[1.] Unto the Father. The accomplishment of that promise is peculiarly referred to him, John vi. 45, " It is written in the pro- phets. And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." This teaching, whereby we are translated from death unto life, brouglit
I "Tametsi omnia iinus idemque Deiis efficit,ut dicitur,— opera Triiiitaf is ad extra sunt indivisa, distinguuntur tamen personce discrimine in istis operibiis." — Matt. iii. 16; Acts iii. 13; Gen. xix. 24, i. 2C; 3!att. xxviii, 19; 2 Cor. xiii. 14.
IG OF COMMUNION WITH EACH PERSON DISTINCTLY.
unto Christ, unto a participation of life and love in liim, — it is of and from the Father: him we hear, of him we leana,^ by him are we brought uuto union and communion with the Lord Jesus. This is liis drawing us, his begetting us anew of his own will, by his own Spirit; and in which work he employs tlie ministers of the gospel, Acts xxvi. 17, 18.
[2.] Unto the Son. The Father proclaims him from heaven to be tho great teacher, in that solemn charge to hear him, which came once [and] again from the excellent gloiy : " This is my beloved Son ; hear him.'' The whole of his prophetical, and no small part of his kingly office, consists in this teaching ; herein is he said to draw men unto him, as the Father is said to do in his teaching, John xii. 32; which he doth with such efficacy, that " the dead hear his voice and live.'"" The teaching of the Son is a life-giving, a spkit-breathing teaching; — an effectual influence of light, whereby he shines into darkness ; a com- munication of life, quickening the dead ; an opening of blind eyes, and changing of hard hearts; a poming out of the Spirit, with all the fruits thereof Hence he claims it as his privilege to be the sole master. Matt, xxiii. 10, " One is your Master, even Christ."
[3.] To the Spirit. John xiv. 26, " The Comforter, he shall teach you all things." " But the anointing which ye have received," saith the ajoostle, " abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth j^ou of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him," 1 John ii. 27. That teaching unction which is not only tnie, but truth itself, is only the Holy Spirit of God : so that he teacheth also; being given unto us " that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God," 1 Cor. ii. 12. I have chosen this special instance because, as I told you, it is comprehensive, and comprises in itself most of the particulars that might be annumerated, — quicken- ing, preserving, etc.
This, then, farther drives on the truth that lies under demonstra- tion; there being such a distinct communication of gTace from the several persons of the Deity, the saints must needs have distinct com- munion with them.
It remaineth only to intimate, in a word, wherein this distinction lies, and what is the ground thereof Noav, this is, that the Father doth it by the way of original authority; the Son by the way of com- municating from 3i purchased treasurij ; the Holy Spirit by the way of immediate ejicaci/.
1st. The Father communicates all grace by the way of original
' M.itt. xi. 25; John i. 13; James i. 18.
' Matt. iii. 17, xvii. 5; 2 Pet. i. 17; Deut. xviii. 15-20, otc; Acts iii. 22, -Z,!; John V. 25j Isa. Ixi. 1-3; Luke iv. 18, 19.
OF COMMUNION WITH GOD THE FATHER. 17
authority: "He quickeneth WHOM he will," John v. 21. "Of HIS OWN WILL begat he us," James i. 18. Life-giving power is, in respect of original authority, invested in the Father by the way of eminency; and therefore, in sending of the quickening Spirit, Christ is said to do it from the Father, or the Father himself to do it. " But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send," John xiv. 26. " But when the Comforter is come, whom I will' send unto you from the Father," John xv. 26 ; — though he be also said to send him himself, on another account, John xvi. 7.
2dli/. The Son, by the way of making out a purchased treasury: " Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace," John i. 16. And whence is this fulness ? " It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell," Col. i. 19. And upon what account he hath the dispensation of that fulness to him committed you may see, Phil, ii. 8-11. " When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LoRD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied : by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many ; for he shall Ijear their iniquities," Isa. liii. 1 0, 1 1 . And with this fulness he hath also authority for the communication of it, John v. 25-27; Matt, xxviii. 18.