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
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
strong holds of sin and Satan in their Consciences by casting down the imaginations and bringing them into subjection 2 Cor. 10.4 5. This he doth Ministerially by the Word of Reconciliation effectually by his Spirit Thus being delivered from the power of darkness they are translated into the Kingdom of Gods dear Son and Christ is become their Lord. Secondly he is the only Lord of their saith as he is Authour of it Heb. 12.2 To him only we can say as that poor man Lord I believe help my unbelief as the disciples Lord increase our saith And he only is the object or matter of our faith the Apostle preach'd him the only Lord our faith 2 Cor. 4. 5. It is highest sacriledge horrible usurpation to impose any thing to be believed for salvation which Christ hath not commanded Thirdly he is Lord by justifying their persons and forgiving their sins he is called the Lord our Righteousness Ier. 23.6 He is to us a Melchizedech a King of Righteousness Heb. 7.2 To forgive sin is Royalty the Prerogative of such a Person who hath dominion over us as a Prince and Lord Acts 5.31 Fourthly by ruling leading governing them whom he hath justified and pardoned Isa 55.6 This he doth by writing his Laws in their hearts by giving a spiritual understanding in the knowledge of his Will by forming and fashioning their affections and conversations into holy obedience to the heavenly and spiritual nature of his Kingdom Fifthly by affording all needful supplies to all their wants by affording mercy and grace to help Joseph was made Lord of Egypt and he had all the Granaries and Store-houses at his Command to dispence So Christ is Lord of all his Fathers Treasures and he giveth all things 2 Pet. 1.3 Sixthly in protecting upholding succouring them in all their dangers amidst all their temptations infirmities discouragements 2 Cor. 12.9 by his compassions pltying them Heb. 4.15 by his power and grace helping them by his care and wisdom proportioning their strength to their trials to him every believer may say Lord save me or I perish Seventhly in overcoming all the enemies of their salvation the two Heads or Generals whereof are Satan Rom. 16.20 and Antichrist Rev. 17.14 Eighthly he hath manifested himself to be our Lord when he died for us and rose for us and sate down at the right hand of God for us and hath quickned us together and raised us together and set us together with himself in heavenly places Eph. 25 6. Thirdly consider how much this consideration that Christ lesus is our Lord doth afford to this triumph or ful persuasion of faith that nothing can separate us from the love of God He is our Lord and Lord over all creatures in Heaven Earth and Hell Lord over Angels Men Devils Lord over Life and Death Lord over all Prineipalities and Powers Lord in the heighths and Lord in the depths Lord over things present and Lord over things to come such as have a Lord so full of Love Power Wisdom Compassions Grace can never fall from the Love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. 1. Use Is Christ Iesus a Lord over all creatures here is encouragement for any poor creature that lies under the sense of sin and wrath to come to Christ and say Lord save me or I must perish Doth the wrath of God threaten thee run to Christ and say be mâ—rciful to me O Lord under the shadow of thy wings I come for shelter Dost thou feel a dominion of sin a tyranny of prevalling lusts leading the captive come and say Lord many lores have dominion over me O let me be under the Dominion and Government of thy grace Doth Satan pursue Conscieâ—ce accuse Law condemn Death threaten Hell open upon thee Come to Christ who hath spoiled Satan pacified Conscience satisfied Law abolisht death triumph'd over Hell he is Lord over all hath swallowed up all in victory Dost thou want a Righteousness to lustifie thee Christ is Lord of Righteousness Dost thou want Pardon of sin Christ is Lord and hath power to forgive sin Dost thou want any grace within the whole compass of the Promises Ordinances Treasures of God Christ is Lord of all Dost thou want a good title to Heaven Christ is Prince of life and Lord of Glory 2. Use Is Christ Iesus in a special manner the Lord of his Church the Lord of believers I. Let us own Iesus Christ to be our Lord for this end two things are necessary First Faith when the Apostle represents this Lord absent to us he saith We walk by faith 2 Cor. 5 6 7. Other lords are present with us to command encourage oversee over rule and to reward us Christ is absent therefore to stand in awe of him to be diligent in his Work to do to suffer for him to fear to offend him to endeavor that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him this requires much faith Secondly the Holy Ghost 1 Cor. 12.3 It is not every one that saith Lord Lord Many that live under the Education and external Profession of the Gospel in words call Christ Lord yet they will never yield up themselves in obedience to him as their Lord without the over-ruling grace and power of the Holy Ghost II. As ye have received Christ Iesus the Lord so walk in him Col. 6.2 Give up your selves consciences thoughts desires the secrets of your souls and the conversations of your lives to be guided ordered governed by his Word and Will Thirdly honour Christ Iesus your Lord both in life and death Rom. 14 7.8 9. Fourthly let us be faithful sincere constant and abundant in his service we have a Lord that can and will reward us 1 Cor. 15. ult Fifthly if Christ Iesus be our Lord let us trust him and live in dependance upon him for our present subsistence and future expectations the Lord never failed them that waited on him ROM 8 38 39. I am Perswaded THE Apostle having taken himself and all believers to their strong holds which is Communion with God and having strengthned this Communion with God by love and fortified this love of God in Christ Iesus and having engaged Christ Iesus his Lord his Leader the Captain of our salvation Now he prepares for the encounter 1. He takes a view of all his adversaries and then encourageth his faith against them all I am Perswaded Expects an assault from all kind of enemies Satan mustering his Aemies from the four quarters of Heaven Earth and Hell compassing the Camp of the Saints endeavoring to overthrew the beloved City the strong hold of Gods beloved ones he musters death and life Doct. Such as are beloved of God in Christ Iesus may yea must expect to encounter all kinds of enemies or evils possible or imaginable in this world I. In these enemies the Apostle reckons up in the Text which befal Saints on the Account of Gods love to them First consider the reality of them they are
