way and let the soul go an other then it can have no Communion But when God and the soul tread both in the same steps there 's a sweet agreement and delightful harmony between them 9. A soul that hath Communion with God highly prizeth the presence of God and the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ If thy presence go not along with us saith Moses carry us not from hence and nothing gives the soul content if it hath lost Communion till it be restor'd again it can bear any thing better then a breach in its Communion no loads lie so heavy upon it as a departed Saviour how doth the soule lament after the Lord when it cannot find the Lord it is restlesse till it come to lie in it's beloveds bosome Lastly A soul that hath fellowship Communion with God it cuts off all other contrary fellowships that are inconsistent with it cuts off all sinful carnal fellowship They wil have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darknesse that have fellowship communion with the Father of lights Use 3 For Exhortation to presse you to look after communion with God There are three things that wee are to look after to attain to communion with God 1. We must have a right path 2. We must have a staffe of strength and power 3. Wee must have true ascents and fellowships First wee must have a right path and that is Jesus Christ there is no coming to the Father but by the Son Jâ—h 14.6 I am the way c. There is a choice way to God but there are no choice of waies to come to God passe by one you pass by all Heb. 7.19 For the Law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope did by â—he which we draw nigh unto God what is that better hope It is Jesus Christ hope depends so much on him for the best things that he is called our better hope by which with assurance wee may draw nigh to God that 's the Apostles incouragement Heb. 10.19 by the bâ—ood of Iesus we have boldnesse to enter into th holiest Secondly wee must have a staffe of strength and power and that 's the spirit of God Iude 20 Verse praying in the holy-Holy-Ghost As it 's the office of Christ to interceed with God for us so it 's the office of the spirit to interceed in us the prayers that go up to God come down from God There are two burdens that are too heavy for us to bear First the burden of sins Secondly the burden of suits Thirdly we must have true ascents and footsteps else wee shall never come up to Communion with God There are six severall ascents and foot steps by which wee ascend to the Throne of God for the enjoyment of communion with him 1. The sence of self-indigency wee never enjoy communion with the fulnesse of God till we see the Emptinesse that is in our selves a full soule loaths the hony Come though it have never so much sweetnesse in it the whole never prizeth the Physitians Medicines sence of want draws the Creature downe on Earth and then leads it up to Heaven 2. Sence of our own utter inability to supply our own necessities Psal 73.25 26. Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee my flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever If there be any thing that you expect satisfaction from besides God you will never come to communion with him you will then looke after fellowship with him when you see all your happinesse in him The. 3. Footstep to Communion with God is sence of our own unworthinesse that God should give supplies unto us when Jacob was brought so nigh into fellowship and Communion with God when hee was strugling with God and would not let him go till hee had got a blessing then he lâ—t go all opinion of worth in himself to receive a blessing Gen. 32.10 I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies There is no drawing nigh to the most high God without low thoughts of our selves the proud look disdainfully upon God and meet with disdain from him The 4. Footstep to Communion is the clear knowledge and full acknowledgement of the power and sufficiency of God to help us and to fill us Heb. 11.6 hee that cometh to God must believe that God is and that hee is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him what 's that It lies in two things First that God needs no Creature Secondly that he is enough to supply the needs of every Creature 5. Foostep to communion is to believe that the Lord stands ready to embrace us in all our commings to him and to give us all the good that we come for to believe that he is ready to supply us in every good we seek from him we honour God most when we expect the greatest incomes of mercy from him He hath not said to the seed of Jacob seek ye me 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou for a vain void and empty nothing The greatnesse of God gives him power and his goodnesse gives him will to supply us therefore we should believe without doubting his readinesse to supply us Heb. 10.22 Let us draw near in full assurance c. In what assurance must we come Even in this that we shall be answered