22. This union of believers is not the same for quality or equality with that of the Father and Son nor is this union made to refemble the natural union of the Father and Son in the Godhead But that mystical union between the Father and the Son in our flesh carrying on with joynt hand and heart the great work of Redemption so 't is express'd John 10.28 29 30. Secondly From this union flows our Communion with God which is the second Believers have a special spiritual Communion with God Communion is between persons some way or other united participating of each others good things for their comfort and delight Believers by union with God have Communion with God i. They have Communion with God in nature 2 Pet 1.4 not by way of Partition as if God divided his nature between him and us nor by way of transfusion 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 supernatural Excellencies and Perfections Secondly they have Communion with God in all the divine Relations in the Godhead Father Son and holy Spirit Father 1 John 1.31 Son 1 Cor. 19. Holy Spirit John 14.17 Hedwelleth in you Thirdly they have Communion with all three Persons in their peculiar and distinct Excellencies The peculiar Excellency of the Father 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 wiâ—heth Mercy Grace and Peace to Saints Mercy is the Fathers Grace the Sons Peace the holy Spirit They have Communion with all three in their peculiar and distinct Priviledges Fourthly they have Communion with God in all communicable Properties and Attributes his Wisdom Righteonsness â—oliness Meekness Patience Goodness 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 resemble 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 believers have Communion with God in his holiness appears Isa 63.8 they are called the people of his holiness by this Argument viz. their communion with Goâ— The Apostle exhorts believers to a further progress in holiness 1 Pet. 1.15 16. Secondly Happiness or Glory Blessedness 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 Jeâ—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 1â— 22 and from hence follows the third which is Communication Thirdly there is a sweet Communication between God and believers naturally flowing from this Communion like that which is express'd of those believers in holy Communion Act. 4.32 This Communication is mutual between God and believers God communicates himself to us to be our God we communicate 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 faithfully to the praise of his grace The Son communicates to us his Merits Mercies Purchases Treasures of his VVisdom Knowledge Righteousness Holiness And we communicate to him by receiving him and all his benefits 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 comfort 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 anâ— 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 comforts to joy in God above all other rejoycings Rom. 5.11 1. Use Let Believers raise up their admiration to the utmost in the Contemplation of this Priviledge the free grace of God and the blood of reconciliation hath brought them to viz. Communion with God Fellowship with all three Persons in blessed Trinity 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 Fellow Zach 13 7. What honour is it that God should say of poor sinners poor weak believers Behold the man the woman my fellow whom I have taken into fellowship and communion with my self Secondly in this consists your chiefest 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 Spirit 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 enjoyment 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 whereof 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. â— 5 Secondly be much in the Communion of the Spirit by whom our Communion with the Father
THE Inseparable Communion OF A Believer WITH GOD IN HIS LOVE Being the Substance of Several SERMONS Preached on ROM VIII 38.39 By that Reverend Minister Mr. THOMAS MALLERY late Pastor of a Church in London LONDON Printed for R. D. near the Royal Exchange MDCLXXIV AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE Christian-READER THE Author of this short Treatise was so well known to the Churches of Christ in and about this City that neither himself nor any of his holy Labours do need an Epistle of Commendation to them For though he be dead he yet speaketh by his past Example to Believers in word in conversation in charity in spirit in faith in purity And by his Ministry which he Managed as the Steward of God holding fast the faithful Word with uncorruptness and dispensed with gravity sincerity sound speech as cannot be condemned rightly dividing the Word of Truth whereby as he did approve himself to God a Workman that needed not to be ashamed so also to every Mans Conscience that knew him and more especially to the Flock over which the Holy Ghost had made him Overseer to whom in Christ Jesus both his Personal Grace and Ministerial Abilities are acknowledged as the Auther and Finisher of them The design therefore of these few lines is not so much to bespeak an Acceptance with the Reader as to Advertise him That these Sermons were not prepared or for ought is known ever intended by himself for the Presse but are made publick by some of his Friends in whose Memory his Name and Labour yet live as those that God made useful and savoury to them when he Preached them and which they hope may be Profitable to all the Saints Yet the Reader may be assured That they are the true Copy of his own Notes the Errors of the Transcriber excepted which he Prepared to methodize what of the Word he Ministred in his daily course which were enlarged and further emproved in the lively Delivery of them which latter if we could present thee with as truly as the substance of them is here emitted especially if it had pleased the only wise God to have spared him to a Review of them by that spiritual Judgment which he was singularly blest with to deliver the things of God not only solidly but in many things very sublimely there would need no Apology to the World whose course is to censure rather then to study profit by the Labours of Gods Servants for the seeming abruptnesse of some of his notions and the brevity of the whole which last inconvenience yet is attended with this advantage That the godly Reader may with less expence of time peruse them and with greater facility retain them and the