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
and Son is chiefly managed and transacted 1 Iohn 16.14 15. and by whom it is manifested 1 Iohn 4.13 Thirdly be much in those duties frequent those Ordinances where God manifesteth and most communicateth himself 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 dangers enemies difficulties 1 Iohn 4.4 Secondly hence your fruitfulness in Christ John 15.4 5. ROM 8.38 For I am Perswaded c. IN the first Point I opened the doctrine of Believers Communion with God The second is the bond of this Communion The Love of God Doct. The Love of God is a sweet a sacred bond of inseparable Communion between God and believers Though the love of God in Scripture somtimes signifies our love to God yet here it must needs signifie Gods love to us for not our love to God but his love to us is the only foundation on which a believer can build such high resolution strong confidence glorious joy triumphing faith as is in the text There is a threefold love of God to us First a general love a love of benevolence or good will common to all his creatures as they are the works of his hand so his mercy and love are over all his works the invisible things of his Wisdom and Power are seen in every creature Rom. 1.20 And what of God is in any creature is lovely and he loves every thing himself hath made Secondly a particular love a love of beneficence or bounty Thus he loves man above all his other creatures before his fall Pro. 8.31 After his fall Psal 8.45 Heb. 2.16 Tit. 3.4 Thirdly a more special and peculiar love a love of Communion and Complacency it is of such out of mankind whom God hath loved in Christ with an everlasting love these are believers according to Election Man is Partaker with other creatures of all that love of God that communicates to them yet hath a special love of God that communicates to him and no other creature hath part with him Believers partake of all that love of God that communicates it self to all other creatures and to all other men yet hath a special love of God in which no other creature and no other men partake with him Thus a believer is Heir of all that love that ever issued forth from God of this love of God the Text speaks First it is the bond of our Communion as being that which draws us into this Communion There is in every man by nature an unwillingness to come to God a drawing off from God and Communion with him Partly from sin and corruption which is in man which is a privation of our suitableness and likeness and conformity to God and is a positive contrariety and opposition to God both which are flatly repugnant to Communion and partly also from the apprehension of the wrath and displeasure of God and our obnoxiousness to his Iustice whom most unjustly and injuriously we have offended hence no man will come into Communion with God except drawn Iohn 6.44 But what then doth God compell men against their wills no this would destroy that natural principle of liberty God hath implanted in that faculty therfore in infinit wisdom he hath ordered to bring them in by a way of voluntariness and free obedience and the meanes by which the power of his grace shall produce effectually those effects in the hearts of men to which they shall freely and willingly consent to is a way of love Hos 11 4. Love is the cord that drawes men that drawes man into communion with God Ier 34.3 When God by his Spirit manifests his love to the soul whom no other meanes could perswade much less compel the soul is conquered by the secret ineffable potency and Tweetness of the operation of love love drawes and the soule comes yea runs into his armes yea into that bosom where love opens Cant. 1.1.4 Secondly it is the bond of our communion with God because it binds God fast to us and us fast to God First it binds God fast to us in this sacred communion First this it doth by bringing us into an everlasting Covenant with God Ezek. 16 8. 1 Sam. 18.3 No after-sins â—ack-slidings no temptations persecuâ—ions of the world nor chastise rents of God can break Covenant because founâ—ed on love Our Communion with God is foundâ—d on the Covenant the Covenant founâ—ed on love hence we call it a Covenant â—f grace or love It is exprest to be a Covenant of Conjugal love Hos 2.18 19 20. when God threatens to visit the sins of his people c. yet my loving kindness c. nor breaks my Covenant c. Isa 89 31.34 Secondly this is that doth dispense all the blessings of the Covenant to believers in this Communion This love of God is that which first gives forth Jesus Christ to them 1 Jo. 4.10 And with Christ all other graces and Priviledges of grace that concur to salvation T it 3.4 7. This love makes the first great change and alteration in mens estates and conditions v. 3. this love of God goes on to manifest it self to such in Christ in the Renovation of the Spirit in Justification in making us heirs of glory and eternal life So love the Fountain of all grace Eph. 2 4 5 6. see 2 Thes 2.16 17. the love whence flows all consolation as from the original is there expresly affirmed of God the Father Secondly it is the bond of this Communion as it binds us fast to God this it doth First by engaging us to believe in his Son Jesus Christ John 3.16 God o loved c. the love of God here