which may constitute a ground of right or claim. It is free and unfettered in its origin; irrespective with regard to its object. Thus by the application of a term expressive of human actions, the Father of lights, from whom descends every good and perfect gift, is said, under the Gospel, to adopt, to admit into his family, to invest with his august name, his fallen creatures: to communicate of his fullness, the inexhaustible treasures of his love and mercy, to the guilty race of Adam. An act as free and uncontrouled, as I observed, in its origin and first design, as it is unlimited and irrespective in its exercise. "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures." And with regard to the objects of his paternal love, whether they be his chosen children the Jews, or sinners of the Gentilesall is the result of his own free choice and good pleasure: and it were impious and ungrateful to pry further into his eternal counsels. God giveth no account of any of his matters. Suffice it to know, and so humbling a truth may well repress either the spirit of jealousy on the one hand, or of curious enquiry on the other; that so far from possessing any claim to such an act of grace, man was totally destitute thereof. Yea more, he was under a curse, liable to the

P

judgment of God; a trembling expectant of his wrath, rather than a rightful candidate for his grace. Enemies to God by wicked works, mankind, nevertheless, might, and did receive his grace, but could possess no imaginable claim thereto, by any proper inherent right.

The adopted, then, are true believers in Christ, they rely upon the merits of his death and righteousness for pardon and reconciliation with God; "For to as many as receive him, to them gives he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." They are regenerated by the Spirit; they are led by the Spirit; they walk in the Spirit; and "are justified freely by grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ."

Such is briefly the nature of adoption, and the means by which it is effected through the agency of the Spirit.

II. To describe or enumerate, in the second place, the privileges therein contained, the hidden and secret virtue which resides in that mysterious word adoption, would require the immediate inspiration of the Spirit himself. In no passage of his animated writings does the holy Apostle so rise above himself, and seem to carry the believer along with him in the ardour and loftiness of his flight, as in this chapter

where he treats of adoption. Rising step above step, climax above climax, he makes us "to triumph in Christ," and in the contemplation of our heaven-born privilege; as well as to long for, and in some measure to realize, its ulterior joys. Witness the truth of this remark in the text and the verses following-"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear: but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Does he further describe the privilege of the adopted as regards God's fatherly protection from temporal and spiritual evils, and his provision of all things needful both for soul and body?-Hear him again, "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose." "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Would he console the Christian under trials and sufferings?" I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be

revealed. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God?" Is it another unspeakable privilege of the adopted, that God assists, hears, and answers the prayers of his children? The same Apostle tells us, "The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Or lastly, would we be assured of the believer's title to the heavenly inheritance?-we have the Apostle in a sort of holy rapture enquiring: "If God be for us, who can be against us? Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

III. We are in the adoption in its effects. spirit of adoption,

third place to describe

"Ye have received the

whereby we cry Abba, Father." As before, when ye knew not God, except through the fears of a guilty conscience,

all was dread and slavish apprehension: so, now that ye are known of him through the Gospel, as your reconciled Father in Christ Jesus, the first, the predominating feeling of your heart towards him is that of filial love and confidence. You no longer fear this "unknown God." You no longer walk in darkness, in ignorance of the God who made you, but you "walk in light as he is in the light." You behold him gloriously enthroned on the mercy seat, to receive your prayers, to sympathise in your sorrows : yea, he sits enshrined in your very hearts: and there is not a thought, or a wish, a fear or a doubt, but you make him a party thereto : saying, "My Father, henceforth thou art the guide of my youth." In all your crosses, the language of your heart is, "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." "Thy will be done." Does the world frown and terrify you?-you know your privileges-"We have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." Does conscience accuse? Is a sense of your sinfulness painfully revived?" Where should the frighted child hide his head, but in the bosom of his loving Father?" "Ye have received the spirit of

*Hooker.