ward, and come rolling in strength from afar; the soft breezes of evening, that gently fan and refresh us, and the wild tornado, that stalks furiously through the land on its errand of destruction ;-the calm sky, the gentle dew, the fertilizing rain, and the dark and portentous thunder-cloud, the forked lightnings, and the terrific roar of heaven's artillery; and finally, the rainbow of promise, bending its glorious arch downward from the skies, like a smile on the brow of frowns, and resting upon the earth, reminding us that the Father's covenant love still bends from heaven to earth and rests with man-these, and all the other operations of nature, are to those who feel the lively workings of the filial spirit the kind and majestic movements of their heavenly Father.

This same filial spirit enables them also to see the meaning and enjoy the moral beauties of the Bible. To those who approach the divine Word with any other spirit, clouds and thick darkness rest on its pages. It is only as we approach the Bible with the spirit of children—the humble, docile, teachable spirit-counting our own knowledge ignorance, and our own wisdom folly-feeling as babes who have every thing to learn -that the Bible opens to us its luminous pages, as an Epistle of paternal love from our heavenly Father. "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes :-Even so, Father, for so it seemeth good in thy sight."* Hence

* Matt. xi. 25.

the spirit of adoption gives an assurance of the truth and inspiration of the Bible, which nothing else can impart. The man who has not this witness of the Spirit, has more or less of doubts. He may be convinced, intellectually, and often pronounce his doubts vanquished; but they will return, and re-return upon him, and haunt him all the way down to the grave. It is only the filial spirit, that plants the two-edged sword in the heart of infidelity, and lays the cruel tyrant silent in death.

This same filial spirit teaches Christians the holy art of prayer. They go to God, feeling that they know not what to pray for, as they ought to pray; but this spirit helpeth their infirmities, and maketh intercession for them with groanings which cannot be uttered.*

Finally, this spirit seals the Christian an heir of heaven. It tends to put from him servile fear, banish doubts, and yield the sweet assurance that God is indeed his portion, and heaven his eternal home. "For

as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 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."+

Thus does this filial spirit, by drawing the Christian near to God, and placing him beneath the kindlings of his smile, light up the darkness and alleviate the sufferings of life. It makes many a little spot, amid the most rough and frowning scenes, put on the bloom and fragrance of Eden. It repels the frosts of adversity, and strews living green amidst the most desolate regions of earth. It even causes roses and myrtles' to bloom "unchilled on the verge of the avalanche.”

No man can thus contemplate the spirit of adoption, without seeing it to be the richest boon of heaven to mortals. Without it, in vain do friends smile, and riches increase, and honors thicken;-the orphaned heart will sigh, and often will the reluctant tongue be compelled to exclaim, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity;-what profit hath a man of all the labor which he taketh under the sun." This blessed spirit of adoption teaches man what profit he hath of all his labor; it points him to his heavenly Father's name, written with the tears of a Father's love, on all he beholds, on all he suffers, on all he enjoys. It thus rebukes his disquietudes, assuages his griefs, consoles his afflictions, heightens his joys, and renders his existence an unspeakable present as well as prospective privilege.

This spirit of adoption is possessed in different degrees by different Christians ;-by none, probably, in so high a degree as might be; and by all, in different degrees at different times. There are times when some are enabled to record, with the sainted Martyn, "After a long and blessed season in prayer, I felt the spirit of adoption drawing me very near to God, and

I

giving me a full assurance of his love. My fervent prayer was, that I might be more deeply and habitually convinced of his unchanging, everlasting love, and that my whole soul might be altogether in Christ. I scarcely knew how to express the desires of my heart. I wanted to be all in Christ, and to have Christ for my all in all ;—to be encircled in his everlasting arms, and to be swallowed up altogether in his fulness. wished for no created good, or for men to know my experience; but to be one with thee, and live for thee, O God, my Saviour and my Lord. O may it be my constant care, to live free from the spirit of bondage, at all times having access to the Father. This I feel should be the state of the Christian ;-perfect reconciliation with God, and a perfect appropriation of him in all his endearing attributes, according to all that he has promised-it is this, that shall bear me safely through the storm.”*

2. The blessings of the filial relation. We have spoken of the absolute benefits of adoption; we are now to speak of its relative benefits. These are, in the highest degree, honor, heirship, and security.

The filial relation confers infinite honor. On his adoption into the family of God, the Christian's name is enrolled with all the shining names of earth and of heaven. Abraham, the father of the faithful, with all who have walked in his lofty steps, and Gabriel, with his glorious retinue, bowing and singing before the throne are not ashamed to see his name on the same

* Memoirs of Henry Martyn,

page with theirs. They own him as a brother ;-they embrace him as a welcomed companion of their honor. His name is enrolled with heaven's nobility.

Nor is

He

this all-for Christ himself accords the relation. is now, like Christ, a son of God; is hereafter, like him, to see God as he is, and be with him perfected in glory. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God;-and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but this we know, that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.' ""* No honor can excel this. To be taken by the hand of Christ, conducted into the presence chamber of Jehovah's glories, and there acknowledged a son and an heir, is the highest honor man can aspire to, or angel reach. Ye who have ambition for honor, here is something worthy of its pursuit. Here you may let loose all its fires. Let the flame kindle and burn on your brow, with intensest ardors, it cannot scathe or shame you. Seek the honor that cometh from God only, and the noble ambition of your heart shall be fully gratified.

The filial relation confers also an infinite heirship. The Scriptures instruct us that Christians are, by their adoption, made heirs of glory. "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. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectations of the creature, waiteth for the manifes

* 1 John iii. 2.