it You know the hot Disputes that have been about this And for the Divisions of Reuben there are great Thoughts of Heart Hence mainly are our Separations and Divisions in Religion As in Jephtha's Case his dear Daughter was his greatest Trouble Judg. xi 35 Alas my Daughter thou hast brought me very low and thou art one of them that trouble me So this precious Sacrament of Communion is unhappily proved the great Occâ—sion of Division but in the same Notion that Christ was a Stumbling-block Which was not of any Fault of his but of Men in faultering about him 'T is true receiving of this Sacrament is a Communion but it is most especially external in the Profession of the same Faith and Doctrine of the Gospel And the Communion of Saints in this Article aimeth further I have formerly observed to you the Phrase This is the New Testament in my Blood 1 Cor. xi 25 Not only My Blood of the New Testament nor only A Seal and Sanction of the New Testament but the New Testament That is A new Administration of the New Covenant terminating Judaism and binding over Receivers to the Profession of the Evangelical Doctrine and Religion So this properly is the Communion that Receivers have in this Sacrament one with another viz. That they join in the Profession of the same Christian Doctrine and that not only among themselves but even with the whole Church that professeth the same Truth And hence it was that in the Infancy of the Church they received the Sacrament almost daily that those new Professors might thereby be held to constant Profession against revolting to their Judaism So that in this there is indeed something of the Communion of Saints all professing the same Truth and Religion but we must still look further for a Communion among Saints to take up the full meaning of the Article before us For the Inquiry after which we are first to consider that Christ's Mystical Body the Church consists of all the Saints that are or shall be in the World from the beginning to the end of it And so it includes the Saints in Glory jointly with these that are yet on Earth Those in Glory Members already above Water as their Head also is yet in the Waves of this troublesome World and not got above them As it is said of Christ himself Luke ii ult That he grew in Stature so is the Mystical Body of Christ growing in Stature till it shall be consumate at the last Day Observe that Eph. iv 13 Till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ or the measure of the full Stature of Christ. Some fondly hence conclude that all Saints shall be raised as at the very Age and Stature of Christ when he was raised which was at his very Prime viz. Two and Thirty years and an half of Age. That Elect Infants shall not be raised Infants but as of that Age and Stature That the Aged shall not be raised as Aged but as at their Prime of that Age and Stature Which as it breeds confusion in the understanding of the Article of the Resurrection of the Body so it is clean besides the Apostles intent there He speaks not of our Bodies but of Christ's Mystical Body viz That God had given Apostles and Teachers for the building up that Body the Church by degrees till it came to its full Stature and Perfection in the Salvation of all that belong to it So Saints are building up daily and those that are gone to Glory so much of that Body is compleated and the rest growing on to the same Perfecting till all be Compleated and the whole Body Perfected So that those compleated in Glory and these compleating toward Glory here are the same Body though at present of a different condition The Church Militant and Triumphant are not two Churches not two Bodies but one whole Church and Body of Christ consisting of Members some already Perfected and some Perfecting As Israel at the Temple in the two Courts were not two Congregations and Churches but one Congregation in two divers places two Companies of one Congregation The Apostle in Heb. xi ult saith God having provided some better thing for us that they without us should not be made perfect When some say the Saints under the Law are not perfected in Glory till Christ's coming but in Limbo Whereas the Apostle speaks in the sense we are upon viz. That those Holy Ones without us under the Gospel are not the perfect Body of Christ but the Body was to consist of Gentiles as well as Jews Of some yet to be saved as well as of them that are saved already Now is there any Communion 'twixt these two parts of the same Body Saints on Earth and Saints in Glory I mean is there any imparting of the one to the other as there is 'twixt two Parties in Communion Some will tell you Yes We are to Pray to them and they Pray for us As he in the Prophet makes a God and then falls down to it So it is common in the Church of Rome to make whom they think good Saints and then to Pray to them that they would Pray for them to God Whereas they can never clear the Praying to Creatures from Idolatry and can never prove that it is possible for a Saint in Heaven to hear one Speaking and Praying on Earth much less to know the Heart with which he Prays So can they ever prove that there is Praying in Heaven at all The Church here is called the House of Prayer but it is hard to prove that Heaven is so There is Praising and Thanksgiving and Glorifying God and