in whatsoever we ask As Faith must be mingled with every word of precept that Godspeaks to us so it must be mingled with every word of prayer that we speak to him James 1.5 6. If any lack wisdome let them aske it of God that giveth to all men lib rally and upbraideth not 6. Footstep of our Communion with God is boldnesse in all our approaches to him As God opens his heart freely so we must open our mouths boldly Holy boldnesse is the highest act of Faith and the neerest step to God when the soul is got thus high it is upon the top of Jacobs Ladder Heb. 4.16 Let us come boldly to the Throne of grace c. Boldnesse is a grace that is most suitable to the Throne of grace Let me speak with reverence we are gotten to Gods side when we come with boldnesse grace can step no higher the next degree of ascent is to be swallowed up in glory In every Ordinance we have a vision of God by faith and in every duty we should come to God with boldnesse and joy To conclude all Would you have Communion with God in Ordinances Then let me commend to you these five things First there must be a being neer to God before there can be a drawing neer to God you must labour after Reconciliation before ever you can enjoy Communion while you are enemies you will be strangers Till God be brought neer to you you can never draw neer to God We are first brought neer to God by the blood of Christ before ever we have Communion with God in Ordinances Secondly He that desires Communion with God in Ordinances must look upon God as present and not as absent from him without this we can never enjoy Communion with him Rev. 4.6 there 's a high Throne which is nothing else but a representation of God to his people in Gospell-Ordinances there they behold his glory and enjoy Communion with him He that desires Communion with God in Ordinances must look upon God as present first in Majesty secondly in jealousie thirdly in authority fourthly in purity 3. If you would have Communion with God in Ordinances then in every Ordinance make Communion with God your end The hypocrisie or the sincerity of every mans spirit is mostly seen in his end There 's a double end that every man should propose to himselfe in comming to Ordinances and when this end is unproposed Communion with God is un-enjoyed First they should do them as acts of obedience in reference to Gods command Secondly they should use them as means of Communion in reference to Gods promise In every Ordinance you should make Communion with God your end and use the Ordinance as a means for the attainment of that end thus I am going to such a duty Lord and this is my end to enjoy thee in it I am going to pray and I would have the enjoyment of God in prayer This is the end you should propound when you go about every Ordinance 4. Get divine and spirituall apprehensions if ever you would enjoy Communion for according to our apprehensions of God such will be our enjoyments of him and such will be our Communions with him Some persons have to do with God in Ordinances that never think what that God is with whom they have to do The only way to raise up our Communion with God is to raise up our apprehension of him if we know him but a little we can never enjoy much society and communion with him 5. Make use of former experiences if you would enjoy communion with God the experience that men have had of the sweetnesse of God will stirre up their hearts to long more and more after communion with God He that hath tasted of the sweetnesse of God cannot sit down satisfied except he meet with God in the Ordinance FINIS
place of rest and a place of love All the Saints being Abrahams children are of Abrahams Covenant and promise they are received into Abrahams bosome in glory with a great deale of love and are taken into his bosome as into the resting place Thus the Children of God stand in the same relation to Christ as a wife to the husband 3. There is yet a higher expression of Intimacy then this all these are but externall and fleshly but the vnion of the Spirit is much more strong 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit He that is joyned to the flesh is one flesh but hee that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit 't is as if there were an union of two soules Cyprian when he would expresse this union saith 't is a union of wills and a confederacy of affections they grow into one spirit These relations do import thus much for the Lord Jesus Christ doth not give empty Titles It will further appeare if you consider those high Acts of Intimacy that the Scripture speakes of I will name foure 1. Christ and his people are said to walke together Christ walkes in them Revel 2.1 hee walks among them 2 Cor. 6.16 and wee reade of Galleries in which the King is held Cant. 7.5 what be those Galleries places of intimate converse where friends walke together and enjoy communion one with another now can two walke tegether except they be agreed Amos 3.3 walking