1

S. 55. 1. This exceedingly bonours him, and gives him the Glory that is his due; many indeed cry Lord, Lord, and make mention of him, but honour him not at all, How fo? They take his work out of his hands, and afcribe it unto other things; their Repentance, their Duties, fhall bear their iniquities. They do not fay fo, but they do fo. The cominutation they make, if they make any, it is with themselves. All their bartering about fin, is in and with their own fouls. The work that Chrift came to do in the world, was to bear our iniquities, and lay down his life a Ranfome for our fins. The Cup He had to drink of, was filled with our fins, as to the punishment due to them. What greater difhonour" then can be done to the Lord Jefus, then to afcribe this work to any thing elfe, to think to get rid of our fins any other way, or means. Herein, then I fay, is Chrift bonoured indeed, when we go to him with our fins, by Faith; and fay unto him, Lord this is thy work: this is that for 21 which thou cameft into the World this is that thou haft undertaken to do; thou calleft for my burthen, which is too heavy for me to bear: take it bleffed Redeemer, thou tendereft thy Righteoufnefs, that is my portion. Then is Chrift honoured, then is the Glory of Mediation afcribed to him, when we walk with him in this Communion.

S. 56. 2. This exceedingly endears the fouls of the Saints to him, and constrains them to put a due valuatien upon him, his Love, his Righteoufnefs and Grace. When they find, and have the daily use of it, then they do it. Who would not love him: I have been with the Lord Jefus, may the poor foul fay I have left my fins, my great burthen with him, and he hath given me Ris Righteoufnefs, wherewith I am going with boldness to God. I was dead, and am alive, for he dyed for me, I was curfed, and am bleffed, for he was made a curfe for me; I was troubled, but have peace, for the chaftifement of my peace was upon him; I knew not what to do, nor whether to d Tow to go; by him have I received joy un

my forand Glo

rious: it i do not love him, delight in him, obey him, live to him, dye for him, I am worse then the Devils in hell. Now the great aim of Chrift in the world, is, to have an high place and efteem in the hearts of his people: to have there, as He hath in himself) the prebeminence in all things; not to be juftled up and down among other things to be all and in all. And thus are the Saints of God prepared to esteem him, upon the engaging themfelves to this Communion with him.

S. 57. Obj. Yea, but you will fay, if this be fo, what need we to repent, or amend our ways, it is but going to Chrift by faith, making this exchange with him, and fo we may fin that grace may abound?

Anf. I judge no mans perfon. But this I must needs fay, that I do not understand, how a man that makes this objection in cold blood, not under a temptation or accidental darkness, can have any true or real acquaintance with Jefus Chrift: however this I am certain of, that this Communion in its felf, produces quite other effects, then those fuppofed. For

S. 58. 1. For Repentance; it is I fuppofe, a Goffel Re pentance that is intended. For a Legal bondage Repentance full of dread, amazement, terrour, felf-love, aftonishment at the prefence of God, I confefs this Communion takes it away, prevents it, cafts it out, with its bondage and fear: But for Gofpel Repentance, whofe nature confifts in Godly forrow for fin, with its relinquishment, proceeding from Faith, Love, and Abhorrency of fin, on accounts of Father, Son, and Spirit, both Law, and Love, that this fhould be hindred by this Communion, is not poffible. I told you that the Foundation of this Communion, is laid in a deep, ferious, daily confideration of fin, its guilt, vilenefs and abomination, and our own vileness on that account. That a fenfe hereof it to be kept alive in and upon the heart of every one, that will enjoy this Communion with Chrift: without it Chrift is of no value, nor esteem to him. Now is it poffible that a man fhould

fhould daily fill his heart, with the thoughts of the vilenefs of fin, on all confiderations what ever, of Law, Love, Grace, Gofpel, life and death, and be filled with felf abhorrency on this account, and yet be a stranger to God y forrow? Here is the mistake, the Foundation of this Communion, is laid in that, which they fuppofe it overthrows.

S. 59. 2. But what fhall we fay for obedience: if Christ be fo Glorified and bonoured by taking our fins, the more we bring to him the more will he be glorified. A man could not fuppofe that this Objection would be made, but that the Holy Ghoft, who knows what is in man, and his heart, hath made it for them, and in their name, Rom. 6. 1, 2. 3. The very fame Doctrine that I have infifted on, being delivered, Chap. 5. 18, 19, 20. The fame objection is made to it; and for those who think it may have any weight, I refer them to the Anfwer given in that Chapter by the Apostle, as alfo to what was faid before to the neceffity of our obedience, notwithstanding the Imputation of the Righteousness of Christ.

