The Communion of Saints, Chapter 11
CHAPT. XI.
Of the Communion that we hauehave with God, in general
God having graciously freed vsus from the captivity of Satan, and caled vsus out of the world, & from our own corruptions▪ doth after this take vsus neer vntounto him, bestoweth more graces and blessings vponupon vsus, and accepteth again the fruits of his own spirit in vsus. For he hath separated vsus from others, to ”2 Cor. 6. 17. 18.receiv vsus vntounto himself, and he wilbe a Father vntounto vsus, and we shalbe the sons and daughters of the Lord Almightie.
2. This grace God signified to our fathers, when he had freed them from the bondage of Aegipt, saying; ‖Exod. 19. 4. 5. 6.ye have seen what I did to the Aegiptians, and how I caried yow vponupon eagles wings, and hav brought yow vntounto me: now therfore, if ye wil hear my voice in deed, and keep my covenant; then shal ye be my chief tresure above al peoples, though al the earth be mine; ye shalbe vntounto me also a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.
3. The manifestation and assurance of this grace, is to be seen in that eternal *Deut. 29. 12Covenant and Oth which he maketh with vsus, and wherby he ‡ver. 13.stablisheth vsus for a people vntounto himself, and wilbe vntounto vsus a God; as he also sware vntounto our fathers Abraham Isaak and Iaakob. Who were themselves joyned in league with the Lord, that had stablished this everlasting covenant with Abraham and his posterity, to ‖Gen. 17. 7.be God vntounto him, and to his seed after him; but hath now fully and finally ratified in Christ, and by that new Testamental bond confirmed in his blood, wherby he hath covenanted, that ‡Heb. 8. 10.he wilbe our God, and we shal be his people: whervpon it followeth that he being ours, and we his, assured hereof by faith in his gospel, we have †1 Iohn. 1. 3.communion with the Father and with his Son Iesus Christ, to the prayse of the glory of his grace, & our eternal happines. Whiles he being our God, applieth his *Pro. 8.wisdō, ‡Psal. 18. 1. 2strength, ”Psal. 84. 11.grace, and al other goodnes vntounto vsus for good: & causeth vsus agayn to apply *Rom, 12. 1. 2our bodies & our minds, with all the faculties of them, to the honour and service of his majestie; and this with such mutuall love, and neer conjunction, as God is sayd to”… Ioh. 4. 16. dwelin vsus and we in him; and with such peace, as†Phil. 4, 7. passeth al vnderstanding, that not without cause doth the Psalmist sing,‖Psa. 144. 15 Blessed is the people whese God Iehovah is.
4. The persons whom God admitteth into this gracious cōmunion, are al sorts of people without respect of persons:†Gal. 3. 28. Iewes & Gentiles, bond men and free, male & female,‖Psal. … 48. 11 …. &c. kings of the earth and al peoples, Princes and al judges of the world, yong men & maydens, old men and children,*1 Cor, 1. 26. 27. wise men and fooles; even as‡Act. …. 39. many as the Lord our God shal cal. The riches of which grace, Moses also manifested vntounto Israel, when he sayd;”Deut. 29. 10 11. 12. Ye stand this day every one of yow before the Lord your God, your heads of your tribes, your elders and your officers, al the men of Israel, your children, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the †that is the basest servāts. as Ios. 9. …3.hewer of thy wood vntounto the drawer of thy water; that thou shouldest passe into the covenant of the Lord thy God, & into his oth which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day &c. This ample mercy, God shewed even then, but hath much inlarged since‖Eph. 2. 11. 17. by the sending of his Sō; that it might be seen how he is*Psal. 145. 9▪ good to al, and his mercies over al his works; and that * al flesh might blesse his holy‡ vers. 21. name, for ever and ever.
5 The original of this grace to the Saincts, cometh frō the electiō of God, who having set†Deut. 10. 14▪ 15. and. 7. 6▪ 7. 8. his delight in them to love thē, choseth them & their seed, to be a precious people to himself, above al peoples vponupon the earth, and as he sayth by the Prophet,‖Ier. 31. 3. I hav loved thee with an everlasting love, therfore with mercy I hav drawn thee. From which furder grace proceedeth; for they being thus drawen, doe*Song, 1. 3. run after him, and‡Iosh. 24. 15. 22. chose him again to be their God, and to serv him;†Psal. 119. 30 173. they chose the way of faith, they chose his precepts. So is ther a willing & joyful covenant made between God and them, by mutual agreement, vponupon most holy and happy conditions; which Moses briefly describeth thus:‖Deut. 26. 17 18. 19. Thow hast *foreignmade the Lord to say this day, (that is, thou hast taken promise of, conditioned with, and consequently‡so the Greek▪ foreign. hast chosen him,) to be to thee for a God, and to walk in his wayes and to keep his statutes & his commaundements and his iudgements, and to hearken vntounto his voice. And the Lord hath made thee to say this day (hath conditioned with &‖foreign. chosen thee,) to be vntounto him for a peculiar people, even as he spake vntounto thee, and to keep al his commandments; and to set thee high above al nations which he hath made, in prayse and in name & in glory; and that …hou shouldest be an holy people to the Lord thy God, even as he hath spoken.
6. The good things communicated with vsus of God by that covenant of his grace, the Apostle summeth vp, when he sayth that*2▪ Per. 1. 3. his divine power hath given vsus al things that perteyn to Life & godlines. For as he is himself the‡Ier. 10. 10. Living God, &†1 Tim. 6. 13. giver of life vntounto al things; so is he‖Mat. 22. 32. not the God of the Dead, but of the Living. To the end therfore that we, which wer*Eph. 2. … dead in trespasses and syns, and‡Eph. 4. 18. strangers from the Life of God, through the ignorance that was in vsus, and in that estate were not his people; might be the†Hos. 1. 10. sons of the Living God, and‖1 Pet. 3. 7. heyres of the grace of Life: it was needful, that we should receive from him this grace, which els we could not have from any other; because ”Psal. 36. 9.with him is the well of life, and in his light shall we see light; he is †Deut. 30. 20our Life and the length of our dayes, his ‖Psal. 119. 93 50.precepts and his promises do quickē vsus, and by al *Deut. 8. 3.that proceedeth out of his mouth, doth a man live; as that good king Hezekiah confessed vponupon his recoverie from death, ‡Is…. 38. 16.O Lord by them (men) live, and by all of them (is) the life of my spirit; and thou hast caused me to sleep, and hast given life vntounto me.
