A Practical Consideration OF THE SAINT'S SONSHIP.  
In a Discourse upon the fourth Chapter of the Galatians, vers. 6.  
London, Printed by Robert Ibbitson, 1656.   

A Practical Consideration of the Saints Sonship.  GAL. 4.6. 
And because ye are Sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son in your hearts, crying Abba Father.  
THe Apostle having showed the poor and mean condition the Law rendered us in, holds out the glory of our condition under the Gospel, in the consideration of our Sonship, we being by our Lords coming, freed from that pupillage and bondage we were before held under, that we might receive the adoption of Sons, and being redeemed thereunto, receive the spirit, and all good things as a consequent of such a state.  
These words do acquaint us in the general scope of them with this great truth, that it is not any Grace in us, or works done by us: That first brings us into that state of the Gospel, wherein we have favour and acceptance with God, but God first appoints us unto such a state, and thereupon gives us Grace suitable unto it Because ye are Sons, Because God hath in Christ appointed you to such a glorious estate, therefore is the spirit of his Son, and all good things given unto you, although I might speak much of this, yet I intent to confine myself to the observing only this one truth.  
Doct, That the state of a Christian under the Gospel, is a state of Sonship.  
We find in our natural state we are absolute enemies unto God, under the Law we come but to be servants, but under the Gospel we become sons.  
We bear herein a proportion with the Lord Christ our head, who is not as Moses was, a servant in God's house, but he is a Son, he is the Son in his own house, and therefore his brethren are Sons, that Sonship that he hath from the Father, it carries their Sonship in it: As he in his humanity became like them in all things, sin only excepted, so are they in their conformity, made like him in all things, save wherein he is their Saviour and their head, and as they have one common image to both, so have they one principle and root, for the Apostle tells us, that our life is hid with Christ in God, that is the Saints life, and is hid together with Christ's life in God, he is the fountain of both their lives: This comprehends in a word, the excellent Grace and glory of the Gospel, that such poor remote wretches from God, such strangers and enemies as we are, should become Sons, should he born of God in Christ, and inherit freely all his grace and glory; the Apostle seems to make a stop, and admire at this, Behold saith he, what manner of love the father hath showed unto us, that we should be called the Sons of God 'tis not only a thing of admirable advantage, but of astonishing honour; could David think it a great matter to be a King's Son in Law, and shall not we, value this high calling of God in Christ Jesus?  
To be his sons, the Apostle speaks of this; as the highest thing we can attain to in this life, now saith he we are the sons of God: we find in Scripture, the Lord pleasing to afford this title three ways, first, and principally to Christ, he is always called the Son, and somewhat more, the only begotten Son of the father, none ever begotten as he was, first, in respect of his eternal essence, wherein he is the eternal Son, and secondly, in respect of his humanity, and manhood, and his headship therein to both creations, he being so begotten, the spring of all natural life and being, and the head of his body the Church: we find also the Angels called the Sons of God, and in Job 38.7. when the morning Stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy; speaking of the Angels, and in Luke 3.38. Adam is called the son of God.  
This is in reference unto their first creation, and lastly, in this Gospel sense, this honour have all the Saints, to be called Sons, and this their son ship through and in Christ, the only son, is fare more excellent, than that of the Angels; or of adam's, the root of Adam's state and glory lay in himself, and so being mutable, he of a Son created, became a fallen depraved bitter enemy, this is unchangeably fixed; and growing daily to perfection, 'tis more excellent than that of the Angels, in as much as it is wrought and ariseth (to the exceeding glory of free grace) out of enmity, darkness, and a fallen state; which they were never in, and secondly, as 'tis in Christ the head of this Sonship, exalted above the Angels in the excellency and glory of it.  
There be two questions, may be fitly resolved in this place.  