§. 60. But you will fay: How should we address our felves to the performance of this duty: what path are wę

to walk in ?

J. Faith exercises its felf in it especially three ways.

1. In Meditation. The heart goes over in its own thoughts the part above infifted on, fometimes feverally, fometimes jointly, fometimes fixing primarily on one thing, fometimes on another, and fometimes going over the whole. At one time perhaps the foul is most upon conderation of its own finfulness, and filling it felf with /hame, and felf abborrency on that account, fometimes it is filled with the thoughts of the Righteoufnefs of Chrift, and with joy unspeakable, and glorious on that account. Especially on great occations, when grieved and burthened by negligence or eruption of corruption, then the foul goes over the whole work, and fo drives things to an iffue with God, and takes up the peace that Chrift hath wrought out

for him.

2. Con

2. Confidering and enquiring into the promises of the Gofpel, which holding out all these things; the Excellency, Fulness and Suitableness of the Righteoufnefs of Chrift, the Rejection of all falfe Righteoufnefs, and the commutation made in the Love of God, which was formerly infifted on.

3. In Prayer: herein do their Souls go through their work day by day. And this communion have all the Saints with the Lord Jefus, as to their Acceptation with God, which was the first thing proposed to confideration.

CHAP. IX.

Of Communion with Chrift in holiness. The feveral Acts af cribed unto the Lord Chrift herein. 1. His Interceffion, 2. Sending of the Spirit. 3. Beftows habitual Grace; What that is, and wherein it confifts. This purchafed by Chrift: bestowed by him. Of actual Grace. How the Saints bold communion with Chrift in these things: manifefted in fundry particulars.

·UR Communion with the Lord Jefus, as to that Grace of Sanctification, and Purification, whereof we have made mention in the feveral diftinctions, and degrees thereof formerly, is nextly to be confidered.

And herein the former Method must be observed i and we must shew.

First, What are the peculiar Actings of the Lord Chrift as to this Communion. And

Secondly, What is the Duty of the Saints herein.

The fum is, how we hold Communion with Christ in Holiness, as well as in Righteoufnefs, and that very briefly. §. 2. 1. There are feveral Ads afcribed unto the Lord Jefus in reference to this particular: as,

1. His Interceding with the Father, by vertue of his Oblation in the behalf of his, that he would bestow the Holy Spirit on them. Here I chufe to enter, because, of the Oblation of Chrift it felf, I have spoken before. Otherwise every thing is to be run up to that Head, that Sourfe and Spring. There lies the foundation of all spiritual Mercies whatever; as afterwards alfo fhall be manifefted Now the Spirit, as unto us, a Spirit of Grace, Holiness and Confolation, is of the purchase of Chrift. It is upon the matter, the great Promife of the New Covenant, Ezek. 11. 19. I will put a new Spirit within you So alfo, Chap.36. v.27. Jerem.32. 39.40. and in fundry other places, whereof afterwards. Chrift is the Mediator and Surety of this new Covenant, Heb. 7. 22. Jefus was made Surety of a better Teftament, or rather Covenant. A Teftament needs no Surety. He is the Undertaker on the part of God and Man alfo. Of Man to give fatisfaction; of God to beftow the whole Grace of the Promife, as Chap. 9. 15. For this caufe he is the Mediator of the New Teftament, that by means of death, for the Redemption of Tranfgreffions that were under the first Teftament, they which were and are called, might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. He both fatisfied for Sin, and procured the Promife. He procures all the Love and Kindnes, which are the fruits the Covenant; being himself nereof, Gen.3.16. The whole being fo ordered in all things, and made fure, 2 Sam.23. 5. that the refidue of its Effects fhould all be derived from him, depend upon him, and be procured by him, that be in all things might have the prebeminence, Col.1.19. according to the compact and agreement made with him, Ifa.53.12. They are all the Purchase of his Blood, and therefore the Spirit alfo, as promifed in that Covenant, 1 Cor.1.20. Now the whole Fruit and Purchase of his Death, is made out from the Father upon his Interceffion. This John 14.16,17,18. he promifeth his Difciples, that he will purfue the work which he hath in hand in their behalf, and intercede

Promife