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to us, in ourselves, no poffibility of a recovery. As we had deprived ourselves of all power for a returnal, fo God had not revealed any way of accefs unto himself, or that he could under any confideration be approached unto by finners, in peace. Not any work that God had made, not any attribute that he had revealed, could give the leaft light into fuch a difpenfation.

The manifestation of grace and pardoning mercy, which is the only door of entrance into any fuch communion, is not committed unto any but unto him alone, in whom it is, by whom that grace and mercy was purchased, through whom it is difpenfed, who reveals it from the bofom of the Father. Hence this communion and fellowship with God is not in exprefs terms mentioned in the Old Teftament, the thing itself is found there; but the clear light of it, and the boldnefs of faith in it, is difcovered in the gofpel, and by the Spirit adminiftred therein. By that Spirit, we have this liberty, 2 Cor. iii. 17, 18. Abraham was the friend of God: Ifa. xli. 8. David a man after his own heart. Enoch walked with him, Gen. v. 24. All enjoying this communion and fellowship for the fubftance of it: but the way into the holieft was not yet made manifeft, whilst the first tabernacle was standing, Heb. ix. 8. Though they had communion with God, yet they had not a boldness and confidence in that communion. This follows the entrance of our High Priest into the most holy place, Heb. iv. 16. and x. 9. The vail alfo was upon them, that they had not freedom and liberty in their accefs to God, 2 Cor iii. 15, 16. &c. But now in Chrift, we have bold nefs and access with confidence, to God, Eph. ii 12. This boldness and accefs with confidence, the

faints of old were not acquainted with. By Jefus Christ alone then on all confiderations as to being, and full manifeftation, is this diftance taken away; He hath confecrated for us a new and living way (the old being quite fhut up) through the vail, that is to fay his flesh, Heb. x. 20. And through him we have an access by one Spirit unto the Father, Eph. ii. 18. We who fometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Chrift, for he is our peace, &c. ver. 13, 14. Of this foundation of all our communion with God, more afterwards and at large. Upon this new bottom and foundation, by this new and living way, are finners admitted unto communion with God, and have fellowship with him. And truly for finners to have fellowship with God, the infinitely holy God, is an aftonishing difpenfation. To fpeak a little of it in general; communion relates to things and perfons. A joint participation in any thing whatever, good or evil, duty or enjoyment, nature or actions, gives this denomination to them fo partaking of it. A common interest in the fame nature gives all men a fellowship or communion therein. Of the elect it is faid, Heb. ii. 14. thofe children partook of, (or had fellowship in with the reft of the world) flesh and blood; the fame com mon nature with the reft of mankind; and there-fore Chrift alfo came into the fame fellowship: There is alfo a communion as to state and condition, whether it be good or evil; and this either in things internal and fpiritual, fuch as is the com munion of faints among themselves; or in respect of outward things; fo was it with Christ and the two thieves, as to one condition, and to one of them in refpect of another. They were under the fame fentence to the cross, Luke xxxii. 40. ejufdem de

loris focii. They had communion as to that evil condition whereunto they were adjudged. And one of them requested, which he obtained, a participation in that blessed condition, whereupon our Saviour was immediately to enter. There is also a communion or fellowship in actions, whether good or evil. In good is that communion and fellowship in the gofpel, or in the performance and celebration of that fellowship of God, which in the gospel is instituted, which the faints do enjoy; Phil. i. 5. which as to the general kind of it, David fo rejoices in, Pfal. xlvi. 4. Evil was that, wherein Simeon and Levi were brethren, Gen. xlix. 5. They had communion in that cruel act of revenge and murder. Our communion with God is not comprised in any one of these kinds; of fome of them it is exclufive. It cannot be natural. It must be voluntary and by confent: It cannot be in the fame actions upon a third party, but in a return from one to another. The infinite disparity that is between God and man, made the great philofopher conclude, that there could be no friendship between them. Some diftance in the perfons holding friendship he could allow; nor could exactly determine the bounds and extent thereof: but that between God and man, in his apprehenfion left no place for it. Another fays indeed, that there is communitas homini cum Deo, a certain fellowship between God and man. But the general intercourse of providence is all he apprehended: fome arofe to higher expreffions, but they understood nothing whereof they fpake. This knowlege is hid in Chrift, as will afterwards be made to appear. It is too wonderful for nature, as finful and corrupt ed. Terror and apprehenfions of death at the prefence of God, is all that it guides unto. But we

have, as was faid, a new foundation, with a new difcovery of this privilege.

Now communion is the mutual communication of fuch good things, as wherein the perfons holding ⚫ that communion are delighted, bottomed upon fome • union between them.' So it was with Jonathan and David, their fouls clave to one another, 1 Sam. xx. 17. in love. There was the union of love between them; and then they really communicated all iffues of love mutually: in fpiritual things this is more eminent. Those who enjoy this communion have the most excellent union, for the foundation of it; and the iffues of that union which they mutually communicate, are the most precious and eminent.

Of the union, which is the foundation of all that communion we have with God, I have spoken largely elsewhere, and have nothing farther to add thereunto.

Our communion then with God, confifteth in his communication of himself unto us, with our returnal unto him, of that which he requireth and accepteth, flowing from the union which in Jefus Christ we have with him: and it is twofold, 1. Perfect and compleat, in the full fruition of his glory, and total giving up of ourselves to him, refting in him, as our utmost end, which we fhall enjoy, when we fee him as he is: and 2. Initial and incompleat, in the first fruits and dawnings of that perfection, which we have here in grace, which only I fhall handle.

It is then, I fay of that mutual communication in giving and receiving, after a moft holy and fpiritual manner, which is between God and the faints while they walk together in a covenant of peace, ratified in the blood of Jefus, whereof we are to treat.

And

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And this we shall do, if God permit, in the mean time, Praying the God and Father of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, who hath of the riches of his grace, recovered us from a state of enmity, into a condition of communion and fellowship with himfelf, that both he that writes, and they that read the 'words of this mercy, may have fuch a tafte of his sweetness and excellencies therein, as to be stirred up to a farther longing after the 'fulness of his falvation, and the eternal fruition of him in glory.'

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CHA P. II.

That the faints have this communion distinctly with the Father, Son, and Spirit, 1 John v. 7. opened to this purpose. Alfo 1 Cor. xii. 4, 5, 6. Eph. ii. 18. Father and Son mentioned jointly in this communion. The Father folely the Son alfo and the Holy Ghost finely. The faints refpective regard in all worship to each perfon manifested. Faith in the Father, John v. 9, 10. and love towards him, 1 John ii. 15. Mal. i. 6. So is prayer and praife: it is fo likewife with the Son, John xiv. 1. Of our communion with the Holy Ghoft. The truth farther confirmed.

TH

HAT the faints have communion with God, what communion in general is, was declared in the first chapter. The manner how this communion is carried on, and the matter wherein i; doth confift, comes next under confideration. For the firft, in refpect of the diftinct perfons of the Godhead, with whom they have this fellowship, it is either diftinct and peculiar, or elfe, obtained and ex

B

ercifed

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