is made matter of greatest encouragement to finners to believe against all doubts of strongest engagement to believe against all Pleas Pretences on the contrary God so loved c. So How so as we cannot tell so as the tongue of men and Angels cannot express so infinitely so ardently so in comprehensibly as exceeds our thoughts as far as heaven is above the earth Gods love with a So swallows up all our sins doubts fears difficulties wants weaknesses unworthinesses or whatever stands in the way of believing Secondly by enabling us to believe 1 John 4.10 We have known such whom no means no Prâ—misâ—s no Persuasions could prevail with to believe if God make known but a secret hint of his love forthwith it believes against all unbelief believes in hope against hope and gives glory to God Faith is called the Gift of God Eph. 2.8 and every gift springs from love Christ is the Gift of God love and faith is the gift of Gods love the love of God brings Christ and faith together and unites both together Thirdly by begeting in our hearts a love to God in some manner of Analogie like that of his to us Love begets love as fire begets fire and in this flame
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
daily Mat. 6.34 sufficient for Every day is in travel and bringâ— forth some new trouble every day Christ hath taught us to pray for deliverance from evil David complaineth of his grief and sorrow daily Psal 13.2 see Psal 73.14 Thirdly the present evils usually surprize us unawares he that expects thâ— evil yet is commonly surprized with the manner and kinde of it unexpectedly We often say of this or that present evil that befals us we never dreamt 〈◊〉 it as God is said to work deliverance and mercies for his people they looke not for Is 64.3 so often he sends trouble and afflictions they looked not for Jer. 8.15 Yet no present evils nor troubles shall separate 1. Because in all present troubles believers have God present with them a very present help Psal 46.1 yea in their most dismal and darkest troubles in which they cannot see him they may believe his Presence Psal 23.4 his Word and Spirit his Rod and Staffe He hath a Cordial in a readiness for every present dejection a Comfort in a readiness for every present tribulation 2 Cor. 1.3 4. Secondly because they are though sometimes they see not feel not continually with God Psal 73.23 and they who have complained of daily afflictions have blest God for daily mercies Psal 68.19 And they who have cied daily to God of their troubles Psal 86.3 have been able daily to praise him Psal 61.8 Thirdly because no present trouble can swallow up the joy that springs to believers from future glory Rom. 8.18 2 Cor. 4.17.18 1 Pet. 1.5.6 Fourthly against all present and pressing evils that Sâ—ints have that promise more precious then gold of Ophir 1 Cor. 10.13 O saith one I am under such trials and troubles that I have non-plust my faith but God is faithful O I am not able to bear or stand under them God saith he will lay no more then you are able to bear O I see no end no way of escape out God will make a way to escape Secondly as for things to come It is with the godly in this life as with Solomens old man the clouds return after rain present evils afflict him and future threaten him as it s said Rev. 11. One woe is past a second is and a third woe cometh quickly Evils to come may much endanger Saints in their Communion with God 1. Because Saints are very subject to this temptation about what may befal them for time to come as appears by that of Christ Mat. 6.34 who will not themfore allow his people one anxious thought about what shall fall out on the morrows This temptation hath two evils in it 1. It begets fear and that fear hath great torment 2. It takes away the relish and sweetness of the present mercies we enjoy while we take in a deeper apprehension of what troubles are yet to come upon us Secondly because God usually makes the troubles that are to come heavier then the present the waters of affliction like the waters of the Sanctuary rise by degrees higher and higher from the Ancles to the Knees Psal 42.7 Psal 69.1 â— No trial can be so great but God can make it greater no affliction so heavy but God can make it heavier God deals with his children as men do with theirs Fathers correct children first with a branch of Rosemary then a Rod afterward it may be with a Staffe that makes them as David cry out of their boâ—es calls them to bear burdens and do service according to their strength As they grow up in faith holiness huâ—â—lity patience spiritual strength so their trials temptations afflictions increase and their latter often become greater then their former Thirdly because the trials and troubles of the Church which are to come are certainly like to be the greatest Those which more immediately precede the coming of Christ very dangerous and great for sin 2 Tim. 3.1 5. and for judgement Luke 21.25 26. Yet no troubles to come shall be able to separate First because all things shall certainly work Rom. 8.28 we know there is no doubt hesitancy uncertainty in this knowledge that all things things present and things to come all things none excepted shall work all things that have any spirit power vertue activity in it that works to any end shall work together