Sermon V (continued, part 3)
him, Matth. xxviii. 18. he comes inhis Father's name to you, as well as in his own name.
Thirdly, The wisdom of God is in Chriſt, 1 Cor. i. 24. " Chrift the wisdom of God:" yea, " in him are hid all the " treaſures of wisdom and knowledge," Col. ii. 3. Never did thewisdom ofGoddiſplay itſelfbefore the eyes ofangels and men, as ithath done in Chriſt. The " angels defire to look in66 to it," 1 Pet. 1. 12. yet yettheyarenotfo much concerned in the project and deſignof this wisdom in redemption, asyou are.
Fourthly,The fulness of the Spirit is in Chriſt ; yea, it fills him ſo as it never did, nor will fill any creature, John iii. 34. " God giveth not the Spiritby measure to him : " all others
have their limits, ſtints, and meaſures; ſome more, fome leſs ; but the Spirit is in Chriſt without meaſure. O how lovely and defirable are thoſe men that have a large meafure of the Spirit
in them ! but he is anointed with the Spirit of holiness, above all his fellows, Pfal. xiv. 2, 7. Whatever grace is found in all the faints, which makes them defirable and lovely, wiſdom in
one, faith in another, patience in a third ; they all centre in Chrift as the rivers do inthe ſea, que faciunt divifa beatum, in hocmixtafluunt.
Fifthly, The righteousness ofGod is in Chriſt, by which only apoor guilty finnercanbejustified before God, 2 Cor. v. 21. we
are" madetherighteousnessofGod inhim:" he is
ובקרצ הויח
238 The Method of Grace. SERM. VII. "the Lordour righteousness," Jer. xxiii. 6. i. e. " * the author " of our righteouineſs," or the Lordwho justifies us ; by that
name he will be known, and calledbyhis people, thanwhich nonecanbe fweeter.
Sixthly,Thelove ofGod is in Chriſt ; yea, the veryyearning bowelsof divine love are in him : What is Chriſt, but the love ofGodwraptup in flesh andblood ? 1John iv. 9, ro. " In this " was manifeſted the love of God towards us;" and herein is love, thatGod ſent his Son: this isthe highest flight that ever divine love made; and higher than this itcannot mount. O
love, unparalleled and admirable !
Seventhly , The mercies and compaffions ofGod are all in Chrift, Jude ver. 21. Mercy is the thing thatpoor finnerswant, it is that theycry for at the laſt gaſp; it is the only thing that can dothem good. O what would they give to findmercyin
that greatday ? Why, ifyou receive Chriſt, you ſhall with him receive mercy; butoutofhim, there is nomercy tobe expected from the hands ofGod ; for God will never exerciſe mercy to the prejudiceof his justice; and it is in Chrift thatjuſticeand mercy meet and embrace each other.
Eightly, To conclude, The ſalvations ofGod are in Chriſt, Acts iv. 12. " Neither is there ſalvation inany other." Chrift is the door of falvation, and faith is thekey that opens that door tomen. Ifyou therefore believe not, i. e. ifyou ſo receive not Jefus Chriſt, as Godhath offered him, you exclude yourſelves from all hopes offalvation. The devils have as much ground toexpect falvation as you: you feewhat is in Chriſt to induce youto receive him.
Motive 2 . Next, I beſeech you, confider what there is in the offer of Chriſt to finners, toinduce you to receive him. Confider well towhom, andhow Chriſt is offered in the goſpel.
First, To whom he is offered ; not to the fallen angels, but toyou; they lie in chains ofdarkness, Jude 6. as he took not their nature, ſo he deſigns not their recovery ; and therefore willhave no treaty at allwith them: but he is offered toyou,
creatures ofan inferior rank and order by nature; nor is he of fered to the damned, the treaty of peace is ended with them : Chriftwill never make them another tender of ſalvation ; nor is heoffered tomillions of millions as good as you, now living in
theworld. The found of Chriſt, and ſalvation is notcometo theirears, but he is offered to you by the ſpecial favour and
* Autorem juftitiæ noftra. Calv. in loc.
SERM. VII. 239 The Method ofGrace.
bounty of heaven; and will you not receive him ? O! then howwill the devils, the damned, and the Heathens, upbraid yourfolly! and ſay, had we had one fuch tender ofmercy, of whichyou havehadthouſands, wewould never havebeennow
inthisplace of torments.
Secondly, Confider how Chriſt is offered to you, and you ſhallfind thathe is offered,
1. Freely, as the gift of God, toyour fouls ; you are not to purchasehim, but only to receive him. Ifa Iv. 1. "Ho, every " one that thirſteth, come ye to the waters, andhe that hath " nomoney, let him come," &c.
" 2. Chrift is offered importunately, by repeated intreaties. 2 Cor. v. 20 . As thoughGod did beſeech you, we pray you " in Chrift's ftead, be ye reconciled to God." O! what amazing condefcenfion is here in the God of mercy ! God now beſeeches you, will you not yield to the intreaties ofyourGod? Othen what wilt thou fay for thyself, whenGod will not hear thee,when thou ſhalt intreatand cry for mercy ? Whichbrings us to
Motive 3. Confider the finand danger that there is inrefufing, or neglecting the present offers ofChriſt in the goſpel, and furely there is much fin in it; the verymalignity offin, and the fum ofall miſery, lies here ; for in refuſing Chrift,
1. You put the greatest contempt and flight upon all the attributes ofGod that it is poffible for a creature todo; Godhath made his justice, his mercy, his wisdom, and all his attributes,
to thine in their brightestglory in Chriſt. Never was there fuch adiſplay of the glory ofGod made to the world in any other way.
O then, what is it to reject and deſpiſe Jeſus Chriſt, but to offer the greatest affront to the gloryofGod, that it is poffible
formento put upon it?
2. You hereby fruſtrate and evacuate the very deſign, and importanceofthe goſpel to yourſelves ; you " receive the grace " ofGod in vain," 2 Cor. vi . I. As good, yea, better had it been for you, that Chriſt had never come into the world, or,
if hehad, that your lot had fallen in the dark places of the earth, where you had never heard his name; yea, goodhad it beenfor that man if he had never been born .
" 3. Hereby a man murthers his own foul. " I faidtherefore
unto you, that you ſhall die in your fins; for if ye believe not that I am he, ye ſhall die in your fins," John viii. 24.. Unbelief is felf-murder; you are guiltyof theblood of your
240 SERM. VII. The Method of Grace. own fouls: life and ſalvation was offered you, andyou rejected it. Yea, 4. The refuſing ofChriſt by unbelief, will aggravate your damnation, above all others that periſh inignorance of Chrift. O 'twill be more tolerable for Heathens, than for you ; the
greatest meaſures of wrath are referved to punish the worst of finners, and among finners, none will be foundworſe than unbelievers.
Seeondly, To believers, this pointis veryuseful to perfuade them todivers excellent duties; among which, I ſhall ſingle out two principal ones, viz.
