Saints Compared to Children

    SAINTS COMPARED TO CHILDREN

    "If children, then heirs," &c. Ro 8:17

    "For we are all the Children of God, by faith, in Christ Jesus," Ga 3:26.

    "Be ye followers of God, as dear Children" Eph 5:1.

    SAINTS are God's dear Children, not only Children, but dear Children. Dear Children hath reference to two things: 1. To the high esteem their parents have of them: 2. To that gracious and sweet disposition such Children are of.

    METAPHOR

    I. CHILDREN are begotten of their parents, and brought forth into the world.

    PARALLEL

    I. THE Saints are begotten of God; "Of his own will begat he them. Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him," 1Jo 5:1. They are also brought forth by him into a state of grace.

    METAPHOR

    II. Children partake of the nature of their parents, even of their flesh and bone.

    PARALLEL

    II. The Saints by their being begotten of God, through faith, in a mystical sort, are partakers of the divine nature: "That which is born of the Spirit, is spirit," 2Pe 1:4; Joh 3:6.

    METAPHOR

    III. Children are called after the names of their parents.

    PARALLEL

    III. So the Saints are called after God's name, holy, heavenly, godly, &c. Christians, from Christ, spiritual, from the Spirit.

    METAPHOR

    IV. Children are not in every thing alike, in stature, quality, and condition. Some are gentle, dutiful, and humble, and have a clearer sight, and more perfect knowledge than others, yet ought to love one another.

    PARALLEL

    IV. So the Saints of God are not in every thing alike; though all have grace, yet not a like measure of it; so though all see, yet all have not the same degree of sight and knowledge in divine things. From hence it is that there are so many differences amongst the godly; but since they are all God's Children, it behoveth them to see that they love one another.

    METAPHOR

    V. Children do not grow alike. Some thrive better upon hard fare than others do, who feed upon more choice and delicate food every day.

    PARALLEL

    V. So some of the Saints thrive, and grow faster in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who sit under the ministry of such men, whose preaching is accounted by some but as brown bread, than others, who are daily fed with the delicate food of the most acute and elegant preacher.