OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 199
of holiness, as bestowed on us, unto the mediation of Christ. He is the great ^foundation of the covenant of gi'ace; being himself ever- lastingly destinated and freely given to make a purchase of all the good things thereof Receiving, according to promise, the Holy Ghost, Acts ii. i33, he sheds him abroad on his own. This faith considers, fixes on, dwells upon. For, —
(2.) His prayer being granted, as the - Father " hears him always," he actually sends his Spirit into the hearts of his saints, there to dwell in his stead, and to do all things for them and in them which he himself hath to do. This, secondly, is the Lord Christ by faith to be eyed in; and that not only in respect of the first enduing of our hearts with his Holy Sphit, but also of the continual supplies of it, drawing forth and exciting more effectual ^operations and actings of that indweUing Spirit. Hence, though (John xiv. 16) he says the Father will give them the Comforter, because the original and sove- reign dispensation is in his hand, and it is by him made out, upon the intercession of Christ ; yet, not being bestowed immediately on us, but, as it were, given into the hand of Christ for us, he affirms that (as to actual collation or bestowing) he sends him himself; chap. XV. 26. "I will send the Comforter to you, from the Father." He receives him from his Father, and actually sends him unto his saints. So, chap. xvi. 7, " I wiU send him." And, verses 14, 15, he manifests how he will send him. He will furnish him with that which is his to bestow upon them: " He shall take of mine (of that which is pro- perly and peculiarly so, — mine, as mediator, — the fruit of my life and death unto holiness), and give it unto you." But of these things more afterward. This, then, is the second thing that the Lord Christ doth, and which is to be eyed in him : — He sends his Holy Spirit into our hearts; which is the ■* efficient cause of all holiness and sanctifica- tion, — quickening, enlightening, purifying the souls of his saints. How our union with him, with all the benefit thereon depending, floweth from this his communication of the Spirit unto us, to abide Avith us, and to dwell in us, I have at large ® elsewhere declared; where also this whole matter is more fully opened. And this is to be considered in him by faith, in reference to the Spirit itself
(3.) There is that which we call habitual grace; that is, the fruits of the Spirit, — the spirit which is bom of the Spirit, John iii. 6. That which is born of, or produced by, the Holy Ghost, in the heart or soul of a man when he is regenerate, that which makes him so, is spirit; in opposition to Hhe llesh, or that enmity which is in us by nature against God. It is faith, love, joy, hope, and the rest of the
' Gen. iii. 15; Isa. xlii. 6, xlix. 8; Dan. ix. 24. ^ Joliii xi. 42.
' " Vicariam navare operam." — Tertull., Prov. i. 23.
* Titus iii. 5, 6. ^ Saints' Peraeverance, chap. viii. vol. xi. * Gal. v. 17.
200 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST.
graces of the gospel, in their root or common principle, concerning which these two things are to be observed : —
[1.] That though many particular graces are mentioned, yet there are not different habits or qualities in us, — not several or distinct principles to answer them; but only the same ^ habit or spiritual principle putting forth itself in various operations or ways of work- ing, according to the variety of the objects which it goeth forth unto, is their common principle: so that it is called and distinguished, as above, rather m respect of actual exercise, with relation to its ob- jects, than habitual inherence; it being one root which hath these many branches.
[2.] This is that which I intend by this habit of grace, — a ^new, gracious, spiritual ^life, or principle, ^created, and ^bestowed on the sold, whereby it is ^changed in all its faculties and affections, fitted and enabled to go forth in the way of obedience unto every divine object that is proposed unto it, according to the mind of God. For instance, the mind can discern of ^spiritual things in a spiritual manner; and therein it is light, illumination. The whole soul closeth with Christ, as held forth in the promises of the gospel for righteous- ness and salvation: that is faith; which being the main and principal Avork of it, it often gives denomination unto the whole. So when it rests in God, in Christ, with delight, desire, and complacency, it is called love; being, indeed, the principle suiting all the faculties of our souls for spiritual and Hving operations, according to their natural use. Now it differs, —
1st. From the Spirit dwelling in the saints; for it is a created quality. The Spirit dwells in us as a free agent in a holy habitation. This grace, as a quality, remains in us, as in its own proper subject, that hath not any subsistence but therein, and is capable of being intended® or restrained under great variety of degrees.