1. To bring up their faith ofacceptance, to the faith ofaf furance .
2. To bring up their converſations tothe principles and rules offaith. 3.
1. You that have received Jeſus Chriſt truly, giveyourſelves no reſt till you are fully fatisfied that you have done fo ; accep tance brings you to heaven hereafter, but afſurance will bring heaven intoyour foulsnow, O what a life ofdelight and plea-
fure doth the aſſured believer live ! What pleaſure is it to him to lookback and confider where once he was,and wherehe now
is ? To look forward, and confider where he now is, andwhere ſhortly he ſhall be ! I was in my fins, Iam now in Chrift : I am inChriſt now, I shallbe with Chriſt, and that for ever, after a few days. I was upon thebrink ofhell, I am now upon the very borders of heaven ; I shall be, in alittle while, among the
innumerable company of angels andglorified ſaints, bearing part withthem inthefong ofMofes, and of the Lamb, forevermore.
Andwhymay not you, that have received Chrift, receive the comfort ofyour union with him ? There be all the grounds and helps of afſurance furnished toyour hand ; there is a real union betwixt Chriſt andyour fouls, which is the very ground-work of
aſſurance. + You have the ſcriptures before you which contain the figns of faith, and the very things withinyou that anſwer thoſe ſigns in the word. Soyou read, and ſo, juſt ſo, you might feel it in your own hearts, would you attend to your own experience. The Spirit of God is ready to fealyou, it is his office and his delight ſo to do. O therefore give diligence to this work, attend the ſtudy of theſcriptures, and ofyour own hearts
more, and grieve not the holy Spirit ofGod, and you may ar
rive to the very defire ofyour hearts.
+ The power and conftancy ofa firmhope reigns inus. Serm. de patientis.
Cypr
SERM. VII. The Method of Grace. 241
66 2. Bring up your conversations to the excellent principles and rules of faith ; Asyou have received Chriſt Jeſus the " Lord, ſowalk inhim," Col. ii. 6. Live as you believe ; you
received Chriſt ſincerely inyour first cloſe with him, Omain-
in the like ſeriouſneſs and fincerity in all your ways, to the endofyour lives: you received him intirely and undividedly at firſt, let therebeno exceptions against anyofhis commands afterward. You received him exclusively to all others, ſee that youwatch against all felf-righteousness, and ſelf-conceitednefs now, andminglenothing ofyourown with his blood, whatever giftsorenlargements induty God shall giveyou afterwards.
You receivedhim advisedlyat first, weighingand confidering the ſelf-denying terms upon which hewas offered to you ; O ſhew that itwas real,and thatyou ſee nocauſe to repent the bargain, whateveryou ſhall meetwithin the ways ofChrift, and duty afterwards: convince the world ofyour conſtancy and chearfulness in allyour ſufferings forChriſt, that you are ſtill
of the fame mind you were, and that Chriſt, with his croſs, Chriſt, with a priſon, Chriſt, with the greatest afflictions, is worthyof all acceptation : "Asyehavereceivedhim, ſowalk yë
" inhim." Let him be as ſweet, as lovely, as precious to you now, as he was the firſt momentyoureceivedhim ; yea, letyour - loveto him,delights inhim, and ſelf-denial for him, increaſe with your acquaintance with him,dayby day. Use ofdirection. Use. Lastly, Iwill cloſe all witha few words ofdirections to all that are made willing to receive the Lord Jesus Chriſt ; and fore it is but needthat help were given to poor Chriſtians ; in this matter, it isatime of trouble, fear, andgreat temptation;
miſlakes are easily made, and ofdangerous conſequence ; attend heedfully, therefore, toa fewdirections .
Direction 1. First, Inyour receiving Chriſt, bewareyoudonot mistake themeans, for the end. Many do ſo,but ſeeyoudo not. Prayer, fermons, reformations, are means tobringyou toChriſt, butthey are not Chriſt; to cloſe with thoſe duties isone thing,
andtocloſe withChriſt is another thing. If I go intoaboat, mydeſign is not todwell there, but to be carried to theplace whereon I defire to be landed: ſo it must be in this cafe, all your duties muſt land you upon Chrift ; they are means to bring you toChrift:
Direct. 2. Secondly, See that you receivenot ChristforapreJent help, butfor your everlasting portion. Manydofo; they
willenquire after Chriſt, pray for Chriſt, caft themselves (in VOL. II. li
242 The Method of Grace. SERM. VII.
theirway) upon Chriſt, and the fatisfaction ofhis blood, when the efficacy and terror ofconfcience is uponthem, andthey feel the fling ofguilt within them; but as soon as the ſtorm is over, andthe rod that confcience ſhaked overthem laid by, there'sno more talkof Chrift then : alas ! it was not Chriſt, but quietneſs, that they fought; beware ofmiſtaking peace for Chriſt.
Direct. 3. Thirdly, In receiving Christ come empty handeduntohim : " believing on him who juftifies the ungodly," Rom. iv. 5. and know that the deepeſt ſenſe of your own vileneſs, emptineſs, andunworthineſs, is the beſt frameof heart that can
accompany you to Chrift. Many perfons ſtand off from Chriſt for want of fit qualifications; they arenot prepared for Chriſt as
they ſhould be, i. e. they would not come naked and empty, buthave fomething to commend them to the Lord Jefus for ac-
ceptance. O ! this is the pride of mens hearts, and the ſnare of the Devil. Lethim that hath no moneycome : You are not to come to Chrift becauſe you are qualified, but that you may be qualified with whatever you want; and the beſt qualification you can bringwith you, is a deep ſenſe that you have noworth
nor excellency at all in you.
Direct. 4. Fourthly, In receiving Christ, beware ofdangerous delays . O follow on that work tillitbe finiſhed. You read offome that are almoſt perfuaded, and others not far fromthe kingdom ofGod ; O take heed ofwhat theprophet ſays, Hofea xiii. 13. Delays here are full of danger, life is uncertain, fo aremeans ofgrace too. The man-flayer needed no motives to quicken his flight to the city of refuge.
Direct. 5. Fifthly, See that you receive all Christ, with all yourheart. To receive allChriſt, is to receive his perfon cloathedwith all his offices; and to receive him with all your heart,
is to receive him into your understanding, will, and affections, Acts viii . 37. As there is nothing in Chriſt that maybe refuſed, ſo there is nothing in you from which he must be excluded.
Direct. 6. Lastly, Underſtand that theopening ofyour hearts to receive the Lord Jesus Chriſt, is not a work done by any power of your own, but the arm ofthe Lord is revealed there in, Ifa, liii. 1. It is therefore yourduty and intereſt tobe daily at the feet ofGod, pouring out your fouls to him in fecret, for abilities to believe. And so much, as to our actual reception of Chrift.
Thanks be to Godfor Jesus Christ.
SERM. VIII. 243 The Method of Grace. SERMON VIII.
