and cleanfing vertue to be communicated unto them, and by the blood of Christ are they to be purged from all their fins, John i. 7. thus far as it were, this purifying blood thus prepared and made ready is at fome distance to the foul. Though it be fhed to this purpose, that it might purge, cleanse, and fanctify, though it be taken up with the bunch of hyffop in the promises, yet the foul may not partake of it. Wherefore,

3. They look upon him, as in his own Spirit he is the only Difpenfer of the Spirit, and of all grace of fanctification and holinefs. They confider that upon his interceffion it is granted to him, that he hall make effectual all the fruits of his purchase to the fanctification, the purifying and making glorious in holiness of his whole people. They know that this is actually to be accomplished by the Spirit, according to the innumerable promises given to that purpose. He is to fprinkle that blood upon their fouls, he is to create the holinefs in them that they long after, he is to be himself in them a well of water fpringing up to everlafting life. In this ftate they look to Jefus; here faith fixes itfelf in expectation of his giving out the Spirit, for all these ends and purpofes; mixing the promises with faith, and fo becoming actual partaker of all this grace. This is their way, this their communion with Christ; this the life of faith as to grace and holiness. Blef fed is the foul that is exercifed therein; be ball be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth forth her roots by the river, and shall not fee when heat cometh, but her leaf fhall be green, and hall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall ceafe from yielding fruit, Jer. xvii. 18. Convinced perfons who know not Chrift, nor the fellowship of his fufferings,

would

would fpin an holiness out of their own bowels: they would work it out in their own strength. They begin it with trying endeavours, and follow it with vows, duties, refolutions, engagements, fweating at it all the day long. Thus they continue for a fea fon; their hypocrify for the most part ending in apoftacy. The faints of God, do in the very ent rance of their walking with him, reckon upon it, that they have a threefold want.

1. Of the Spirit of holiness, to dwell in them. 2. Of an habit of holiness, to be infufed into them.

3. Of actual affiftance, to work all their works for them; and that if these fhould continue to be wanting, they can never with all their might, power, and endeavours, perform any one act of holinefs before the Lord. They know that of themfelves they have no fufficiency; that without Chrift, they can do nothing, therefore they look to him who is intrufted with a fulnefs of all thefe in their behalf, and thereupon by faith derive from him an increase of that, whereof they ftand in need. Thus I fay, have the faints communion with Chrift, as to their fanctification and holinefs. From him do they receive the Spirit to dwell in them; from him the new principle of life, which is the root of all their obedience, from him have they actual affistance for every duty they are called unto. In waiting for, expectation and receiving of these bleffings on the accounts before mentioned, do they spend their lives and time with him. In vain is help looked for from other mountains. In vain do men fpend their strength in following after righteoufnefs, if this be wanting. Fix thy foul here! thou shalt not tarry until thou be afhamed. This is the way, the only way, to obEe

tain

tain full effectual manifeftations of the Spirit's dwelling in us; to have our hearts purified, our confciences purged, our fins mortified, our graces increafedour fouls made humble, holy, zealous, believing; like to him; to have our lives fruitful, our deaths comfortable; let us herein abide, eyeing Christ by faith, to attain that measure of conformity to him, which is alotted unto us in this world, that when we fhall fee him as he is, we may be like unto him.

Of communion with Chrift in privileges. Of adop tion: the nature of it: the confequents of it: peculiar privileges attending it. Liberty, title, boldness, affliction: communion with Chrift hereby.

T

HE third thing wherein we have communion with Christ is grace of privilege before God: I mean as the third head of purchased grace. The privileges we enjoy by Christ, are great and innumerable. To infift on them in particular, were work for a man's whole life, not a defign to be wrapped up in a few fheets. I fhall take a view of them only in the head, the fpring and fountain whence they will arife and flow. This is our adoption, beloved, now we are the fons of God, 1 John iii. 2. this is our great and fountain privilege. Whence is it that we are fo? It is from the love of the Father, ver. 1. Behold, what love the Father hath given unto us, that we should be called the fons of God. But by whom immediately do we receive this ho

nour?

nour? As many as believe on Chrift, he gives then this power to become the fons of God, John i, 12. him, felf was appointed to be the first-born among many brethren, Rom. viii. 29. and his taking us to be brethren, Heb. ii. 11. makes us become the, chil dren of God. Now that God is our Father, by being the Father of Chrift, and we his children, by being the brethren of Chrift, being the head and fum of all the honour, privilege, right, and title we have, let us a little confider the nature of that act, whereby we are invested with this state and title; namely our adoption.

Now adoption is the authorative translation of a believer by Jefus Chrift from the family of the world and Satan, into the family of God, with his inveftiture in all the privileges, and advantages of that family.

To the compleat adoption of any perfon, these five things are required.

1. That he be actually, and of his own right, of another family, than that whereunto he is adopted. He must be the fon of one family or other in his own right, as all perfons are.

2. That there be a family unto which of himfelf he hath no right, whereinto he is to be grafted. If a man comes into a family upon a perfonal right, though originally at never fo great a distance, that man is not adopted. If a man of a most remote confanguinity, do come into the inheritance of any family by the death of the nearer heirs, though his right before were little better than nothing, yet he is a born fon of that family, he is not adopted. He is not to have the plea of the most remote pof fibility of fucceffion.

3. That there be an authorative legal translation

of him, by fome that have power thereunto, from one family into another. It was not by the law of ok, in the power of particular persons, to adopt when, and whom they would. It was to be done by the authority of the fovereign power.

4. That the adopted perfon be freed from all the obligations that be upon him unto the family, from whence he is tranflated: otherwise he can be no way ufeful, or ferviceable unto the family, whereinto he is engrafted: he cannot ferve two mafters, much lefs two fathers.

5. That by vertue of his adoption, he be invested in all the rights, privileges, advantages, and title to the whole inheritance of the family into which he is adopted, in as full and ample manner, as if he had been born a fon therein.

Now all these things and circumftances do concur, and are found in the adoption of believers.

1. They are by their own original right of another family, than that whereinto they are adopted. They are by nature the children of wrath, Eph. ii. 3. fons of wrath of that family whofe inheritance is wrath; called the power of darkness, Col. i. 13. for from thence doth God tranflate them into the kingdom of his dear Son. This is the family of the world and of Satan, of which by nature believers are. Whatever is to be inherited in that family; as wrath, curfe, death, hell, they have a right thereunto. Neither can they of themfelves, or by themselves get free of this family: a strong man armed, keeps them in fubjection. Their natu ral estate is a family condition, attended with all circumstances of a family; family duties and services; rights and titles; relations, and obfervances. They are of the black family of fin, and Satan.

2. There