The inseparable communion of a believer with God in his love being the substance of several sermons preached on Rom. VIII 38, 39 / by ... Mr. Thomas Mallery ...

ROM. 8.38, 39.

For I am perswaded that neither Death, nor Life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers, nor things present, nor things to come.

Nor heighth, nor depth, nor any other crea∣ture shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

IN the 33. and 34. verses, we have Paul with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration; he sets one foot on Mount Calvary where Christ died, the other on Mount Olivet where Christ ascended, and by faith takes in a full view of the infinite dimensions of the

Grace of Justification, and triumphs o∣ver the Law and Satan the grand Accu∣ser of the Brethren.

In 35, 36, 37 verses, he triumphs o∣ver the world, and the worst the world can do by power or malice, by faith in the love of Christ.

In the Text is a higher Rapture of faith, it takes a view of all things in Hea∣ven, Earth and Hell, and triumphs over all Enemies real or imaginary, that can be supposed to endeavor to separate be∣lievers from the love of God in Christ, ver. 38, 39.

1. Here we have one thing implied, a Mystery that lies hid in the bosom of the Text, viz. Communion with God.

Secondly, the Bond of that Communi∣on, the Love of God.

Thirdly, the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or first sub∣ject of that love, Christ Jesus.

Fourthly, the Propriety Believers have to Christ for this end, viz. Commu∣nion with God in his love, Christ Jesus our Lord.

Fifthly, the triumph of faith in this

love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, o∣ver all things in Heaven, Earth or Hell; that can be supposed to separate from the love of God.—

1. All Believers have a most intimate, spi∣ritual Communion with God, though in a mystical and wonderful way.

This truth is couched in the Text, and lies hid like a spring in a Watch, which yet moves all the Wheels in the Work: it is implied in the word Separate, — for separation is the disjoy••ting or disuni∣ting of things conjoyned together in common union; and therefore somthing, and in the first place, is to be spoken to it.

In which we must consider three things, Union, Communion, Commu∣nication between God and Believers.

1. We must consider the Union that is between God and Believers, which is the foundation of all Communion. There are several sorts of Union.

First, A natural union; an union of persons in the same common nature: such an union there is between Christ

and believers, Heb. 2.11. and through Christ, between them and God: for hereby God became Emanuel, God with us, one with us, and we one with him.

Secondly, there is an union by Cove∣nant; thus all the sons of men were one with the first Adam, the Apostle speaks of this one man, as including all men, Rom. 5.18. Such an union there is be∣tween Christ and believers, Eph. 1.10. and through Christ with God, Zach. 13.9. I will say it is my people, and they, &c.

Thirdly, there is an union of Amity or Affection, as between Jonathan and Da∣vid, 1 Sam. 18.11. and 20.17. as between those Acts 4.32. such an union is be∣tween believers and Christ, Eph. 5.25. Christ loved his Church, and gave him∣self.— Such also between God and be∣lievers, now reconciled by Christ, Eph. 2.14.

Fourthly, there is a Conjugal union of persons by Marriage, Eph. 5.28, 31. such an union there is between Christ and believers, 2 Cor. 11.2. and such be∣tween

God and believers, Isa. 54.5. Isa. 62.5. Hos. 2.16, 19.20.

Fifthly, there is a spiritual union be∣tween all believers, 1 Cor. 12.13. such an union hath believers with Christ, 1 Cor. 6.17. and through Christ with God, 1 Cor. 2.13. with Eph. 2. ult.

But there is an union of believers with God, beyond all these, most spiritual, most mystical, and as yet incomprehen∣sible: such an union as is made to re∣semble the union between the Father and his Son, John 14.20. and John 17.21, 22.

This union of believers is not the same for quality or equality with that of the Father and Son; nor is this uni∣on made to refemble the natural union of the Father and Son in the Godhead. But that mystical union between the Fa∣ther and the Son, in our flesh, carrying on with joynt hand and heart the great work of Redemption; so 'tis express'd, John 10.28, 29, 30.

Secondly, From this union flows our Communion with God which is the se∣cond. Believers have a special spiritual

Communion with God: Communion is between persons some way or other u∣nited, participating of each others good things for their comfort and delight: Believers by union with God, have Com∣munion with God.

i. They have Communion with God in nature, 2 Pet 1.4. not by way of Par∣tition, as if God divided his nature be∣tween him and us; nor by way of trans∣fusion, as if God emptied of his nature into ours, but by way of Communion.

As the humane nature of Christ, was assumed into unity with the Divine in the Person of his Son, and by that union had Communion with the divine nature, whence followed an Unction, whereby the humane nature received Perfections and Excellencies above its own natural capacity; so by Communion with the divine nature, we receive an unction from the Holy One, the Spirit, and its super∣natural Excellencies and Perfections.

Secondly, they have Communion with God in all the divine Relations in the Godhead, Father, Son, and holy Spi∣rit:

Father, 1 John 1.31. Son, 1 Cor. 19. Holy Spirit, John 14.17.—Hedwel∣leth in you.

Thirdly, they have Communion with all three Persons in their peculiar and distinct Excellencies.

The peculiar Excellency of the Fa∣ther is Love, 1 Iohn 4.16. of the Son is Grace, Rom. 16.24. Of the Spirit is comfort, Iohn 14.16. Believers have Communion with the Father in love, with the Son in grace, with the Spirit in comfort, 2 Cor. 13.14. Paul often wi••h∣eth Mercy, Grace and Peace to Saints, Mercy is the Fathers, Grace the Sons, Peace the holy Spirit. They have Com∣munion with all three in their peculiar and distinct Priviledges.

