Rom. viii. 11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jefus from the dead, dwell in you: he that raised up Chrift from the dead, fhall alfo quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.' Here are all three comprized, with their diftinct concurrence unto our quickning. Here is the Father's authoritative quickning, he raised Chrift from the dead and he fhall quicken you and the Son's mediatory quickning, for it is done in the death of Chrift: and the Spirit's immediate efficacy; he fhall do it by the Spirit that dwelleth in you. He that defires to fee this whole matter farther explained, may confult what I have elsewhere written on this fubject. And. this is the diftinct communion whereof we treat, both proved and demonftrated.

CHA P. III.

Of the peculiar and diftinct communion which the faints have with the Father. Obfervations for the clearing of the whole premifed. Our peculiar communion with the Father is in love: 1 John iv. 7, 8. 2 Cor. xiii. 13. John xvi. 26, 27. Rom. v. 5. John iii. 16. John xiv. 23. Titus iii. 4. opened to this purpose. What is required of believers, to hold communion with the Father in love. His love received by faith. Returns of love to him. God's love to us, and ours to him wherein they agree. Wherein they differ.

H

AVING proved that there is fuch a diftinct communion in refpect of the Father, Son, and Spirit, as whereof we speak; it remains that it be farther cleared up by an induction of inftances, to manifest what and wherein the faints peculiarly hold this communion with the feveral perfons refpectively: which alfo I fhall do after the premifing fome obfervations, necessary to be previously confidered, as was promised, for the clearing of what hath been spoken. And they are these that follow.

1. When I affign any thing as peculiar, wherein we diftinctly hold communion with any perfon, I do not exclude the other perfons from communion with the foul in the very fame thing. Only this I fay, principally, immediately and by the way of eminency, we have in fuch a thing, or in fuch a way communion with fome one perfon; and there

in with the others, fecondarily and by the way of confe quence on that foundation: For the perfon, as the perfon of any one of them, is not the prime object of divine wor ship, but as it is identified with the nature or effence of God. Now the works that outwardly are of God, (called Trinitatis ad extra) which are commonly faid to be common and undivided, are either wholly fo, and in all refpects; as all works of common providence, or elfe being common in refpect of their acts, they are diftinguished in respect of that principle, or next and immediate rise in the manner of operation; fo creation is appointed to the Father, redemption to the Son; in which fenfe we speak of these things.

2 There is a concurrence of the actings and operations of the whole Deity, in that difpenfation, wherein each perfon concurs to the work of our falvation, unto every act of our communion with each fingular perfon. Look by what act foever we hold communion with any perfon, there is an influence from every person to the putting forth of that act. As fuppofe it to be the act of faith. It is bestowed on us by the Father: It is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, Eph. ii. 8. It is the Father that revealeth the gofpel, and Chrift therein, Matth. xi. 25. And it is

purchafed for us by the Son: It is given unto you for Chrift's fake to believe on him, Phil. i. 29. In him are we bleffed with spiritual bleffings' Eph. i. 3. He bestows on us, and increaseth faith in us, Luke xvii. 5. And it is wrought in us by the Spirit: he adminifters that ex'ceeding greatnefs of his power which he exerciseth towards them who believe, according to the working of his mighty power; which he wrought in God when he • raised him up from the dead;' Eph. i. 19, 20. Rom. viii. 11.

3. When I affign any particular thing wherein we hold communion with any perfon, I do not do it exclufively unto other mediums of communion; but only by the way of inducing a special, and eminent inftance, for the proof and manifestation of the former general affertion: otherwise there is no grace or duty wherein we have not communion with God in the way defcribed. In every thing wherein we are made partakers of the divine nature, there is a communication and receiving between God and us. So near are we unto him in Christ.

4. By afferting this diftinct communion, which merely re fpects that order in the difpenfation of grace, which God is pleased to hold out in the gofpel, I intend not in the leaft, to fhut up all communion with God under thefe precincts, his ways being exceeding broad, containing a perfection whereof there is no end; nor to prejudice that holy fellowship we have with the whole Deity, in our walking before him in covenant obedience, which alfo (God affift ing) I fhall handle hereafter.

Thefe few obfervations being premifed, I come now to declare what it is, wherein peculiarly and eminently the faints have communion with the Father: and this is LOVE. Free, undeserved, and eternal love. This the Father peculiarly fixes upon the faints: this they are immediately to eye in him, to receive of him, and to make fuch returns thereof, as he is delighted withal. This is the great difcovery of the gofpel. For whereas the Father as the fountain of the Deity, is not known any other way but as full of wrath, anger, and indignation against fin, nor can the fons of men have any other thoughts of him, Rom. i. 18. Ifa. xxxiii. 15, 16. Hab. i. 13. Psal. v. 4, 5, 6. Eph. ii. 3. Here he is now revealed peculiarly as love, as full of it unto us; the manifestation wherereof is the pe culiar work of the gofpel, Tit. iii. 4.