implies intimacy and familiarity 2. They supp together now to eate and drinke together in Scripture is an expression of great familiarity and therefore saith the Apostle with such an one eate not that is withdraw familiarity not to eate with one is an Argument of withdrawing familiarity but to eat together is an argument of familiarity Revel 3.21 I will come to him and sup with him and he with me And for this cause when the CoÌ„munion of Saints is set forth it is set forth by eating and drinking together at the same table we being many are one bread and one body 1 Cor. 10.17 we are many in number as Erasmus hath it but by the consent of our spirits wee become one bread when the Lord would expresse the intimacy the Saints have with him then he is said to sup with them and they with him and marke how hee doth cheere them up Cant. 5.1 Eate O friends drinkeye drinke ye abundantly O ye beloved 3. They doe not onely sup together but they dwell together Christ dwells in your hearts by feith Ephes 3.17 It is the great command the Lord laies upon the husband hee must dwell with his wife now if Jesus Christ will undertake the Relation of a husband hee must dwell with his spouse In Iohn 14.23 he tells you he will fulfill his relation I will come to you and make my abode with you as if the Lord could never speake enough 2 Cor. 6.16 I will dwell in them and I will wake among them 4. They doe not only dwell together but they lie together Christ and his people lie in one bed Cant. 1.16 Our bed is green 't is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grarseni my bed but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grarsenu our bed what is that truly they are those Ordinances of worship in which the Lord together with his people doth exercise those high Acts of intimacy and familiarity that will appeare if you compare it with 57. Isay 7.8 Thou settest thy bed upon a high mountaine and thither thou wentest up to offer sacrifices thou hast enlarged thy bed c. what is that Floreliâ—s upon the place faith it was Idolatrous worship wherin they did commit spirituall Adultery now the Lord calls that the bed Idolatrous Ordinances are the bed of Idols so on the other side the bed wherein the Lord Christ and his people enjoy intimacy and familiarity is the bed of Ordinances and for this cause the Church glories in this Cant. 1.13 he shall lie all night between my brests So much for the first thing I promised namely that the Scripture holds forth such such a state of Communion between God and his people I shal but name the other two and so passe on Posit 2 The second Position The Communion that the Saints have with God it is with all the persons they have not onely Communion with the Father but Communion with the Son and not onely communion with the Son but with the Spirit also with all persons in the Trinity the people of God have communitie 1 John 1.3 Truly our fellowship is with the Father and his Sonne Jesus Christ The Posit 3 Third Position that this communion in this life is chiefly in Ordinances for the Immediate communion is reserved for another world All the communion wee have in this world it is a mediate communion there are mediums betwixt us and God through which God conveyes grace unto us and drawes us up unto him Ordinances they are the Galleries there 's the wall of sinne and ther 's the windowes of Odinances he stands behind our wall of sin but hee lookes through the windowes of Ordinances For the opening of this I shall shew you what fellowship with God in Ordinances meanes And first I shall lay down some Scripturall proofs of this that the main ende of God in setting up Ordinances is that he may be glorified in communion with his people and then some Positions for the right understanding of this communion and after that I shall give you the grounds the properties the Acts and the ends of communion and then apply the whole Proof 1 1. Let me prove it from scripture expressions that end that Gods aimes at by setting up his Ordinances is that hee might have communion with the Saints and his Saints have communion with him See Revel 21.3 When God comes to reforme his ordinances and to purge his Church I heard a great vâ—yce saying behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them The Tabernacle and Temple were places of publique worship it was his dwelling and his walking with them dwelling notes constancie and walking notes familiarity he will be constant and he will be familiar with his people in Ordinances 48. Ezec last And the name of the Citty shall bee the LORD is there 'T is a prophesie that receives it's accomplishment when Jews and Gentiles shall bee brought to worship God now when these two shall be made one in the hand of the Lord then shall the name of the City be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jehovah shaumah that is the Lord is there Proofe 2 2. Proofe This hath been the great ground of all the preparations that the Saints have made when they have approched to God in Ordinances that they might have communion with God in them 2 Chron. 30.18 The Lord pardon every one that prepares his heart to seeke God though not according to the purification of the Sanctuary As a Bride prepares her selfe for
