(4.) Siqyportment and consolation, verse 6, " His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me." Christ here hath the posture of a most tender friend towards any one in sickness and sadness. The soul faints ^vith love, — spiritual longings after the enjoyment of his presence ; and Christ comes in with his embraces. He nourisheth and cherisheth his church, Eph. v. 29 ; Isa. Ixiii. 9. Now, " the hand under the head," is supportment, sustaining grace, in pressures and difficulties ; and " the hand that doth embrace," the hand upon the heart, is joy and consolation; — in both, Christ re- joicing, as the " bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride," Isa. Ixii. 5. Now, thus to he in the arms of Christ's love, under a perpetual influence of supportment and refreshment, is certainly to hold com- munion with him. And hereupon, verse 7, the spouse is most ear- nest for the continuance of his fellowship, charging all so to demean
46 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
themselves, that her Beloved be not disquieted, or provoked to de- part.
In brief, this whole book is taken up in the description of the com- munion that is between the Lord Christ and his saints; and there- fore, it is very needless to take from thence any more particular in- stances thereof
I shall only add that of Prov. ix. 1-5, " Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars; she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens : she crieth npon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled."
The Lord Christ, the eternal Wisdom of the Father, and who of God is made unto us wisdom, erects a spiritual house, wherein he makes provision for the entertainment of those gTiests whom he so freely invites. His church is the house which he hath built on a perfect number of pillars, that it might have a stal)le foundation : his slain beasts and mingled wine, where^vith his table is furnished, are those spiritual fat things of the gospel, which he hath prepared for those that come in upon his invitation. Surely, to eat of this bread, and drink of this wine, which he hath so gTaciously prepared, is to hold fellowship with him ; for in what ways or things is there nearer commimion than in such?
I might farther evince this truth, by a consideration of all the re- lations wherein Christ and his saints do stand; which necessarily require that there be a communion between them, if we do suppose they are faithful in those relations: but this is commonly treated on, and sometliing will be spoken to it in one sigTial instance afterward.
CHAPTER 11.
Wliat it is wherein we have peculiar felloAAship with the Lord Christ — This is in grace — This proved, John i. 14, IG, 17; 2 Cor. xiii. 14; 2 Thess. iii. 17, 18 — Grace of various acceptations — Personal grace in Christ proposed to con- sideration— The grace of Christ as Mediator intended, Ps. xlv. 2 — Cant. v. 10, Christ, how white and ruddy — Ilis fitness to save, from the grace of union — His fulness to save — His suitableness to endear — These considerations im- proved.
II. Having manifested that the saints hold peculiar fellowship with the Lord Jesus, it nextly foUow's that we show wherein it is that they liave this peculiar communion with him.
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 47
Now, this is in grace. This is everywhere ascribed to him by the way of eminency. John i. 14, " He dwelt among us, fiill of grace and truth ;" — grace in the truth and substance of it.^ All that went before was but typical and in representation ; in the truth and sub- stance it comes only by Christ. " Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," verse 17;" and of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace," verse 16; — that is, we have communion with him m grace; we receive from him all manner of grace whatever; and therein have we fellowship with him.
So likewise in that apostolical benediction, wherein the communi- cation of spiritual blessings from the several persons unto the saints is so exactly distinguished ; it is gTace that is ascribed to our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. xiii. 14, " The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all." Yea, Paul is so delighted with this, that he makes it his motto, and the token whereby he would have his epistles known, 2 Thess. iii. 17, 18, " The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, wliicli is the token in every epistle : so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." Yea, he makes these two, " Grace be with you," and, " The Lord Jesus be with you," to be equivalent expressions; for whereas he affirmed the one to be the token in all his epistles, yet sometimes he useth the one only, sometimes the other of these, and sometimes puts them both together. This, then, is that which we are peculiarly to eye in the Lord Jesus, to receive it from him, even grace, gospel-grace, revealed in or exhibited by the gospel. He is the head-stone in the building of the temple of God, to whom " Grace, grace," is to be cried, Zech. iv. 7.