1 How come we to this estate, and then wherein doth it consist?  
2 How stood the Saints under the Law in the old Testament in reference to it.   
For the first question, we come to this state by Christ's purchase alone, we receive it from God through him, and it hath its root in him, he dispenseth it to us, him hath God the father sealed for this purpose, this we see in Joh. 1.12. But to as many as received him; to them he gave power, or dignity, to become the Sons of God. It consists in this, that our Lord Christ by what he hath in his own person done, hath taken from us the yoke of the first covenant, and of the Law, under which we were as strangers, and so dealt withal, and hath obtained a right for us to this state of Sonship, and nearness to God, wherein we freely inherit life and salvation, he hath broken down the partition wall of sin and gilt, that was between God and man, by reason of his inability to fulfil the righteousness of the Law, and having satisfied that, and nailed the condemning power thereof upon his cross, he brings man that was so fare off, thus near unto God, and makes him look upon God, no more as an infinite being, who is a law giver only and a judge, but now in him become a most affectionate tender father, and brings God who was thus in Christ reconciling himself to the world, to be no more as at a distance, but near and one with the Creature as a Father, and in the dearest and nearest relations, God is become in Christ a Father, and we his children, our maker, our husband, and we his Spouse, and so we are brought into this blessed state, wherein God deals with us as Sons, with all love, sweetness, and familiarity.  
And lastly, That which makes this right of Sonship, which Christ hath so purchased and obtained, effectual, and gives us the possession of it, is God gives us the spirit of his Son, Christ's Sonship is as it were communicated unto us, and so we have not only a right of Sonship in Christ, but through him the spirit of sons to apply to God as a Father, and we are not only under an outward administration of Sonship, wherein we should be sure still to retain the mind and spirit of servants, and enemies, but have the hearts and spirits of Sons given unto us, and are by this effectual prousion of the Lord, no more in a spirit of bondage unto fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.  
And thus our Lord hath redeemed us into the same state with himself, he being a Son, we are so too.  
To the second question, what enjoyment the Saints under the Law had of this privilege, my Answer is, they then had this state of Sonship in faith, but not in possession until the fullness of time came, they had a right to it, as we use to say, but not in it, the administration of the Law bowed down their backs, they were at School under tutors and governor's, they did not receive this Adoption of Sons: As heaven is now to us, so was this state to them, we have a right to it, and have it by faith, yet stand obliged to the duties of our present administration in this life, so they had a right to this Adoption of Sons by the son, and saw it and hoped for it a fare off, but lay obliged under the elements of the world, and were shut up under the Law, till the time appointed by their and our Father, this better thing being kept for the Saints in these days, that they without us might not be perfect.  
This Doctrine of the Saints sonship, being every where in the Scriptures witnessed unto, I shall improve it these two ways.  
First, By way of Use, and then by way of Trial, whether we be in possession of this state or not?  
First, And first if the Saints be now sons, 'tis a shame to those, who by a Legal carnal Ministry, seek to make servants and slaves of them, this they do who set up works, and impose that yoke which our fathers were not able to bear, who so urge the commands of the gospel, as that they turn it into a mere Covenant of works, and revive again the dead body of Moses, which God himself hath buried, and so erect a worldly Sanctuary, as if Christ were not ascended and become a minister of the sanctuary, and true tabernacle; who brings the Conscience into bondage, in those things wherein Christ hath made his people free, who set the Saints to obtain that by works, and conditions, which they have by their sonship, by inheritance, this is the Devils constant design to scar men from the Gospel, by obscuring that glorious life and spirit that is brought therein to light, and if he cannot overthrow the state of those that have received it, to raise up Doctrines to make their course as wearisome, and as full of bondage as he can, and therefore we need often to read that advice of the Apostle, in Gal. 5.1. stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free. etc.  
