Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/276

 divine nature"  (2  Pet.  i.  4)  and,  in  an  inferior  sense,  even gods,  according  to  the  expression  of  the  Psalmist,  "  I said  ye  are  Gods,  and  all  of  you  the  sons  of  the  Most High." (Ps.  lxxxi.  6.)  By  this  adoption  we  partake  in some  degree  of  the  divine  perfections — such  as  wisdom, fortitude,  justice,  charity,  and  God's  other  attributes, which  are  His  by  His  own  nature,  and  communicated  to us  by  grace.  Learn,  then,  duly  to  appreciate  a  benefit, which  assimilates  you  in  some  respect  to  God.

III. The benefit  of  adoption  makes  us  heirs  to  the kingdom of  heaven,  according  to  the  expression  of  the Apostle, "  You  are  heirs  indeed  of  God,  and  joint  heirs with  Christ." (Rom. viii.  17.)  Consider  heaven,  therefore, as  your  inheritance,  and  say  with  the  philosopher whom the  light  of  reason  instructed  in  this  truth,  "  I  am born  for  greater  things  than  to  be  the  slave  of  my  own flesh." Direct your  thoughts  and  affections,  therefore, to heaven,  where  your  eternal  treasure  exists;  contemn mortal things,  and  surrender  your  mind  to  such  only as are  great  and  everlasting,  and  "do"  not  degenerate from the  lofty  thoughts  of  the  sons  of  God."

I. We  have  contracted  many  obligations,  in  consequence of  our  adoption  by  Almighty  God. We are  bound, in the  first  place,  to  love  tenderly,  and  from  our  whole hearts, so  affectionate  a  parent. If earthly  children  naturally love  their  parents,  from  whom  they  have  received only what  is  temporal,  with  how  much  greater  ardor ought you  to  love  your  God,  "  who  is  your  Father,  that hath  possessed  you,  and  made  you,  and  created  you?" (Deut. xxxii.  6.)