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4o8
A
threefold
pretence
of
Chriû.
Ezech:36.27.
Dog.
We
mnfi have
communion
with Christ
if
we will
be
4:-engthcned
by
his
Spirit.
Iohn
16.14.
Epheftans,Chap.3.
V
ER,
i7,
Chrift
by having
Communion with
his
Perfon.
The
words mutt
each
of
them be marked.
I That Chri,J:
]he
doth not
fay
that
the
benefits or
efficacy
ofChrii},
but
Chrift,
meaning
his
Perfon.
There
is
a
threefold Prcfcnce
of
God
and
of Chrift.
Of
Power.
z
Of
grace.
3
Of
glory.
Now
this
is
a
Prefenceof
grace,and
this
is
twofold:
I
A
prefence
beginning.
2
Further
perfet
ling
and
abfolving. Ioh.14.23.
The
latter
is
here
fpoken
of,
for
before we
can
beginne
a
Com
-.
mandement,God
muff
dwell
in
the midit
of
us,
I
will
put
my
Spirit
in
the
maddefl
of
them, and
make them walk
in
my Commandemenrs,
and
d
of
this latter
welling
in
them here
is
fpoken;
For
theft
were
as
had Chrift
in
fome
fort dwelling
in them,
as
Chap.
2.
14.
In
your
hearts:]
that
is,in
your mindes,wills
and affehtions,
as
chide
Commander,
King andruler; He dwels in our foules
as
our
foules
in
our bodies, by
his lively
venue,
efficacy and
power, quickning,
com-
forting
and
strengthening
us; poffefling
our
foules
as his
houfe
and
dwelling, excluding
and shutting our
all
other
inmates, that
his righ-
teoufneffe, merits, mediation,
death
and fufferïngs may feede,
fill and
fatisfy
all
our
defines,
wills
and
affeEtions,
as
our
onely
treat
ure.
By
faith:
]
i.
e.
by
your faith further encreafcd, for it
is
with Faith
and
Chrift,
as it
is
with
a
ftrait
veffell
in
which
a
thing
is
put greater
then it
can
receive
:
So
that
the
further
the
veffell is
enlarged, the
further the thing put
in
is
apprehended:So
of
Faith
themore
and
more
it is
augmented
,
Chrift
is
the more
and
more
entertained into
the
foul
of
the bcleever. So that
it is as
if
the Apoffle
should fay;
"
As I have
wished you
ftrengthening
of
the Spirit:
So
I will) you
"
for this purpofe
that
you may
have
Chrift
himfelfe,
on
whom
"
this
Spirit
offtrength
refteth, that
you may have him
fo
mere
as
"
to dwell with you,
not
fo
farre
onely
as
to
conceive the
dedlrine
"
of
him
in
your braines, or be able
tedifcoarfe of
him, but
that
he
"
may dwell
in
your hearts
and affeélions, and
that
by the
means
of
"a
true faith, which
is
the only inftrument
of
our
Union
and
Corn-
"
munion with him.
I.
Then
we fee,tbat
if
we
will have the
spirit
ofChri/1 work
ought
in us,
we muff
get
Conjanclion
with
the
'errors
of
Chrifd
himfelfe.
For
the Spirit
when
it
doth ftrengthen
us, doth
but take
of
Chrifts, and therewith con
-
firme us;
So that
we
mull lóok to Christ
as
who principally
and from
whom the
Spirit
doth
confirm
us.
Phil. 4.53.
I can
doe
all
things
through
Chro
fl
firengthening
me. I
T
im.
I., z.I
thank Chrifl lefro
who
bath
enabled
me.
Which
places
confidered wil give
us
fome
light how
to
conceive
of
the
fequell
of
there
Petitions. This
order
the Holy Ghoft
teacheth,
that
we mull
first
have
Christ before
weecan have benefit by him.
Iloh.y.
Ir.
cod
bath
given
to
us eternal!
life,
and
this
life
is
in
his
Son.
He