Nommitiosimmil 2252. An Expof tion neon Chap.$, S i L. To ?conclude 'the main argu- ment and reafon, by which the Apolile before did exhort the Romans, by the fpirit to . mortifie the deeds of the flesh. This argument was taken from the e- vent which (hall follow them,which live after the fpirit and not after the flefh, namely,eternall life : giving to wit,that fttch (hall live for ever, becaufe they are the Ions of God : from hence the Apo- file now concluded], that if filch as walk after the fpirit be tons, then they muff inherit everlafting life in heaven; for all Gods children be heires, and have right to the heritage of heaven. This conclufion doth very lively let forth the manifold and great dignity of true be- leevers, the more to fir them up cheer- fully to follow the government of Gods Spirit, T i M. What be the degrees of the dignity of thefait(afull? S t L. They be there four : Firft that they be not fervants but children. Secondly, that all of them be heires Thirdly, that they be heires ofGod,not of any mortal! King : but of that King which is immortali, namely,God. La1l ly, t hat they be coheires, or heires an -. nexed to Chrift. T i M. Tell sat now what is meant by chil- dren. S s L. Even all the Cons and daugh- tersof God, whofoever they be which have the fpirit of Adoption, and beleeve in Cbrilt. T i M. Fut Cbriff is the only begotten child of God, how then can the faitbfìell be children? S r L. True indeed, Chrift is the on- ly begotten child of God according to narure; being begotten of his Fathers ftibftance from everlafting: but beleevers be children by grace of adoption, being by naturethe children of wrath: Chrift is a child of the fubftance of God his Father, whereas the beleevers are chil- dren by favour. T i M. Is Ibis fogreat adignity to fie the child of God by grace? S a L. 'cos fo: For firft, fesch have Chrift to be their brother, Mat. i a. eo Heb.2.1 2. Secondly,the Angels are their fervants, Pfa1.34'7. Heb, i.14. Thirdly, themfelvcs are Priclfe, Prophets, and Kings, i Pet.2.9. Rev. i.6. Fourthly, the w holeworld,yea even heaven is their right and poffeffion, i Cor.3.22,23. If it be counted fo great a dignity to be the child of an earthly King, what a worthy thing molt it then be, to be the child of the King of heaven? For to be. the child of God is no empty title,be- cauf by it we obtain this dignity to be heires. The law of nature cloth yeeld this unto children that they (hall enjoy the inheritance which is left unto them by their.deceafed Parents : and the Law of grace doth promife the heavenly in. heritance to all which be children of God by faith in Chrift. T t as. Howbeit among the children' of Abraham, Ifaac only bad the inberitance,tbe cell had gifts and were feat away, Genef. 28.5,6. S r L. It is true, becaufe God fo com- manded, and the promifes were made to Ifaac, but the cafe fats out otherwife be- tween the children of God and of men: for amongft men in fundry coeintriee,all children be not heires, but Eons only, and in fome places not all Eons, but the eldeft fon alone ; but Gods children be they tons or be they daughters, they be- all heires, every one without exception. There is neither Male nor Femalewith God. T t M. But whole heires are thy, and what it their inheritance? S i L.. They are heires ofGod, and 3 Flores God himfelfis their inheritance,one and of oa. the felf -Came perfon, is both father and inheritance in this cafe : for to enjoy God fully & perfeâly in his Son Chrift, this is the inheritance of the Saints, who in God do enjoy all other things. Gods children therefore,they are great heires, and they have a goodly heritage, Pfa1.16.4,1. iCor.3.2i. Tim. What it the fourth part of the dig- nity efebe faithfull? Si L. That they are heires annexed with Chrift,or joint heires with Chrift. Tom. The inheritance ofChriflhow ma- nifold is it? S i L. Two -fold : it is the inhe ritance o Heires,
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