Believers themselves have not an equal share one with another, in all the benefits and privileges of their union with Christ, but in some there is an equality, and in others an inequality ; according to the measure and gift of Christ, to every one.
In justification they are all equal : the weak and the strong bc-
* The truly faithful only are members of Christ, not as they are men, but as they are Christians ; not by their first, but second birth. Polan. Syntag. Book G> chap. 55.
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lievcr are alike justified, because it is one and the same perfect righteousness of Christ,' which is applied to the one and to the other, so that there are no difFerent degrees of justification, but all that believe are justified from all things, Acts xiii. 39- and " there " is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus,11 Rom. viii. 1. be they never so weak in faith, or defective in degrees of grace. But there is apparent difference in the measures of their sanctifi- cation, some are strong men, and others are babes in Christ, 1 Cor. iii. 1. The faith of some flourishes and grows exceedingly, 2 Thes. i. 3. the things that are in others are ready to die, Rev. iii. 2. It is a plain case, that there is great variety found in the degrees of grace, and comfort among them that are jointly interested in Christ, and equally justified by him.
Position 3. The saints have not fellowship and communion with Christ, hi the fore-mentioned benefits and privileges by one and the same me- dium, but by various mediums and ways, according to the nature of the benefits, in which 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 by divers mediums of commu- nion : we have communion with Christ in his righteousness, by the way of imputation ; we partake of his holiness, by the way of in- fusion ; and of his glory in heaven, by the beatifical vision. Our justification is a relative change, our sanctification a real change, our glorification a perfect change, by redemption from all the re- mains both of sin and misery.
Thus hath the Lord appointed several blessings for believers in Christ, and several channels of conveying them from him to us ; by imputed righteousness, we are freed from the guilt of sin : by imparted holiness, we are freed from the dominion of sin, and by our glorification with Christ, we are freed from all the relics and remains both of sin and misery let in by sin upon our natures.
That Jesus Christ imparts to all believers, all the spiritual blessings that he is filled with, and withholds none from any that have union, with him, be these blessings never so great, or they that receive them never so weak, mean, and contemptible in outward respects, Gal. iii. 27. "Ye are the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ.11 The salvation that comes by Jesus Christ is stiled the common salvationy Jude 3. and heaven the inheritance of the saints in light, Col. i. 12. "There is neither Greek nor Jew, (saith the apostle, circum- " cision, nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, " but Christ is all, and in all,11 Col. iii. 11. He means, there is no privilege in the one to commend them to God, and no want of
150 THE METHOD OF GRACE. SERM. VI U.
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 such like ornaments, What is that to God ? He looks not at these things, but respects them, and communicates his favour to them as they are in Christ : He is all, and in all. The gifts and blessings of the Spirit are given to men as they are in Christ, and without respect to any ex- ternal differences made in this world among men : hence we find excellent treasures of grace in mean and contemptible persons in the world ; poor in the world and rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom ; 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 Christ God " freely gives us all things," Rom. viii. 32.
Position 5. The communion believers have with Christ, in spiritual "benefits* is a very great mystery, Jar above the understandings of natural men. There are no footsteps of this thing in all the works of crea- tion ; therefore the apostle calls it " The unsearchable riches of Christ," Eph. iii. 8. an^iyjiagov xXx-ov r* Xetsx: The word signifies, that which hath no footsteps to trace it by : yea, it is so deep a mystery, that the angels themselves stoop down to look into it, 1 Pet. i. 12. " Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered i( into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for " them that love him : but God hath revealed them unto us by his « Spirit," 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10.
Thirdly, and lastly, I shall, in a few particulars, open the dignity and excellency of this fruit of our union with Christ, and shew you, that a greater glory 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 have given them, that they may " be one, as we are one :" And therefore, more particularly, let it be considered,
First, With whom we are associated, even the Son of God ; with him that is over all, God blessed for ever. Our association with angels is an high advancement, for angels and saints are fellow- servants in the same family, Rev. xix. 10. and through Christ we are come to an innumerable company of angels, Heb. xii. 22. But what is all this to our fellowship with Jesus Christ himself, and that in another manner than angels have ? For though Christ be to them an head of dominion, yet not an head of vital influences, as he is to liis mvstical body the 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 feU
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lows or co-partners with Jesus Christ: not only dust by nature, (Dust thou art), but sinful dust ; such wretched sinners, as, by na- ture, and the sentence of the law, ought to be associated, with 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 Christ ; and, indeed, they are wonderful and astonishing- things, so far as they do already appear, but yet we see but little of them comparatively, to what we shall see, 1 John hi. 1, 2. " Now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what u we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall " be like him, for we shall see him as he is." O, what will that be ! to see him as he is, and to be transformed into his likeness !