-- .. ,,_ .. --------- ·-------- . Ivlll,t,G. • Book IV. L~oklng tmto :Jef:u. ch:~p.2.sea. 4 2. From the latter words I lay down this pofition; ttflto U5 a forme t5 given tf we are Gods fonnes. The befi way to know our interdl: in the Sonne ofGod, it is to know our felves to be Gods fonnes by grace, as Chrill was Gods Sonne by nature, Cbriftians to whom l.hrifl: is given, are coheires with Chrift, only Chrift is the firil:-borne,an~ b<tt~ the pre~emenence in ail things,our fonne-. {hip is an effeCt ot Chnfl:s fonfhtp, and a fure figne that :tnto us a Jenne i,· given. Say then, 0 my foul, .art thou a fonne of God?· dofr thou refemble God (according to thy capacity) being holy, even as he is holy. vVhy then, Chrifl: was incarnate for thee , he was giwen to thee, if thy fon!hip be not cleare enough , thou mayll: try it further by thefe following, rules. I· ThefonnesofGod, feareGod. If IGe-1 Father, where iJ my hono;tr ? (faith God ) if I 6e JJ cMaftrr, where u rny fearc ? if 1 be'a fonne ofGod, there wtll be an holy feare and trcmbiing upon me in all my approaches unto God. i know there i! a fervile ' mercinary feare, and that is unworthy, and unbefeeming the Sonne ofGod; but t!Jere·is a filial feare, and that is an excellent check and bridle to all our wantonnelfe; what fon will not feare the frownes and anger of his loving Father? I dare not do thu (will he fay) my Father will be offended, and I, whether ;'balll go ? 1 P,t:r 1 · 17 agreeable to this is the Apofiles advice, if ye call on tbe Father, paf[eyour fojoltrning here with frarr. 2. The fonnes of God love God, and obey God out of a principle of love. Su ppofe there wc;re no heaven, or glory to befrow upon a regenerate per~o?, yet would he obey God out of a principle oflove, not that tt ts unlawful for the child ofGod to have an eye unto the recompence of reward; ll.fo[es reafon of Hcb,.JJ.t6. efteeming the reproach of Chrift greater riches then the trfll[ureof Egypt, was, for that he hadrefpeU unto the reccmpence of reward, he had refpect; in the original, he had a fixed intent eye; there was in him a love of the reward, and yet withal a love ofGod, and therefore his love of the reward was not mercinary: but this I fay, though there were no reward at all, a child of God hath fuch a principle of love within him, that for loves fake h; would obey his .God; he is led by the Spirit, and therefore he obeyes ; .now the Spirit that leads him is a Spirit of lovr, .Rom8 .1f and as many as are led by the Spirit of qod, are the fonnes of God. ,a. The
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