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§. 17. Of the sense of this word Partakers.
THE good opinion of the Apostle about their calling, to whom he wrote, i•…•… especially manifested in this Word Partakers. For hereby he sheweth that he was perswaded that they had a part therein.
Of the notation of the a Greek word translated Partakers, See chap. 1. §. 122. & Chap. 2. §. 139.
Here two things are especially intended under this word Partakers.
- 1. All Saints have a like share in the heavenly calling, They being Partakers thereof have every one g part therein as well as a right thereto, All the Israelites were in this sense partakers of the same priviledges, They were all under the cloud, and all passed through the Red Sea, and were all baptized, &c. and did All eat the same spirituall meat, and did All drink the same spirituall drink, 1 Cor. 10, 2, 3, 4. Ye are all one in Christ Iesus, Gal. 3. 28. The eight unities mentioned by the Apostle, Eph. 4. 4, 5, 6. intend thus much, For all beleevers make one body; They have all one Spirit; They are all called in one hope; They are all servants of one Lord; There is one Faith belonging to them all, and one Baptism; They have all One God, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Father. In reference to that one Father all beleevers are stiled, b dear children, Eph. 5. 1. Great is the emphasis of the Greek word translated dear; It signifieth a be∣loved one, one that is so loved as all love is cast on him. It is most properly attri∣buted to an only childe, where God saith to Abraham, Take c thine only Son, Gen. 22. 2. The LXX thu•…•… translate it, Take d thy beloved Son. He who in Hebrew is called an e only Sonne, is in Greek called a f beloved Sonne. So also do other Authors use that Greek word both of male and female: as, g an only sonne, h an only daughter. So when one hath but one only eye, that eye in Greek is called i a beloved eye. This title, k beloved one, is oft attributed to Christ, and that most properly, for •…•…e is l the only begotten of God. This title beloved one is indeed oft used m in the plurall number, including many, as Eph. 5. 1. Rom. 1. 7. & 11. 28. But they are all in God•…•… account as an one only childe. Thus they are all as one spous•…•… to Christ, Cant. 4. 8. 2 Cor. 11. 2. They are also all heirs (Rom. 8. 17.) and Kings (Rev. 1. 6.) and th•…•… of the same inheritance, and of the same Kingdom. Now there useth to be b•…•…t one heir of the same inheritance, and one King of the same Kingdom. These there∣fore are as one. For they have all one Spirit (Eph. 4. 4.) and they all make o•…•… mysticall body, which body is styled Christ, 1 Cor. 12. 12. In this respect the duties which are required of us as brethren (§. 3.) are by this unity further pressed upon us.
- 2. They to whom the Apostle wrote, were internally and effectually called. To be partakers of a thing, is not only to have a right thereto by reason of our profes∣sion; but also to have a part, and a share therein, and that really, actually. Th•…•… we are said to be partakers of Christ, v. 14. And to be partakers of Gods chastise∣ments, Heb▪ 12. 8. The husbandman is said to be partaker of his hope, in that he doth in very deed partake of the benefit thereof, 1 Cor. 9. 10.
The Apostle doth use this emphaticall word, Partakers, and applies it to them all, as he did that former excellent style, Holy brethreu.
Of giving such titles to all members of the Church, See §. 6.