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§. 107. Of calling Brethren.
CHrist is said to call them brethren. To * 1.1 call, in this place, is not a meer no∣minall, titular or complementall word, but very emphaticall. It implieth an open acknowledgement of a thing, and a free profession thereof. Thus God saith of the Gentiles, I will call them my people, (Rom. 9. 25.) that is, I will before all the world declare and professe that they are my people, and acknowledge them for my own. Thus is this word taken, Matth. 5. 9, 19. And in the negative saith the Pro∣digall to his Father, I am no more worthy to be called thy son, Luk. 15. 21. and Paul, I am not meet to be called an Apostle, 1 Cor. 15. 9. The Prodigall was his Fathers son, and Paul was an Apostle: but both the one and the other thought himself unwor∣thy to be acknowledged such as they were.
Christ where he vouchsafeth a dignity and priviledge will openly acknowledge it. Behold my brethren, saith he to his Disciples, Matth. 12. 49. Such will he confesse before his Father which is in heaven, Matth. 10. 32. and before the Angels of God, Luk. 12. 8. Rev. 3. 5. He giveth a good proof hereof, sitting on his Throne of glo∣ry, where he saith to all his brethren, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the King∣dom, &c. Matth. 25. 34.
Thus ought we to call and acknowledge one another according to those relations wherewith God hath knit us one to another.