New-York tribune., 1874-12-14
THE ADOPTION OF BELIEVERS.

The Rev. Dr. John Ha at tie fh Avenue Prssoyteran Church
The Rev. DR.. John Hall preached in the
FfhAvenue Presby eran Church at Ffthave and Nine
teenttst yesterday morning. from these words: "And
because We sons God hath sent forth the Spirit OF
His Son iuto your hearts, crying. Abba. Father"
He began by referring the recurrence Of the Com
munion Sabbath, and the division made In the con.
gregatOn by the special service OF the day. division
not providentis, or accidental but made by persons
themselves Congregations divide themselves Into two
classes; one of those who profess to be 10 union In
Jesus Christ and confess their Lord and Master In
the appointed way The other OF those who decline to
make this confession, but who include amabe. inelli-
gent and reverenal people constant In their attend
ance on divine There should be deep searching
OF hearts among the latter class on Communion sam
are not in the class, the communicates.
On such DAY led to feel even more deeply than
ing at the feet of almighty and mercifu conquerOr AMI
my mission is tOl appeal to them to be reconciled
to Him, aud accept the pardon which He so freely
offers How manv OF them have come in answer
TO the appeals which have been madei ! have
state OF mind cannot answer might oyersate. or
undersate. might misrcpreseDt. might give way
you are reconced what your for the at
ttude you take. and consider that reasons which will
not sufficient to-day will not do for the Day OF Jndg
But the themes growing out OF the consideration
OF text to day especially addressed to protesting
Christians, the questions that suggest themselves
from the words of the text How of God.
and what are the advsntages Of that sonsnipS
the sons of God because hs their Maker
son Of CO God . as Coming directly from His creative
hand. But the general s9nship OF OF Mankind does does
and saietv ami when men impeptent 1t only makes
their guilt deeper Angels are spOKen OF In the Bible
tue sons Of God but not IN the same sense as
distinctly 70 be the Son OF God In the revealed Word.
Six %rs 10 the % a sns ths Is ns
first begoten Sou Of God" sch PASSAGES refer to the
language Of the second Psam "Thou art my Son; this
day have begotten Thee" In the thirteentn chapter
of Acts THIS PASSAGE is quoted aud iis fnnllment is
of our Lord This representation OF Christ as an only
begoten does not conflict with the Infinite eternal
nature " blessed Lord but used 10 fitness to human
under standing aud brings out has position as mediator
between man and God wo are sons in different way
from these various relations OF sonshp which have been
referred The text describes ine children OF God
sons by adoption. There arc three well defined and
illustrative OF iopon detailed Ia the Bible The
first is the adoption by jacob Joseph
took RANK as JACOBS sons, and became heads OF
tribes positions which they would not have held other
wise. second case is the adoption Of Moses by Pna
roahs daughter which secured 10 nun stanaine ednc-
that Of Esther who adopted by Mordecai aud thus
o s sa I @
insured standing protection. safety, education,
sacpoS cp Spps
the circumstances of human adoption. He gives new
namewe called the Sons and daughters OF the Lord
Almghty-a new nature, new character, and sure
provision of an inheritance ncOrrupOle undenled, and
u nor is t GIFT flung to us out OF the profuon Of ind
mite riches bat comes TO US In tne line OF descent from
we are entitled TO tnis heritage.
But this great gift OF adoption turns on o previous
ton was necessary. We had broken the law we were
under and the blood Of Jesus Christ inds
Adopted the Lord that justice is satisfied and
every equitable claim against Us Is met and every Ob
trancOn, again. linked on 10 another In the fourth
verse OF the chapter which contains the text, 1t is said
But when tue runess OF the time come, God
forth His Son. made OF an, made under the law"
So this redemption not an OF the second
Councils in eternity. There is not on the one hand
stern unmercifu Father who Is only turned from his
owiag with love for men, who is set over against The
Father. and only avas TO SNATCH men ont of wrath
mankind ami OF the funess OF love Father sends
the Son. made under the Law, because we have broken
tine law.
Adoption, theologcaly considered. is simply the
counterpart of justhfauon and necessary appendix
stands jddge guarding the rights Of Deity
garding the claims OF law throughout His wnole uni
Father. To complete the change IN those who become
by adoption the OF God, there sonnet hing neces
and receive the savior you receive the and
redemption, and are taken inIo the Divine family
Tnen is not surprising that We dwell ON the necessity
IL The benefits 0; this sonship Some of these are
and some prospective. In the present the
uuspeaktble gain OF being taken into God's family and
having Hin indicate tnat Hs accepts he does
given where God vsiDly aud directly ssnlAed His aD
proval OF His servants Uy sending down hime frum
Seppened % in the case Of Moses SOLOMON. EIjah ani
others Circumstances are widely dn;rent now, and
Complete revelation OF HIS Holy Book and from the di
igeut study OF tis We Know the evidences OF our
eeptance After referring 10 some OF the h.ures aud
dramatic representations by which In the BiUe the
ceptance of the pentent Dy God set forth, aud
ciay story of tue Prodga Son. the preacher de-
tailed the Instances In which voice from heaven con-
frmed Christs acceptance aud satisfaction with the
Father, the occasions OF H baptls HIS transdgura
tuje. when almost His Last dlsevarsc bsforo the Pass