Secondly, The second use may be this; if we are sons, do we walk like sons of the most high? are we filial towards God in our conversation, are we as obedient Children, not fashioned to this world, if he say come, do we come, and if he say go, do we go, are we at a beck, waiting to be disposed and directed by him, and do we follow his commands as dear children, without murmuring and without disputing? if we do not, if we profess God to be our father, may not he say to us, if I am your Father where is my honour, the sovereignty of God may require our obedience from us, but how much more should the consideration of him as a father beget it in us, what the greatness of God will not do, surely his goodness should not fail of; Can there be opposition unto kindness, the infinite God takes that way to overcome us poor worms, if God will own himself our father, 'tis equal sure we should behave ourselves like his children, and if he be our father, should we not show forth his image, if we rightly consider it, what greater privilege imaginable, what greater blessedness then to bear the glorious image of our Creator, thus manifested in Christ; who should do it, if his sons, his children should not? we are kept in the world for this purpose, to bear forth his virtues, and his praises before the blind world, were it not for this work that is to be done, he would soon take us to himself in the heavens.  
What a great shame and dishonour is it unto the Lord, to profess ourselves his sons, and yet walk in an earthy, sensual, devilish spirit; let's show some tokens of our country, and of our father's house; let's carry some badge of a heavenly extraction, we have born the Image of the earthy plain enough. O let's bear the Image of the heavenly, we are plainly Adam's sons in nature, let's appear sons of God in grace; How glorious, how convincing would be the life of a Christian, if he did show forth the Image of his father, whose tender mercies are over all his works, who causeth his Sun to shine on the just, and the unjust, who when he bids us forgive till seventy times seven, 'tis but that we might be like him our heavenly father, who in that patience and goodness, and forbearance, and easiness to be entreated, which he shows to us, is a pattern what we should do one towards another, when ever a christian miscarries, 'tis stepping aside from his Father's Image, this is that end concerning man, God hath proposed to himself and been about, by the Law, by the Prophets, by the Gospel, by all, as the way to make him happy, and a fit object for his converse; to stamp his own image upon him.  
Thirdly, Every Christian know your state, thou art a son, though but a babe in the Gospel, we are sons and heirs, and joint heirs with Christ, most Christians lose much of their comfort and strength by this, they consider not the relation which in Christ God and man stand in together, they live only in the comfort of their graces, and not of their state; A man may think easily too much of himself, that is the error very many are in, and he may also think too low of himself, the devil is not without his devises that way too.  
A man can never be debased enough as in himself, and yet he may exalt himself in that estate which God hath in Christ appointed him unto, we may thus glory in the Lord; Let not the Devil nor our unbelieving hearts ever remove us from this, we are sons, though Prodigals, let this consideration help to recover us out of temptation, when we sit darkness, and see no light: Let's think ourselves too good to be feeding amongst the dogs, and the swine of this world: Let's think ourselves of too noble a quality and birth, to be made slaves by Satan, and captived at his will, or to be servants unto men, and to be in bondage unto them, or to become drudges to dirty unsatiable lusts. We are bought with a price, the blood of out dearest Lord, unto Sonship, and unto spiritual freedom; let's not be like profane Esau; let's not part with it upon any terms, there is nothing under the Sun can be a price for it.  
Fourthly, If we are sons, Let's go to God always as to our Father, let's treat with him more intimately and freely, than a man would do with his friend: And acquaint him with all our wants and griefs, as knowing him properly concerned therein, and bury all our cares in his bosom.  
How sweet will our communion be with him, if whensoever we come to call upon him, we bring this settled apprehension with us, that he is our father, the reason why we often miscarry in the comfort of our prayers, it is, because we think but randomly of him, according to what our present temper is, we frame out imaginations of God, of what we find in ourselves, the prodigal he recovered himself with this, saith he, I'll go to my Father, if he be my Father, there is my hope, though I have never so much misbehaved myself: 'tis hard to find a case that a Father's heart on earth will not be stirred towards his son, but if that should be, 'twill never be so with our Father which is in heaven, we can no sooner make towards him, but he'll meet us; whilst we are a fare off, and embrace us, and take us home; let our Lord herein be a pattern to us, who whilst he conversed in this lower world, would ever keep up this claim to God to be his Father: the meanness of his condition, nor the Jews threats to stone him for it, never made him let go the owning of this relation: O take heed of nourishing up hard thoughts of God 'tis the ground of all Apostasy: if you pray not to God as your Father, you will not pray to him long at all, you will take the first opportunity to quit his service, you will do nothing but to stop the mouth of a hungry gnawing conscience: the more you think of him, the more you will be troubled: All approaches to God under any other apprehension but this, will but awaken terror, and multiply guilt before your face: O remember therefore our Lord hath taught us to begin all our approaches unto God, with calling him Our Father.  