7. And when we are made partakers of the life of God, then feel we the fellowship and cōmunion spoken of; and as our life encreaseth, so doth our joy, by the perceiving of our happines; & we ”Rom. 6. 13.give our selves vntounto God, as they that are alive from the dead, †Psal. 56. 13.walking before him in the light of the living. God also himself ‖Lev. 26. 12.walketh with vsus, leading vsus *I…r. 31, 9. 12. 14.by the rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein we shall not stumble, and our sowl shalbe as a watered garden; we shal have no more sorow, but shalbe satisfied with the goodnes of the Lord; ‡Psal. 22. 26.our hart shal live for ever. To the end therefore that we may in some sort discern this incomprehensible grace, let vsus consider some principal of the many good things, that God doth give vsus perteyning vntounto Life and godlines.
8. And first, for that Vnderstāding is ‖Pro. 16. 22.a welspring of Life vntounto them that have it; the God of our Lord Iesus Christ, the Father of glory, *Eph. 1. 17. 18.giveth vntounto vsus the Spirit of wisdome, and revelation through the knowledge of him, wherby the eyes of our vnderstāding are lightned, and we know what is the hope of his caling, and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is in the Saincts: so he having opened our eyes,, *Psa. 119. 18we see the wonders of his law, & he causeth vsus †vers. 27.to vnderstād the way of his precepts. This is a special point of the happines of Gods people, above al peoples of the earth that they hav both his Law for a light, and himself for their instructer, and so are all ‖Ioh. 6. 45.the taught of God, and have *1 Ioh. 2. 20.an Oyntment from him that is holy, wherby they know al things, and ‡ver. 2….need not that any man teach them, but as the same anoynting teacheth thē all things. Herevpon the Prophet sayd vntounto God, I have not declined… Psal. 119. …02. from thy judgments, because thou didst teach me; and himself sayth vntounto his people, †Isa. 48. 17.I am the Lord thy God, which teach thee to profit, and lead thee by the way that thou shouldest goe; & thine ‖Isa. 30. …1.eares shal hear a word behinde thee, saying; This is the way, walk ye in it, whē thou turnest to the right hand, & when thou turnest to the left. Thus the †Psal. 25. 14.secret of the Lord is reveled to them that fear him; & his covenant, for to giv them knowledge; he ‖Luk. 24, 45.openeth their mind, that they may vnderstand the scriptures, he openeth vntounto thē the *Eph. 1. 9. … Colos. 1. 9.mysterie of his will, and ‡ filleth them with knowledge of the same, in al wisdom and spiritual vnderstanding, that so they may be partakers of his life, as David sayth, ”Psal. 119. 144.Give me vnderstanding, and I shal live. And that this grace proceedeth from his covenant, and confirmeth the same, himself sheweth when he sayth; †Ier. 24. 7.I will give them an hart to know me, that I am the Lord; and they shalbe my people, and I will be their God.
9. An other of the gifts per…eyning vntounto Life and godlines, is Faith; wherby our Fathers ”Gen. 5. 22. Heb. 11. 5. 6. 39.walked with God, pleased him, wrought many good works, obteyned good report, and in the end, the salvation of their sowles. This grace we have not of our selves, ‖Eph. 2. 8.it is the gift of God, who openeth *Act. 14. 27.the dore thereof vntounto his chosen people, which therefore is caled ‡Tit, 1. 1.the faith of Gods elect; and wondrous is the force thereof in our sowles, for by it ”Mark. 9, 23.all things are made possible to vsus, it is our †1 Thes. 5, 8.brestplate, & it is our |Eph. 6. 16.shield wherby we quench all the fyrie darts of the Divil; it is the *1 Iohn. 5. 4.victorie whereby we overcome the world; by it we ‡2 Cor. 5. 7,walk, whiles we are pilgroms here on earth, and absent from the Lord; by it we stād ”Rom. 11. 20.in the grace & favour of God; by it †Gal. 2. 20.we Live, by it our God doth ‖Act. 15. 9.purifie our harts, and through it *1 Pet, 1. 5.doth keep vsus by his power vntounto salvation.
10. This Faith, doth alwayes respect the word of God, †Rom. 10. 17.from whence it ariseth, and by which it is wrought in vsus through his Spirit: which therfore is caled, the ‖ver, 8.word of faith, and is no vayn word concerning vsus, but is *Deut. 32. 47our Life. It looketh also vntounto al Gods oracles, teaching vsus to beleev ‡Act. 24. 14.al things that are written in the law and prophets, and †Iohn. 20. 31▪in the gospel. It causeth vsus to apprehend Gods ancient mercies shewed to our fathers, as belonging also to vsus; for so we learn of the Apostles, to apply the ‖Hebr. 13. 5. with Ios. 1. 5.promise of Gods presence and continued favour with Iosua; his *Rom. 4, 23. 24.imputation of justice vntounto Abraham; the ‡Psal. 118. 6. with Heb. 15. 6.boldnes and courage of David, vponupon Gods assistance; & generally ”Rom. 15. 4.whatsoever things are writtē aforetyme, as being written for our learning, comfort, and encrease of faith. So also wee learne of the Prophets, which spake of things done long before, as if they had been seene and felt by themselves. Hoseas sayth of Iakob, †Hos. 12. 4.God found him in Bethel, and there he spake with vsus; the Psalmist singeth of Gods bringing Israel through the Sea & Iarden, He turned sea into drie land, ‖Psal. 66. 6.they passed through the river on foot, there did we reioyce in him. According to whose examples, we that now live and beleev, because we have received the *2 Cor. 4. 13.same spirit of faith with the Patriarches, and have obteyned a ‡2 Pet. 1. 1.like-precious faith with the Apostles; may also say with them, ”Song. 2. 16.my welbeloved is mine & Iam his; I ‡Iob. 19, 25.know that my redemer liveth; and I †Gal. 2. 20live by faith in him who hath loved me, and given himself for me.