all Agents Instruments God shall make use of how various in their kinds how different in their operations how distinct in their intentions yet they shall all work together with God by whom they are guided ordered over-ruled in all their motions and actions and the same things which work for evil unto others are all made to work for good unto them Secondly from the immutability of Gods love it is everlasting Ier. 31.3 God is not as man that he should repent whom he loves he loves to the end He doth not love to day and hate tomorrow love at present and revoke in â—â—ture he hath loved and no sins of the creâ—ture could violate it he doth love therefore no present evils can interrupt it he will love therefore no future things shall prevail Thirdly from the nature and quality of that Covenant in which God hath taken them into Communion with himself to be their God in which the first Promise is I le â—e to them for a God the second is I le pardon their sins and remember their iniquities no more All the advantage things present or things to come can have against Saints for evil is sinne for nothing can separate between God and the soul but sâ—t Now the Act of Gods Pardoning Mercy is a compleat Act of Grace it cannot be said of a believer one moment that he stands under unpardoned guilt no more thâ—n it can be said he is an unjustified person If a believer may believe sins pardoned under all present evils he may believe sins pardoned under all future therefore as not things present so no things to come can separate 1. Use Terrour to the ungodly who have no Cemmunion with God in love through Christ Iesus they are yet in their sins without God and Christ in the World it may be things present are for thee Health Wealth Liberty Prosperity Plenty O but things to come are terrible and against you Son said Abraham to the rich man Remember thou in thâ— life-time badst thy good things and now nothing but torment and misery â—o thy present enjoyments thou sayst Soul take thine ease thou hast Goods laid up for and thinkest not thou art treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath thou dost rise up comfortably and walk delicately like Agag but O the bitterness of death is not past There is a wrath to come the Devils believe and tremble O come to Christ quickly he will not treat you so roughly as John Baptist did the Pharisees O generation of Vipers he will deal gently and mercifully with you 2. Use To the godly First by way of Instruction to turn security out of their hearts in reference to their
sight of their weaknesses corruptions imperfections Ezekiel 2 Chron. 32.22 24 26. The Peacock struts it self while it looks on its gay Plumes and is ashamed when it looks on its black feet when Paul was in danger of being up with his priviledges God turns his eye to look on his infirmities 2. Cor. 12.9 Thirdly there are heights in believers of carnal confidence when to spiritual priviledges of grace and comfort God shall adde temporal favours riches honours outward glory worldly prosperity Such a state of worldly felicity is call'd the height sublimity and exaltation of a person Ezek. 31.5 Such heights some understand to be meant in the text a state of worldly greatnesse and grandeur wealth power and authority which God sometimes vouchsafeth to some of his children to convince the world that he can do much more for his then the world for hers First this height may much endanger a believers Communion with God First it is aâ—â— to beget carnal security under present enjoyments and this provoketh God to hide his face and so theâ— Communion with God is much disturbed Psal 30.6 7. Secondly it affords matter for a great Temptation of the Devil the world and its glory the devil shewed Christ on a high Mountain Mat. 4.8 Thirdly these things have been great trials to Saints and made proof of their weakness in the midst of their highest enjoyments as in Hezekiah a Chron. 32.27 28 29 31. God left him to try him Secondly Yet shall not these heights be able to separate First because God will not suffer them long to rejoyce in these enjoyments but rather in an humble frame of spirit whereby they are enabled to manage such a condition to the glory of God and the comfort of others see Iam. 1.9 10 Secondly if worldly enjoyments seek to separate us from God he will quickly separate them from us If Hezekias Treasures lift up his heart they must go to Babylon Isa 39.6 When the disciples were over-ravisht with the external glory of that Transfiguration on the Mount Mat. 17. and said It is good to be here God brought a cloud over the glory presently and made them contented with their Communion with Christ alone Thirdly because whatever enjoyments all worldly felicity God vouchsafeth his people the comforts that flow in to them from these are weak narrow scanty full of insufficiency dissatisfaction God limits the comfort of outward things to his people more then to the men of the world The fulness the sufficiency of all spiritual comfort flows from their Communion with God 1 Iohn 1.3 4. Fourthly there is another height that is raised by the workings of carnal reason in thoughts opinions false judgments and conclusions which lift up themselves above the truths of God and somtimes above the ways and dealings of God this height you have 2 Cor. 10.