Adoring the Lamb But where do we ever read of Praying in Heaven Nay Can any prove that Christ Prayeth there for his People But he exerciseth his Mediation some other way He offereth up the Prayers of his Saints Rev. viii 3 And another Angel came and stood at the Altar having a Golden Censer and there was given unto him much Incense that he should offer it with the Prayers of all Saints upon the Golden Altar which was before the Throne But that he offers them he Praying also cannot be cleared But I shall not insist on this The Article aims at the Communion of Saints upon Earth according to David's Style Psal. xvi 3 To the Saints that are in the Earth Saints scattered in the Earth and yet have they Communion We may think of that Ezek. xxxvii 3 Can these dry scattered Bones come together and Live Yes ver 7. Bone came to his Bone and Lived So Son of Man can Men dispersed in Europe Asia Africa and America have Communion They know not one another never saw one another and they have Communion Yes There is an invisible Vein of Communion runs betwixt all Saints on Earth Which we consider in these
Heart and trembleth at my Word I will look to such have a friendly Regard and Respect to him Nay I will come and converse and sup and dwell with him This was David's Desire Psal. ci 2 Oh when wilt thou come unto me I will walk in my House with a perfect Heart I will walk in my House when wilt thou come and walk and dwell with me Now this Communion 'twixt God and Saints we may consider in the Rise of it the Nature of it and the Means and Manner of it I. The Rise of it It ariseth from the Union that is 'twixt God and the Saint We can never have Fellowship with God unless we be at one with God Abraham was the Friend of God and so he and God conversed There is no Communion 'twixt Enemies Es. lix 1 2. Behold the Lord's Hand is not shortned that it cannot save neither his Ear heavy that it cannot hear But your Iniquities have separated between you and your God and your Sins have hid his Face from you that he will not hear Why is God such a Stranger to you You are his Enemies But turn to me saith the Lord and I will turn unto you Es. i. 16 17 18. Wash ye make you clean put away the Evil of your Doings from before mine Eyes cease to do Evil learn to do well seek Judgment relieve the oppressed judge the Fatherless plead for the Widow Come now and let us reason together II. The Nature of this Communion is that God imparts himself to the Saint and the Saint to God I your God you my People There is no Strangeness 'twixt them They do freely give up Hearts one to another as they that are in Friendship and tell their Minds one to another III. The Means of this Communion is by God's Ordinances and by his Spirit 1. It is impossible to have Communion with God but by way of his Ordinances the Word Prayer Sacraments and Meditation upon all Communion is more than Union A Man in walking holily walks in Union with God but to come in Communion or converse with God is something more Two Friends apart are at one but their Converse together is by Letter or Conference 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Set-Festivals signifie Meetings also People meeting in Communion with themselves and with God in these Appointments Thou meetest him c. Es. lxiv. 5 As it is impossible to have Union with God but in virtue of his Covenant so to have Communion but in the Administrations of the Covenant Exod. xxiv 11 And upon the Nobles of the Children of Israel he laid not his Hand Also they saw God and did eat and drink By virtue of the Covenant spoken of just before they were at Peace with God so that he laid not his Hand on them and by the Administration of the Covenant they were in Communion They eat and drank with him There is a further striving in Attendance upon Ordinances than meerly to do Work to hear to patter out some Prayers and the like but to taste and feel God in his Word to send up the Heart to God and to lay hold on him Do you not do it here and in your Closet in Prayer and in Reading This is not to draw near to God and hold Communion with him How heartily doth a true Saint pour out his Heart tell his Mind to God his Failings his Wants as one Friend to another This is the reason why we should pray tho' God knows our Wants Your Heavenly Father knows that ye have need of these things Why then have we need to tell him That we may shew our Communion with God and that we trust him with our Hearts and Estates How doth a true Saint lay hold on every Word of God as Benhadad's Servants by Ahab's Oh! this Instruction this Reproof this Exhortation is God's Mind to me This is as a Letter or Message sent to me for my Good He owns God as in Love and Friendship imputing his Mind to him This is Communion with God in Ordinances to tell God all our Soul in Prayer to taste the Mind of God to us-ward in hearing and Attendance upon Sermons But 2. Communion with God is by his Spirit 2 Cor. xiii 14 The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all What does the Apostle wish for in these Words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Communion of the Spirit That they always may have the Fellowship of the Spirit and also by Communion of the Spirit Fellowship with God Take one Example Rom. viii 26 The Spirit it self maketh Intercession Where