This term will make all our guilt to vanish, and bury it out of our sight, and drive away our sins as a thick cloud, and make all those considerations of his greatness, and his majesty sweet unto us.  
Fifthly, if God be our Father, why doubt we of being provided for, can those that have such a father want? why take we so much care, why do we seek an inheritance in the world? doth not our Father know what we want of these things: Let's not choose for ourselves, but let him provide for us, he takes care of the Lilies, and he feeds the Ravens, and shall his children want? Shall Christ's seed be unprovided for? Paul tells us, 'tis the Father's work to provide for the children: How unbecoming a thing is it, for a man that calls God his Father, to seek help any where else; remember that good man, who was ashamed to ask a troop of horse of the King, because he had named the name of the Lord: Never apply but to the Lord, if you ask him bread, he will not give you a stone, and if you ask him a fish, he will not give you a Scorpion, in our Father's house there is bread enough: And let's be content with the portion our Father gives us, he loves us much more than we love ourselves, and he infinitely knows, what will best fit us: He lets us know as much of his love as we are able to bear, and fit to be Masters off in this present state; He that hath of has mere Grace appointed us to glory, should we not trust him, as knowing best how to carry us through this world unto it; And he lets us want nothing of this world that would not hurt us, when he denies us herein, but to keeps us out of deadly snares, and fence us from being pierced through with many sorrows; whatever our condition be in this world, let this consideration sanctify the best, and sweeten the worst, to us, 'tis our Father's portion.  
Sixthly, If we are sons, let's love our brethren, let's not be unnatural to the Saints, inquire for them as David did after the house of Saul, that he might show kindness to them, and use them as he did Mephibosheth, though he were lame of his feet, take them into your bosom, though they are deformed before the world, perhaps they want their right hands, and their right eyes, nay though they have many infirmities, and are some of them poor, peevish, froward children, yet love them for their father's sake, our Lord expects this at our hands, that we should love the Brethren; and hath left a solemn charge with us in his absence to do it, we have these always with us, to show our love to, but we have not him always: Where should love be perfected, if not amongst those who have him that is love itself for their Father, we shall have nothing but hatred from the world, should not that make us love the more? Let's not therefore be unkind to the poor Saints, say of them wheresoever, and in what soever condition you find them, as Adam said of Eve, when she was brought to him, this is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh; we came all out of that pierced side of our Lord: and be not unkind to your own flesh, but love it, and cherish it: hereby shall we appear to be sons in loving the Saints as brethren.  
Seventhly, and Lastly, If God be our father, be not afraid, nor troubled to go to him, remember how our Lord comforted himself, and his Disciples, at his departure, I go saith he, to my father, and your father: O be not troubled to die, you shall be with your father, that loves you, be not discouraged to come before him, because of your unkind, untoward deal with him, he is your father that hath freely passed by all; you shall read in Gen. 50.16, 17. when joseph's brethren after their Father's death, spoke to him of their former unkindness to him, and discovered their fears that he would punish it upon them: Joseph wept, the Text saith when they spoke unto him, they much mistook his heart, they took a wrong measure of his spirit by the narrowness of their own: 'tis so with us in this case: we shall when we die be at home; we are here in a strange Country, ill used, not known; there we shall be in honour, we shall see our father, whom we have so much longed to know, and who hath kept us all our life long, and we shall be used like sons, and sit down at his right hand with the son our head: Let this consideration that the great God is our Father, make us willing to shut our eyes to the world, and be no more seen here, that we may be with him, let's say with Paul, to be dissolved and to be with Christ, and with him, is best of all: Let not the fear of death, keep us as it did them of old, all our life time in bondage, but let's now rejoicingly wait all the days of our appointed time till our change shall come.  