Setting forth the Believer's Fellowship with CHRIST,
the next End ofhis Application tothem.
PSALM XIV. 7. Therefore God thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil ofgladness above thy fellows. THE method of grace inuniting ſouls with Jefus Chriſt,
hath been opened in the former diſcourſes ; thusdoth the Spirit (whoſe office it is) make application of Chrift to God's elect, the refult and next fruitwhereof is communion with Chrift
inhis graces andbenefits. Our mysticalunion is theverygroundwork, and foundation ofour ſweet, foul-enriching communion, andparticipationofſpiritual privileges ; we are firſt ingrafted into Chrift, and then fuck the ſap and fatneſs of the root : firſt married to the perſon ofChriſt, then endowed and inſtatedin the privileges and benefits ofChriſt. This is my properworktoopen at this time, and from this ſcripture.
" The words read, are a part ofthat excellentfong oflove *, " that heavenly Epithalamium, wherein the ſpiritual eſpoufals " of Chriſt and the church are figuratively, and very elegantly, " celebrated andſhadowed. The ſubject matter of this pfalm " isthe very fame with the whole book ofthe Canticles ;" and
in this pſalm, under the figure ofking Solomon, and the daugh-
ter ofEgypt, whom he eſpouſed, the ſpiritual eſpouſals ofChrift and the church are ſet forth and repreſented to us. Amongmany rapturous and elegant expreffions inpraise ofthis glorious bridegroom, Chriſt, this is one, which you have before you : "God thy fellow hath anointedthee with the oil of gladneſs a- " bove thy fellows : " (i. e.) enriched and filled thee, inafingu-
lar and peculiar manner, with the fulness of the Spirit, whereby thouartconfecrated to thy office : andbyreaſonwhereofthou out ſmineſt and excelleft all the faints, who are thyfellows or copartners in theſe graces. Sothat in theſe words you have two parts; viz. First, The ſaints dignity, and Secondly, Chriſt's pre-eminency.
First, The faints dignity, which confifts in this, that they
Ii 2
* Hic Pfalmus propheticus eft, continetque Epilathamium quo Chrifti cum ecclefia nuptiæ celebrantur, idemque habet argumentum
quod canticum canticorum ejuſque videtur effe epitome. Cocceius inloc.
244 The Method ofGrace. SERM. VIII.
are Chriſt's fellows. The Hebrew word † is very full and copious, and is tranſlated " conforts, companions, copartners, " partakers : or, as ours read it,felows :" (i. e ) ſuch as are partakers with him inthe anointing ofthe Spirit, whodo, in theirmeafure, receive the fameSpirit, every Chriſtian being anointed, modo fibi proportionato, with the ſamegrace, and dignified with the ſame titles, 1John ii. 27. Rev. i. 6. Chriſtand the ſaints are in common onewith another : doth the ſpiritof holineſs dwell in him ? So it doth inthem too. Is Chriſt king andpriest ? Why, ſo are they too bythe grace of union with him. He hathmade us kings and prieſts toGod, and his Father. This is the faintsdignitytobe Chriſt's fellows, conforts, or copartners ; ſo that look, whatever ſpiritual grace or excellency is in Chriſt, it is not appropriated tohimself,but theydo
ſhare with him: for indeedhewas filledwith the fulness ofthe Spirit, for their ſakes and uſe: as the fun is filledwith light, not to ſhine to itſelf, but to others; ſo is Chriſt with grace. Andtherefore, fome tranſlate the text, notprae confortibus, a-
bove thy fellows; but propter confortes, for thy fellows ‡. MakingChriſt the firſt receptacle of grace, who firſt and immediately is filledfromthe fountain, theGodhead: but it is for his
people, who receive and derive from him, according to their proportion.
This is agreat truth, andthedignity ofthe faints lies chiefly in their partnerſhip with Chriſt, though our tranſlation, above thyfellows, ſuits beſt, both with the importance of the word, andſcope oftheplace.
Secondly, But then, whateverdignity isaſcribedhereintothe ſaints, there is, and ſtillmuſt be, apre-eminency acknowledged, and aſcribed to Chrift: if they are anointed with the ſpiritof grace,muchmore abundantly in Chriſt: "God thyGod hath "anointed thee with the oil ofgladness abovethy fellows."
By the oil ofgladness, understand the ſpirit ofholiness, comparedherewith oil, ofwhich there was adouble uſe under the
law, viz. a civil, and afacred uſe, It had a facred and a folemn uſe, in the inauguration and confecration ofthe Jewish kings and high-prieſts; it had alſoacivil, andcommonuſe, for
the anointing their bodies||, to make their limbs more agile,
וירבחמ
Confortes,participes,fodales,focios. VoxHebraa quodcunquefocietatisfive communionisgenusfignificat. Muis. ‡ Rivet.
Oilitſelfispure pureandclear ; which ſupplies andfeedsthe flame, with
SERM. VIII. 245 The Method of Grace.
expedite, and nimble; to make the face ſhine, for it gave a luftre, freſhneſs, and livelineſs to the countenance. Itwas alſo uſed in lamps, to feed and maintain the fire, and give them
light. Theſe were the principal uſes of oil. Now, upon all theſe accounts, it excellently expreſſeth, and, figuratively, repreſentstousthe ſpirit ofgracepouredforthuponChrift and hispeople. For, First, By the ſpirit poured out uponhim, he was prepared for, and confecrated to his offices; he was anointed with the HolyGhoſt, andwith power, Actsx. 38.
Secondly, As this precious oil runsdown from Chriſt, the head, to theborders ofhisgarments, I mean, as it is ſhedup-
onbelievers, ſo itexceedinglybeautifies their faces, andmakes them shinewith glory.
Thirdly, It renders them apt, expedite, and readyto every good work ; Non tardat uncta rota.
Fourthly, It kindles and maintains the flame ofdivine love in their fouls, and, like alamp, enlightens their minds in the knowledgeof ſpiritual things; the anointing teaches them. "And this oil is here called the oil of gladness †, becauſe "it is the cause ofalljoyand gladneſs to them that are anoint-
" edwith it: " Oil was used (as you heard before) at the in-
ſtalment of fovereign princes, whichwas the dayof the gladnefs of their hearts; and, among the common people, itwas liberallyufed at all their festivals, but never upon theirdays of mourning. Whence itbecomes excellently expreſſive of the natureand use of the ſpirit of grace, who is the cauſe andauthor of alljoyin believers, John xvii. 13.
Andwith this oil of gladness is Chriſt ſaid to be anointed above his fellows, i. e, tohave a far greater ſhare of the fpiritof grace thanthey: " For to everyone ofthe faints isgivengrace
according to the meaſure ofthe gift of Chrift," Eph. iv. 7. But to him the Spirit is not given by meaſure, John iii. 34.
fuel; hence the metaphor of anointingwith oilufed in ſcripture, frequently ſignifies the internal illumination ofthe mind by the Holy Spirit, and the communication of the trueknowledge of God, and ſuitable affections offoulto it. Moller. on theplace. †Ελαίον αγαλλιασεως dicitur id quod caufam datfummigaudii. Grot. inHeb. i. 9. ᾿Αυτος υμιν αιτίος της δωρεας το πνευματος, και επισπασαμενος καθο εσιν ανθρωπος το πνεύμα και ημιν μεταδες. έ. ε. Heisthe cause of the gift ofthe Spirit to you, andbeing anointed
with the Spirit as he is man, he communicates the Spirittous allo.