is this Spirit In Heaven No the Spirit of God in the Soul stirring up and enlarging the Heart The Spirit of Grace and Supplication Zach. xii 10 Here is the double Communion of the Spirit spoken of the Spirit always with the Saint and the Spirit helping him to converse with God in Prayer bringing the Heart and God together The Spirit maketh Intercession Oh! how comfortable are the Prayers of a Saint He hath a twofold Intercessor Viz. The Spirit in his Heart enabling him to pray and Christ in Heaven praying or interceding for him So for Communion in other Ordinances The Eucharist is called the Communion not only of Receivers among themselves but of the true Receiver with God and Christ. God in it holds out the Benefits of Christ. The Holy Receiver by the Spirit and Grace of God thanks him for those Befits takes hold of them and receives them at the Hand of God and tastes the Sweetness of God's Gifts in them So in Hearing the Heart owns God speaking counselling comforting Oh! this is the Voice of my Beloved And the Heart all along gives up it self to God's Counsel Correction and Administration This is Spiritual Communion with God in his Ordinances Besides what I have already said upon this Argument consider but two Expressions whereby Scripture sets forth the Union of a Saint with God and then judge of the Communion I. Under the Notion of Marriage 'twixt the Soul and God Es. liv 5 For thy Maker is thy Husband the Lord of Hosts is his Name Hos. ii 19 I will betroth thee to my self for ever Oh! what Tydings are these to a poor Soul The Lord espouse it be an Husband to it Awake up put on thine Ornaments O my Soul Behold thy Bridegroom coming go forth to meet him Ah! dull dirty Souls of ours why do we sit among the Pots and marry our selves to Earth and Dunghills when a Soul may have the Lord for an Husband and be espoused to him for ever Now Experience tells what Communion there is 'twixt Wife and Husband as well as Scripture tells us what Union Communion of Heart of Estates of Affections neither is their own but one another's Such is the Communion 'twixt a Holy Soul and God They are married together their Hearts as I may say are interchanged and intirely each others Hos.
iii. 3 Thou shalt be for me and not another and I will be for thee saith the Lord. Observe that Expression 1 Cor. vi 17 He that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit Here is Union and Communion Joined to the Lord Beza renders it Agglutinatus There is Union And Communion One Spirit He takes some Comparison before from a married Couple But this is nearer there must be an Union betwixt Man and Wife nay there is betwixt Man and Whore Know ye not that he which is joined to an Harlot is one Body For two saith he shall be one Flesh. But it may be no Communion of Hearts and Affections But he that is joined to God is one Spirit II. Observe this Communion by the Expression of the Members of his Body Which the Apostle follows in 1 Cor. xii especially see ver 27. Now ye are the Body of Christ and Members in particular Ye are the Body in gross and every particular Christian a particular Member Now the Body and Members relate to the Head which is Christ. Eph. iv 15 That ye may grow into him in all things which is the Head even Christ. From whom the whole Body fitly joined together And Col. i. 18 He is the Head of the Body the Church So that here you may first see the Union 'twixt Christ and his Members and then the Communion The Union as the Head to the Body the Communion as betwixt Head and Members So what nearer Union or Communion can be in the World And this asserts what I said that Communion with God and Christ is founded in Union with God No Member if not in Union with the Head and if a Member so in Union it cannot but have Communion Members cannot but derive Virtue from the Head and cannot again but be serviceable all they can to it Such a Communion is there 'twixt a Saint and God And what the particular Nature or Virtue of it is learn by observing how it comes and how a Saint comes by it For the Discovery of which we will take up this Question to speak to Quest. How should I do to come in Communion with God I know it is good and happy but how shall I come by it Ans. Learn this from civil Converse 'twixt Friend and Friend Abraham was the Friend of God and he came into that Nearness after the manner as Friend doth with Friend Observe two Expressions in Scripture Knowing of God 1 Chro. xxviii 9 Thou Solomon my Son know the God of thy Father And Acquainting one's self with God Job xxii 21 Acquaint now thy self with him So is the Case with two that come to converse as Friends I know such a Person and I make my self acquainted with him I. So that the first Step to Communion with God is to know him But under what Notion or what Knowledge 1. Not a distant Knowledge As wicked Men know there is a God This is far from bringing into Acquaintance Every one of us know there is a Turk and Pope but this is far from being in Converse with them Nay nearer we all know the King is our Soveraign and own him so yet this is far from conversing with him It is said God beholds the Wicked afar off So they tho' they knew him they knew but afar off As he that was newly cured of his Blindness in the Gospel saw Men walk but they seemed to him like Trees As Balaam