taken up with the works of darkness 2. They are swallowed up with the fellowship and Communion with sinners those that are Gods professed Enemies are their bosom-friends the darling delights of their Souls are in the Society of those in whom God takes no pleasure nor no delight 3. They take up their fellowship and Communion with this world James 4.4 know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the Enemy of God they make up their Heaven upon Earth there are three things wherein they go out to the world 1. They let out their choicest love 2. They lay out their choicest paines 3. They Anchor their greatest hopes upon the world Now those that are taken up with the fellowship and Communion with this world at what a distance do they stand from Communion and fellowship with God Creatures hath their hearts God hath them not 4. They are swallowed up in Communion and fellowship with false foundations this is a certain rule that look whatsoever the foundation is that we build our souls upon that 's it with which wee have Communion Job 8.14 15. He shall lean upon his house but it shall not stand c. Those hopes that it hath that it shal go well with him to all Eternity these are called his house he rests upon them and hee hath Communion with them Houses 1. They are dwelling places a man lives in his house 2. They are hiding places in the time of a storm men retire to their houses for shelter 3. They are resting places 4. They are places that when once they are built men will keep them if they can from falling down Now sinners are swallowed up in Communion and fellowship with those false bottomed hopes that they have laid their soules upon they rest in those houses that they make to themselves though their hopes bee but like Spiders webs yet they lean upon their houses 5. They are swallowed up in fellowship and Communion with the very Devil himself 1 Joh. 5.19 we know that we are of God and that the whole world lies in wickedness In the Greek 't is thus and the whole world lies in that wicked one the Devil and they maintain Communion together the evil spirits haunt their Spirits The Devil in Scripture is said to have all those Acts of worship performed to him by sinners that Christ is said to have performed to him by Saints hath Jesus Christ his Ministers the Devil hath his Ministers also Ministers of Satan transforming themselves into Angels of light hath Christ his Churches so hath the Devil which is call-the Synagogue of Sathan hath Christ his Ordinances and Altars so hath the Devil too he hath his Table and his Communicants you cannot bee partakers of the Lords Table and the Table of Devils Argu. 4 The fourth Argument to prove that unregenerate men can have no fellowship and Communion with God in Ordinances because they live under a Legal Covenant Evangelical Communion is not bottomed upon Legal Covenants In Conversion there is a double change 1. A change of a mans nature and that is wrought within him 2. A change of a mans state and that is wrought upon him Every unregenerate man is under the first Covenant which admits of no Communion with God since it is broken There are five things wee lost in our fall 1. Our holy Image and became vile hence 2. Our Son-ship and became slaves 3. Our friendship and became Enemies 4. Our Communion and became strangers 5. Our glory and became miserable Now 't is impossible till sinners be translated from a broken Covenant of works that was made with them in Adam to a Covenant of grace that is made in Christ that ever they should come up to Communion with God you must know this that Communion with God is no Legal dispensation and therefore every person that is duly under the Law cannot enjoy Communion with God Having premised these I come to those four partioulars I laid down viz. to give you the grounds the properties the Acts and the ends of the Communion First For the Grounds of all the fellowship and Communion that the Saints have with God in Ordinances and they are five for this Communion ariseth 1. From his electing love 2. From the Covenant-state wherein believers stand 3. From our union with Jesus Christ 4. From our Interest in the Spirit 5. Our conformity to the Lord Jesus Christ Ground 1 I. Ground of our Communion with God is his Electing love that 's the foundation of all our blessednesse and the onely spring of all our mercies which without Gods Electing love no mercy would be a mercy to us and with it no misery will make us miserable The Lord hath chosen you unto three great ends in subordination one to the other he hath chosen you to salvation to reconciliation and to communion Psal 4.3 The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himselfe