d love, may be contempered
one with another, so as we may neither forget his infinite greatness, nor
doubt of his unspeakable love. And this inward disposition engraven on the
heart, will be the principle of willing and ready obedience. It will in
some measure be our meat and drink to do our Father's will. For Christ
gave us an example how we should carry towards him. How humble and
obedient was he, though his only begotten Son!

Sermon XXXIX.

Verse 15.--"Whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

As there is a light of grace in bestowing such incomparably high dignities
and excellent gifts on poor sinners, such as, to make them the sons of God
who were the children of the devil, and heirs of a kingdom who were heirs
of wrath; so there is a depth of wisdom in the Lord's allowance and manner
of dispensing his love and grace in this life. For though the love be
wonderful, that we should be called the sons of God; yet, as that apostle
speaks, it doth not yet so clearly appear what we shall be, by what we
are, 1 John iii. 1. Our present condition is so unlike such a state and
dignity, and our enjoyments so unsuitable to our rights and privileges,
that it would not appear by the mean, low, and indigent state we are now
into, that we have so great and glorious a Father. How many infirmities
are we compassed about with! How many wants are we pressed withal! Our
necessities are infinite, and our enjoyments no ways proportioned to our
necessities. Notwithstanding even in this, the love and wisdom of our
heavenly Father shows itself, and oftentimes more gloriously in the
theatre of men's weakness, infirmities, and wants, than they could appear
in the absolute and total exemption of his children from necessities.
Strength perfected in weakness, grace sufficient in infirmities, hath some
greater glory than strength and grace alone. Therefore he hath chosen this
way as most fit for the advancing his glory, and most suitable for our
comfort and edification, to give us but little in hand, and environ us
with a crowd of continued necessities and wants within and without, that
we may learn to cry to him as our Father, and seek our supplies from him;
and withal he hath not been sparing, but liberal in promises of hearing
our cries and supplying our wants; so that this way of narrow and hard
dispensation, that at first seems contrary to the love and bounty and
riches of our Father, in the perfect view of it, appears to be the only
w