saith of his seeing of God Num. xxiv 17 I shall see him but not now I shall behold him but not nigh 2. Nor is it barely to know God in his Attributes That he is terrible glorious just The Devils know all this but as far from Communion with God as Hell is from Heaven 3. But so to know God is to love and desire him and his Communion He that would be acquainted with one looks not on him barely as one he knows nor barely as one worthy to be acquainted with but as by whose Acquaintance to have Comfort Benefit and Delight and which he cannot comfortably be without Such is that Knowledge of God that begins Communion with God To make it our Work to know God as without Knowledge of whom and acquaintance with whom we are undone To desire his Knowledge and Acquaintance above all things in the World and to account nothing in the World worth our Study Knowledge and Acquaintance but himself So the Apostle professeth over and over 1 Cor. ii 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified For nothing else in comparison of him is worth the Study and Labour to know And Phil. iii. 8 Yea doubtless without any dispute and I count all things but Loss for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord. This is that that makes me justly to move the Question Do you seriously ask how I may come in Communion with God Because that requires the Preparative of the most affectionate Desires to come into Communion with him Such a Desire breathes the Heart of a true Saint Esai xxvi 8 9. The Desire of our Souls is to thy Name and to the Remembrance of thee With my Soul have I desired thee in the Night yea with my Spirit within me will I seek thee early II. The second Means to come into Communion with God is to be acquainted with him Now to make your selves acquainted with God be not strange to him The Wicked are estranged from the Womb. Not only not knowing God but not making himself known to God The Word in Job xxii 21 which we translate Acquaint is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Accustom thy self to God The Word is used elsewhere Num. xxii 30 The Ass said unto Balaam Am not I thine Ass upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this Day Was I ever wont or accustomed to do so unto thee So that the Word signifies Accustoming Frequenting A Saint acquaints himself with God by frequent coming to his Presence in Prayer and hearing and attending on him As Acts iii. 10 All knew the poor Creeple which sat for Alms at the beautiful Gate of the Temple because there he constantly sat so God knows the Face of a Saint he is ever and anon in the Presence of God Oh! I know thee by Name thou art always at my Footstool thou art always in my School I know thee Moses by Name saith God And very good Reason for it he was always in his Presence Ps. lxxxiii 23 I am continually with thee Was it possible then but that God should know him God at the Judgment will say to the Wicked I know you not And no wonder for he never saw their Faces in his Family You are none of my Children I never saw you owning your Dependance upon me knowing me as the Father None of my Servants I never saw you doing my Work None of my Scholars I never saw you in my School studious and taking out your Lesson Your Faces
Particulars I. There is a Communion of Converse and Communion of Affection There may be the former where there is not the latter English Merchants have Communion of Converse with Outland Merchants when they come among them Buy Sell Eat Drink together When the Communion 'twixt them is meerly of Civil Converse rather than of near Affection And there may be Communion of Affection where there is no Converse Nay there is as it were planted in Morality an Affection of one Excellent Person to another A Valiant Man loves a Valiant Man though he never came near him A Scholar loves a Scholar that he hath only heard of Much more is such an Affection planted in true Christianity in an Heart truly Religious be he who he will where he will though he never saw him As Psal. xvi 3 My delight is in the Saints and Excellent on the Earth be they far off or near II. There is Communion in Common Interest where it may be there is not Communion in Common Converse Those that never saw or heard of one another to Converse together yet may have Communion in Common Interest Englishmen meeting beyond Sea that never saw each other before yet will take parts and side together as in the Common Interest of being Countrymen There is a Common Interest of all the Saints in the World though at their never so great Distance and Separation viz. Glorifying God and Loving the Lord Jesus As the Apostle saith 1 John i. 3 Our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. So the Fellowship of the Saints among themselves meets in this Centre of Loving the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. And ask the same Apostle the Exposition of his Words in the same Epistle Cap. ii 14 We know that we have passed from Death to Life because we love the Brethren He would tell you It is a sign we Love God and so are passed from Death to Life because we Love the Brethren that Love God This is the special Centre in which Saints meet be they never so far asunder And in this Sense Their Gathering together is to be understood of which there is so frequent mention