Works (Vol 4) - Bates - XVIII - Sermon on the death of Baxter commenced

Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) by William Bates (Available from Amazon or free here) - Commence 'A sermon on the death of Richard Baxter' by reading up to the heading 'The Application'.

My summary
This week we start a sermon for the funeral of Richard Baxter on 'And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my Spirit' (Lk 23:46).

The observation that Bates wishes to unfold from the text is that 'it is the privilege of dying saints, to commend their spirits into the hands of their heavenly Father.'

To discourse on this, Bates will:
(i) consider the foundation of this privilege;
(ii) show what a blessed privilege this is;
(iii) apply it.

This week we'll read the first two points.

Firstly Bates teaches us that the foundation of the privilege is built upon:
(i) the relation of God to the saints;
(ii) His perfections joined with that relation.

Secondly Bates discusses the blessedness of this privilege by considering:
(i) the depositum that is entrusted in God's hands: the soul;
(ii) the implications of the receiving of the privilege: entire safety, heavenly felicity, resurrection.

What grabbed me
I love to hear about my adoption by God: 'We are also the children of God by adoption. This heavenly privilege is obtained for us by the meritorious sufferings of Christ, and is founded in our union with him. "God sent his Son, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that they might receive the adoption of sons." Gal. 4. 4, 5. For his sake we are not only pardoned, but preferred to this heavenly dignity. It is worthy of observation, that the degrees of our redemption mentioned in scripture, have annexed to them parallel degrees of our adoption. Thus when it is said, "We are redeemed from the curse of the law," it is added, "That we might receive the adoption of sons." When it is said, "We are freed from the servile spirit of the law," it follows, "We have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Rom. 8. 15. And the apostle tells us, that the redemption of our bodies from "the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God, is our adoption," that is the manifestation of it before all the world. '

What a privilege it is to be adopted into the family of God!

Next week's reading
Conclude 'A sermon on the death of Richard Baxter'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.