Ecum.
246 The Method of Grace. SERM . VIII. " It hath pleaſed the Father, that in him ſhould all fulneſs
dwell," Col. i . 19. and " of his fulneſs we all receive grace " for grace," John i. 16. The faints partake with him, and through him, in the ſame ſpirit ofgrace, forwhich reaſonthey are his fellows; but all the grace poured out upon believers, comes exceeding ſhortofthatwhichGodhath pouredout upon
Jeſus Chriſt. The words being thus opened, give us this note...
Doct. That all true believers havea real communion, or fel-
lowship, with the Lord Jesus Chrift.
From the faints unionwithChriſt, theredoth naturally, and immediately, reſult a moſt ſweet and bleſſed communion or fellowſhip with him in graces and ſpiritual privileges, Eph. i. 3. " Bleſſedbe theGod and Father of our LordJesus Chriſt, who " hath bleſſed us with all ſpiritual bleſſings inheavenly places
(or things) in Chrift : in giving us his Son,he freely gives us " allthings," Rom. viii. 32. So in 1 Cor. i. 30. " Of him are ye " in Chrift Jeſus, who ofGod is made unto uswisdom, righte- " ouſneſs, fanctification and redemption." And once more,
I Cor. iii. 22, 23. "All are yours, and ye are Chriſt's." What Chriſt is, and hath, is theirs by communication tothem, or improvement for them ; and this is very evidently implied in all thoſe excellent ſcripture metaphors, by which our union with Chriſt is figured and ſhadowed out tous : as themarriage-
union betwixt a man and his wife, Eph. v. 31, 32. You know that this conjugal union gives the wife intereſt inthe eſtate and honourofthehusband,be ſhe never ſo meanlydeſcended in her-
ſelf : The natural union betwixt the head and members ofthe body, by which alſo the mystical union of Chrift and believers is fet forth, 1 Cor. xii. 12. excellently illuftrates this fellowſhip or communion betwixt them : for from Chriſt " the wholebo61 dy fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every " joint ſupplieth, according to the effectual working in the " meaſure ofevery part, maketh increaſe ofthe body," as the apoſtle ſpeaks, Eph. iv. 16. The union betwixt the graff and the ſtock, which is another emblem of our union with Chrift, John xv. 1. imports, in like manner, this communion, or part-
nerſhip betwixt Chriſt and the faints; for no fooner doth the graff take hold of the ſtock, but the vital ſap of the ſtock is
communicated to the graff, andboth live by one and the ſame juice.
†Ubi ego Cajus tu Gaja. Uxor clarefcit in radiis mariti.
SERM. VIII. The Method of Grace. 247 Now, that the ſcope of this diſcourſe be not miſtaken, let the readerknow that Iam not here treatingofthe faints communion, or fellowshipwithGod inhis duties, as in prayer, hearing, facra-
ments, &c. but of that intereſt which believers have in the good things of Chriſt, by virtue of the mystical union betwixt themthrough faith: there is atwofoldcommunion ofthe faints withChrift.
The firſt is an act. The ſecond is astate. There is an actual fellowship, orcommunion the faints have with Chriſt in holy duties, wherein Chriſtians let forth their hearts to God by defires, andGod lets forth his comforts and
refreshments again into their hearts ; they open their mouths wide, and he fills them: this communion withGod is thejoy
and comfort of abeliever's life, but Iam not to ſpeak of that here. It is not any act of communion, but the ſtate of communion, from which all acts of communion flow, and upon which they alldepend, thatI amnow to treat of; which is no-
thingelse but thejoint intereſt that Chriſt and the faints havein thefame things : as when a ſhip, an houſe, or eſtate, is among
many partners, orjoints heirs, every one ofthemhath aright to it, and intereſt in it, though some of them have agreater, and others a leffer part. So it is betwixt Chriſt and his people ; there is a κοινωνία, (i. e.) a fellowship or joint intereſt betwixt them, upon whichground they are called coheirs with Chrift, Rom viii. 17. This communion or participation in Chrift's benefits, depends upon the hypoftaticalunionofour nature, and themyſtical union of our perfons with the Son ofGod : in the firſt he partakes with us, in the ſecond we partake with him : the former is the remote, the latter the next cauſe thereof.
In the explication of this point, I ſhall ſpeak to theſe four things :
1. What are thoſe things inwhich Chriſt and believers have fellowship. 2. By what means theycome tohave fuch a fellowſhip with Chriſt. 3. Howgreat adignity this is to have fellowship with Jefus Chrift. 4. And then apply the whole in divers practical inferences. First, What are thoſe things inwhich Chriſt and believers have fellowship, to which I muſt ſpeak both negatively andpofitively.
1. Negatively, The faints have no fellowship with Jeſus Chriſt in thoſe things thatbelong tohim as God; ſuch as his
248 1 The Method of Grace. SERM. VIII, conſubſtantiality, coequality, and coeternity with the Father : It is theblafphemy of the wicked Familifts to talkofbeinggodded intoGod, and chriſted into Chriſt. Neither men or angels partake in theſe things; they are the proper and incommunicableglory of the Lord Jeſus.
2. The faints have nocommunion or fellowship in the họ nour and glory of his mediatory works, viz. his fatisfaction ta God, or redemption of the elect. It is true, we have the benefit and fruit of his mediation and fatisfaction ; his righteousneſs alſo is imputed to us for our perſonaljuſtification, but we thare not in the least with Chriſt in thegloryof this work : nor have we an inherentrighteouſneſs in us as Chriſt hath ; norcan we juſtify and ſave others as Chriſt doth : we have nothing to do with his peculiar honour,and praise in theſe things. Tho' wehave the benefit of being ſaved, we maynot pretend to the
honour of being Saviours, as Chriſt is to ourſelves or others,
" || Chrift's righteouſneſs is not made ours as to its univerfal
value,butas to our particular neceſſity; nor is itimputed to " us as to ſo manycauſes of ſalvation to others, but as to ſo
many fubjects tobe savedby itourſelves." "
Secondly, But then there are many glorious and excellent things, which are incommon betwixt Chriſt and believers, tho' inthem allhe hath the pre-eminence, he ſhines inthe fulness of them, as the fun, and wewith aborrowed and leſſer light, but ofthe famekind and nature as the ſtars. Some of theſe I ſhall particularly, and briefly, unfold inthe following particulars.
