewise to the Church their Mother. As it is a horrid Evil to rebell against God, so such will be left inexcusable who slight the Church.
- 1Gen. 18.27. Psal. 22.6. 1 Cor. 3.9.
- 2Psal. 137.5, 6.
- 3Psal. 137.5, 6.
- 4Jer. 4.19.
- 5Psal. 119.
