(3.)^ Boldness with God by Christ is another privilege of our adop- tion. But hereof I have spoken at large before, in treating of the excellency of Christ in respect of our approach to God by him ; so that I shall not re-assume the consideration of it.
(4.) Affliction, also, as proceeding from love, as leading to spiri- tual advantages, as conforming unto Christ, as sweetened with his presence, is the privilege of children, Heb. xii. 3-6; but on these particulars I must not insist.
This, I say, is the head and source of all the privileges which Christ hath purchased for us, wherein also we have fellowship with ' See division, p. 211,
222 OF COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY GHOST.
him: fellowship in name; we are (as be is) sons of God: fellowship in title and right; we are heirs, co-heirs with Christ: fellowship in likeness and conformity; we are predestinated to be like the first- born of the family: fellowship in honour; he is not ashamed to call us brethren: fellowship in sufferings; he learned obedience by what he suffered, and every son is to be scourged that is received : fellow- ship in his kingdom; we shall reign Avith him. Of all which I must speak peculiarly in another place, and so shall not here draw out the discourse concerning them any farther.
PART III. CHAPTER I.
OF COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY GHOST.
The foundation of our communion with the Holy Ghost (John xvi. 1-7) opened at large— n«;faxX»)T«f, a Comfoi-ter; who he is — The Holy Ghost; his own will in his coming to us; sent also by Christ — The Spirit sent as a sanctifier and as a comforter — The adjuncts of his mission considered — The foundation of his mission, John xv. 26 — His procession from the Father twofold; as to personality, or to office — Things considerable in his procession as to office — The manner of his collation — He is given freely; sent authoritatively — The sin against the Holy Ghost, whence unpardonable — How we ask the Spirit of the Father — To grieve the Spirit, what — Poured out — How the Holy Ghost is received; by faith — Faith's actings in receiving the Holy Ghost — His abode with us, how declared — How we may lose our comfort whilst the Comforter abides with us.
The foundation of all our communion with the Holy Ghost consist- ing in his mission, or sending to be our comforter, by Jesus Christ, the whole matter of that economy or dispensation is firstly to be pro- posed and considered, that so we may have a right understanding of the truth inquired after. Now, the main promise hereof, and the chief considerations of it, with the good received and evil prevented thereby, being given and declared in the beginning of the 1 6th chapter of John, I shall take a view of the state of it as there proposed.
Our blessed Saviour being to leave the world, having acquainted his disciples, among other things, what entertainment in general they were like to find in it arul meet withal, gives the reason why he now gave them the doleful tidings of it, considering how sad and dispirited they were upon the mention of his departure from them. Verse 1, " These things liave I spoken unto you, that ye should not be of-
OF COMMUNION WITH THE HOLY GHOST. 223
fended." — " I have," saith he, " given you an acquaintance with these things (that is, tlie things which will come upon you, which you are to suffer) beforehand, lest you who, poor souls ! have entertained ex- pectations of another state of affairs, should be surprised, so as to be offended at me and my doctrine, and fall away from me. You are now forewarned, and know what yoiT have to look for. Yea," saith he, verse 2, " having acquainted you in general that you shall be per- secuted, I tell you plainly that there shall be a combination of all men against you, and all sorts of men will put forth their power for your ruin." — "They shall cast you out of the synagogues; yea, the time Cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." — " The ecclesiastical power shall excomimunicate you, — they shall put you out of their synagogues: and that you may not expect relief from the power of the magistrate against their perversity, they will kill you : and that you may know that they will do it to the purpose, without check or control, they will think that in killing you they do God good service; which will cause them to act rigorously, and to the utmost."
" But this is a shaking trial," might they reply : " is our condition such, that men, in killing us, will think to approve their consciences to God?" "Yea, they will," saith our Saviour; "but yet, that you be not mistaken, nor trouble your consciences about their confidences, know that their blind and desperate ignorance is the cause of their fury and persuasion," verse 3, " These things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me."
This, then, was to be the state with the disciples. But why did our Saviour tell it them at this season, to add fear and perplexities to their grief and sorrow? what advantage should they obtain thereby? Saith their blessed Master, verse 4, " There are weighty reasons why I should tell you these things ; chiefl)^ that as you may be provided for them, so, when they do befall you, you may be supported with the consideration of my Deity and omniscience, who told you all these things before they came to pass," verse 4, " But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them." " But if they be so necessary, whence is it that thou hast not acquainted us with it all this while? why not in the beginning, — at our first calling V " Even," saith our Saviour, "be- cause there was no need of any such thing ; for whilst I was with you, you had protection and direction at hand." — " 'And these things I said not at the beginning, because I was present with you : ' but now the state of things is altered ; I must leave you," verse 4. " And for your parts, so are you astonished with son^ow, that you do not ask me ' whi- ther I go ;' the consideration whereof would certainly relieve you, see- ing I go to take possession of my glory, and to cany on the work of