Secondly, They have a real relation unto Christ, as he is the liv- ing, quickening head of the church; for he is so, even the living spiritual fountain of the spiritual life of it, and of all vital acts what- ever: " Christ is our life; and our life is hid with him in God," Col. iii. 2, 3. That eternal life which consists in the knowledge of the Father and the Son, John xvii. 3, is in him as the cause, head, spring, and fountain of it. In him it is in its fulness, and from thence it is derived unto all that believe, who receive from his ful- ness " grace for grace," John i. 16. All true, saving, sanctifjnng grace, all spiritual life, and every thing that belong.s thereunto, is derived directly from Christ, as the living head of his church and fountain of all spiritual life unto them. This the apostle expresseth.
Ver.4.] INTERNAL HINDERANCES TO FAITH. 587
Epb. iv. 15, 16, " Speaking tlie truth iu love, grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the eftectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." To the same purpose he again expresseth the same matter, Col. ii. 19. All grace in the whole body comes from the head, Christ Jesus; and there is no growth or furtherance of it but by his effectual work- ing in every part, to bring it unto the measure designed unto it. Nothing, then, no, not the least of this gi-ace, can be obtained but by virtue of our imion unto Christ as our head ; because it consists in a vital, effectual influence from him and his fulness. And this kind of relation unto Christ, all grace that is or may be in unregenerate men is incapable of.
(3.) The grace of regeneration and the fruits of it are administered in and hy the covenant. This is the promise of the covenant, that God will write his law in our hearts, and put his fear in our inward paits, that we shall not depart from him, Jer. xxxi. This is that grace whereof we speak, whatever it be, or of what kind soever. It is bestowed on none but those who are taken into covenant with God ; for unto them alone it is promised, and by virtue thereof is it wrought in and upon their souls. Now, all unregenerate men are strangers from the covenant, and are not made partakers of that grace which is peculiarly and only promised thereby and exhibited therein.
(4.) The least spark of saving, regenerating grace is ivrought in the soul hy the Holy Ohost, as given unto men to dwell in them and to abide with them. He is the water given by Jesus Christ unto believers, which is in them " a well of water springing up into ever- lasting life," John iv. 14. First they receive the water, the spring itself, — that is, the Holy Spuit, — and from thence living waters do arise up in them ; they ai'e wrought, effected, produced by the Spirit, which is given unto them. Now, although the common gifts and graces of men unregenerate are effects of the power of the Holy Ghost wrought in them and bestowed on them, as are all other works of God's providence, yet it doth not work in them, as received by them, to dwell in them and abide with them, as a never-failing spring of spiritual life ; for our Saviour says expressly that the world, or unbelievers, do not know the Spirit, nor can receive him, or have him abiding in them; — all which, in a contradistinction unto all un- regenerate persons, are affirmed of all them that do believe.
(5.) The least of saving grace, such as is peculiar unto them that are regenerate, is spirit: John iii. 6, " That which is bom of the Spirit is spirit." Whatever it is that is so born, it is spirit ; it hath a spiritual being, and it is not educible ])y any means out of the principles of
588 AN EXPOSITION UPON PSALM CXXX. [Vel-.r!-.
nature. So it Is said to be a "new creature," 2 Cor. v. 17. Be it never so little or so great, however it may differ in degrees in one and in another, yet the nature of it is the same in all, — it is a " new creature." As the least worm of the earth, in the order of the old creation, is no less a creature than the sun, yea, or the most glorious angel in heaven ; so, in the order of the new creation, the least spark or dram of true grace that is from the sanctifying Spirit is a new creature, no less than the highest faith or love that ever was in the chlefest of the apostles. Now, that which is spirit, and that which is not spirit, — that which hath a new spiritual being, and that which hath none, — whatever appearance of agreement there may be among them, do yet differ specifically from one another. And thus it is with the saving grace that is in a regenerate, and those common graces that are in others which are not so. So that as these are divers states, so they are eminently different and distinct the one from the other. And this answers the second thing laid down in the objections taken from the uncertainty of these states and of regeneration itself, and the real difference of it from the contrary state, which is exclu- sive of an interest in forgiveness.