11. The most excellent fruit that we reap of Faith, is our Iustificatiō in the sight of God, by his grace in Christ Iesus. For whereas two wayes of Life & Iustice are set before vsus in the scriptures, the one by keeping the Law of the Lord, even al his precepts, of which it is sayd, ”Rom. 10. 5.The man that doth them, shall live by them; and again, †Deut. 6. …5.This shal be our Iustice before the Lord our God, if we take heed to keep all his commandements, as he hath cōmanded vsus: the other by faith in Christ; as it is written, ‖Iohn. 3. …6.God so loved the world that he hath given his onelyonly begotten Son, that whosoever beleeveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life: the first of these wayes is such, as no *Gal. 2. 16.flesh can be justified by. For though the Law cōsisteth of ‡Act 7. 38,Living oracles, and every cōmandement ”Rom, … ▪ 12.is holy and just and good; yet by reason of syn that dwelleth in vsus, †ver. 10.the same cōmandement which was ordeyned vntounto life, is found to be vntounto vsus to death. For †Rom. 7. 11.syn taketh occasion by the commādemēt, & deceiveth vsus, & therby killeth vsus; as when the Law sayth, Thow shalt not lust, ‖ver. 8.syn worketh in vsus al maner of lust; so the Law is the life and strength ofsyn, in vsus that a… carnal and sold vnderunder syn; and syn *ver. 13.is made out of mesure synful by the commandement, & the ‡Rom. 5. 20.Law entred that the offence might abound. Therfore ”Gal. 3. 21.can it not giv vsus Life, neyther was it given to that end, but was added vntounto the promise of grace by Christ, †ver, …9.because of the transgressions; and by it cometh ‖Rom. 3. 20.the knowledge of syn; it also condemneth and curseth *Gal. 3, 10.al syn and synners, and ‡Gal. 2. 15.through it are we dead vntounto it, that we might live vntounto God. For the terrours therof tormenting our synful sowles, we ar forced to seek refuge from Gods wrath in some other, which we can not find †Act. 4. 1….in any but in Christ, whom God hath proposed to be the reconciliation for al our syns, whom we apprehend by faith; & vntil faith come ar ‖Gal. 3. 23. 24.kept fast, and as it were locked vp vnderunder the Law, wherof we have this excellent vse and benifit, that it is a *foreignchild-leader or scholemayster, to bring vsus vntounto Christ. In whom the justice of God is satisfied for al our trespasses by his death on the tree wheron he was made a ‡Gal. 3. 13▪curse for vsus, and redemed vsus from the curse of the Law. And so our syns which were imputed vntounto him, shal no more be imputed vntounto vsus, but forgiven for his sake, and that blessednes cometh on vsus which is written, †Rom. 4. 7. 8Blessed ar they whose iniquities ar forgiven, and whose syns ar covered, blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not syn. Yea God, …as he imputeth not but pardoneth syn, so doth he impute▪ †Vers. 6.justice or righteousnes to vsus without works of ours; because Christ fulfilled al righteousnes for vsus that beleev, and we shalbe found in him ‖Phil. 3. 9.not having our owne justice which is of the Law, but that which is through the Faith of Christ, even the justice which is of God through Faith. To teach vsus this, the *Abraham. Gen. 15. 6.first man whom Moses mentioneth to have beleeved the Lord; he presently adorneth with this grace, that God imputed that to him for iustice. And he being made the ‡Rom. 4. 16.Father of al beleevers; that is written †Vers. 23. 24for vsus also, vntounto whom Beleef shalbe imputed for Iustice in like weise. Thus are we ‖Rom. 3. 28.justified by Faith, without the works of the Law; yea Faith is come in place of al good works, as Christ hath sayd, *Ioh. 6. 29.This is the work of God, that ye beleev in him whom he hath sent; this also is his commandement, ‡1. Ioh. 3. 23.that we beleev in the name of his Son Iesus Christ; whom he that hath, ”1 Ioh. 5. 12.hath Life, & he that hath not the son of God hath not Life: but who so *Ezek. 33. 13.trusteth to his own righteousnes, and committeth iniquity shal surely die, as sayth the prophet. Thus live we by faith in Christ, and that heavenly oracle is fulfilled, ‡Hab. 2. 4. Gal. 3. 11.The iust shallive by his faith.
12. This Life and grace, is one condition of that everlasting covenant which our God hath made with vsus, and sayd †Heb. …. 1….I wil be merciful to their vnrighteousnes, and wil remember their syns and their iniquities no more. And being thus justified by faith, we ‖Rom. 5. 1.have peace towards God through our Lord Iesus Christ, whom he *Isa. 42. 6.hath given to be our covenant and our light; he ‡Psal. 51. 9.hideth his face from our syns, and wipeth away al our iniquities, and sayth †Iob. 33. 24.deliver them that they goe not down into the pit, for I have found a ransom. Yea now he Num. 23. 21seeth no iniquitie in Iaakob, nor transgressiō in Israel; the Lord his God is with him, and the joyful showt of a king is among them; though the syns of Iudah be sought for, *Ier 50. 20.they shalbe no more found, for the Lord is merciful to them whom he reserveth, he ‡Isa. 4. 4. & 44. 22. 23.hath washed the filthines of the daughters of Sion, their transgressions are put away as aclowd, and like a mist, their syns ar al †Mic. 7. 19.cast into the bottom of the sea. For this, the Saincts doe triumph and say, Rom. 8. 33.who shal lay any thing to the charge of Gods chosen? it is God that justifieth, who shal condemn? we wil ”Psal. 71. 16.goe forward in the strēgth of the Lord God, we wil make mention of thy Iustice, even of thyne onelyonly. And thus is fulfilled the saying of the prophet Isa. 45. 25.The whole seed of Israel shal be Iustified, and glory, in the Lord.
13. Yet is their also further grace perteyning to life and godlines given vsus of God, even our Sanctification; whervnto he hath *1. Thes. 4. 7.caled vsus, and which we attayn vntounto ‡Act. 26. 18.by fayth in Christ. For the grace of God, that bringeth salvation vntounto al men, and hath appeared; doth †Tit. 2. 11. 1…teach vsus that we should deny vngodlynes & worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world, and not Rom. 6. 1.continew still in syn, that grace may abound. VVe are the people of *Isa. 63. 18.Gods holynes, and he wilbe ‡Levit. 23. 32.halowed among vsus, he the Lord doth sanctify vsus; he powreth †Ezek. 36. 25clean water vponupon vsus that we may be clean, †Heb. 10. 22sprinkled in our harts from an evil conscience, and washed in our bodies with pure water; he Ezek. 35. 26taketh away the stony hart out of our body, and giveth vsus an hart of flesh, he *vers. 27putteth his spirit within vsus, and causeth vsus to walk in his statutes, to keep his judgements and doe them, that we be ‡Ezek. 37. 23polluted no more with our abominations, nor any of our transgressions; and saith vntounto vsus †Levi. 19. 2.ye shalbe holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. And this is an other condition of his gracious covenant with vsus, as it is written, Heb. 8. 10.I wil put my lawes in their minde and in their hart I wil write them, & I wil be their God, and they shalbe my peaple.