First, Believers have communionwith Chriſt in his namesand titles; theyare called Chriftians from Chriſt, Eph. iii. 15. from himthe whole family in heaven and earth is named : this is
that worthy name the apostle ſpeaks of, James ii. 7. He is the Son ofGod, and they alſo, by their union with him, have power or authority to become the SonsofGod,John i. 12. He isthe heirofall things, and theyare joint-beirs with him, Rom . viii.
17. He is both king and prieſt, and he hath made them kings and prieſts, Kev. i. 6. But they denot only partake in the names and titles, but this communion conſiſts inthings aswell astitles. And therefore, Secondly, They have communionwithhim inhis righteoufness, ( i. e.) the righteouſneſs ofChriſt is made theirs, 2 Cor. v. 21. andhe is " the Lord ourrighteouſneſs," Jer. xxiii. 6. It
Juftitia Chrifti fit noſtra, non quoad univerſalemvaloremfed particularem neceffitatem,et imputatur nobis nonut caufisfalva
tionis, fed utfubjectisfalvandis. Bradshaw de juftificatione.
SERM. VIII. The Method of Grace. 249 istrue, the righteousness ofChriſt is not inherent in us, as it is in him ; but it is ours by imputation,Rom. iv. 5, 11. and our unionwith him is the ground ofthe imputation of his righteouſneſs to us, 2 Cor. v. 21. " We are made the righteouſneſs
" ofGod in him," Phil. iii. 9. for Chrift and believers are con-
fidered as one perfon, in conſtruction of law ; as aman and his wife, adebtor and furety, are one : and ſo his payment or fa-
tisfaction is in our name, or uponour account.
Now, this is a moſt inestimable privilege, the very ground of all our other bleſſings and mercies . O what a benefit is this to a poor finner, thatowes toGod infinite morethan he isever able
topay, by doing or fuffering; tohaveſuch arich treaſure ofmerit as lies inthe obedience of Chriſt, to discharge, in one entire payment, allhis debts to the laſt farthing ? " Surelyſhall one ſay, " in the Lord Ihave righteouſneſs," Iſa. xlv. 24. even as a poor womanthatowes more than ſhe isworth, inone moment is dif-
chargedof all herobligations, byhermarriage toawealthyman.
Thirdly, Believers have communion with Chriſt in his holiness or ſanctification, for ofGod he is made unto them, not only righteouſneſs, but fanctification alſo; and as in the former pri-
vilegethey have a ſtock of merit in thebloodof Chriſt tojustify them, fohere they have the Spirit of Chriſt to ſanctify them,
1Cor. i. 30. and therefore we are ſaid of his fulneſs to receive " grace for grace,"John i. 16. (i. e.) ſayſome, graceupongrace, manifold graces, or abundance of grace; or grace for grace, that is, grace anſwerable to grace: as in the feal and wax, there is line for line, and cut for cut, exactly anſwerable to each other; or grace for grace, that is, ſayothers, the free grace of God in Chriſt, for the fanctification or filling of our fouls with grace; be it inwhich ſenſe it will, it ſhews the communion believers havewith Jeſus Chriſt in grace and holineſs. Now, holiness is the moſt precious thing in theworld, it is the image ofGod, and chiefexcellency ofman : it is our evidence forglory, yea, and the firſt-fruits of glory. In Chriſtdwells the fulneſs ofgrace, and from him, our head, it is derived and communicatedto us: thus he that ſanctifieth, and they that are ſanctified, are all ofone, Heb. ii. 11. You would think it no ſmall privilege to havebags of gold togo to, and enrich yourſelveswith, andyet that were but avery trifle in comparifon to have Chriſt's righteouſneſs and holineſs togo to foryour justification, and fanctification. More particularly,
Fourthly, Believers have communionwith Chriſt in his death: theydie with him, Gal. ii. 20. " I am crucified with Chrift,"
VOL. II. Kk
250 The Method of Grace. SERM . VIII.
(i. e.) thedeath ofChriſthath a real killingand mortifyingin-
fluence upon the lufts, and corruptions ofmyheart and nature : true it is, hedied for fin one way, andwe die to fin anotherway: he died to expiate it, we die to it, whenwe mortify it: the death ofChriſt is the death of ſin in believers : and this isa ve-
ry glorious privilege ; for the death of ſin is the lite of your fouls: if fin do notdie in you by mortification, you must die for finby eternal damnation : ifChrift had not died, the Spirit ofGod, by whichyounow mortify thedeeds of thebody, could nothave beengivenuntoyou ; thenyou must have lived vaſſals toyour fins, anddied at laſt inyour fins; but the fruit, efficacy, and benefit of Chrift's death is your's for the killing thoſe fins
in you, which elſe had been your ruin.
Fifthly, Believers have communion with Chriſt in his life, and refurrection from the dead: as he roſe from the dead, fo do they; andthat by the power and influence of his vivification and refurrection: it is the Spirit oflife which is in Chrift Jefus that makes us free from the law of ſin and death, Rom. viii. 2. our fpiritual life is from Chriſt, Eph . ii. 1. " Andyou hath he " quicknedwho were dead in treſpaſſes and fins :" andhence Chrift is faidto live in the believer, Gal. ii. 20. "Now, I live,
66 yet not I; but Chriſt liveth in me:" andit is no fmall privilege to partake ofthe very life ofChriſt, which is the moſt ex.
cellent life that ever any creature can live; yet ſuch is the happineſsofallthe faints, the life ofChrift is manifeſt inthem, and
fuch a life as ſhall never fee death .
Sixthly, To conclude, believers have fellowship with Jeſus Chrift in his glory, which they ſhallenjoy in heaven with him : they " ſhallbe ever with the Lord," I Thef. iv. 17. and thatis not all, (though, as one faith, it were a kind of heaven but to look through the key-hole, and have but aglimpse of Chrift's bleſſed face) but they ſhall partake of the glory which the Father hath givenhim; for ſo he ſpeaks, John xvii. 22, 24. and
more particularly, they ſhall fit withhim in his throne,Rev.iii. 21. andwhen he comes tojudge the world, he will come tobe glorified in the faints, 2Thef. i. 10. So that you fee what gloriousandinestimablethings are, andwillbe in common betwixt Chriſt and thefaints. His titles, his righteouſneſs, his holiness, his death, his life, his glory. I do not saythat Chriſt will make any faint equal with him in glory; that is impoſſible, he willbe knownfrom allthe faints inheaven, as the fun is diftin guished from the ftars ; but they ſhall partake of his glory, and
be filledwithhisjoy there; and thusyou fee what thoſethings
are thatthe faints have fellowship with Chrift in.
SERM. VIII. 251 The Method ofGrace.
Secondly, Next Iwould open theway andmeans by which we come to have fellowship with Jeſus Chrift, in theſe excel-
lent privileges ; and this I ſhalldo, briefly, in the following poſitions.
