XVII. Excellency. It is a mercy purchased by the blood of Christ for believers, and one of the principal mercies settled upon them by the new covenant-grant. A peculiar mercy, which none but tlie redeemed of the Lord partake of; a mercy which cost thq
blood of Christ to purchase it. I do not deny but there are thou- sands of other mercies bestowed upon the unregenerate ; they have health, wealth, children, honours, pleasures, and all the delights of this Hfe ; but for communion tvith God, and the pleasures that result therefrom, they are incapable of these. Na supping with Christ, upon such excellent privileges and mercies as these, till the heart be opened to him by faith ; you cannot come nigh to God^ until you be first made nigh by reconciliation, Eph. ii. 13. Heb. X. 19, 20, 21, 22. What would your lives, Christians^ be worth to you, if this mercy were cut off from you ? There would be little sweetness or savour in all your outward mercies, were it not for this mercy that sweetens them alL And there is this difference, among many others, betwixt this mercy and all outward mercies : you may be cut off from the enjoyment of those, you cannot from this; no prison can keep out the Comforter. O bless God for this invaluable mercy.
XV III. Excellency. It \s natural tx) the new creature; the in- clination and instinct of the new creature leadeth to communion with God. It is as natural to the new creature to desire it, and work after it, as it is to the new-born babe to make to the breast,^ 1 Pet. iL 2. " As new-born babes desire the sincere milk of the *' word, that ye may grow thereby." There is a law upon the regenerate part, which inwardly and powerfully obliges it to acts of duty, and converse with God in them. Communion with God is a thing that ariseth out of the principles of grace. You knoW all creatures in this lower world act according to the laws of na- ture ; the sun will rise, and the sea will flow at their appointed times ; and the gracious soul will make tov/ards its God in the times and seasons of communion with him. They are not forced on to those duties by the frights of conscience, and the fears of hell, so much as by the natural inclination of the new creature. Two things de- monstrate communion with God to be co-natural to the regenerate part, called the inner-man, and the hidden-man of the heart, viz. (1.) The restlessness of a gracious soul without it. Cant. iii. 2, The church, in the first verse, had sought her beloved, but found him not. Doth she sit down satisfied in his absence ? No ; " I will " rise now, and go about the city, in the streets, and in the broad " ways ; I will seek him whom my soul loveth." (2.) The satis- faction and pleasure, the rest and delight which the soul finds and feels in the enjoyment of communion with God, plainly shew it to be agreeable to the new nature : Psal. Ixiii. 5. " My soul shall " be satisfied when I think on thee." And when it is thus, then duties become easy and pleasant to the soul : 1 John v. 3. " His " commandments are not grievous." Yea, and such a soul will be constant and assiduous in those duties. That which is natural^
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is constant as well as pleasant. What is the reason hypocrites throw up the duties of religion in times oF difficulty, but because they have not an inward principle agi*eeable to them ? The motives to duty lie witliout them, not within them.
XIX. Excellency. It is the occupation and trade of all sanctified persons, and the richest trade that was ever driven by men. This way they grow rich in spiritual treasures ; the revenues of it are better than silver and gold. There be many of you have traded long for this world, and it comes to little ; and had you gained your designs you had gained but trifles. This is the rich and pro- fitable occupation : Phil. iii. ^0. *' Out conversation is in heaven." Our commerce and trade lies that way, so that word signifies. There be few Christians that have driven this soul-enriching trade any considerable time, but can shew some spiritual treasures which tliey have gotten by it, Psal. cxix. 50. " This I had, because I kept " thy precepts." As merchants can shew the gold and silver, the lands and houses, the rich goods and furniture, which they have gotten by their successful adventures abroad ; and tell their friends, so much I got by such a voyage, and so much by another : So Christians have invaluable treasures, though their humility conceals them, which they have gotten by this heavenly trade of com- munion with God. Their souls are weak, and by communion with God they have gotten strength. Psal. cxxxviii. 3. " I cried^ " and thou strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.'' They have gotten peace by it, a treasure inestimable. Psal. cxix. 165. ** Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall *' offend them."" They have gotten purity by it. Psal. cxix. 3. " They do no iniquity that walk in thy ways." O what rich re^ turns are here ! nay, they get sometimes full assurance by it. The riches of both the Indies will not purchase from a Christian the least of these mercies. These are the rich rewards of our pains iri the duties of religion ; In keeping thy commandments there is great reward.
XX. Flxcellencyi It is oil to the wheels of obedience^ which makes the soul go on cheerfully in the ways of the Lord ; Psal* cxix. 32. " Then will t run the ways of thy commandments^ " when thou shalt enlarge my heart." Non tardat uncta rota. Oiled wheels run nimbly. How prompt and ready for any duty of obedience, is a soul under the influence of communion with God ! Then, as Isaiah^ having gotten a sight of God, " Here am Ij " Lord, send me^" Isa. vi. 8. Now the soul can turn its hand ta the duties ofj
2. Passive obedience.
1. Hereby th« soul is prepared and fitted for the duties o^ aetivC^ Vol. IV. R
obedience, to which it appUes itself with pleasure and delight; Psal. xhii, 3, 4. " Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my " exceeding joy ;"" or, as it is in the Hebrew, the gladness of my joy. It goes to prayer as a hungry man to a feast, or as a covetous man to his treasures : Psal. cxix. 14. "I have rejoiced in the way " of thy commandments as much as in all riches.
2. It prepares the soul for passive obedience: makes a man to rejoice in his sufferings, Col. i. 24. It will make a Christian stand ready to receive any burden or load that God shall lay upon his shoulders, and even be thankful to be so employed ; '" This joy of " the Lord is theii' strength," Neh. viii. 10. A Christian under the cheerful influences of near communion with God, can, with more cheerfulness, lay down his neck for Christ, than other men can lay out a shilling for him. In all these twenty particulars, you have an account of the excellency of this privilege ; but, O how short an account have I given of it ! What remains, is the applica- tion of this point, in a double use :
Fh'st, For iiiformation in the following inferences.