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are ratiocinations 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 every high thing as in the text First this is that which much endangers a believer in his 1. It s said there to exalt it self against the knowledge of God Carnal reason humane wisdom secular Science is profest enemies to the simplicity of the Gospel which is in Christ Hence the poor are said to receive the Gospel and babes those things which are hid from the wise and prudent 2. It is a great enemy to faith as appears by that expression Gal. 1.15 16. Paul had never believed if he had consulted hence that Rom. 12.3 Let no man according to the measure of faith Thirdly it makes false Conclusions of Gods dark dispensations to his people Isa 40.27 Isa 49.14 It perswadeth God hath forsaken us when he hath not so sense and carnal reason judgeth Secondly yet this height shall not separate 1. Because Christ Jesus in whom we have the true saving knowledge and through whom we have Communion with God in love is the Wisdom of God and the Power 1 Cor. 1.24 Wisdom to silence Power to overcome all the strong Arguments oâ— the flesh that rise up against him Secondly because God hath magnified the thoughts of his mercy counsels of peace contrivances of love which are as high above Isa 55.8.9 1. Use For Information many here it may be are ready to say To what purpose are all these words It may be they never experimented such enemies such dangers such oppositions in their Profession of Christianity to such all these are but empty notions Do you think the Spirit of the Scripture speaketh these things in vain Is it not to be feared ye are strangers to this great Priviledge of believers Communion with God in love 2. Use Christians never look to put off your Armour till you come from Communion with God to the full enjoyment of God When you have conquered one enemy one temptation and difficulty look to encounter another nor are all your enemies before you some are above you some are heights altitudes sublimities 3. Use Here is your comfort Christians you have this day not only the dangers discover'd but your safety and security confirm'd inviolable immutable in your Communion with God Are the dangers enemies heights insuperable inconquerable in themselves yet they shall not be able ROM 8.39 Nor Depths Doct. AS not Heights so not Depths shall be able to I. I shall declare what I mean by Depths ' I understand principally those Depths and Dejections of soul that attend a state of darkness and spiritual desertion incident not only to Saints in lower but to Saints in their higher capacity of grace according to the good pleasure of Gods Will. This state hath a great Depth and Profundity in it that Psalm wholly expresseth such a state see Psal 120.1 and that Psal 88.6 in the Deeps This is such a Depth into which all other Deeps empty themselves as Rivers into the Ocean First into this Deep falls in the Depths of sin sin is a deep thing lies deep out of sight Saints seldom search to the bottom of it but in case of spiritual desertion nor can they then sound the Depth without Gods Plummet Iob Iob 13.23 24. In this state God doth usually search the sin of Saints to the bottom Job in this case was made to repossess the fins of his youth David was made to reckon for the sin he stood guilty of in the Womb Psal 31.5 in a state of spiritual desertion Saints have usually a discovery of the depth of guilt and blackness and ugly deformity in sin beyond what they had at first Conversion Secondly into this depth of spiritual desertion falls in the depth of Gods wrath his Judgements are called a Deep Psal 36.6 so deep that the damned in Hell are ever sinking into them and shall never come to the bottom In this state of spiritual desertion Saints take deep of the wrath of God Psal â—0 11 Homan Psal 88.7 16. As God maketh some to taste of the good love and Word of God and the Powers of that glory that is to come who
yet shall never enjoy them so he makes some to taste the wrath and torments of that wrath which is to come who never yet shall feel them Thirdly into this Deep falls in the depths of Satan deep temptations as it was with Christ in this condition so 't is in its meawith Saints now the devil and the powers of darkness bestir themselves Luke 22.33 When Sun sets and darkness covers the earth then the Lions and wilde beasts go forth Psal 104.20 21. so when God hides his face see Christs Complaint in that day Psal 22.1 12 13 16 20. Fourthly into this Deep falls the depths of Hell Hell is deep and large Isa 30. ult nothing deeper Job 11.8 the bottomless Pit Rev 7.1 In the depth of spiritual desertion Saints have complain'd of the snares of death and sorrows of Hell Psal 116.3 Christ Psal 16.10 so â—â—man counted himself 〈◊〉 free of that damned Company and Corporation of devils and reprobates Psal 88.5 Such scorching and scalding drops of wrath God in this condition sometimes lets 〈◊〉 the Conscience as if they were Pledges and Earnests of damnation as if be haâ— already kindled Hell fire in the foul Fifthly into this Deep falls the depth of sorrow and affliction Psal 102. see the title Psal 69 1 2. here is Complaint see his Prayer ver 15. No sorrows like these no afflictions so deep