Pofition 1 . Firſt, Noman hath fellowship with Chriſt in anyspecialfavingprivilege by nature, howsoever it be cultivatedor improved; but only by faith uniting him to the Lord Jesus Chrift : It is not theprivilege ofourfirst, butfecondbirth, * This is plain from John i. 12, 13. " But to as manyas received him, tothemgave " he power to become the fons ofGod, even to as many as be- " lievedon his name, who are born not of fleſh, nor ofblood,
nor of the will of man, but of God." We are by nature children ofwrath, Eph. ii. 3. we have fellowship with Satan in
fin and mifery : the wild branch hath no communication ofthe fweetneſs and fatneſs of amore noble and excellent root, until it be ingrafted upon it, andhave immediate union andcoalition with it, John xv. 1 , 2 .
Pofition 2 . Believers themselves have not an equalſhare, one with another, in allthe benefits and privileges of their union with Christ, but infomethere isan equality, and in others an inequality ; according to themeasure andgift of Christ, to every one.
In juftification they are allequal: the weak and the ſtrong believer are alike juſtified, becauſe it isone andthe fame per-. fect righteouſneſs of Chriſt, which is applied to the one and to theother, ſothat there are no different degrees ofjuftification, but all that believe are justified from all things, Acts xiii. 39.
and " there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Je- " fus," Rom. viii. 1. be they never ſoweak in faith, or defective indegrees ofgrace. But there is apparent difference in the meaſures of their ſanctification, ſome are ſtrong men, and others
are babes in Chriſt, 1 Cor. iii. 1. The faith offome flourishes andgrows exceedingly, 2 Theſ. i. 3. the things thatare in others are ready to die, Rev. iii. 2. It is a plain cafe, that there is great variety found in the degrees ofgrace, and comfort among them that are jointly intereſted in Chriſt, and equally juſtified by him . Kk 2
* The truly faithful onlyare members ofChriſt, not as they are men,but as they are Chriſtians ; notby their firft,but fecondbirth. Polan. Syntag, book 6. chap. 35 .
232 SERM. VIII. The Method ofGrace.
Pofition 3 . Thefaints havenot fellowship and communionwith Chrift, in thefore mentionedbenefits andprivileges by oneand thesame medium, but by various mediums andways, according tothenature
of the benefits, inwhich they participate.
For instance, they have partnerſhip and communion with Chriſt, as hath been ſaid, in his righteouſneſs, holineſs, and glory, but they receive theſe diſtinct bleſſings bydivers medi-
ums of communion : we have communion with Chrift in his righteouſneſs, by the way of imputation; we partake of his holineſs, by the way of infuſion ; and of his glory in heaven, by thebeatifical viſion. Our juſtification is a relative change, our ſanctification a real change, our glorification a perfect change, by redemption, from allthe remainsboth of ſin and mifery.
Thus hath the Lord appointed ſeveralbleſſings for believers in Chriſt, and ſeveral channels of conveying them from himto us; by imputed righteouſneſs, we are freed from the guilt of ſin; by imparted holineſs, we are freed from thedominionof fin, and by our glorification with Chriſt, we are freed from all the relics and remains both ofſin andmiſery, let in by ſin upon our natures.
Position 4. That Jefus Christ imparts to allbelievers, all theſpiritual bleffings that he isfilledwith,andwithholds nonefrom any thathave
unionwith him; be theſebleffings neversogreat, ortheythatre ceive them neverso weak, mean, andcontemptible in outward respects, Gal. iii. 27. " Ye are all the children ofGod by faith " inJeſus Chriſt" The ſalvationthat comes byChriſt is ſtiled thecommonfalvation, Jude 3.and heaven the inheritance of the faints in light, Col. i. 12. " There is neither Greek nor Jew,
(faith the apostle) circumcifion nor uncircumſion, Barbarian,
Scythian, bond or free, but Chriſt is all and in all," Col. iii. 11. He means, there isnoprivilege in theone tocommend them to God, and no want of any thing in the other to debar them from God; let men have or want outward excellencies, as beauty, honour, riches, nobility, gifts of the mind,
ſweetneſs of nature, and all fuch like ornaments, what is that to God ? He looks not at theſe things, but reſpects them, and
communicates his favour tothem as they are in Chrift : Heis all, and in all. The gifts and bleſſings ofthe Spirit aregiven tomen as they are in Chriſt, and without reſpect to any exter nal differences made in this world amongmen: hencewe find excellenttreaſures ofgrace in meanandcontemptible perfons in
SERM. VIII. 253 The Method of Grace. the world; poor in the world, and rich in faith, and heirs of thekingdom; and as all believers, without difference, receive
from Chriſt, ſo they are not debarred from any bleſſing that is in Chriſt: " All is yours, for ye are Chriſt's," 1 Cor. iii . ult.; with Chrift, God " freelygives us all things," Rom. viii. 32.
Position 5. The communion believers havewith Chrift, infpiritual benefits, isaverygreat mystery, far above the understanding of natural men. There are no footſteps ofthis thing in allthe works of creation, therefore the apostle calls it " The unſearchable riches
" of Chriſt," Eph. iii. 8. ανεξιχνιασον πλετον τεΧρι58: The word
fignifies, that which hath no footſteps totrace it by: yea, itis -ſo deep a mystery, that the angels themselves ſtoopdown to
look into it, I Pet. i. 12. " Eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, " neitherhave it entered into theheartofman the thingswhich "Godhath prepared for them that love him: but God hath "revealed them unto us by his Spirit," I Cor. ii. 9, 10. Thirdly, and lastly, I ſhall, in a few particulars, open the dignityand excellency of this fruit of our union with Chriſt, and ſhew you, that a greaterglory and honour cannot be put upon man, than to be thus in fellowship with Jeſus Chriſt, John xvii . 22. " The glory which thou gaveſt me, I havegiv- " en them, that they maybe one, as we are one:" And therefore, more particularly, letitbe confidered,
First, With whom we are aſſociated; even the Son ofGod; withhim that is over all, God bleſſedfor ever. Our afſſociation with angels is anhigh advancement, for angels and ſaints are
fellow-fervants in the ſame family, Rev. xix. 10. and through Chriſt we are come to an innumerable companyof angels, Heb . xii . 22. But what is all this to our fellewſhip with Jeſus Chriſt himſelf, and that in another manner than angels have ? For
though Chriſt be to them anhead ofdominion, yet not an head of vital influences, as he is to his myſtical bodythe church : this therefore is to them a great mystery, which they greatly affect to ſtudy and pry into.
Secondly, What we are that are dignified with this title, the fellowsor co-partners with Jeſus Chrift : Not only duſt byna-
ture, (Dust thou art), but finful duſt; ſuch wretched ſinners, as, bynature, and the ſentence ofthe law, ought to be aſſociatedwith devils, and partakers with them of the wrath of the almighty God to all eternity.
