2. But what shall we say for obedience? " If Christ be so glorified and honoured by taking our sins, the more we bring to him, the more will he be glorified." A man could not suppose that this objection would be made, but that the Holy Ghost, who knows what is in man and his heart, hath made it for them, and in their name, Rom. vi. 1-3. The very same doctrine that I have insisted on being delivered, chap. V. 18-20, the same objection is made to it: and for those who think it may have any weight, I refer them to the answer given in that chapter by the apostle; as also to what was said before to the neces- sity of our obedience, uotwithstanding the imputation of the right- eousness of Christ
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHEIST. 197
But you Avill say, " How should we address ourselves to the per- formance of this duty ? what path are we to walk in V
Faith exercises itself in it, especially three ways : —
(1.) In tneditation. The heart goes over, in its own thoughts, the part above insisted on, sometimes severally, sometimes jointly, some- times fixing primarily on one thing, sometimes on another, and some- times going over the whole. At one time, perhaps, the soul is most upon consideration of its own sinfulness, and filling itself with shame and self-abhorrency on that account; sometimes it is filled with the thoughts of the righteousness of Christ, and with joy unspeakable and glorious on that account. Especially on great occasions, when grieved and burdened by negligence, or eruption of corruption, then the soul goes over the whole work, and so drives things to an issue with God, and takes up the peace that Christ hath wrought out for him.
(2.) In considering and inquiring into the 2)'>^omises of the gospel, which hold out all these things : — the excellency, fulness, and suitable- ness of the righteousness of Christ, the rejection of all false right- eousness, and the commutation made in the love of God; which was formerly insisted on.
(3.) In prayer. Herein do their souls go through this work day by day; and this communion have all the saints with the Lord Jesus, as to their acceptation with God : which was the first thing proposed to consideration.
CHAPTER IX.
Of communion with Christ in holiness — The several acts ascribed unto the Lord Christ herein: 1. His intercession; 2. Sending of the Spirit; 3. Bestows habitual grace — What that is, and wherein it consists — This purchased by Christ ; bestowed by him — Of actual grace — How the saints hold communion with Christ in these things ; manifested in sundry particulars.
II. Our communion with the Lord Jesus as to that grace of sanc- tification and purification whereof we have made mention, in the several distinctions and degrees thereof, formerly, is nextly to be con- sidered. And herein the former method must be observed ; and we must show, — 1. What are the peculiar actings of the Lord Christ as to this communion; and, 2. What is the duty of the saints herein. The sum is, — How we hold communion with Christ in holiness, as well as in righteousness ; and that very briefly: —
1. There are several acts ascribed unto the Lord Jesus in reference to this particular; as, —
198 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
(1.) His interceding with the Father, by vktue of his oblation in the behalf of his, that he would bestow the Holy Spirit on them. Here I choose to enter, because of the oblation of Christ itself 1 have sjDoken before ; otherwise, every thing is to be run up to that head, that source and spring. There lies the foundation of all sphitual mercies whatever; as afterward also shall be manifested. Now the Spirit, as unto us a Spirit of grace, holiness, and consolation, is of the pur- chase of Christ. It is upon the matter, the great promise of the new covenant, Ezek. xi. 19, " I will put a new spirit within you;" so also, chap, xxxvi. 27 ; Jer. xxxii. 89, 40 ; and in sundry other places, whereof afterward. Christ is the mediator and " surety of this new covenant." Heb. vii. 22, " Jesus was made surety of a better testament," or rather covenant ; — a testament needs no surety. He is the undertaker on the part of God and man also: of nnan, to give satisfaction; of God, to bestow the ivJiole grace of the promise ; as chap. ix. 15, " For this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." He both satisfied for sin and procured the promise. He rrocures all the love and kindness which are the fruits of the covenant, being himself the original promise thereof. Gen. iii. 1 5 ; the whole being so " ordered in all things, and made sure," 2 Sam. xxiii. 5, that the residue of its effects should all be derived from him, depend upon him, and be i:)rocured by him, — " that he in all things might have the pre-eminence," Col. i. 18; according to the compact and agreement made with him, Isa. liii. 12. They are all the pur- chase of his blood ; and therefore the Spirit also, as promised in that covenant, 1 Cor. i. 80. Noav, the whole fruit and purchase of his death is made out from the Father upon his intercession. This (John xiv. 16-18) he promiseth his disciples, that he will pursue the work which he hath in hand in their behalf, and intercede with the Father for the Spirit, as a fruit of his purchase. Therefore he tells them that he will not pray the Father for his love unto them, because the eternal love of the Father is not the fruit but the fountain of his purchase: but the Spirit, tiiat is a fruit; " That," saith he, " I will pray the Father for," etc. And what Christ asketh the Father as medi- ator to bestow on us, that is part of his purchase,* being promised unto him, upon his undertaking to do the will of God. And this is the first thing that is to be considered in the Lord Jesus, as to the communication of the Spirit of sanctification and purification, the first thing to be considered in this our communion with him, — he inter- cedes with his Father, that he may be bestowed on us as a fruit of his death and bloodshed in our behalf This is the relation of the Spuit > Ps. ii. 8; Isa. liii. 12; Ps. xl. 8-12.