worth and weight he finds in them will recompence his labour through the blessing of the Holy One who teacheth us to profit as he hath Promised to all that are interessed in this inseparable union to and communion with him in Jesus Christ who will through him make us Conquerours over the unprofitablenesse of our own hearts as well as all other our spiritual enemies The Substance of several Sermons 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 creature 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 over the Law and Satan the grand Accuser of the Brethren In 35 36 37 verses he triumphs over 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 Heaven Earth and Hell and triumphs over all Enemies real or imaginary that can be supposed to endeavor to separate believers 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 Communion the Love of God Thirdly the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or first subject of that love Christ Jesus Fourthly the Propriety Believers have to Christ for this end viz. Communion with God in his love Christ Jesus our Lord. Fifthly the triumph of faith in this love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord over 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 spiritual 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 disjoyâ—ting or disuniting 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 Communication 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 Covenant 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 between 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 David 1 Sam. 18.11 and 20.17 as between those Acts 4.32 such an union is between believers and Christ Eph. 5.25 Christ loved his Church and gave himself Such also between God and believers 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 between God and believers Isa 54.5 Isa 62.5 Hos 2.16 19.20 Fifthly there is a spiritual union between 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 incomprehensible such an union as is made to resemble the union between the Father and his Son John 14.20 and John 17.21
Gods eternal love to us but only in Iesus Christ 2 â—or 4.6 Knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ By the glory of God we are in a special manner to understand it of the glory of his eternal love and grace if with this we compare Eph. 1.6 and 12. every believers experience will bear witness to this truth 3. Dem. God did first accomplish all that grace in Christ which his eternal love had purposed to perform in us 2 Cor. 1.20 Hence Christ became the first-born Rom. 8.29 the first-fruits 1 Cor. 15.23 The Image Patern and Exemplar of all the grace and glory of God to us 2. Our salvation was founded on the eternal Election of God Christ was elected Isa 42.1 He was not only one chosen out of all Creatures Men and Angels but chosen out of all the three Persons in Trinity to be the Mediatour of our Peace by the Election of Christ ours is ratified and confirmed Secondly our salvation includes in it a Predestination to the Adoption We were ordained to be sons of God So Christ in our nature by its personal Union with the Divine was the Son of God Luke 1.45 Gal. 4.4 5. Thirdly our salvation is carried on by our Calling Iesus Christ had his Call of God to all the Offices that concerned him in the Work of our Redemption Heb. 5.4 5. Fourthly our salvation is carried by Iustification so Christ was first justified Isa 50 8. 1 Tim. 3.16 Fisthly our salvation is carried on unto a final victory over all our enemies for Christ Iesus he hath first overcome Rev. 3.21 Sixthly our salvation is perfected by the Resurrection from the dead and a possession of glory for Christ first rose from the dead and entred into his glory Eph. 4.5 6. So what faith hope love holiness patience humility obedience God should require of us was first performed by Christ who became a Pattern and Examplar of all grace unto obedience for us John 15.10 and our constant Growth and Increase in Grace is called a growing up in all things to Christ our Head Eph. 4 15. 4. Dem. All these treasures of salvation which God hath in his eternal love decreed to lay out on his Elect both in grace and glory are given into Christ Col 1.19 Col. 2.3 Christ Heir of all things by appointment Heb. 1.3 Here he is said to be made of God unto us whatever God intended to make our salvation compleat by viz. Wisdom 1 Cor. 1.30 Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption These four Ingredients are perfect and compleat salvation So that of Christs fulness we still receive grace for grace and glory for glory 2 Cor. 3.18 John 1.16 and our compleatness is in him Col. 2.9 10. Hence Christ is said to be not only given us for a Saviour but to be the salvation of God to us Luke 2.30 because he contains in himself the whole matter of our salvation every part and parcel that makes our salvation compleat 5. Dem. When God actually performs any of that grace his eternal love purposed and decreed for us he first makes us to be in Christ makes us one with Christ 1 Cor. 1.30 Of God are ye in Christ Iesus he gathers into one in Christ Eph. 1.10 he calls them into the fellowship of Christ 1 Cor. 1.9 whom he intends to save As we are said to be chosen in Christ Eph. 1.4 so we are said to be made the sons of God in Christ Gal. 3.26 reconciled in Christ 2 Cor. 5.19 to be made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. ult to be made new creatures in him 2 Cor. 1.17 to be made an habitation of God in him Eph. 2. ult to be sanctified preserved called in Iesus Christ Iude 1. hence we are called the Workmanship of God in Christ Eph. 2.10 The grounds of this truth why God should make out all the manifestations and dispensations of his love to us in Christ Iesus may be 1. Christ only is that among all three Persons in Trinity which God did ordain us to be viz. the Son of God The grace of our Adoption is the supreme Priviledge of all that grace we receive from Gods love 1 Iohn 3.1 and is our Right and Title to all other blessings if sons then heirs We must be sons before we can have right to any part of the Inheritance Now Christ having this Prerogative peculiar to himself to be the Son of God it was necessary that we should be made the sons of God in Christ Iesus Eph. 1.5 Secondly because Christ was as the only begotten Son of God so the only beloved of the Father sole Heir of all his Fathers love and his Fathers blessings both