14. Of this Sanctification ther be two parts, which they that long after Life and to see good dayes, must seek; 1 *1. Pet. 3. 10 11to eschew evil, 2 & to doe good. The way to attayn these, is by the ‡Rom. 6. 3. 4. 6.death & burial of the old man, the corruption of nature; and the resurrection of the new: that so being †vers. …dead vntounto syn, we may be alive vntounto God in Iesus Christ our Lord. The old man or body of syn, is the Ioh. 3. 6. 3.whole man sowl and body, as he is born by nature, even *Isa. 40. 6. 7 1 Pet. 1. 24.al flesh, & al the grace and glory therof, which the Spirit of the Lord must blow vponupon, and cause to fade as the flower of grasse, that the man may be born again, and made a new creature, even born ‡Ioh. 1. 13.of God. To work this wondrous change in vsus; the Lord giveth two special graces, the 1 Fear & 2 Love of his name; by the one to restreyn vsus from evil, and by the other to allure vsus vntounto good.
15. The Fear of the Lord, as it is the †Psal. 111. 10beginning of wisdom; so page missing did Davids) †Psal. 119. 120▪for fear of the Lord, and we being afrayd of his judgements. His mercies also are shewed vsus to this end, as it is written, ‖Psa. 130. 4Mercy is with thee that thou mayst be feared. This grace God giveth to his Saincts, to humble them, that they be *Rom. 11. 20not high-minded, but may walk in reverence before him, and their harts be *Pro. 23. 17in his fear continually, that ‡Deut. 5. 29it may go wel with them and with their children for ever; for he that †Pro. 13. 13feareth the commandement shalbe rewarded. By this grace hav his people commuinon with him, and feel his goodnes, for ‖Psal. 33. 18the eye of the Lord is vponupon them that fear him, & trust in his mercy; †Ps. 147. 11he delighteth in them, he wil fulfil *Ps. 145. 19.the desire of them, and nothing ‡Psal. 34. 9shalbe wanting vntounto them, as he hath promised by his prophet; †Psal. 25. 13 14.their sowles shal dwel in good, their seed shal inherit the land, and the secret of the Lord, and his covenant shalbe revealed vntounto them. Wherfore vntounto man he sayth, †Iob. 28, 2…Behold the Fear of the Lord is wisdome, and to depart from evil is vnderstanding; ‖Pro. 22. 4.the reward of humility and the fear of God, is riches and glory & Life. VntoUnto this therfore let vsus take heed, for in it *Pro. 14. 26is an assured strength; by it we shal ‡Ecel. 7. 20. 18. 19.come out of al extremities that are either too much or too litle; and to †Eccl. 12. 13fear God and keep his commandements is the whole man; this leadeth him ‖Pro. 19. 23▪vntounto Life, and being filled therwith, he shal continew and not be visited with evil: that he may know, that *Isa. 33. … ▪the fear of the Lord is his tresure, as sayth the Prophet.
16. But because the end of the Commandement, is †1 Tim. 1. …Love, out of a pure hart, and of a good cō science & of faith vnfeighned, & Love is the ‖Rom. 13. 16fulfilling of the Law: therfore hath God comprised his whol wil touching our Sanctification and obedience in two precepts, 1 Thow shalt *Mat. 22. 37Love thy Lord thy God, with al thy hart, with al thy sowl, and with al thy mind; & 2 Thou shalt ‡vers. 39.Love thy neighbour as thy self; on †vers. 40.these two commandements hangeth the whol Law, and the Prophets. As evil therfore is to be ‖Psal. 97. 10hated and eschewed, so that which is good ought *Amos 5. 15.to be loved, and ‡Rom. 12. 9.cleaved vntounto: the head and fountain of al which good, is onelyonly ‖Luke 18. 19God himself; who first is to be loved, and above all; but hath given vsus this commandement, *1 Ioh. 4. 21that he which loveth God, should love his brother also.
17. And as we have of him this Law of love, so have we from him the grace to love both him & his law, and shal from him receive the fruit therof which is Life. This Moses shewed Israel of old, saying, ‖Deut. 30. 6The Lord thy God wil circumcise thyne hart and the hart of thy seed, that thou mayst Love the Lord thy God with al thy hart and with al thy sowl, that thou mayst Live. Thus we love him, *1 Ioh. 4. 19because he loved vsus first, and hath inclined our harts & drawn vsus after him. Again because as Christ sayth, ‡Ioh. 14. 29he that hath his cō mandements and keepeth them, is he that Loveth him; therefore have we this rule & direction given vsus by Moses further, joyning these two togeither, †Deut. 11. …Thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and shalt keep that which he commandeth to be kept; that is, his ordinances and his lawes and his commandements alway.
18. From this ariseth much cō fort to the Saints, which finding themselves affected with the Lov of God, & feeling his love ‖Rom. 5. 5.shed abroad in their harts by the holy Ghost which is given vntounto thē, do grow in this grace, & *Iude. 21.keep themselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vntounto eternal life. They ‡Psal. 119. 127.lov his commandements above the finest gold, & therfore have †vers 165.much peace, and shal have no hurt or scandal; their vers. 47.delight is in his cō mandements which they have loved, their *vers. 48.hands also doe they lift vp vntounto them; and herevpon doe expect to be ‡vers. 159.quickened and conserved in life according to the loving kindnes of the Lord, who †Psal. 145. 20.preserveth al them that love him, Dan. 9. 4.keepeth covenant and mercy towards them, and causeth al things to *Rom. 8. 28.work togither for the best vntounto them. For God ‡1 Ioh. 4. 16is Love (as sayth the disciple †Ioh. 21. 20. 24.whom Iesus loved,) and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him; and †Ephe. 6. 24.grace shalbe vntounto al them that love him, vntounto immortalitie. Moses in spirit foreseing this, sayd vntounto Israel; ‖Deut. 30. 19. 20.I cal heaven and earth to record this day agaynst you, that I have set before you Life & death, the blessing & the curse: therfore chuse Life that thou and thy seed may live; by loving the Lord thy God, by obeying his voice, and by cleaving vntounto him; for he is thy Life, and the length of thy dayes.
