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ercised jointly and in common. That the faints have diftinct communion with the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, (that is, diftinctly with the Father, and diftinctly with the Son, and diftinctly with the Holy Spirit) and in what, the peculiar appropriation of this diftinct communion unto the feveral perfons, doth confift, must in the first place be made manifeft.

1 John v. 7. The apostle tells us, there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit. In heaven they are, and bear witnefs to us. And what is it that they bear witnefs unto? Unto the fonship of Chrift, and the falvation of believers in his blood. Of the carrying on of that, both by blood and water, jufication and fanctification, is he there treating. Now how do they bear witness hereunto? even as three, as three diftinct witneffes. When God witneffeth concerning our falvation, furely it is incumbent on us to receive his teftimony. And as he beareth witnefs, fo are we to receive it. Now this is done diftinctly. The Father beareth witnefs, the Son beareth witness, and the holy Spirit beareth witnefs; for they are three distinct witneffes. So then are we to receive their several teftimonies, and in doing fo, we have communion with them feverally; for in this giving and receiving of teftimony, confifts no fmall part of our fellowship with God; wherein their diftinct witneffing confifts, will be afterward declared.

1 Cor. xii. 4, 5, 6. The apostle speaking of the diftribution of gifts and graces unto the faints, ascribes them distinctly in respect of the Fountain of their communication unto the diftinct perfons. 'There are diverfities of gifts, but the fame Spirit. The one and felf-fame Spirit that is the Holy Ghoft,

v. 12. And there are differences of administrations, but the fame Lord, the fame Lord Jefus, v. 3. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the fame God, &c. even the Father, Eph. iv. 6. So graces and gifts are beftowed, and fo are they received.

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And not only in the emanation of grace from God, and the elapfes of the Spirit on us, but affo in all our approaches, unto God, is the fame diftinction obferved: for through Chrift we have an access by one Spirit, unto the Father, Eph. v. 18. Our accefs unto God (wherein we have communion with him) is through Chrift in the Spirit, and unto the Father. The perfons being herein confidered, as engaged diftinctly into the accomplishment of the counfel of the will of God, revealed in the gospel.

Sometimes indeed there is exprefs mention made only of the Father and the Son, 1 John. i. 3.Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jefus Chrift. The particle (and) is both distinguishing, and uniting. Alfo, John xiv. 23. If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. It is in this communion, wherein Father and Son do make their abode with the foul.

Sometimes the Son only is fpoken of as to this purpose, 1 Cor. i. 9. God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jefus Chrift our Lord. And, Rev. iii. 20. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will fup with him, and he with me; of which place afterwards

Sometimes the Spirit alone is mentioned, 2 Cor xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghoft be with

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with you all. This diftinct communion then of the faints with the Father, Son, and Spirit, is very plain in the fcripture; but yet, it may admit of farther demonftration: only this caution I must lay in before hand. Whatever is affirmed in the purfuit of this truth, it is done with relation to the explanation enfuing in the beginning of the next chapter.`

The way and means on the part of the faints, whereby in Chrift they enjoy communion with God, are all the spiritual and holy actings, and outgoings of their fouls in thofe graces, and by thofe ways, wherein both the moral, and instituted worship of God doth confift. Faith, love, truft, joy, &c. are the natural or moral worship of God, whereby those in whom they are, have communion with him. Now these are either immediately acted on God, and not tyed to any ways or means outwardly manifefting themfelves, or elfe they are farther drawn forth in folemn prayer and praises, according unto that way which he hath appointed. That the fcripture doth distinctly affign all thefe unto the Father, Son, and Spirit: manifefting that the faints do, in all of them, both as they are purely and nakedly moral, and as farther cloathed with inftituted worthip, respect each perfon respectively, is that, which to give light to the affertion in hand, 1 fhail farther declare by particular inftances.

1. For the Father: Faith, love, obedience, &c. are peculiarly, and dictinctly yielded by the faints unto him, and he is peculiarly manifefted in thofe ways as acting peculiarly towards them, which fhould draw them forth, and ftir them up there. unto. He gives teftimony unto, and beareth witnefs of his Son, 1 John v. 9. This is the witness of God which he hath teftified of his Son. In his

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bearing witness he is an object of belief. When he gives teftimony (which he doth as the Father, because he doth it of the Son) he is to be received in it by faith. And this is affirmed, ver. 10. He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the witness in himself. To believe on the Son of God in this place, is, to receive the Lord-Chrift as the Son, the Son given unto us, for all the ends of the Father's love, upon the credit of the Father's teftimony: and therefore therein is faith immediately acted on the Father. So it follows in the next words,. He that believeth not God (that is, the Father, who bears witness to the Son) makes him a liar. you believe in God, (faith our Saviour) John xiv. I. that is, the Father, as fuch; for he adds, believe alfo in me; or believe you in God, believe alfo in me: God as the prima Veritas, upon whofe autho-¡“ rity is founded, and whereinto all divine faith is ultimately refolved, is not to be confidered as peculiarly expreffive of any perfon, but comprehending the whole Deity, which undividedly is the prime Ob-ject thereof. But in this particular it is the teftimony and authority of the Father (as fuch) therein, of which we speak, and whereupon faith is diftinctly fixed on him: which if it were not fo, the Son could not add; believe alfa in me.

The like alfois faid of love, 1 John v. 15. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him. That is, the love which we bear to him, not\ that which we receive from him. The Father is here placed, as the Object of our love, in oppofition to the world, which takes up our affections; the Father denotes the matter and object, not the effi cient caufe of the love enquired after. And thi B. 3.

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love of him as a Father, is that which he calls his honour, Mal. i. 6.

Further, Thefe graces as acted in prayer and praises, and as cloathed with instituted worship, are peculiarly directed unto him. We call on the Father, 1 Pet. i. 17. Eph.3:, 15. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Bowing the knee, comprizeth the whole worship of God, both that which is moral, ̄ in the univerfal obedience he requireth, and thofe peculiar ways of carrying it on, which are by him appointed, Ifa. xlv. 23. Unto me (faith the Lord) every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall fwear. Which, xxiv. 25. he declareth to confift in their acknowleging of him, for righteoufnefs, and ftrength. Yea, it feems fometimes to comprehend the orderly fubjection of the whole creation unto his fovereignty. In this place of the apoftle, it hath a far more reftrained acceptation, and is but a figurative expreffion of prayer, taken from the most expreffive bodily posture to be used in that duty. This he farther manifefts, ver. 15, 17. declaring at large what his aim was, and whereabouts, his thoughts were exercised in that bowing of his knees. The workings then of the Spirit of grace in that duty, are díftinctly directed to the Father as fuch, as the fountain of the Deity, and of all good things in Chrift; as the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift. And therefore the fame apostle doth in another place, exprefly conjoin, and yet as exprefly distinguish the Father and the Son in directing his fupplications, 1 Thef. iii. 11. God himself even our Father, and our Lord Jefus Chrift direct our way unto you. The like prefident alfo have you of thanksgiving; Eph.

i. 3, 4.

3.4.

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