God hath picked and culled every Godly man out of the world and set him aside For what for himselfe for himselfe what 's that It doth not only note for spirituall service but for the highest priviledges he hath set the godly man apart for these two ends First for the enjoyment of communion with him on earth Secondly for the fruition of blessednesse with him in heaven The Lord hath set c. 1. Consider who is it that hath done it It 's God that hath set him apart 2. What hath he done He hath set him apart put him distinct from all the world 3. Who is it that is thus set apart It is the man that is godly 4. What is the end of this action for which this man is set apart He is set apart for God 'T is the choycest duty that belongs to us to set our selves apart for God and 't is one of the choicest mercies of God to set us apart for himselfe The Lord doth separate to himselfe for imployment and for fellowship he will employ that man and he will have communion with that man The Angels they are of all creatures taken to speciall communion with God they behold the face of God the Father which is in Heaven It was excellently expressed by Tertullian the Saints in this life are the men that are the Lords attendants setting the Lord alwaies before them and standing alwaies before him waiting upon him Zech. 3.7 Thus saith the Lord if thou wilt walk in my waies c. I will give thee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mah-lechim Walks that is places to walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—en hagnomedim ha-elleh inter stantes illos among these that stand by Who be they The meaning is conceived to be this the Angels they alwaies stand before God thousand thousands compasse his Throne now when the Lord speaks of taking a people into intimate familiarity with himselfe he saith he will give them walkes or Galleries to walk in among the
So it is here the neearer the union the closer the communion A child is farther off in point of union then a spouse a servant farther off then a child the highest union hath alwaies the closest communion Jesus Christ and the Saints have the neerest union for they are made one spirit The bond of all union below is flesh but the bond of all union above is spirit Jesus Christ and a Saint is so one as the Father looke upon them all in him he never lookes on them as substracted but as united There is alwaies the closest communion where there is the choycest love but there is the choicest love betweene Christ and the Saints therefore the closest communion Love cannot live at the least distance from its beloved love lets nothing come between or interpose between it and its object it is like a falling mountaine that breakes downe all that is betwixt it and its rest love is never so neere but it would still be nearer when it hath got its object its eye it would then have it in his Armes IIII. Property of the communion that the Saints have with God it is a growing and increasing communion it every day creepes up to a greater height and to taller stature no communion is capable of such increase as our communion with God There are two things you may consider in relation to the soules of the Saints 1. They grow up by cōmunion with God 2. They grow up in communion with God the more a Soule converseth with God and the oftner it doth approach unto him it comes to see a greater beauty in God to tast a greater sweetnesse in God and to enjoy a greater presence of God Consider three particulars 1. Looke how a mans apprehension growes of God so his communion growes with God most mens apprehensions are below God but the best mens apprehensions are too low of God when men raise apprehensions of God and with thoughts of the glory and excellency of God upon them then are they raised in their communion with God As the Soules apprehensions of God are raised by degrees so his communion with God is raised by degrees also Jsa 6.3 The Angels they have glorious acts of communion with God they alwaies behola the face of God they are holy holy holy when men have low understanding slighting thoughts of the glorious Majesty of God and of the holynesse of God they can never enjoy excellent and glorious communion with God for such as a mans apprehensions are of God such is his communion with God There are 3 things that are according to our apprehensions of them 1. Such as our apprehensions are such will be our estimations as wee see things so we prize them 2. Such will be our applications if they be raised towards a thing we apply our selves to it that we may have the enjoyment of it 3. Such will bee our communions none shall ever take delight to draw neere to those things wherein we see judge no excellency 2. Consider as men grow up in conformity to God so will they grow up in communion with God for as conformity is a ground of communion so the more conformitie the greater the communion still As the life of holinesse growes up within us so communion with God