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CHAP. V. Of the Communion and Fellowship Believers have with Christ, and their Benefits by him, and spe∣cially of Adoption.
THis is the highest intimacy between Christ and his people, A Fellowship, 1 Iohn 1. 3. A Friendship, Iohn 15. 15. The Church is called, the Lambs Bride, Husband and Wife make but one flesh, Christ and a believer make one Spirit, 1 Cor. 6. 17.
Communion with God through Christ by the Spirit is the great duty and privi∣ledge of the Gospel, 2 Cor. 16. 13. 1 Iohn 1. 3. It is begun by faith, carried on by fear and love, perfected in heaven. Consider
First, The honour of this Communion: Christ hath our nature, our sins, our wrath and shame, thou hast his Titles, Nature, Spirit, Priviledges. He is one with God, thou art one with him. He is Gods fellow, Zech. 13. 7. thou his fellow, Psalm. 45. 7. God is Christs God and our God, his Father and our Father.
Secondly, The comfort of it, Iohn 15. 12. This joy differs from the joyes in heaven, not in kinde but in measure, Psal. 16. ult. 2 Cor. 1. 5. Hos. 2. 11, 12.
Thirdly, The Priviledges you enjoy by this Communion:
- 1. Liberty of accesse to God, Rom. 8. 15. Heb. 4. 6. they come to him sitting on a throne of grace, Heb. 4. 16.
- 2. An interest in Gods particular providence, and a sanctified use of the crea∣tures, 1 Cor. 3. 21.
- 3. The influences of grace, 1 Cor. 1. 30. Iohn 14 6.
Evidences of this Communion:
- 1. Holinesse, 1 Iohn 1. 6, 7. & 4. 13. Iohn 14. 17. Rom. 8. 9.
- 2. Heavenlinesse, Phil. 3. 20. Col. 3. 1.
- 3. Delight in God, Deut. 4. 7. Psal. 84. 12.
- 4. Reverence toward God and humility toward men.
- 5. A constant dependance on God for Direction, Comfort and Strength, Iohn 15. 5.
- 6. Living to his Glory, and consecrating all we have to him. Whole Christ is ours, and we are all his, Cant. 2. 14. He is ours by his own grant, and we his by our consent.
The Benefits which Believers partake of through Christ, are either in this life or in the life to come.
In this life, 1. Relative, which make a change of our state. 2. Moral, which concern the change of our persons.
First, Relative, which concern the change of our state and condition.
- 1. Adoption.
- 2. Justification.
Secondly, Moral, which concern the change of our persons, Sanctification.
Some say Adoption is the first of all the priviledges communicated to us; Others say Justification.
Of Adoption.
As soon as a soul is by faith united to Christ, he is made the childe of God in the Sonship of Christ, 1 Iohn 3. 1.
God is said to have three sorts of Sons:
- 1. By Nature or Generation, so Christ.
- 2. By Creation, the Angels.
- 3. Voluntarily, made his Son, his adopted childe.