3. Wherein lay the faith ; for it is said, ' By faith he blessed the two sons of Joseph.' Partly, in embracing the revelation that was made to him by God in prophecy. Partly, in pronouncing the blessing accord- ing to the tenor of that revelation ; for as the cordial assent is an act of faith, so confession with the mouth is a fruit of faith. Partly, in looking through the present difficulties to things to come. Isaac biesseth in Gerar, Joseph in Egypt, where he died an exile, yet he beholdeth things to come, as if present. Partlj', in a contempt of the world, in minding them of Canaan, and of the covenant, when they had great honours, renown, and power in Egypt. Joseph was governor in Egypt, yet he comes to settle such a blessing as notwithstanding which they should be exiled and banished, and oppressed with the rest of their brethren, that he might withdraw them from the honours of Egypt. The great end of the blessing was to keep themselves joined to the body of the church whatever befell them.
Ohs. 1. It is no small privilege to be taken into visible covenant with God, or to be joined with the body of the church.
Jacob doth not desire the continuance of their present greatness in Egypt, but puts them in mind of the covenant and of the name of Abraham. Joseph would have left to his children nobility of blood, a rich patrimony in Egypt, but he brings them to his father Jacob to receive his blessing. And what is that ? An infeoffment into the visible privileges of the covenant. The blessings of Egypt are nothing in comparison to the blessings of Sion. Now it is no small privilege to be joined to the body of the church, because there we may have communion with God, and with the people of God. There we know God most, and there we enjoy God most. There we know God most, Ps. xxvii. 4, ' One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord,' &c. Mark, in the house of the Lord, that is, in the church ; for the temple was a figure of the spiritual church, there we behold the beauty of the Lord. By the light of nature we may know God ; but it is by track or footprint, or some obscure shadow; but in his house we see his glory, his wisdom, his grace, his beauty. The great end why we are brought to heaven is to behold the beauty of the Lord, to see him face to face. Now this is begun in the church, we come more immediately to look upon his wis- dom, glory, and goodness in Christ, and the riches of the covenant of grace. And there we have most enjoyment of God. There are com- mon blessings God gives to the world, but then there are blessings come out of Sion, therefore it is said : Ps. cxxviii. 5, ' The Lord shall bless thee out of Sion ; ' and Ps. cxxxiv. 3, ' The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Sion ; ' Ps. cxxxiii. 3, ' There/ — that is, out of Sion, — ' the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for
VeR. 21.] SERMONS UrON HEBREWS XI. 399
evermore.' To have a blessing merely from a creator, as he is the maker of heaven and earth, that is no such enjoyment of God ; but in Sion there he will communicate himself to his people ; there is the light of his countenance, pardon of sin, sanctification of common mercies, and the graces of his Spirit. Ever since the creation there are some places where God will be enjoyed. The angels had a proper place to enjoy God in heaven ; therefore the apostle takes notice that they 'kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation,' Jude 6. Mark, it is tStov oi/cT^Tr^pioi^, their proper place, where they were to enjoy God : therefore they lost their original state of happiness and glory, because they left their own habitation. Paradise was the place Adam was to enjoy God in ; when he was driven out of his place, then he loses his communion with God. We enjoy God in the church, there he will be found of us ; therefore it is good to keep our place ; God will communicate himself to his people there. There also we have communion with the saints and children of God, and are lielj)S one to another, and that is a great happiness. Our communion with the saints is a privilege, as well as our communion with God. The fire is kept in when the coals lie together ; so the converse of the people of God together keeps in the fire of religion. Wine is best preserved in the hogshead. Our fellow-members are appointed to be means of our mutual edification and spiritual supply : Eph. iv. 16, 'By that which every joint supplieth.' •
Use. This showeth what we should chiefly respect and seek, both for ourselves and for our children. For ourselves, that we may have a nail in the holy place, an interest in the church, that the blessings of Abraham may come upon us. You should esteem more of God's covenant, and of being members of the church, than of all the honours of the world besides. So for our posterity, parents should not strive so much to make their children great as good ; to see them joined to the body of Christ's church, that is the best blessing you can leave them. It is not your work merely to prefer them to such an office or such an estate, to make them free of such a city or corporation, but to look that these spiritual privileges may be continued in those that come from your loins. For a man truly spiritual will desire spiritual privileges, not only for himself, but for others, that there they may be where God is enjoyed ; that they may edify one another in love and faith, and forward one another in spiritual worship.