St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-02-11
Sons of God.

IL L.. X.
Titles are much coveted in this
world, although some of them are rs
worthless and paltry as the tinseI paper
cap worn by school-bOy. When God
coufers title it means something.
None is more to be coveted than the
endeariug appellation of ''SOns of God"
This means adoption into tho royal
family OF Heaven. Ii it was great
honor for Hebrew founding TO be
taken from a basket in the Nile into
the imperial palace of Egypt, what a
supreme honor is it to be picked up Ia
beggarly rags of sin and guilt aud to be
reviewed after the image of Cod" and
adopted as His child
Every one of us who claims this
sweet, happy relation was once wan
derer from home, in the far country of
depravity. We were prodigals feeding
on husks. When the wandering prOdi
gal of the parable came back penltent,
he fOuud six things he found welcome,
he found "A home, a feast, Il song and
ring-but above all he found a father.
SO to as many as in peuitent faith re-
ceive Jesus Christ HE giveth power
to become the sons of God" Faith is
the act of coming into this new rela-
ton, and Jesus is the Door.
Adoption is an act of Gods free grace
whereby He receives us into the num-
Der and gives right to all the privi
leges of sonship. The nature of this
sOnship is spiritual. 1t requires a new
heart, and likeness more or less dis
tinct to Jesus Christ. Happy the man
or woman in whom this family likeness
: cfr IN ha hr
cry one. Those early Christians bore
such a clear, unmistakable stamp in
character and conduct that others
''took knowledge of them that they
had been with Jesus"
Beloved, nov are we the sons of God.
This is rich and right royal relation
ship. 1t brings three glorious privi
lsges-Prayer, Provision and Protec-
ton. What we ask we shall receive :;
the prayers of a true child of God have
this peculiar power, "they avail much"
with Him. As we parents furnish good
raiment and shelter to our children and
numberless comforts, SO God prepareth
a table for His sons and daughters, and
garments for them to wear, and maketh
their cups to run over. They are under
the shadow of His wing, and while
they abide there, Satan and all his de-
mons can do them no harm.
They are also lied by the Spirit"
He leads them to clearer views of the
truth, to a deeper knowledge of them
selves, and guides them in difficult de-
cisiOns as to duty. | do not believe
that Christian ever asked God honest
~ and fervently for guidance in time
of perpleXity and was ever left wholly
in the dark. Where He leads it is al
ways safe to follow. God has led many
a faithful child up steep cliffs OF diff
Guilty and over some hard, thorny
paths. aud into the valley of the death
shade, but never once into the smooth,
velvet pathway of self-indulgence.
This is not his way. He sometimes
laws on the rod of correction, sometimes
chastises sorely, but this is only to get
the self-conceit, or pride, or unbelief
out of our hearts. Gods school has a
corps of skilful teachers, and the tuition
is often costly, and some hard lessons
are learned through eyes swimming in
tears-but He graduates ripe and Won
deIful scholars INTO glory. "What can
my heavenly Father mean by taking
away that sweet daughter of mine r.
inquired a heart-stIicken friend of me
lately. | could not answer, only that
God makes 10 mistakes in His loving
discipline but | have already seen
such blessings follow that sharp be
reavemsnt that am sure that the rod
had honey in it, Tears sometimes
water graces wonderfully. The prun-
knife makes the clusters on Ham
burg grapevine all the larger and the
more luscious.
God knors all his own children.
Their names are all in His directory.
He never commits the strange blunder
of Benny Franklin's mother when she
did not recognize her own son IN the
grOwn-up youth who came to her door
unexpectedly on a stormy night and
asked for lodgings. He knows where
His poorest and obscurest children are
in their attics or on their beds OF
poverty and suffering. The aged ne
gro in his hut said to his pastor. Some
times God comes aud feeds me wild a
spoon and den | tells Him to keep i
place for ole johnson up at his big ia
BILE in glory.
If sons, we are heirs. The child
adopted from an Orphan Asylum into a
rich man's family becomes an heir Il
the estate. Better still, we are, ''joint-
heirs with Christ" His glory shall be
ours. The crown on NictOria's head
enuobles her own person. Jesus is the
head of His ransomed Church, and the
crown that flashes on His brow will be
the ioy and lustre and diadem of us all
Do YOU doubt thisf Then turn to that
IL If IAhr Nrlt