Thirdly, The benefits we are partakers of, in and with the Lord Jesus Chrift; and, indeed, they are wonderful and aftoniſhingthings, fo far as they do already appear, but yetwe fee
254 The Method of Grace. SERM . VIII. but littleofthem, comparatively, towhatwe shall fee, 1 John Hì. 1, 2. " Now are we the fons of God, and it doth not yet
64 appear what we shall be, but we know that when he ſhall " appear, we shall be like him, for we shall ſee him as he is." Owhatwill thatbe! tosee him as he is, and tobe transformed
into his likenels.
Fourthly, The way and manner inwhich we are brought into this fellowship with Chrift : which is yet more admirable. The apoſtle gives us a ſtrange accountof it in 2 Cor. viii. 9. " For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Chrift, that ** though hewas rich, yet for your fakeshe became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich;" he empties himſelf ofhis glory, thatwe might be filled; he is made a curſe, that we might enjoy the bleffing; he ſubmits to be crowned with
thorns, thatwe might be crowned with glory and honour; he puts himselfintothenumber of worms, Plal. xxii. 6., that we
might be made equal to the angels. O the unconceivablegrace ofChrift!
Fifthly, The reciprocal nature of that communion which is betwixt Chriſt and believers : We do not only partake ofwhat
is his, but he partakes ofwhat is ours : he hath fellowship with us in all ourwants, ſorrows, miſeries, and afflictions ; and we
have communion with him inhis righteousness, grace, fonſhip and glory : he takes part of our misery, and we take part of his bleſſedneſs; our fufferings are his fufferings, Col. i. 24. O what anhonour is it to thee, poor wretch, towhom a great
many would not turn aſide to ask how thou doft ; to have a King, yea, the Prince of all the kings ofthe earth, to pity, re-
lieve, ſympathize, groan and bleed with thee, to fit by thee in all thy troubles, and give thee his cordials, to ſay thy troubles are my troubles, and thy afflictions are my afflictions : whatever toucheth thee, toucheth me alfo. O what name ſhallwe giveunto ſuchgrace as this is?
Sixthly, and lastly, Confider the perpetuity ofthis privilege: Your fellowshipwith Chriſt isinterminable, and abides for ever. Chriſt and the ſaints ſhall beglorified together, Rom. viii. 17.
while he hath anyglory they ſhall partakewith him. It is faid indeed, 1 Cor. xv. 24. that there ſhall be a time when Chrift willdeliverup the kingdom to his Father; but the meaning is
notthat ever he willcease to be an Head tohis faints, or they
from being his members: No, no, the relation never ceafes; juftification, ſanctification, and adoption, are everlasting things,
andwe can never be diveſted of them .
Infer. 1. Are the faint's Chrift's fellows ? What honourable
SERM. VIII. 255 The Method of Grace. perfons thenarethey ! andhowshould they be esteemedandvalued
in the world ! If a king, who is the fountain ofhonour, dobut raiſe aman by his favour, and dignify himby beſtowingſome honourable titleuponhim,what reſpect and obſervance is pre ſently paid him by all perfons ? But what are all the vain and emptytitles ofhonour, tothe glorious and ſubſtantial privileges with which believers aredignified, andraiſed above all other men by Jeſus Chriſt ? He is the Son ofGod, and theyare the fon's ofGod alſo : he is the heir of allthings, andthey arejoint-heirs with Chrift: he reigns inglory, and they ſhallreignwith him : he fits uponthethrone, andthey ſhall fit withhim inhis throne. Othat this vile worlddid but know the dignity of believers,
theywould never flight, hate, abuſe, and perfecute them as they do. AndO that believers did but underſtand their own happineſs, and privileges by Chriſt, theywould neverdroop, and fink under every ſmall trouble at that ratetheydo.
Infer. 2. How abundantly hathGodprovidedfor all the ne ceffities andwants of believers ! Chriſt isa ſtorehouſe filledwith bleſſings and mercies, and it is all for them from him they " receive abundance ofgrace, and ofthe gift ofrighteouſneſs," Rom. v. 17. " Ofhis fulness they all receive grace for grace,"
John i. 16. All the fulness of Chriſt is made over to them for
the fupply of their wants: " MyGod ſhall ſupply all your need " (faith the apostle), according to his riches in glory by Jefus
" Chrift," Phil. iv. 19. Ifall the richesofGod can fupplyyour needs, thenthey ſhallbe ſupplied. Say not, Chrift is in the poffeffion of confummate glory, and I am a poor creature,
ftruggling with many difficulties, and toiling in the midst of manycares and fears in the world ; for care is taken for all thy wants, and orders given from heaven for their ſupply : MyGod Shallfupply allyour need. O ſaywith a melting heart, I have
afull Chriſt, andhe is filled for me: I have his pure and per-
fect righteouſneſs to justify me, his holiness toſanctify me, his wisdom toguideme, his comforts to refreſh me,his power to
protect me, andhis all-fufficiency tofupply me. Obechearful, bethankful, you have all yourhearts can with; andyetbehumble; itisallfromfree-grace toempty and unworthycreatures.
Infer. 3. How abfurd, diſingenuous, and unworthy of a ChriStian, is it todeny, or withholdfrom Chriſt any thinghehath, or
bywhich hemay beferved, or honoured? Doth Chrift commu, nicateall he hath toyou, and can you withholdany thing from Chrift ? On Chriſt's part it is not mine, and thine, but ours, or
mine and yours ; John xx. 17. " I aſcend to my Father, and " yourFather; to myGod, andyour God." But this cur
256 The Method ofGrace. SERM.VIII.
fed idolfelf! which appropriates all to its own deſigns anduſes How liberal is Chriſt ! and how penurious arewe tohim ! Some will not part with their credit for Chriſt, when yet Chriſt aba-
fed himself unspeakably for them. Some will not partwith a drop ofblood for Chriſt, when Chriſt ſpentthe whole treafure
ofhisblood freely for us; yea, how loth are we to part with a shilling for Chriſt, to relieve him in his diſtreſſed members, when as yet we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Chriſt, " that though he was rich, yet for our fakes he became poor, " that we through his poverty might be rich !" O ungrateful return ! O baſe and diſingenuous ſpirits ! The things Chriſt gives us are great, andthe things we denytohim are ſmall : he parts with the greatest, and yet is denied the leaſt. The things hecommunicates to us, are none of ours, we have no right nor titleby nature, or any defert ofours to them ; the thingswedeny or grudge to Chriſt, are by all titles his own, andhe hath the fullest and moſt unquestionable title to them all: what hegives to us, he gives to them that never deſerved
it; what we withhold from him, we withhold from one that hath deſerved that, and infinitely more from us, thanwe have, or are.
He intereſted you freely in all his riches when you were ene mies ; you ſtand upon trifles with him, and yet call him your beſt and dearest friend: he gave himself, and alt hehath toyou, when you could claim nothing from him; you deny to part with theſe things to Chriſt, who may not onlyclaim themupon thehighest title, hisown ſovereignty,and abſolute property, but by your own act, who profeſs tohave given all in covenant to
him : what he gives you, returns no profit to him ; but what yougive or part with for him, is your greateſt advantage. O thatthe confideration oftheſe things might shame and humble yourfouls.