19. But because our Life †Col. 3. 3.is hid with Christ in God, & though now we be the sonnes of God, ‖1 Iohn. 3. 2.yet it doth not appear what we shalbe, but when *Col. 3. 4… ▪Christ which is our Life shal appear, then shal we also appear with him in glory, be like vntounto him, and see him as he is: therfore hath he given vsus another grace perteyning to Life and godlines, called †1. Pet. 1. 3.a living Hope, vntounto which God of his aboundāt▪ mercy hath begotten vsus by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead. This vertue respecteth our good that is to come, our ‖vers. 4.inheritance reserved for vsus in heaven, yea thither hath it power to come, entring (as the Apostle saith) *Heb. 6. 18. 19, 20.into that which is within the vail, whither the forerunner Iesus is for vsus entred in, & this Hope we have as an anker of the soul both sure & stedfast, holding it fast in al tempests of tribulations or tentations, knowing (as Salomon sayth) that ‡Prov. 24. 14.ther is an end, and our hope shal not be cut-off.
20. Ther be two companions and as it were sisters of this grace; 1 Faith & 2 patience; Faith goeth before as the guide and susteyner, being the †foreign. Heb. 11. 1.subsistance or ground of things hoped for; as Abraham by faith, even ‖Rom. 4. 18.above hope, beleeved vnderunder hope; Patience accompanieth it, and teacheth to wayt, as it is written, *Rom. 8. 25.if we hope for that we see not, we doe with patience abide for it. And thus is fulfilled that which Isaias sayth, ‡Isa. 28. 16.he that beleeveth shal not make hast, and consequently, shal not †1. pet. 2. 6.be ashamed; but being assured that ‖Heb. 10. 37.he which shal come wil come, and wil not delay, *Hab. 2. 3.though he tary yet we wayt, as the prophet biddeth vsus, because the Father which hath loved vsus, hath ‡2. Thes. 2. 16.given vsus everlasting consolation and good hope through grace; and hope †Rom. 5. 5.maketh not ashamed; yea we ‖Rom. 12. 12rejoyce in hope, as being the thing wherby *Rom. 8. 24.we ar saved, & he which is the ‡Rom. 15. 13▪God of hope filleth vsus with al joy and peace in beleeving, and causeth vsus to abound in hope, through the power of the holy Ghost.
21. One of the special promises which the anker of Hope layeth hold vponupon, and that by reason of the Covenant of God with vsus, is the Resurrection of the Dead. For as God caling himself the †Exod. 3. 6.God of Abraham Isaak & Iaakob, when they wer dead vntounto the world, but Living vntounto him, did teach his people therby, that he would rayse them vp again from death, as our Saviour ‖Luk. 20. 37. 38.expoundeth his Fathers oracle: even so we all that are in the same covenant of grace, and have him for our God, do beleev that after our flesh hath ben sown in dishonour, and seen corruption, it *1 Cor. 15. 43shalbe raysed in glory by the power of God; for in our graves, ‡Ioh. 5. 28. 29we shal heare the voyce of Christ at his appearing, & shal come forth vntounto the resurrection of Life. And then shall we injoy all the good promises in that Citie ”Heb. 11. 10.which hath foundations, whose buylder and maker is God, who is not ashamed of vsus to be called our God, because †Heb. 11. 16.he hath prepared for vsus a citie.
22. Thus have we through the grace of our God, those three heavenly vertues mentioned by †1 Thes. …. 3.the Apostle; 1 an effectual Faith, 2 adiligent Love, 3 and the patience of Hope in our Lord Iesus Christ; by Faith to beleev the mysteries of life and al his word; by Love to cleav vntounto him and keep his commandemēts; by hope to exspect the fulfilling of al good promises which God that cannot lie hath made vntounto vsus; and these three things doe ‖1 Cor. 13. ….abide with vsus during this present life, that walking in them, we may have fellowship with the Lord in spirit, who having thus decked vsus with the garments of bewtie and glorie, with mercy and salvation through faith in his name, doth then *Eph. 1. 13. 14.seal vsus with that holy spirit of Promise which is the earnest of our inheritance, vntil the redemption of the possession purchased, (the ful redemption of al Saincts,) vntounto the prayse of his glory. For as he hath ‡vers. 4.chosen vsus in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: so having effectually caled justified and sanctified vsus of his vnspeakable grace, he giveth vsus also certainty and assurance of †2. Pet. 1. 10our election, that we shal never fal from, nor be forsaken of him. For the seed wherwith we are born anew, is an ‖1. Pet. 1. 23immortal seed, which can never die, & this seed *1. Ioh. 3. 9.remayneth in vsus, to keep vsus from syn: and if we syn, we have an ‡1. Ioh. 2. 1.advocate with the Father, even Iesus Christ the just, who maketh intercession, and prayeth for vsus that our †Luk. 22. 3….faith fail not; he also giveth vsus repentance Act. 11. 18.vntounto Life, and worketh in vsus godly sorow for our misdeeds; so we ar renewed by repentance dayly, and revived by faith, knowing that God hath *… Sam. 7. 24▪stablished to himself his people Israel, to be his people for ever, & he is their God, his gifts and caling are ‡Rom. 11. …9without repentance; he that hath begun his good work in vsus, wil †Phil. 1. 6.perform it vntounto the day of Iesus Christ; for he hath made an Ier. 32. 40.everlasting covenant with vsus, that he wil never turn away from vsus to doe vsus good, and hath put his fear in our harts, that we shal never depart from him; and hath sayd concerning vsus by his prophet, *Ioel. 2. 26. 27.My people shal never be ashamed. Thus the ‡1 Thes. 5. 8.hope of salvation, is for an helmet vponupon our heads; for that God hath †ver. 9.not appointed vsus vntounto wrath, but to obteyn salvation by our Lord Iesus Christ; and we rejoyce with joy vnspeakable & glorious, being perswaded ‖Rom. 8. 38 39that neyther death nor life nor Angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things presēt nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature, shalbe able to separate vsus fiō the love of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord.
23. Our God it is wc thus ‖2 Cor. 1. 21. 22.stablisheth vsus in Christ, & hath anoynted vsus, and also sealed vsus, and given vsus the earnest of his spirit in our hartes, even the spirit of adoption whereby we crie vntounto him ‡Rom. 8. 15.Abba Father; and of vsus he sayth, *Isa. 43. 21.This people have I formed for my self, they shal shew forth my prayse. And being thus furnished with his graces, we find & feel the sweetnes of that fellowship and communion, that we hav with him in Christ Iesus and by his Spirit.
