2. In that Chrift hath promised to give them the Kingdom and Dominion of it, in fuch a way and manner, as in his Providence he fhall difpofe; that is, that the Government of the Earth fhall be exercifed to their advantage.

3. This right is a fpiritual right, which doth not give a civil intereft, but only fanctifies the right and interest bestowed. God hath providentialy difpofed of the civil bounds of the inheritance of men, Acts 17.26. fuffering the men of the world to enjoy a portion here, and that oftentimes very full, and plenteous, and that for his childrens fake, that thofe beafts of the forreft, which are made to be destroyed, may not break loofe upon the whole poffeffion. Hence.

4. No one particular adopted perfon, hath any right by vertue thereof, to any portion of earthly things, whereunto he hath not right and Title upon a civil intereft given him by the Providence of God. But.

5. This they have by their Adoption, that

I.

i. Look what portion foever God is pleafed to give them, they have a right unto it, as it is re-invefted in Christ, and not as it lies wholy under the Curfe and Vanity that is come upon the Creation by fin, and therefore can never be called unto an account for ufurping that which they have no right unto, as shall all the fons of men, who violently grafpe thofe things which God hath fet at liberty from under their dominion because of fin.

2. By this their right, they are lead unto a fanctified use of what thereby they do enjoy: inafmuch as the things themselves are to them pledges of the Fathers Love, washed in the blood of Chrift, and endearments upon their fpirits to live to his praife, who gives them all things richly to enjoy.

:

S. 38. And this is a fecond thing we have by our Adoption and hence I dare fay of unbelievers they have no true right unto any thing of what kind foever; that they do poffefs.

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They

They have no true, unquestionable Right, 1 fay, even unto the Temporal things they do poffefs, it is true they have a civil Right in refpect of others, but they have not a fanctified right in refpect of their own Souls. They have a Right and Title that will hold plea in the Court of Men, but not a Right that will hold in the Court of God, and in their own Confcience. It will one Day be fad with them when they fhall come to give an Account of their Enjoyments. They fhall not only be reckoned withal for the abuse of that they have poffeffed, that they have not used, and laid it out for the Glory of him whose it is, but also that they have ever laid their Hands upon the Creatures of God, and kept them from them for whofe Sakes alone they are preferved from Deftruction. When the God of Glory fhall come home to any of them, either in their Confciences here, or in the Judgment that is for to come,and fpeak with the Terror of a revengeful Judge: I have fuffered you to enjoy Corn, Wine, and Oyl, a great Portion of my Creatures; you have rolled your felves in Wealth and Profperity, when the right Heirs of thefe Things lived Poor, and Low, and mean at the next Doors; Give in now an answer what, and how you have ufed these things, what have you laid out for the Service and Advancement of the Gofpel? What have you given unto them for whom nothing was provided? What Contribution have you made for the poor Saints? Have you had a ready Hand, and willing Mind, to lay down all for my Sake? When they fhall be compelled to Anfwer as the Truth is, Lord, we had indeed a large Portion in the World, but we took it to be our own, and thought we might have done what we would with our own, we have eat the Fat, and drank the Sweet, and left the rest of our Subftance for our Babes; we have fpent fomewhat upon our Lufts, fomewhat upon our Friends, but the Truth is we cannot fay that we made Friends of this unrighteous Mammon, that we used it to the Advancement of the Gofpel, or for Ministring

unto

unto thy poor Saints, and now behold we must Dye, &c. So alfo when the Lord fhall proceed further and question not only the use of thefe Things, but also their Title to them, and tell them the Earth is mine and the fulness thereof: I did indeed make an Original Grant of thefe things to Man, but that is loft by Sin; I have restored it only for my Saints, why have you laid then your Fingers of Prey upon that which was not yours, why have you compiled my Creatures to ferve you, and your Lufts, which I had fet at loofe from under your Dominion: Give me my Flax,my Wine and Wool,l'le fet you naked as in the Day of your Birth, and revenge upon you your Rapine, and unjust Poffeffion of that which was not yours. I fay, at fuch a time what will Men do?

§. 39. 3. Boldness with God by Chrift is another Priviledge of our Adoption; but hereof I have spoke at large before, in treating of the Excellency of Chrift in refpect of our Approach to God by Him; fo that I shall not reaffume the Confideration of it.