Infer. 4. Then certainly noman is, orcanbefupposed to be a loferby converfion, feeingfrom that day, whatever Chrift is, or hath, becomes his.
Owhat an inheritance are men poſſeſſed ofbytheir new birth ! Some men cryout, Religion will undoyou; but with what eyes do theſe men fee ? Surely, you could never fo reck-
on, except your fouls were fo incarnated, as to reckon pardon, peace, adoption, holiness, and heaven, for nothing ; that inviſibles are non-entities, andtemporals the only realities. It is true, theconverted foul may loſe his eſtate, his liberty, yea, his life for Chriſt; but what then ? Are they loſers that exchange braſs for gold? or part with their prefentcomforts for
SERM. VIII. The Method of Grace. 257 anhundred-fold advantage ? Markx. 29. So that none need be frightned at religion, for the loffes that attend it, whilſt Chrift and heaven are gained by it : they that count religion their lofs, have their portion inthis life.
Infer. 5. How fecurely is the faints inheritance fettled upon them, feeing they are in common with Jesus Christ ? Chriſt and hisſaints are joint-heirs, and the inheritance cannot be alienated,butbyhis conſent; he must loſe his intereſt, if you loſe yours. Indeed, Adam's inheritance was by a ſingle title, and moreover, itwas in his own hand, and ſo he might, (as indeed he foon did) diveſt himself and his poſterity ofit; but it is not
fo betwixt Chriſt and believers, we are ſecured in our inheritance by Chriſt our co-heir, who will never alienate it: and therefore it was truly obſerved by the father, Foelicior Job inſterquilinio, quam Adamus in paradiso : Job was happier upon the dunghill, thanAdamwas in paradiſe. The covenant ofgrace is certainly thebeſt tenure ; as ithath the beſt mercies, ſo itgives the fulleft ſecurity to enjoy them.
Infer. 6. How rich andfull is Jesus Chriſt, who communicates abundantly to all thefaints, andyet hath infinitelystill more in himself, than hath ever been received by them all.
Take all the faith ofAbraham, all the meekness ofMofes, all the patience of Job, all the wisdom ofSolomon, all the zeal of David, allthe induſtry ofPaul, and allthe tender-heartedneſs of
Joſiah; add to this, all the grace that ispoured, (tho' in leſſer meaſure), into all the elect veſſels in the world, yet ſtill it is far
ſhortofthatwhich remains in Chriſt ; " He is anointed with the " oil ofgladneſs above his fellows :" And in allthings hehath, andmuſt ever have the pre-eminence. There are many thousand
ftars glittering above your heads, and one ſtar differs from another ſtar in glory, yet there is more light and glory in one fun,
than in the many thouſand ſtars. Grace beautifies the children ofmen exceedingly, but ſtill that is true of Chriſt, Pfal. xlv. 2. " Thou art fairer than the childrenofmen, grace is poured into " thy lips." For allgrace is ſecondarily, and derivatively in the faints, but it is primitively and originally in Chriſt, Johnv. 16. Grace is imperfect and defective inthem, butin him it is in its
moſt abſolute perfection and fulneſs, Col. i. 19. In the faints it is mixedwith abundance ofcorruption,but in Chriſt it is altogether unmixed, and excluſive of its oppoſite, Heb. vii. 26. So that as the Heathen faid of moral virtue, I may much more
ſay of Chrift, Thatwere he tobe ſeenwith mortaleyes, hewould compel love and admiration from all men, for " he is altogether " lovely," Cant. v. 16.
VOL. II. LI
258 The Method of Grace. SERM. VIII.
Infer. 7. What delight, andfingularadvantage must needs be in the communion of thefaints,whohave communionwith Jesus Chrift
in all his graces andbenefits.
" That which we have ſeen and heard, declare we unto you, *" that ye alſo may have fellowship with us: And trulyour fel- " lowſhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jefus Chrift,"
1 John i. 3. O it is ſweet to have fellowship with thoſe that have tellowſhip withGodin Jefus Chriſt. Chriſt hath communicated to the faints, varieties ofgraces, in different meaſures
and degrees ; and as they all receive from Chrift the fountain, Yo it is ſweet and moſtdelightful to be improving themselves by
ſpiritual communion onewith another : Yea, for that end one is furnished with one grace more eminently than another, that the weak may be affitted by the ſtrong, as a modern divine * well obſerves. Athanafius was prudent, and active, Bafil of an heavenly, ſweet temper, Chryfoftome laborious, without affectation, Ambroſe reſolved, and grave, Luther couragious, and Calvin acute, and judicious. Thus every one hath his proper gift from Chriſt, the fountain ofgifts andgraces, 1 Cor.
vii. 7. One hath quickness of parts, another folidity of judg.
ment, but not ready and preſential ; one is zealous, but ungrounded; anotherwell principled, buttimerous ; one iswary,
and prudent ; another openand plain; one is trembling, and
melting; another chearful and joyous ; one must impart his light, another his heat: The eye, the knowing man, cannot Tay to the hand, the active man, I have no need ofthee. And Ohow sweet would it be, if gifts, graces, and experiences were frequently, and humbly imparted ! But idle notions, earth-
Iv-mindedness, ſelf-intereſts, andwantof more communion with
Chriſt, have, almoſt, deſtroyed the comfort of Chriftian fel. Jowſhip every where in the world.
Infer. 8. In a word, thoſe onlyhave groundto claim intereft in Chrift, who do really participate of his graces, and in whom are found the effects and fruits of their union and communion with him.
If you have intereſt inChriſt, you have communion in his graces and benefits ; and if you have fuch communion, itwill appear in your maintaining daily actual communion with God in duties; whereby will be produced,
First, The increaſe ofyour fanctification, by freſh participa. tions from the fountain ; as cloth which is oftendipt into the fat receives thedeeperdye, and livelier tincture; fo will your
* Mr. Torſnel.
SERM . IX. The Method of Grace. 259 fouls-by affiduous communion with God. It will alſo be dif cerned,
Secondly, In your deeper humiliation, and ſpiritual ſenſe of your own vileneſs : The more anyman partakes ofGod, and is
acquainted with him, and aſſimilated tohim, the more baſe and vile inhis own fight he ſtill grows, Job xlii. 5, 6. Hạ. vi. 5.
Thirdly, It will appear in your more vehement longings after the full enjoymentofGod in heaven, 1 Pet. i. 8. and Rom. viii. 23. You that have the firſt fruits, will groan within yourſelves after the full harvest, and fatisfying fruition ; you will not be
ſotaken with things below, as to be content with the beſt lot on earth for your everlasting portion. O ! if theſe communi
cateddrops be ſo ſweet, what is there in Chriſt the fountain ?
And thus I have opened the method of grace inbringing home Chriſt and his benefits to God's elect by union, in order tocommunion with him.
Thanks be to Godfor Jesus Christ.