24. This communion the scripture setteth down by similitude of walking and dwelling together. For God hath promised †Lev. 26. 12▪I will walk among you, and I wil be your God & ye shalbe my people; and for his habitation, although ‖Ior. 23. 24.he filleth heavens and earth, & the *1 Kin. 8. 27.heavens of heavens ar not able to cōteyn him, being cōsidered in his infinite majestye: yet abaseth he himself to converse with vsus that dwel in houses of clay, as he sayth by the Prophet, ‡Isa. 57. 12.I dwel in the high & holy place; with him also that is of a contrite & humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble, and to give life to them that are of a contrite hart. Which grace that all the Saincts might take knowledge of, the voice is written which was heard out of heaven to say, †Rev. 21. 3.Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwel with them, and they shalbe his people, and God himself will bee their God with them. This Tabernacle is the bodies and sowles of the Saincts, as the Apostle sayth, ‖2 Cor. 6. 16.Ye are the Temple of the Living God, even as God hath sayd, *foreignI will dwell in thē, & walk (with them:) ‡1 Cor. 6. 10.your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. On the other side, wee are sayd to walk with God, as did †Gen. 5. 24. & 6. 9.Enoch, & Noah, and as the Lord requireth of every man that ‖Mic. 6. 8.he humble himself to walk with his God; we *Psal. 61. 4.dwel in his tabernacle for ever, our trust is vnderunder the covering of his wings, & as the Apostle Iohn sayth, ‡1 Iob. 3. 24.He that keepeth his commandements dwelleth in him, and he in him.
25. This grace is so heavenly and supernatural, as it cannot be comprehended by the carnal man; nor embraced & walked in with comfort by synners & hypocrites. The naturall man thinketh †D…. 2. 11.the dwelling of God is not with flesh; the vnbeleeving among the Saincts, in day of their distresse do say, ‖Exod. 17. … ▪Is the Lord among vsus or no? The synners and hypocrites … Sion, are afrayd saying, †Isa. 33. 14.who among vsus shal dwel with the devouring syre? who amōg us shal dwel with the everlasting burnings? And indeed ye throne of iniquitie *Psal. 94. 20.hath no fellowship with him; but ye pure of hart edure as ‡Heb. 11. 27.seing him who is invisible; they sing, †Psal. 46. 7.The Lord of hosts is with vsus, the God of Iaakob is our refuge; they serve him and *Rev. 22. 4.see his face, his name is on their foreheads, & they say, ‡Psal. 73. 28.It is good for vsus to draw neer vntounto God; ”Psal. 4. 6.Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vponupon vsus.
26 This conversing of the Saints with God is spiritual and mystical; we walk †2 Cor. 5. 7.by faith and not by sight; faith which is the ‖Heb. 11. 1.evidence of things not seen. He that is joyned to the Lord *1 Cor. 6. 17.is one spirit sayth the Apostle. Again Gods walking with vsus is strange and vncouth to the world; for he bringeth vsus into many tribulations; his way ‡Psal. 77. 19is in the sea, his paths in the great waters, and his footsteps ar not knowen; he leadeth vsus through the wildernes, through a desert and wast land, †Ier. 2. 6.and by the shadow of death; where ‖Deut. 8. 15.fyry serpents are, and scorpions, and drought, without water; *ver. 2.to humble vsus and to prove vsus, to know what is in our hart, that he may ‡vers. 16.doe vsus good in the latter end; he bringeth vsus through †Zach. 13. 9.the fyre, and fineth vsus as the silver is fined, and trieth vsus as gold is tried; & yet he sayth It is my people, & we do say, The Lord is our God.
27. And hence ariseth, the comfort of our harts, that alwayes we behold God with vsus, yea feel him within vsus; and answer Amen by faith to al his promises. He sayth ‖Isa. 41. 10.Fear not for I am with thee, be not afrayd for I am thy God; we say again, *Psal. 23. 4.Though I should walk through the vally of the shadow of death, I will fear no evill, because thou art with me. He sayth of every of his Saincts, ‡Psal. 98. 15.I wilbe with him in trouble, I wil deliver him and glorify him; they testify & say; ‖Act. 2. 2….I beheld the Lord alwayes before me, for he is at my right hand that I should not be shaken; *Isa. 8. 9. 1….gather together on heaps ô ye people, and ye shalbe broken in peeces, take counsel togither, yet shall it be brought to naught, pronounce a decree, yet shall it not stand, for God is with vsus. The Patriarchs moved with envie, sold Ioseph into Aegypt, but ‡Act. 7. 9. 1….God was with him (sayth the scripture,) and delivered him out of al his afflictions. To Iakob God sayd, ”Gen. 31. ….turne again to the land of thy fathers & to thy kinred, & I …ilbe with thee; in his return, he was in dāger & prayed, †Gen. 32. 9.ô God of my father Abrahā &c, Lord which sayd est vntounto me return to thy countrie and kinred, and I wil do thee good. Thus alwayes ye Saincts assure thēselves of good by Gods presence with thē, and of shelter frō evil; & count them selves naked and helplesse when he withdrawes his face; as when in displeasure he had moved his Tabernacle †Exod. 33. 7.farr off from the host of Israel, and seemed as if he would have walked no further with them; then Moses sayd, ‖ver. 15. 16.If thy presence go not with vsus cary vsus not hence; & wherin now shall it be known that I and thy people have found favour in thy sight? shal it not be when thou goest with vsus? so I and thy people shal have preeminence before all people that are on the earth. Finally, as the Saincts encourage themselves against their foe… with this, *Num. 14. ….their shadow is departed from them, & the Lord is with vsus, fear them not: so God foretold that when many tribulations should come vponupon his people, they then would say, ‡Deut. 31. 17Are not these troubles come vponupon me, because my God is not with me?