§. 40. 4. Affliction alfo as Proceeding from Love, as leading to Spiritual Advantages, as conforming unto Chrift; as sweetned with his Prefence, is the Priviledge of Children; Heb. 12. 3, 4, 5, 6. but on these Particulars I must not Infist.

S. 41. This I fay is the Head, and Sourfe of all the Priviledges which Chrift hath purchased for us, wherein alfo we have Fellowship with him: Fellowship in Name, we are (as he is) Sons of God: Fellowship in Title and Right, we are Heirs, coheirs with Chrift: Fellowship in Likeness, and Conformity, we are predeftinated to be like the first Born of the Family; Fellowship in Honour; he is not ashamed to call us Brethren; Fellowship in Sufferings; he learned Obedience by what he fuffered; and every Son is to be fcourged that is received; Fellowship in his Kingdom ; we shall reign with him; of all which I must speak peculiarly in Another place, and fo fhall not here draw out the Difcourfe concerning them any farther.

A a 2

PART.

PART. III.

CHAP. I.

Of Communion with the Holy Ghost.

The Foundation of our Communion with the Holy Ghost, Fob. 16. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7. opened at large. meg, a Comforter, who he is, The Holy Ghost, his own Will in his coming to us, fent alfo by Chrift. The Spirit fent as a Sanctifier, and as a Comforter. The adjuncts of his Miffion confidered. The Foundation of his Million. Joh. 15. 26. His Proceffion from the Father. Twofold: as to Perfonality, or to Office. Things confiderable in his Proceffion as to Office. The manner of his Collation. He is given Freely: fent, Authoritatively. The Sin against the Holy Ghost, whence unpardonable, how we ask the Spirit of the Father. To grieve the Spirit; what powred out. How the Holy

Ghoft is received. By Faith: Faiths actings in receiving the Holy Ghoft. His abode with us how declared. How we may loofe our Comfort, whilst the Comforter abides with

He Foundation of all our Communion with the Holy

Tchoft, confifting in his Million, or fending to be

our Comforter by Jefus Chrift; the whole matter of that Oeconomy or Difpenfation is firftly to be propofed and confidered, that fo we may have a right Understanding of the Truth enquired after. Now the main Promise hereof, and the chief Confiderations of it, with the Good received, and Evil prevented thereby, being given and declared in the Beginning of the 16 Chap. of John, I shall take a view of a state of it, as there propofed.

Our

§. 2. Our bleffed Saviour being to leave the World, having acquainted his Difciples among other things, what Entertainment in general they were like to find in it, and meet withal, gives the Reason why he now gave them the doleful tidings of it, confidering how fad and difpirited they were upon the mention of his Departure from them. V. 1. Thefe things have I faid unto you that you should not be offended. I have, ( faith he) given you an acquaintance with these things (that is the things which will come upon you, which you are to fuffer) before Hand, lest you who (poor Souls) have entertained Expectations of another State of Affairs, fhould be Surprized, fo as to be Offended at me, and my Doctrine, and fall away from me. You are now forewarned, and know what you have to look for. Yea, faith he, v. 2. having acquainted you in General, that you fhall be perfecuted, I tell you plainly, that there fhall be a Combination of all Men against you, and all forts of Men will put forth their Power for your ruine. They hall caft you out of the Synagogue, and the time fhall come, that whosoever kills you, will think that be doth God good Service. The Ecclefiaftical power fhall Excommunicate you, they fhall put you out of their Synagogues; and that you may not expect Relief from the Power of the Magiftrate against their Perversity, they will kill you; and that you may know that they will do it to the purpose, without check or control, they will think that in killing you, they do God good Service, which will cause them to act rigorously, and to the utmoft.

§. 8. But this is a fhaking trial, might they reply: is Our condition fuch, that Men in killing us, will think to approve their Confciences to God? Yea they will, faith our Saviour, but yet that you be not mistaken, nor trouble your Confciences about their Confidences, Know that their Blind and defperate Ignorance is the caufe of their Fury and Perfwafion, v. 3. Thefe things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father nor

me.

S. 4. This