Question 37

1. Are some the sons of God by creation? Yes.

   “All the sons of God shouted for joy” Job 38:7

2. And others by an external profession? Yes.

   “Let my Son go that he may serve me” Exodus 4:23

3. But are the saints so by adoption? Yes.

   “We receive the adoption of sons” Galatians 4:5

4. Is Christ the medium of our adoption? Yes.

   “We are predestinated to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ” Ephesians 1:5

5. And the exemplar of it? Yes.

   “God hath predestinated us to be conformed to the image of his Son” Romans 8:29

6. And the end of it? Yes.

   “That he might be the first born among many brethren” Romans 8:29

7. And is grace the motive of it? Yes.

   “It is according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace” Ephesians 1:5–6

1. Do the saints receive the nature of sons? Yes.

   “They are made partakers of a divine nature” 2 Peter 1:4

2. And the spirit of sons? Yes.

   “Because ye are sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts” Galatians 4:6

3. And the provision of sons? Yes.

   “They will want no good thing” Psalm 34:10

4. And the inheritance of sons? Yes.

   “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son, and if a son then an heir of God, through Christ” Galatians 4:7

1. Are God’s children the objects of his pity? Yes.

   “As a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him” Psalm 103:13

2. And of his care? Yes.

   “I have nourished and brought up children” Isaiah 1:2

3. Are they strongly defended? Yes.

   “His children shall have a place of refuge” Proverbs 14:26

4. And honourably attended? Yes.

   “. He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” Psalm 91:11

5. And if chastened, is it in love? Yes.

   “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” Hebrews 12:6

1. Should God’s children then go to him as a Father? Yes.

   “I will arise and go to my Father” Luke 15:18

2. And reverence him as a Father? Yes.

   “If I be a Father, where is mine honour” Malachi 1:6

3. And imitate him? Yes.

   “Be ye perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48

4. And obey him? Yes.

   “As obedient children” 1 Peter 1:14

5. And submit to his chastisement? Yes.

   “My son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord” Hebrews 12:5

1. Have all the saints one Father? Yes.

   “Have we not all one Father?” Malachi 2:10

2. Should they therefore love as brethren? Yes.

   “Add to godliness brotherly kindness” 2 Peter 1:7

3. And is the neglect hereof a great sin? Yes.

   “Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother?” Malachi 2:10

Benjamin Beddome (1717–1795), pastor at Bourton-on-the-Water. Verses from the King James Version.