And thus having had some glimmerings of this glorious state of the Saints, and of the obligations, or rather great privileges that do attend it, let us try and prove ourselves whether we be in this state or not, whether we are Bastards, only in profession and appearance sons, or whether we be sons indeed, and have that true spirit of the son dwelling in us, and that we may do it; I shall lay down some concomitants amongst many, of that true state of Sonship; wherein as in a glass, we may see out faces, and judge of ourselves as to this matter.  
1 If we are sons, we have a spirit of prayer to go to God in all extremities, 'tis not so with an hypocrite, he cannot pray always, God sends the spirit of his son into our hearts, and he sends it crying Abba father, 'tis a spirit of prayer while we are in this world, 'tis but crying and groaning in us.  
A son hath not only the form of coming unto God, and the gift of praying, but the Grace of praying for him, the spirit itself makes intercession, with sighs and groans which cannot be expressed: if this spirit be hid, 'tis hid to them that are lost.  
2 A son doth all out of love, he loves God as his father, all his service 'tis out of love, 'tis not forced and wrung from him, he doth not as Saul did, force himself to sacrifice: but he offers up himself freely. He fears, he reputes, he mourns, he mortifyes himself, and all out of love; he rejoiceth to die daily, he hath love that is strong as death, many waters can not quench it, he loves God, and therefore thinks nothing too much to do, is not measuring the minutes of that time he spends in his service, but is through love, all his days, and in every thing, giving himself up wholly to the Lord.  
3 A son can bear affliction, takes not things unkindly from God, submits to the father of spirits. A son trusts God though he kill him, he knows though he do sorely afflict him, yet he will at last return as he did to Ephraim, in Jer. 31. saith God. is Ephraim my dear Son, is he a pleasant child? since I spoke against him, I do earnestly remember him still; A son will hang upon God, though he seem never so angry with him: Let me go saith God to Jacob, I will not let thee go, saith he, till thou bless me. This seems strange, but 'tis the son like spirit.  
A worldly man and an hypocrite, grows presently out of love with God, a little thing will make him fly in God's face, and cry out, what profit is it that I have fasted? A man without the spirit of a son, when he is under an afflicting hand, he tumbles like a wild bull in a net, he is presently with Jobs wife, cursing of God, a carnal professor grows worse and worse by the rod; A Son learns obedience as Christ did by the thing that he suffers, he is more meek, more broken hearted, lies lower at God's feet, and he says not a word more, but with old Eli, 'tis the Lord, let him do what seems him good: 'tis my father's hand is upon me, though it seem heavy, he corrects me for my profit, that I might partake of his holiness, and he so corrects every son that he receives, and I shall reap the quiet and peaceable fruit of righteousness by all in the end.  
4 He that hath the spirit of a son, useth all enjoyments both natural and spiritual in freedom, is sensible of his propriety in his Father's right, 'tis not so with another: A Son is never hidebound nor in bondage with what he possesseth, he lives in the spirit of the son, and that is a free spirit.  
A Spirit of Adoption makes a man extreme strict, and true to God as a Father, and so extreme free in whatsoever he does: He hath a large spirit, and is not at touch not, taste not, handle not, 'tis much otherways with a man that hath a legal conscience, as Solomon says in another case so 'tis with him, he never eats his bread with comfort: Every thing proves a snare and a burden to him: If therefore any be awakened to look heaven ward, and desires to live the life of a Christian, let him wait for the spirit of a son, and so he shall come to know that Kingdom of God, that is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  
FINIS.