as these they enter into the soul here often misery appears remediless and the foul expects endless sorrow yea refuseth all the comforts that are administred from any hand but Gods alone Psal 77.2 Thus you fee spiritual desertion is a Depth into which many Deeps fall the Depth of sin ' wrath Satan one Deep here calleth on another Secondly let us consider how much these Depths may endanger to separate a believer First in this state Saints apprehend a total cessation of Gods love to them an everlasting night on them that the light of Gods Countenance shall never shine on them more Jonah 2.4 I am cast out of thy sight Thus they say The Lord will cast off for ever Psal 77.8 9. so David Psal 13.1 How long for ever In the favour of God is life Psal 30.5 If he frown who can live In his favour is light if he hide his face who can behold him Job 34.29 Secondly in this state God may seem to withdraw that Spirit which is the bond of our Communion with God hence that Psal 51.11 12. The Spirit in this state useth to suspend its Testimony refuse light to our Evidences and withhold that witness it formerly bare to our Adoption yea it may suffer Satan to bear false witness to our spirits and perswade us that we are hypocrites children of wrath fitting for destruction Thirdly in this state God calls to remembrance sins which the soul thought had long since been repented of and that God had pardoned Thus were the sins of Jobs youth and Davids original sin thus a believer may be brought to question all Gods former Acts of grace and his own faith and repentance and suspect all his former comforts yea the being of any grace at all in truth and this is very dangerous Fourthly it is a state of darkness and no light Isa 50.10 Cant. 3.1 Now he that walks in darkness knows not John 12.35 so these knew not what to do what way to take He that walks in darkness trembles at every thing even the Promises of grace are stumbling blocks to that soul In darkness are terrible apprehensions as to the Egyptians in the Plague of darkness Psal 78.49 the terrours of God are upon Saints in spiritual desertions Psal 88.15 16. Job 7.14 Fifthly in this state God seems for the present to neglect all their Prayers Lam. 3.8 Christ Jesus Psal 22.1 2. Saints here are ready to say as Saul The Lord is departed from me and answereth me no more Sixthly in this state the soul suffers the affliction is on the spirit of a man it s a wound on the spirit Prov. 18.14 a Dagger at the heart â— Psal 42.10 see Christ in his Desertion Maâ— 26.38 Heman suffered not in his inferiour only but in the superiour faculties of his soul Psal 88.15 In other afflictions the body suffers and the soul only by sympathy here the soul suffers and the body only by sympathy Thirdly let us consider these depths shall never be able to separate I. Because they are all consistent with love and always end in love 1. They are consistent with love Heb. 12.5 6. he seems if not only yet principally to intend the Castigation that fall upon the souls and spirits of believers God never loved Christ better then at that time when he cried out My God My God Josephs bowels yearn'd most when he dealt most roughly with his brethren so God Ier. 31.20 II. Be sure all will end in love Isa 54 7 8. Cant. 31 5. Isa 57.18 Secondly because these Depths of spiritual desertion are but to bring forth fulâ—ess of Conformity to Christ in his Death and Resurrection Christs sufferings were some in his body these were call'd his Baptism some and the greatest in his soul these were call'd his Cup Matth. 20.22 23. in this Cup was a mixture of sin wrath death â—nd hell He tells those disciples they should â—artake with him in both When Christ â—ried out My God my God why it was â—bstractio visionis not dissolutio unionis for â—ill he cried My God so it is to Saints in â—he like condition and what faith Christ â—xercised in that state he commanded other â—elievers to do Isa 50.10 Thirdly because there are depths in the â—ercy and free-grace of God that easily wallow up this depth of spiritual deserâ—on and all the depths that run into it â—om 11.33 O the Depth Eph. 3.18 The â—ee-grace of God is a mighty Ocean Miâ—h 7.19 Fourthly because God hath pawn'd all â—e Ordinances of Heaven and Earth that â—othing what he seems to do against them and nothing they do against him shall provoke him to cast them off Jer. 31.35.36 37. 1. Use If such who are lockt fast in the Armes of God such who are in everlasting Communion with God Communion with God in love which love is unchangeable as God himself in love which is in Christ Iesus and therefore can no more fail then his love to Christ can fail If such as these may fall into these depths of spiritual desertion in which are the depths of sin of wrath O where shall the sinner and ungodly appear who are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath O the infinite unsearchable bottomloss depths of sin wrath devils hells worst of sorrows endless torments wherein all unbelievers impenitent unregenerate persons shall be plunged in swallowed up without Redemption 2. Use This fully informs us that the beâ—â— of Saints must live all their days in every â—ondition on a dependence onthe freâ— grace of God By the Eclipse of the Moon we comâ— to know it borrows its light