in grace and glory Therefore it behoved that the manifestations of the Fathers love and the dispensations of his love to us in the blessings of grace and glory should be made in Iesus Christ Thirdly that the glory of our salvation might not be communicated in any part to the creature but to God alone of whom through whom to whom are all things to whom be glory for ever It is God who of himself and in himself and by himself worketh all grace in us of himself as the Father in himself as the Son by himself as the holy Spirit The Uses of this Point are I. For Information First it informs us how miserable men are who are yet out of Christ they are in no capacity to receive one token of Gods saving love They may love themselves and do good to themselves the world may love friends may love them and shew them love but God will shew them no love out of Christ Secondly it informs us of that excellent order and method the Wisdom of God hath observed in stating our salvation The love of God which is the great spring of life and grace is first in God himself as the original Then it is in Christ as he to whom belongs the Birth-right and the blessings of it in whom all the Promises of God are Yea and Amen Then it is in us who are in Christ Iesus in whom we are made Partakers of the righteousness holiness and glory of God Thirdly that no natural goodness in our selves nothing we can do in conformity to the Law of God no external duties of Worship to God no moral Righteousness towards man can be the least part of that Righteousness that can bring us into a state of love and favour with God It must be what God doth bestow on us in Iesus Christ for no man is made that unto which the love of God hath predestinated him in himself and through himself but in and through Christ only Fourthly it informs us in what glass we may most clearly behold the love of God to us in all its effects it is Iesus Christ Would we know the love of God to us look upon his love to Christ or know the dignity of our Adoption look upon the Sonship of Christ or know the dignity
Saints IV. They are not only on but in the Armes of Christ they are everlasting Armes Deut. 33.27 there is an everlasting Arm underneath and an everlasting Arm above Cant. 2.6 V. They are not only in the Armes but in the breast and bosome of Christ Isa 40.11 the High-Priest bare the Names of all the tribes on his breast-Plate VI. They are born not only in his breast but on his shoulders as Exod. 28.11 12. Cant 8 5. by which they are everlastingly upheld from all that ruine or destruction their enemies can VII They are not only on the shoulders but in the eye of Christ as the Apple in the eye Zach. 2.8 VIII Nor only in the eye but in the very bowels of Christ as that expression shews Phil. 1.8 IX Not only in his bowels but in his heart see Cant. 8.6 such as prevail to separate believers from Christ must pluck out the heart of Christ Obj. 1. But the Apostle seems to spâ—â—k within the Compass of Creatures that no Creature can yet God can separate Answ It is God that justifies who shall condemn Rom. 8.33 to justifie and condemn the same persons implies a contradiction which God cannot do Jer. 33.24 25 26. Secondly he hath said to the utmost I will never never never leave thee Heb. 13.5 6. Obj. 2. But though other men other creatures cannot do it a man may separate himself Answ 1. God hath promised to put his fear Jer. 32.40 Secondly never any true believer made the least separation from God but they quickly found a difference and readily return'd to him again with bitter repentings Hos 2.7 Obj. 3. Though no creature can do it sin may This was Bernards Position but I answer First Sin is a creature not Gods creature but the devils every sin is a Lie and the devil is the father of it Iohn 8.44 Therefore Secondly former sins cannot they are pardoned after-sins shall not they have an Advocate and a Propitiation 1 Iohn 2.2 Thirdly large experience hath made this good Ier. 51.5 when Balaâ—â— attempted to separate between God and his people he could not effect it because God beheld no iniquity Numb 23 21. for the Lord his God is with him 1. Use This informs us how much the salvation of man one way or other is endangered by every creature for if such who are gathered into Communion with God are endangered by every creature in a separation how much more are such who are yet at a distance from God in danger by the creature to be kept from embracing that Communion Doth not every creature an unregenerate man loves set up it self to be his God his chief good and endeavour to perswade him that his chief blessedness consists more in that enjoyment then in the enjoyment of God himself Beware how much you are endangered by the creatures either to be kept off from all Communion with God or made to have a loose Communion with God 2. Use I exhort believers again and again to strengthen your faith in your Communion with God in love which is in Christ Iesus This is the Ark of salvation in every deluge your Refuge and Sanctuary in every storm your Door of escape in every danger your resting place in all the Confusions of the world your Victory and Triumph over all your enemies all your fears doubts temptations trials But how shall we do this First study much the love of God it had a wonderful attractive vertue to draw you into this Communion With loving kindness I have drawn you It hath a marvellous force and efficacy to keep you close to that Communion 2 Cor. 4.14 The Love of Christ coarctat constringit Secondly better your acquaintance with Christ First who first swallowed up all the distances and reconciled all the eâ—â—ities and so made way for you into this blessed Communion with God Secondly study him converse with him who remains one with God and one with us in the divine nature and in the humane nature that he might preserve our Communion with God inviolable 3. Use Having clear'd your Communion Put on a nobleness of spirit an height of resolution a magnanimity of faith expect to encounter with the most and with the worst of enemies And doubt not of Victory and Conquest over all Let your faith rise higher then your dangers or enemies can Some can believe Victory over such and such not over others over things present not over things to come Faith is not come to its just height of spirit till it triumph over all real or possible present or to come not only over one creature but over the united concurrent power of all creatures FINIS