flowes in upon us Phil. 3.10 That I may know him and the power of his Resurrection c. The more conformable Paul was made to Christs death the more communion he enjoyed in Christs Resurrection 2 Cor. 3. last We beholding the same Image as in a glasse as the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory 3. The more a Saint growes in largeness of affection the more will he grow up in spiritualnesse of communion love drawes the heart strongly after God many waters cannot quench love neither can the flouds drown it At the first entrance upon our communion with God the soul is but weak and poor it hath but some tasts of God but it comes for more till at last it feed upon a full Table 1 Pet. 2 3 4. If you have tasted that the Lord is gracious What then to whom comming as unto a living stone dissallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and very precious Ye also as lively stones are built up a spirituall house The more we tast of the graciousness of God the more still do we come into communion with God 'T is very observable in the Song of Solomon that the Spouse at first she had but some kises of the lips of Christ but afterward she is taken into his Chambers and at last she is brought into his Banqueting house into his house of Wine There are foure things that communion leaves in the soul after any precious acts that it hath enjoyed 1. Communion leaves in the soule a sweet remembrance in it Cant. 1.4 The King hath brought me into his chambers We will be glad and rejoyce in thee we will remember thy love more then wine The Acts of the love of Christ shewed to a soule in communion with him is increased by it Psalm 42.4 When I remember these things I power out my soule in me These things what things when I went with the multitude that kept holy day that is when I went with thy Saints to worship thee where I enjoyed communion with thee 2. It leaves an impression of grace and holinesse of God upon the soule Cant. 5.5 I rose up to my beloved and my hands dropped with mirrh and my fingers with sweet smelling mirrh upon the handles of the lock Moses his communion left an impression of the glory of God upon him when he comes from the Mountain he comes with his face shining there are bright beams of Gods face to be seen upon Moses face 3. It leaves in a man a love to those Ordinances where he had this communion O how much is the soule in love with those Sermons in which communion with God is obtained and with those prayers in which he hath the enjoyment of God 4. It leaves in the soul an instinct after further fellowship and after further communion so that the whole desires of the foule are carried forth now after greater and larger enjoyments after higher and more glorious incomes and fresh influences of the divine presence You never knew what it was to enjoy communion with God if your hearts run not out after further and greater communion The V. Propertie of communion and fellowship that the Saints have with God in Ordinances it is spirituall and and supernaturall First it is not all theabilities of nature that can make up this commumunion it is not all the education of the world that can bring a soule into the presence of God or any parts and gifts that is able to raise the Soule into communion with God It is a spirituall communion it is the Spirit of God cōming down and taking the Spirits of the Saints up to its selfe Revel 1.10 I
man Prov. 5.19 concerning his wife let her brests satisfie thee at all times and bee thou ravished alwaies with her soule now the Lord Christ his people satisfie him at all times it is all the portion hee lookes for Isa 62.4 hee calls her name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chephtzi bah or Hephzibah my delight in her 5. Act of communication is communication of secrets love gives gifts and it gives counsells too The carriage of a Saint in communion when he receives the communication of Secrets must bee thus 1. He must come with holy and sanctified thoughts of God 2. He must come with apprehensions thoughts of his owne vileness To him will I look saith God that is of an humble heart With an eye of inspection no but with an eye of respect with an eye of compassion and with an eye of approbation 3. He must come with seriousnesse of spirit and with solidity of heart to the Ordinances if he would enjoy communion with God in them and have the secrets of God revealed to him 4. All a mans graces should be acted when he comes to attend upon God And 5. He must bring the Lord Jesus Christ in his armes as we perform no service but by him so we have no communion with God but through him Christ is a two fold Mediator First of reconciliation for enemies and strangers Secondly for communion and communication of secrets to those that are reconciled Now in all those and all other acts of spirituall communion there is one speciall and choice qualification of them that they are performed and acted with much intimacy or with very