1. 1 John iv. 8. God is love: that the name of God is here taken perfonally, and for the perfon of the Father, not effentially, is evident from ver. 9. where he is diftinguished from his only begotten Son whom he fends into the world. Now (faith he) the Father is love, that is, not only of an infinitely gracious, tender, compaffionate and loving nature, according as he hath proclaimed himself, Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. but alfo one that eminently and peculiarly dispenseth himself unto us in free love. So the apoftle fets it forth in the following verses; this is love, ver. 9. this is that which I would have you take notice of in him, that he makes out love unto you, in fending his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live ❝ through him.' So alfo, ver. 10. He loved us, and fent his Son to be the propitiation for our fins.' And that this is peculiarly to be eyed in him, the Holy Ghost plainly declares, in making it antecedent to the fending o Chrift, and all mercies and benefits whatever by him received. This love, I say, in its felf is antecedent to the pur

chase of Chrift, although the whole fruit thereof be made out alone thereby, Eph. i. 4, 5, 6.

2. So in that distribution made by the apoftle in his folemn parting benediction, 2 Cor. xiii. 13. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the LOVE OF GOD, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghoft be with you.' Afcribing fundry things unto the distinct perfons, it is love that he peculiarly affigns to the Father. And the fellowship of the Spirit is mentioned, with the grace of Chrift, and the love of God, because it is by the Spirit alone that we have fellowship with Chrift in grace, and with the Father in love; although we have alfo peculiar fellowship with him, as fhall be declared.

3. John xvi. 26, 27. faith our Saviour, I fay not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you, for the Fa⚫ther himself loveth you:' but how is this, that our Saviour faith, I fay not that I will pray the Father for you,' when he faith plainly, chap. xiv. 16, I will pray the Father for you? The difciples with all the gracious words, comfortable and faithful promises of their Mafter, with moft heavenly discoveries of his heart unto them, were even fully convinced of his dear and tender affections towards them; as alfo of his continued care and kindness, that he would not forget them, when bodily he was gone from them ; as he was now upon his departure; but now all their thoughts are concerning the Father, how they should be accepted with him, what refpect he had towards them. Saith our Saviour, take no care of that, nay impose not that upon me, of procuring the Father's love for you, but know, that this is his peculiar refpect towards you, and which you are in him; he himself loves you. It is true indeed (and as I told you,) that I will pray the Father to fend you the Spirit, the Comforter, and with him all the gracious fruits of his love; but yet in the point of love itfelf, free love, eternal love, there is no need of any interceffion for that, for eminently the Father himself loves you; refolve of that, that you may hold communion with him in it, and be no more troubled about it.-Yea as your

great trouble is, about the Father's love, fo you can no way more trouble or burden him, than by your unkindness in not believing of it. So it muft needs be where fincere love is questioned.

4. The apoftle teaches the fame, Rom, v. 5. The

love of God is fhed abroad in your hearts by the Holy 'Ghoft, that is, given unto you.' God whofe love this is, is plainly distinguished from the Holy Ghoft, who sheds abroad that love of his; and ver. 8. he is alfo distinguished from the Son; for it is from that love of his, that the Son is fent; and therefore it is the Father of whom the apoftle here specially speaketh: and what is it that he afcribes to him? even love; which alfo ver. 8. he commendeth to us, fets it forth in fuch a signal and eminent expreffion, that we may take notice of it, and clofe with him in it. To carry this business to its height; there is not only moft frequent peculiar mention made of the love of God, where the Father is eminently intended, and of the love of the Father exprefsly, but he is also called the God of love, 2 Cor. xiii. 11. and is faid to be love, fo that whoever will know him, 1 John iv. 8. or dwell in him by fellowship or communion, ver. 16. must do it as he is love.

5. Ñay whereas there is a twofold divine love, Beneplaciti, and Amicitia, a love of good pleasure, and destination, and a love of friendship and approbation, they are both peculiarly affigned to the Father, in an eminent manner.

1 John iii. 16. God fo loved the world that he fent,' c. that is, with the love of his purpose and good pleafure, his determinate will of doing good, This is diftinctly afcribed to him, being laid down as the cause of sending his Son. So Rom. ix. 11, 12. Eph. i. 4, 5. 2 Thef. ii. 13, 14. 1 John`iv. 8, 9.

2 John xiv. 23. there is love whereof we speak.

mention of that other kind of If any man love me (faith 'Chrift) he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.' The love of friendship and approbation, is here eminently ascribed to him; fays Chrift, we will come, even Father and Son to fuch a one, and dwell with him, that is, by the Spirit; but yet he would have us take notice, that in point of love, the Father hath a peculiar prerogative: My Father will love him.

6. Yea, and as this love is peculiarly to be eyed in him, fo it is to be looked on as the fountain of all following gracious difpenfations. Chriftians walk often times with exceedingly troubled hearts, concerning the thoughts of the Father towards them: they are well perfuaded of the Lord Chrift, and his good will: the difficulty lies, in what is