not into one place but into this one Circle of Loving Fearing Serving God Zeph. iii. 9 That they may call upon the Name of the Lord and serve him with one Consent In the Hebrew it is With one Shoulder As if many were together shouldring up the same weight or burden All in their places jointly putting to their endeavour to bear up the Name Glory and Honour of God East West North South every Saint joyning in this great Work and Meeting in this Holy Point As the Twelve Oxen under the Brazen Sea their Faces to the Four Quarters of Heaven but their Bodies all Meeting to bear up the Weight Now III. They that are all of the same mind all meet in this Common Interest toward God cannot but love one another though they knew not one another Judg. v. 9 My Heart saith Deborah is toward the Governors of Israel that offered themselves willingly among the People Did she know all their Faces and Persons Could she call them by their Names No but she could not but Love them be they whom they would that put to their Hands and Shoulders to that Common Cause We see how Men are ready to Affect any that they hear to be of their Opinion Humour and Mind though they never saw them Much more does a Saint love a Saint that is Partner with him in this Holy Work Though he knew not where to find him or Name him yet if he be for God he must have his Heart and loving God he cannot but love whosoever loves him IV. Accordingly they sympathize one with another 1 Cor. xii 26 Whether one Member suffer all the Members suffer with it or one Member be Honoured all the Members rejoice with it They weep with those that weep and rejoice with those that rejoice They bear one another's burdens It grieves a Saint if it be ill with any Saint in the World and he rejoiceth if it go well with him His Heart is touched with his Case as with his own As we are affected with the well or ill doing of any Englishman in any part of the World for Common Interest of Country sake Neh. i. 4 And it came to pass when I heard these words that I sat down and wept and mourned certain Days and fasted and prayed before the God of Heaven Why Nehemiah thou art well enough thou art in place of Honour Pleasure Preferment Oh! but it is ill with the People of God And Psal. cxxxvii 5 6. saith the Psalmist If I forget thee O Jerusalem let my Right Hand forget her cunning If I do not remember thee let my Tongue cleave to the Roof of my Mouth if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy I can never forget Jerusalem V. Answerably they have one another's Prayers There is not a Saint in the World but hath the Prayers of all the Saints in the World Any Child of God makes it Conscience to Pray for every Child of God on Earth One Member cannot but do its best for another Gal. vi 16 And as many as walk according to this Rule Peace be on them and Mercy and upon the Israel of God Pray for thy self Paul and for thine own Churches Nay but every Saint where-ever is a Member of the same Body that I am of and therefore I must Pray for them also So Ephes. vi 24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in Sincerity Why pray so for them Because of that Common Interest that is betwixt all Saints I love Christ and cannot but love and pray for all that love him We may say as Psal. cxxxiii 1 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in Unity So how blessed how happy to be thus joyned together in this Common Union If thy Prayers be weak all the Saints in the World pray thee if thy Estate be miserable if thou beest tempted still thou hast the Prayers of all good Men through out the World Oh! happy condition of a true Saint Christ mediating for him in Heaven and all the Saints on Earth Praying for him as Acts xii 5 Peter was kept in Prison but Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church of God for him Chear up poor Child of God why walkest thou so heavily Why The Children of Belial curse me revile me Oh! but all the Saints of God pray for thee And this is the true Communicating of Saints one to another And so much for the Communion of Saints with God and one with another FINIS Advertisement There are in the Press and will all be Published about Midsummer EXpository Notes with Practical Observations upon the Four Holy Evangelists wherein the Sacred Text is at large Recited the Sense Explained Doubts Resolved seeming Contradictions Reconcile and the Instructive Example of the Holy Jesus to our Imitation Recommended Designed for the Instruction of Private Families By William Burkitt M. A. Vicar of Dedham in Essex Folio A Catechetical Course of Sermons for the whole Year Being an Explanation of the Church-Catechism in 52 distinct Discourses on so many several Texts of Scripture wherein are Briefly Contained the most necessary Points of Christian Doctrine Recommended especially for the use of Famimilies By Peter Newcome M. A· Vicar of Aldenham in Hertfordshire In 2 Volumes in Octavo As also the Works of William Bates D. D. in a large Folio and good Paper containing all he Printed in his Life-time To which are now added two Discourses never before Published viz. 1. On Divine Meditation and 2. On the Fear of God Price 25 s. a single Book Unbound They that will Buy Six shall have a Seventh Gratis provided they send in the first Payment some time before Midsummer next