intimate and familiar correspondence between Christ and the soule which appears in these particulars 1. The soule hath a great deal of intimacy in those acts of communion with Christ for it lookes upon him as reconciled as one that bears nothing but good will to it It 's ungodly men that look upon God as a stranger God shewes them the back and not the face Jer. 18.17 but 't is not so with his people he doth remove all clouds he shewes them his face he doth cause his face to shine upon them Psalm 104.37 My meditations of him shall be sweet Mark what is that which sweetens Davids meditation of the Lord Truly the reason was this because he looked upon God as reconciled and at peace with him therefore whatsoever was in God was his Not to look upon God as a Judge but as a husband as a Father reconciled and so the soule hath an interest in whatsoever is his Thus God is said Psalm 116.7 to be the rest of the soul Return to thy rest O my soul Thy rest for truly wheÌ„ the soule wanders from God it is restlesse That 's an excellent expression Psalm 38.10 My heart panteth you read it but in the Originall it is thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 libbi secharchar my heart went about to and fro like a Merchant For it is from the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sachar which signifieth to go about or to run hither and thither properly to traffick and play the Merchant in buying and selling So the soule runs to this creature and is trading with that creature But when once the soule pitcheth upon God it rests there as upon a rock of ages 2. Their fellowship with Christ is in things of the highest nature therefore there 's a great deal of intimacy A man may have acquaintance in ordinary things but familiarity in things of the highest concernment must needs argue a great deal of intimacy your fellowship is in the Spirit As the Devill is an enemy to your fellowship with God in heavenly things and things of Eternity Ephes 6.12 So the intimacy you have with Jesus Christ is in things spirituall and of an eternall concernment and they are these foure 1. 'T is fellowship with Christ in his graces in the graces of his spirit We have an Unction from the holy one 1 John 2.22 2. 'T is fellowship with Christ in the motions of his spirit they that have received the spirit of Christ are led by that spirit Rom. 8.14 3. 'T is fellowship with Christ in the sealings of his spirit After you believed you were sealed by the spirit of promise Ephes 1.13 4. 'T is fellowship with Christ in the earnest of his spirit which I think is more then the sealing sealing puts the state out of controversy but earnest gives a man a tast of that glory before hand As a wicked man in this life by the spirit of bondage doth receive a judgment a kind of sense and tast of hell in his soule before hand Heb. 10.27 So doth the Lord let into the souls of his people a fore-tast of glory Here is a great deale of familiarity In the third place this intimacy that the Saints have with the Lord Jesus consists in this they do come to him with boldnesse and have accesse with boldnesse to the Throne of grace It is called drawing neer Heb. 10.22 All ungodly men they stand afar off from God he comes to God as a stranger he is afraid of him But the drawing neer of the children of God it is called Job 22.26 A listing up their face to God They shall have boldness in the presence of God as a man that lifts up his face without fear in the presence of his intimate and familiar friend Hos 14.6 7. Their small shall be as the Wine of Lebanon It is an observation of Galen all other things grow old and will grow the worse for time but Wine the longer you keep it the better will it be time doth not make it grow worse and that is the reason of that expression of our Saviour He that hath tasted of old Wine doth not by and by desire new Now they shall come into the presence of God and their services shall be accepted of him as the Wine of Lebanon What is that That is as one saith the older they be and the oftner they come into the presence of God the more acceptation they finde with him because their smell is as the Wine of Lebanon In the fourth and last place they have a great deal of intimacy which appears in this they are alwaies calling one another to further fellowship and are never satisfied Our Saviour Christ is alwaies crying Open to me my Love my Sister and my Spouse and the Church she is alwaies calling the Spirit saith come and the Bride saith come come away my beloved come away like a Roe or a young Hart upon the mountain of spices By these Mountains of spices I conceive to be meant the promises and the Lords making hast upon them is for the accomplishment of them Set me as a Seal upon thine heart All this â—s nothing else but the Church still calling to the Lord for further fellowship True grace is a spark begun here and it will never cease aspiring till it hath got to him that is the fountain of all in