and none for Angels That God shall restore man into Communion with himself and separate devils with an everlasting curse from him how must this needs torment and terrifie If devils envied Mans state in Communion with God in love before man fell from God how much more to see man restored and themselves cast off for ever Secondly they oppose our interest in Christ through whom we have Communion with God again in love When Christ came into the world to redeem men into Communion with God again and his love what mighty strong opposition did he make against him he mustered up all the Powers of the world and all the Powers of Hâ—ll and darkness against him and will he not endeavour to the utmost to separate us from this interest 2 Cor. 11.2 3. Thirdly they mightily oppose our Adoption or being the sons of God which is the greatest manifestation of that love of God through Christ No sooner was Christ declared the Son of God Mal. 3.17 but the first temptation wherewith the Devil assaulted him Matth. 4.3 was concerning this when the Spirit of Adoption hath secured our Sonship how many Arguments will the devil draw from our spiritual wants weakness infirmities temptations afflictions to disprove it what faith he such as you the sons of God Fourthly they mightily oppose that faith by which we apprehend the love of God in Christ and by which we are brought into blessed Communion with God see 1 Thes 3.5 Luke 22.31.32 Fifthly they make strong opposition against that righteousness by which we are justified which is the life of faith and our nearest fitness for Communion with God In this case he is said to have bewitched the Galatians chap. 3.1 the truth then is the doctrine of Justification by faith in the righteousness of Christ in opposition to the righteousness of the Law the devil knows the righteousness of the Law will condemn us Sixthly they make mighty opposition against that grace and holiness in which we continue our Communion with God 1 John 1.6 7. If a childe of the devil be such an enemy to all grace what is the father Act. 13.10 Fourthly let us consider what great advantages the Powers of Hell have against believers in Communion First there is yet remaining much darkness in them darkness of sin corruption unbelief unmortified lusts and affections and the devil is the Ruler over the darkness of this world Secondly the impotency of their graces by reason of which he can more easily prevail with Saints then formerly with Eve 2 Cor. 11.3 it was but a buffeting and but from a Messenger of Satan yet all Pauls grace was too weak to resist 2 Cor. 12.8 Fifthly yet we shall shew that all the Powers of Devils and all the Rulers of the Kingdom of Hell and Darkness shall not be able to separate First his Power Malice Policy and â—tmost Agency is limited to their feet Gen. 3.15 cannot reach their heart nor head Secondly Christ hath stated their security in himself on himself Matth. 16.18 Thirdly none of his remptations shall do it Christ hath first overcame him in himself and hath learnt thereby to succour and commiserate us Heb. 4.15 Heb. 2. ult Fourthly none of his accusations shall be able none in the Court of God there Christ is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Advocate 1 John 3.1 to be our second to rebuke Satan to present a Propitiation for their sins Zach. 3.2 None in the Court of our own Conscience we have the Spirit of Adoption a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in direct opposition to Satan the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bear witness to our Conscience to help our infirmities to clear our Evidences and to come to the Thâ—one of grace boldly for mercy and grace Fifthly because greater is he in Saints then 1 Iohn 4.4 is the devil a strong man Christ is stronger Luke 1 22. is he a lion so is Christ Rev. 5.5 is he a Serpent so is Christ Iohn 3.14 1. Use Sinners who are yet in your unregeneracy look about you are yet under the power policy malice of Satan The devil hath full possession of you ye know not how many Ye are in darkness which is the Kingdom of the devil led captive by him at his pleasure every sinner saith one upon that text is the Devils Pack-horse whom he rides and rules at pleasure You will say but all is at peace with us An Argument the devil still holds possession Luke 11.21 Make haste to Christ who alone can cast him though a Legion in one man Mar. 5.8 he made the devils to cry roar tremble he cast them out of mens bodies souls unto swine 2. Use Give thanks who hath delivered you Col. 1.12 13. who hath turn'd you from the power of Satan to God Act. 26.18 3. Use Hath God gathered you into Communion Here is matter of great Comfort that you are always and everlastingly secured in this blessed state from the power policy malice of Hell from all the temptations accusations of devils how many devices wiles depths soever they be managed withal Live comfortably but not securely 1 Pet. 5.8 Secondly resolve to make resistance Iam. 4.7 Thirdly your we apons against spiritual enemies must be spiritual the Sword of the Spirit and the Shield of faith Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5.9 ROM 8.38 39. Nor things present or to come Doct. ALL the events issues passages that befal believers in their present or future conditions by the Providence of God shall not be able to separate them First I shall speak to things present There is scarce a Christian but hath one or other present trial trouble temptation affliction continually present with him that waits on him that lies down with him rileth up with him goes out with him comes in with him If one leave him another may presently come in the room of it A righteous man may sin seven times a day and seven times stand in need of Pardon Luke 17.4 and therefore may fall into affliction seven times in a day and rise again Pro. 24.16 These do much endanger our Communion with God because they are very apt and too often disturb our Communion with God They are like showers of rain that fall into brooks or pooles that muddy all the waters present afflictions are mingled with temptations these mingle with our corruptions stir our passions trouble the pure waters of grace and comfort for a while and the soul cannot presently draw waters with joy out of the Well of salvation which is its blessed Communion with God Present evils have usually in them these things 1. They still appear to be the greatest forest we are apt to cry out of that which afflicts our present sence as the heaviest that ever befell us In these we cry out as Isaiah My leanness O my leanness as Ieremy My bowelâ— O my bowels in these our heart and ouâ— flesh as David Joyn together and cry ouâ— for a Living God Secondly they are
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