In the words we have —
The thing prayed for, together with the persons from whom ; or rather —
1. Tlie matter of the bk^ssedness wished, ' The grace of our Lord Jesus Cln-ist, the love of God, the communion of the Holy Ghost.'
2. The effectual application to the Corinthians, ' Be with you.'
3. The confirmation of these hopes and desires, in the word ' Amen.'
1. The matter of the blessing. It consists of three branches, suited to the persons of the godhead — (1.) The grace of Christ ; (2.) The love of God ; (3.) The communion of the Holy Ghost.
2. The effectual application, ' Be with you.' These things are with us, or in us, two ways — (1.) In the effects ; (2.) In the sen.se.
[1.] In the effects, when we have tlie fruits of the Fatlier's love and Christ's grace and the Spirit's operation : ' That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them,' Jolm xvii. 2G.
[2.] In the sense and feeling, when we comfortably know it is thus with us : John xiv. 21, ' He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father ; and I will love liim, and manifest myself unto him;' Eom. v. 5, ' Because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us.'
3. The confirmation of these desires and hopes, in the word ' Amen ; ' ^\\\q\\'\^ signacidxim fdei, an expression of faith ; and votum desiderii, an eruption of our desire and love.
SERMON IFPON 2 CORINTHIANS XIII. 14. 157
Doct. That all the persons of the blessed Trinity do concur to the hajipiness and salvation of believers.
Here let me show you — (1.) How they do concur ; (2.) Why they do concur.
I. How they do concur. Let ns explain in the text.
1. Here are all the persons of the Godhead mentioned. God is taken personally for the Father, and then Jesus Christ and the Spirit are distinctly mentioned. So in other scriptures : J Peter i. 2, ' Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father, through sanctifica- tion of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.' The fundamental cause of salvation is the election of God, who, when he had all fallen mankind in his prospect and view, was pleased to choose out some to grace and glory, passing by others. Then there is reconciliation ascribed to Jesus Christ, and sanctification to the Spirit, as the means by which this purpose is brought about. The beginning is from God the Father, the dispensation is by Jesus Christ, and the application is through the Holy Ghost. So also Titus iii. 4-6, ' But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regen- eration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.' God the Father out of love sent a saviour, by whose grace we are saved ; and God the Son, from God the Father, sent God the Holy Ghost, who applieth the love of God, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, by renewing and healing our natures. So 2 Thes. ii. 13, 14, ' But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sancti- fication of the Spirit, and belief of the truth ; whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ ; ' where the three persons are again mentioned, and their concurrence to our salvation.
2. That words proper to their personal operation are used ; for there is love ascribed to the Father, grace to the Son, and communion to the Holy Ghost. The Father is represented as the fountain of love and all goodness, and as expressing and exerting his love by the Son and Spirit. By the 'grace of Christ' is meant all that gracious ])rovision which he hath made for man's salvation, both in the reconciling God to us, and procuring the mission of the Spirit. * Communion ' is ascribed to the Spirit, because all is applied or communicated to us by him. Or thus, our salvation is ascribed in election to the love of the Father, in redemption to the grace of the Son, in sanctification to the communion or participation of the Holy Ghost.
[1.] ' The love of God.' Love is ascribed to the Father ; for the love of God is the cause of all. Consider his giving Christ for us, or giving Christ to us, and us to him. (1.) In giving Christ for us: John iii. 16, ' God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have ever- lasting life.' Christ did not merit electing love, but love rather moved God to give Christ for sinners. Love appointed the Son to be our Kedeemer ; there was the bosom and bottom cause. (2.) In giving
158 SERMON UPON 2 CORINTHIANS XIII. 14.