Father]
;;One that begetteth children by ordinary and natural generation. Gen. 22. 7. My Father, Exod. 20. 12. This i s a Father by nature, as Abraham was to Isaac, and Isaac to 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
;;2. A Grand-father, and generally any Ancestor or Progenitor. Exod. 2. 18. And when they came to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their their Father. Gen. 20. 12. She is the daughter of my father. Ezek. 20. 18. Walk not in the steps of your Fathers; that is, do not as your fore-fathers did, Heb. 3. 9. This is a Father by precedency of time. Thus Jacob called Abraham his Fa∣ther, Gen. 31. 42. who is also called the Father of Levi, Heb. 7. as Nabor is of Laban.
;;3. An aged man, or one full of years. 1 Tim. 5. 1. Re∣buke not an Elder, but exhort him as a Father. This is a fa∣ther by age.
;;4. One who is in stead of a Father, performing the love, care and duty of a Father, by instructing, ruling, pro∣tecting. Thus all superiours are Fathers to their inferiours. 2 King. 5. 13. Father, if the Prophet, &c. and in Isa. 49. 23. Kings and Magistrates are called Nursing-fathers. Also Ministers are called Fathers. Prov. 4. 1. Hear O children, your Fathers instruction. This is spoken in the person of a Minister, who is a Father to the people: the reason is ren∣dred. 1 Cor. 4. 15. Because they beget mea by the Gospel. These be Fathers by office.
;;5. Author or Inventer of any thing. Gen. 4. 20. Jabal was the Father of them that dwell in Tents. Joh. 8. 44. Fa∣ther of lies, Jam. 1. 17. Father of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
;;6. A benefactor and preserver. Gen. 45. 8. God hath made me a Father to Pharaoh, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 29. 16. Psal. 68. 5.
;;7. One that is the original or head and chief beginner of any Nation or people. Gen. 22. 21. And Kemuel the Fa∣ther of Aram. 1 Chr. 8. 6. These were the chief Fathers of them that inhabited Geba. Gen. 36. 43. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was the father of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉; that is, Author and root of that people, Gen. 10. 21.
;;8 One that is inward with us, or very nearly joy∣ned to us. Job 17. 14. I said to corruption thou art my Fa∣ther.
;;9. All the persons of the Trinity, even the whole God∣head. Mat. 6. 9. Our Father 〈◊〉〈◊〉 art in heaven. Here Fa∣ther 〈◊〉〈◊〉 put essentially.
;;10. The first person of the blessed 〈◊〉〈◊〉, begetting the Son, and sending forth the Holy Ghost. Mat. 28. 19. And baptized them in the name of the Father. Eph. 1. 3. God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here Father is put per∣sonally.
;;God is in Scripture called Father with reference,
;;First, To Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 man-hood is the Son of God, by the perfect 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of it in the wombe of the Virgin, and by personal union to the Godhead, Luk. 1. 32. In re∣gard as he is God by an unspeakable, eternal, and wonderful generation, communicating the whole Di∣vine substance to him, he is the Son of God, Joh. 1. 14.
;;Secondly, Unto the creatures, and that four wayes; by similitude:
- ...;;1. Of Step, or Print, or Track, (〈◊〉〈◊〉) so of all crea∣tures, he is father, having imprinted some track or step of Majesty in the least of them.
- ...;;2. Of Image, so he is Father of all men, having fra∣med them in Adam to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of himself, in wisdom, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and holiness.
- ...;;3. Of Grace: so he is Father of the Elect believers in earth, Joh. 1. 12.
- ...;;4. Of Glory, so he is Father of Angels, and blessed spirits of men in heaven, Job 1. 6.
;;Also note that here in the world he doth all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Father to his Adopted children.
- ...;;1. By begetting them spiritually.
- ...;;2. By seeding them with the flesh of his Son, in the Word and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
- ...;;3. By cloathing them with the long white robe of his Sonnes imputed holinesse, adorning them with the garment of holinesse inherent, Gal. 3. 27. Rom. 13. 14.
- ...;;4. By chastising them, Heb. 12. 5, 6, 7.
- ...;;5. By providing them an inheritance, keeping and pro∣tecting them to it, 1 Pet. 1. 4.
;;Father is put for Fathers by change of number, Exod. 3. 6. Act. 7. 32. So Tree for Trees, Gen. 3. 2. as Parable, Psal. 78. 2. is expounded Parables, Mat. 13. 35. Heart, Psal. 95. 8. for Hearts, Heb. 3. 8. Work, Psal. 95. 9. for works, Heb. 3. 9.
;;God is a Father, sirst to Christ. God is a Father to Christ by nature, or generation, to Christians by adoption or grace; to all men and all things by generati∣on. D. Boys.;;
;;God is a Farher to men, not naturally or properly as he is to Christ, Job 3. 16. yet a Father to us by likeness of that he doth to us, with that our natural Parents do for us: viz.;;
- ...;;1. By giving to us our substance, beginning and being.;;
- ...
- ...;;1. Of body, Psal. 100. 2. Luk. 3. 38. Mal. 10.;;
- ...;;2. Of soul, Heb. 12. 9. or both together, Act. 17. 28, 29. Mal. 2. 10. Deut. 32. 6.;;
- ...;;2. By preserving us, Mat. 6. 26. Psal. 68. 5. Luk. 11. 7, 10, 11.;;
- ...;;3. By regenerating us, and giving us, not only the means, motions, and directions of godliness, but the minde also, 1 Joh. 5. 20. and so he maketh us his Image, as the childe carryeth the likeness of his natural father, Mat. 5. 45, 48. & 12. 50. Joh. 8. 42. Gal. 4. 15. As contrarily to do wickedly, is to become the childe of Satan, Joh. 8. 38, 44. Act. 13. 10.;;
- ...;;4. By forbearing and forgiving us our sins, Mal. 3. 17.;;
- ...;;5. By the gift of eternal life, Matth. 25. 34. Joh. 20. 17.;;
Or thus. Referred,
- 1. To God,
- ...
- 1. By way of generation, natural: so he is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 1. 3. Spiritual, either in respect of beneficence and benediction; so was he the Father of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Deut, 32. 6. or regeneration and adoption; so is he the Father of the Elect, 1 Joh. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1.
- ...