28 For the presence of God, & communion of his graces, so saveth his Saincts out of al adversities; that no wisdome counsel or strength of any enimy can hurt, no creature can hinder them frō their happines; the Lord their God ”Deut. 1. 3….who goeth before them, he fighteth for them, and †Deut. 33. 2…rideth vponupon the heavens for their help▪ the eternal God ‖ver. 27.is their refuge, & vnderunder his armes they are for ever, he casteth out the enemy before them and sayth, Destroy; so as wax melteth frō the presence of the fyre, ‖Psal. 68. …the wicked perish from the presence of God; But his people he *Psal. 41. 12.vpholdeth in their integritie, and doth set them before his face for ever, both they and ‡Psa. 102. 28their seed shal stand fast in his sight; for they ar his ”Deut. 32. 9.portion or inheritance, and they shal †Psal. 89. 15.walk in the light of his countenance, he leadeth them with his own glorious arm, ‖Isa. 63. 12.dividing the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name; he sayth, *Isa. 57. 14.prepare the way, take vp the stumbling blocks out of the way of my people, so causeth he them to ‡Lev. 26. 13.goe vpright, giving ”Isa. 40. 29.strength vntounto him that fainteth, & multiplying might to him that hath no power, and they †ver, 31.renew strength, they lift vp the wings as the eagles, they run & are not wearie, they walk & faint not. He supplie… their wāts, ‖Psal. 107. 9.filling the hungry sowl with good, & satisfying the soule that thirsteth after †Mat. 5. 6.righteousnes; for righteousnes ‖Psal. 85. 1….goeth before him, & setteth her steps in the way; he *Isa. 46. 130bringeth neer his justice, it is not farr off, and his salvation shal not tarie, for he giveth it in Sion, and his glory vntounto Israel.
29. And they again, being a people in ‡Isa. 51. 7…whose hart is his law, & knowing that two cannot walk togither (as sayth †Amos. 3. …0the prophet,) except they be agreed; labour by faith to hav peace with him, aud to walk before him in vprightnes, to walk ‖Col. 1. 10.worthy of him, and please him in al things, being fruitful in al good works, and increasing in the knowledge of God. For this they hav *Deut. 26. 17 18.promised vntounto him when they entred into his covenant; & therfore are their sowles delivered from death, ‡Psal. 116. 80 9.that they may walk before the Lord in the land of the living. And because to walk †1 Kin. 8. 25 with 2 Chro▪ 6. 16.before God, is to walk in his Law, (as the scripture teacheth;) therfore †Psa. 119. 97love they the law of the Lord, it is their meditation continually, and it is written vponupon †2 Cor. 3. 3.the table of their hart; their delight is *Psal. 119. …7. 48.in his commandements which they have loved, their hands also doe they lift vp vntounto them, their mouth ‡ver. 46.talketh of them, their feet ”ver. 32.run in them, their †ver. 167.soule keepeth them, and they wil ‖ver. 93.never forget them; al their members are given vp as *Rom. 6. 13. 17.instruments of righteousnes to serve and please the Lord, & they *Psal. 119. 112.apply their hart to fulfil his statutes alwaies even vntounto the end. Thus their ‡Isa. 58. 8.righteousnes goeth before them, and the glory of the Lord embraceth thē, he ”Zach. 10. 12.strengthneth thē in the Lord, & they walk in his name, their harts being †1 Thes. 3. 13stable and vnblameable in holynes before him, and there is no ‖Rom. 8. 1.condemnation vntounto them, for that they are in Christ Iesus, and walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.
30. And now they eat their bread *Eccl. 9. 7.with joy, and drink their wine with a cheerful hart, because God accepteth their works, ‡Psal. 19. 14.the words of their mouthes, & the meditation of their harts. They please him and have his blessing even in their civil affayres and ”Psal. 1…8.handy labours: the world and †1 Cor. 10. 25 26.al earthly creatures are subdued vntounto them, and they vse them for their service and comfort in the Lord; if they ‖Rom. 14. 6.eat, it is to the Lord, if they eat not it is to him also, giving God thāks, and doing al things that they doe, *1 Cor. 10. 38vntounto his glorie. So though they be in the world, yet are they not †Ioh. 17. 14.of the world, and though they ‖2 Cor. 10. 3.walk in the flesh yet warr they not, neyther *Rom. 8. 1.walk they after the flesh; but being on earth, their ‡Phil. 3. 20.conversation is in heaven, and the way of Life is †Pro. 15. …4.on high vntounto them, to avoyd from hel beneath. They seek the Lord and his strength, they ‖Psal. 105. 4.seek his face continually, and with *Psal. 21. 6.the joy of his face he maketh them glad, and in the ‡Psal. 31. 20.secret therof, he hideth them from the pride of men, he keepeth them †Deut. 32. 10.as the apple of his eye. He sayth vntounto them, ‖Psal. 78. 1.Hear my law o my people, incline your ears to the words of my mouth, ”Ier. 11. 4.obey my voyce and do al things which I command yow, so shal ye be my people, and I wilbe your God: they answer, al peoples *Mi…. 4. 5.wil walke every one in the name of his God, and we wil walke in the name of our God for ever and ever; teach vsus thy way o Lord, ‡Psal. 16. 11.and we wil walk in thy truth, knit our harts to thee, that we may fear thy name, Thus hoping for his glory which is to be reveled, they ”1 Iohn. 3. ….purge themselves as he is pure, and walk in the light, †1 Ioh. …. 7.as he is in the light, having fellowship one with another, & the blood of Iesus Christ his Son clensing them from al syn. And the Lord ‖Psal. 29. 1….giveth strength vntounto his people, the Lord blesseth his people with peace; he is as *Hos. 14. 6.the dew vntounto thē, they grow as lilies and fasten their roots as the trees of Lebanon, dwelling vnderunder his shadow ‡ver. 8.they revive as the corn and flourish as the vine, and stil †Psal. …2. 1…bring forth fruit even in their hoary age, and God is their guid even vntounto the death. Yet then forsaketh he thē not; but as when they lived, they lived vntounto him, so now when they die, they ‖Rom, 14. ….die vntounto him & are his; peace cometh, and *Isa. 57. …0they rest in their beds, every one that walketh before him, til their changing shal come, and they be translated from death to life, to see the king in his glory, even God as he is, & to be satisfied with his image.
31. For notwithstanding al this grace, and communion that we have with God by faith; we ar not perfect, neyther shalbe, til we have attayned †Phil. …. 12.the resurrectiō of the dead: here ‖1. Cor. 13. 12we see through a glasse darkly, & not face to face, we know in part onelyonly, and doe grow in grace and knowledge dayly; we behold the, glory of the Lord with open face, but †2 Cor. 3. 18as in a mirrour, and ar changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of the Lord. VVe have first our infancie, and are ‡1. Cor. 3. 1. 2as babes in Christ; after we are as *1. Ioh. 2. 14.yong men strong in faith, and doe overcome the wicked one; and proceed in riper years, wexing old in faith, and knowledge of him which is from the beginning: thus our way shineth as the morning light, ‡Prov 4. 18.that shineth more and more vntounto the perfect day; and we walk on earth, as did Abram in Canaan, †Gen. 12. 9.going and iourneying towardes the South.
