That the saints have communion with God — 1 John i. 3 considered to that purpose — Somewhat of the nature of communion in general.
In the First Epistle of John, chap, i., verse 3, the apostle assures them to whom he ^vrote that the fellowship of believers "is with the Father, and with his Sou Jesus Christ:"^ and this he doth with such an un- usual kind of expression as bears the force of an asseveration; whence we have rendered it, " Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.''
The outward appearance and condition of the saints in those days being very mean and contemptible,— their leaders being accounted as the filth of this world, and as the offscouring of all things,^ — the in- viting others unto fellowship with them, and a participation of the jjrecious things which they did enjoy, seems to be exposed to many contrary reasonings and objections : " What benefit is there in com- munion with them? Is it any thing else but to be sharers in troubles, reproaches, scorns, and all manner of evils?" To prevent or remove these and the like exceptions, the apostle gives them to Avhom he wrote to know (and that with some eai'nestness of expression), that notwithstanding all the disadvantages their fellowship lay under, unto a carnal view, yet in truth it was, and would be found to be (in re- ference to some with whom they held it), very honourable, glorious, and desirable. For " truly," saith he, " our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
This being so earnestly and directly asserted by the apostle, we may boldly follow him with our afl&rmation, — namely, " That the saints of God have communion with him." And a holy and spi- ritual communion it is, as shall be declared. How this is spoken
' Kai ri xoivaivia di n fijuiTipec, etc.
- 'ii; ■xi^ix.a.iag^fi.a.'ra. tcv xia-fiou. — 1 Cor. iv. 8-13; Honi. viii. 35, 36; Heb. x. 32-34. " Christiaiios ad Jeones. Et puto, nos Deus apostolos novissiuios elegit veluti bes- tiaries."— Tert. de Pud., Acts xvii. 18; Gal. vi. 12. " Semper casuris similes, nuu- quamque cadeutes."
6 OF COMMUNION WITH GOD.
distinctly in reference to the Father and the Son, must afterward be fully opened and carried on.
By nature, since the entrance of sin, no man hath any communion with God. He is light^ we darkness; and what communion hath light with darkness? He is life, we are dead, — he is love, and we are enmity; and Avhat agreement can there be between us? Men in such a condition have neither Christ,^ nor hope, nor God in the world, Eph. ii. 12; " being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them," chap. iv. 18. Now, two cannot walk together, unless they be agreed, Amos iii. 3. Whilst there is this distance between God and man, there is no ivalking together for them in any fellowship or communion. . Our first interest in God was so lost by sin,^ as that there was left unto us (in ourselves) no possibility of a recovery. As ive had deprived ourselves of all power for a returnal, so God had not revealed any way of access unto him- self; or that he could, under any consideration, be approached unto by sinners in peace. Not any wo7'h that God had made, not any attribute that he had revealed, could give the iSiast light into such a dispensation.
The manifestation of grace and pardoning mere}', which is the only door of entrance into any such communion, is not committed unto any but unto him alone* in whom it is, hy whom that gTace and mercy was purchased, through whom it is dispensed, who reveals it from the bosom of the Father. Hence this communion and fellow- ship with God is not in express terms mentioned in the Old Testa- ment. The thing itself is found there ; but the clear light of it, and the boldness of faith in it, is discovered in the gospel, and by the Spirit administered therein. By that Spiiit we have this liberty, 2 Cor. iii. 17, 18. Abraham was the friend of God, Isa. xli. 8; David, a man after his o^\ti heart; Enoch ivalked with him. Gen. v. 22; — all enjoying this communion and fellowship for the substance of it. But the way into the holiest Avas not yet made manifest whilst the first tabernacle was standing, Heb. ix. 8. Though they had com- munion with God, yet they had not 'Trccppneiav, — a boldness and confi- dence in that communion. This follows the entrance of our High Piiest into the most holy place, Heb. iv. 16, x. 19. The vail also was upon them, that they had not eXevhpiav, freedom and liberty in their access
' 1 John i. 5; 2 Cor. vi. 14; Eph. v. 8; John v. 21; Matt. xxii. 32; liph. ii. 1; 1 Joliii iv. 8; Rom. viii. 7.
* " itagna liominis miseria est cum illo non esse, sine quo non potest esse." — All {just.
* Eccles. vii. 29; Jer. xiii. 23; Acts iv. 12; Isa. xxxiii. 14.
* John i. 18; lleb. x. 19-21. " Uiuis vtMusquc Mediator per sacrinciutn pacis ri'conciliaTis nos Deo; ununi cum illo nianobat cui oft'erchat; uinim in se fecit, pro quihus ofl'erobat; unus i{)se fuit, qui otTerehat, et quod ofFercbat." — [Slightly clianged from] August, de Triiiit., iv. c. 14.