Fourthly, they have Communion with God in all communicable Properties and Attributes; his Wisdom, Righteons∣ness, ••oliness Meekness, Patience, Good∣ness. These which are Attributes in God, are also many graces in believers; these make up the Image of God in Saints, and in these they are said to re∣semble

God; in these is their likeness to God, their conformity to God.

Fifthly, they have Communion with God in his greatest Priviledges, they are holiness and happiness.

i. Holiness is one of Gods chiefest Prerogatives, Exod. 15.11. that belie∣vers have Communion with God in his holiness, appears Isa. 63.8. they are cal∣led the people of his holiness by this Ar∣gument, viz. their communion with Go••. The Apostle exhorts believers to a further progress in holiness, 1 Pet. 1.15, 16.

Secondly, Happiness or Glory, Bles∣sedness of Felicity is Gods Prerogative, 1 Tim. 6.15. Rom. 9.5. so is glory, which is the manifestation of that blessedness: God is called the God of glory, Acts 7 2. the Father, the Father of glory, Eph. 1.17. the Son of God, Je••us Christ the Lord of glory, Iames 2.1. the Spirit, the Spirit of glory, 1 Pet. 4.14. That believers have Communion with God, Father, Son and Spirit in glory; see 2 Cor. 3.18. Iohn 1••.22. and from hence follows the third,

which is Communication.

Thirdly, there is a sweet Communi∣cation between God and believers, natu∣rally flowing from this Communion; like that which is express'd of those be∣lievers in holy Communion, Act. 4.32. This Communication is mutual between God and believers; God communicates himself to us to be our God: we com∣municate to him by owning him for our God; As they, Ier 3.22. Behold—and by giving up our selves to his service, 2 Cor. 8.5.

The Father communicates to us in all his spiritual blessings, — Eph. 1.3. We communicate to him, by improving all we receive from him, thank fully, faith∣fully, to the praise of his grace.

The Son communicates to us his Me∣rits, Mercies, Purchases, Treasures of his VVisdom, Knowledge, Righteousness, Holiness:— And we communicate to him by receiving him and all his bene∣fits by faith, and bring forth the fruits of righteousness by him to the glory of the Father.

The Spirit communicates to us light, truth, liberty, joy, strength, peace, com∣fort; and we communicate to him, by acknowledging all our receits from him, and giving up our selves to be led, counselled, guided, and governed by him.

The Father communicates with us in his love, an•• we communicate with him by returning love to him.

The Son communicates with us in grace, by fetching all supplies out of his fulness, and by doing all our works, more by the strength of his grace then our own.

The Spirit communicates to us in his comforts, and we communicate with him in raising up our hearts by his com∣forts, to joy in God above all other re∣joycings, Rom. 5.11.

1. Use. Let Believers raise up their ad∣miration to the utmost in the Contem∣plation of this Priviledge, the free grace of God, and the blood of reconciliation hath brought them to, viz. Commu∣nion with God, Fellowship with

all three Persons in blessed Tri∣nity.

First, in this consists your chiefest dignity: It was great honour to the Son of God in his state of Humiliation, that God called him, the Man his Fel∣low, Zach, 13 7. What honour is it, that God should say of poor sinners, poor weak believers; Behold the man, the wo∣man, my fellow, whom I have taken in∣to fellowship and communion with my self.

Secondly, in this consists your chief∣est joy, amidst all the scorns, reproaches troubles, sufferings from the world 1 John 1.3, 4.

Thirdly, in this consists your stability in grace; the Father and Son with whom ye have Communion, (John 14.23.) will make their abode with you, so will the Spi∣rit with whom ye have Communion, John 14.16. This Communion ye have with God here, will not leave you till it be perfected, in the full enjoy∣ment of God in glory.

2. Use. Endeavor to be acquainted more

and more with this Priviledge: though this Communion of believers with God be a Mystery, the full knowledge where∣of, and the most blessed fruits and effects of it be reserved for another state; yet let us endeavour to know the reality of it, that we may believe it, and for that end wait for the Promise and Office of the Spirit, as Comforter in that day, ye shall know the truth of it, though not yet the manner of it, Iohn 14.20.

First, from this Communion with God, Father, Son, Spirit, flow all supplies of Mercy, Grace and Peace.

Secondly, this communion is the true character of your Christianity; a man is best known by his Company.

Use 3. Endeavor daily to encrease and grow up in this Communion; it is yet imperfect, incompleat.

First, for this end bestow more cost on faith; by faith Enoch walked with God, (which notes Communion) and then was translated, Heb. ••.5.

Secondly, be much in the Communion of the Spirit, by whom our Communion

with the Father and Son is chiefly mana∣ged and transacted, 1 Iohn 16.14, 15. and by whom it is manifested, 1 Iohn 4.13.

Thirdly, be much in those duties, fre∣quent those Ordinances where God ma∣nifesteth, and most communicateth him∣self to his own.

4. Use. Let Believers be exhorted to live, walk, act and work all their works in the strength of that grace that flows from this Communion.

First, hence our victory over all dan∣gers, enemies, difficulties, 1 Iohn 4.4.

Secondly, hence your fruitfulness in Christ, John 15.4, 5.