32. But of al the wayes & means, wherby we hav communion with God, ther is none more lively, powrful & cōfortable then Prayer; wherby we converse with the Lord most neerly, powr out our complaints as children into the bosome of their father, & praise his name; ar heard & answered of him to ye glory of his grace, ye joy of our harts, & the increase of our faith, with al vertues and fruits of the Spirit.
33. The ground of this heavenly exercise, wherby man is so bold as to come vntounto the throne of grace, and talk with God, is his commaundment which sayth, * Cal vponupon 1 Psal. 50. 1…0me in the day of trouble, I wil deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me; ‡Ier. 33. 3.Cal vntounto me, and I wil answer thee, and shew thee groat & mightie things which thou knowest not. Moreover he willeth vsus to †Phil. 4. 6.be nothing careful, but in al things to let our requests be shewed vntounto him, in prayer and suppplicatiō; with giving of thanks; yea ‖1. Thes. 5. 17 18.to pray cōtinually, and in al things to giv thanks, because this is the will of God in Christ Iesus towards vsus.
34. To guide vsus in this action, he hath given vsus outward instruction *Mat. 6. 5. 9 &c.in his word, that we may ask according to his will; with assurāce, that ‡1. Ioh. 5. 14 15.whatsoever we so ask, he heareth vsus, and we have the petitions that we desire of him. He giveth vsus also inward assistance by his Spirit which †Rom. 8. 9. 1 Vers. 15.dwelleth in vsus, and is the Spirit of the adoption-of-sons wherby we cry Abba Father; which spirit †Rom. 8. … ▪also helpeth our infirmities, (who know not what to pray as we ought,) and it self maketh requests for vsus with sighes & grones vnutterable. Thus powring out vponupon his people (as he did promise,) ‖Zaeh. 12. 10.the spirit of grace & of *foreignsupplications, and furnishing them with gifts for this heavenly work, he heareth & granteth their requests, as David sayth ‡Psal. 10. 17.Lord thow hearest the desire of the poor, thow preparest their hart, thow bendest thyne ear.
35. So when we cal vponupon the Lord in our trouble and crie vntounto our God, †Psal. 18. 6▪he heareth our voice out of his temple, & our crie comes before him into his ears; yea ‖Isa. 65. 24. Gen. 24. 15.before we cal, he answereth, & whiles we speak he heareth; for by *Heb. 10. 19.the blood of Iesus we may be bold to enter into the holy place, & ‡Ioh. 16. 24.ask the Father in his name, & we shal receive that our joy may be full; the spirit also ”R…m. 8. 27.maketh request for vsus, according to the will of God; & he that searcheth the harts, knoweth what is the meaning of the Spirit; and the odour of our prayers, cometh vp as the sweet †Psal. 141. 2.incense before him, being perfumed with those odours that are offred with the ‖Rev. 8. 3. 4.prayers of al Saincts, out of the Angels hand, that Angel *Mal. 3. 1.of the Covenant, who is now at the right hand of God, ‡Rom. 8. 34.and maketh request also for vsus.
36. Thus the Saincts have accesse vntounto God, and neer cōmunion with him in prayer; (though the wicked ”Psal. 14. 4.cal not vponupon him, or if they call, he †Ioh. 9. 31.heareth them not.) Their golden ‖Rev. 5. 8.vials are full of odours, they *Iob. 22. 26. 27.delight in the Almighty, and lift vp their faces vntounto God, they make their prayer vntounto him, and he heareth them, & they pay their vowes, saying, ‡Psa. 118. 21I will thank thee for thou hast heard me, and hast been my salvation, ”Psal. 66. 2… ▪Blessed be God which hath not put back my prayer, nor his mercy frō me.
37. The fruits that come vntovs by this holy exercise are moe then can be told; there being infinite occasions from day to day, of making request to the Lord, and filling our mouthes with new sōgs of prayse for our salvations. Admirable is the force and valour of this actiō, which peirceth the heavens and cometh vntounto God, and prevaileth with him, in †1 Ioh. 5. 14.whatsoever we ask according to his will, if we ask in faith, & ‖Iam. 1. 6.waver not: for he is neer to al that cal vponupon him, *Psal. 145. 1… 19.to al that cal vponupon him in truth; & fulfilleth the desire of them that feare him, vntounto whō he hath promised, ‡Psal. 81. 10.Open thy mouth wide and I wil fil it. Herevpon Moses sayd, Deut. 4. 7.What nation is so great, vntounto whom the Gods come so neer vntounto them, as the Lord our God is neer vntounto vsus, in al that we cal vntounto him for? And if he be so neer vntounto every one of vsus; let vsus know also, that it wil be our good to draw neer vntounto him, & to say †Psal. 8…. 18.revive thou vsus, and we wil cal vponupon thy name, because ‖Psal. 65. 2.thou hearest the prayer, vntounto thee shall all flesh come; trust in him alwayes ye people, *Psal. 62. 8.pour out your harts before him, for God is our hope; ‡Mic. 7. 7.our God wil hear vsus.
38. By all these things (& many other the like,) we may see how God hath ”Psa. 14…. 14▪exalted the horn of his people, which is a prayse for al his Saincts the sons of Israel, a people neere vntounto him; vntounto whom he hath given †… …. 1. 4.most great & precious promises, that by thē they should be partakers of the godly nature, in that they flee the corruptiō which is in the world through lust; with whom he so graciously cōmunicateth his goodnes, yt they tast in this world, †Heb. 6. …of the powers of the world to come, and o…e walk in the light of his face, & feel his holy presence with them. Which presence, although it be with every of his Saincts, ‖Psal. 139. 3. 8.in al places wher they become; yet is it most lively seen in their Assemblie, and there *Psa. 89. 7.he is very terrible. For this cause did his people ‡Psal. 26. 8. & 27. 4.love the habitation of his house, & desired to dwel there al their dayes, that they might be hold his bewtie; and being absent from it, their sowles †Psal. 42. 2.thirsted for God, saving, when shal we come and appear before the presence of God? for they knew his promise which had sayd, In ‖Exod. 20. 24every place where I shal put the remembrance of my name, I wil come vntounto thee & blesse thee; they knew God was *Psal. 46. 5.in the mids of his sanctuary, it should not be moved, he would help it very early. But of this holy societie, more is to be spoken particularly in another place.