511 / 808
V
E
R.
13.
Ephefanr,
Chap.
4.
all
goat,
to
thrift.
The
Minifierie
is
ours, we are
Chrifts,
Chrif?
Gcds,
r Cor.
3.
Like
as
the
Sea,
the water
which
it fendeth
forth,
re-
turneththither
againe
whence they flowed.
We mull therefore
all
of
us
labour,
if
we be lent
of
Chrift,
to
fhew
it
by this
labouring for
Chrift,
as
Paul, he
preached
Chrift
Iefus
;
We
mull make
Chrift
thefubjelì
of
all
our preaching,
to advance and
fit
up
Chrift
in
the
hearts
of
all his
people.
2.
Here
we
fee,
what it
is
that
bringeth
us
to
have
Communion
with
Chrr/t
and
one
with another; what maketh
us
grow
in
this, even
the
mini
-
fferie
of theWord.
The
building
of
us is
nothing butthe bringing
of
us
to
faith
;
and
the further building
of
us,'is
the bringing
of
us
from faith
to
faith, from one degree
to
another.
Now
this firft
doth bring
us
to
the fiate
ofgrace,
and
doth further
build
up
when once we
are
entred,
LA¿li 20. Paul
did
betake the
Ephefians
to
that
Word which
could
further
buildthem
up.
So
that
as
we ever
would be
of
the
body
of
Chrift,
we mull
Waite
on this
Word,and
not
like
prefumptuous
ones
fay,Why,we
can edifie
as
well
by reading
at
home,and
fuch like private
devotions. For
if
wee
turne
away our eaves
from
hearing
this Miniftery, which
God fetteth
up
for
the building
of us,
then our prayers
and readings are abomi-
nation.
V
EASE
13.
Taw
all
meet
together
in the
Vnity of
faith,
and
ofthe
knowledge
ofthe
Son
of
God,
unto a
perfeci man, unto the meafure
of
the
ature
ofthe
fulneffe
of
Chrift.
Now
followcth
the durance. For the verfe,
Firft, we will
Phew
the Scope.
Secondly,
the fum.
Thirdly,
unfold
it
more particularly:
The
fcope
is
to
let
us fee
how
long the
Word
(hall
continue
in re-
gard
of
the whole body, not
in
regard
of
particular members.
The
fun/
is
:
that
this Minifterie
thould
continue till all the
body
were
come to
perfelion.
For the
opening
the words.
To
fee
what
meeting
he
here fpeaketh of.
We
meete
in a
threefold degree.
t.
In the Vifible militant
Church.
2. In
the triumphant
Church,
when by death
we
are
tranflated
to the
fpirits
of
the
juft.
3.
In
the Univerfall meeting when
Chrift
fhall
appeare ;
of
that
here
the Apoftle fpeaketh.
Next
it
may
be
asked,
what
is
meantby
the
1/nity
of
faiths
Anfw.
The Uniforme knowledgewhich
we
(hall
have
of Chrift,
when we
(hall fee
him
as
he
is
:
for the Apoftle feemeth to
annex this
other
word
as
the juft
conftrullion of Faith,
and
this
word,
t
Cor.
13.
u.
I
Ad
know
as
1
am knowne,
doth
lignifie
the knowledge wherewith we
Ihall
know in
the heavens. Again,
it
may
be marked,that
this
is
made
the point to whichwe meete, when
we (hall all
mecte.
Now
faith
if
it be
conceived
as
an
imperfedt knowledge
which
we have
in
the
Word,
then ceafeth.
Faith therefore
here muff be taken effentially,as
it
491
Yft.
Doll,
And
it
is
to
bring
us
to
Chrift.
cmtotxod
IAA,.
P
fe.
Provi.
18.
P°
VERSE
13.
A threefold
meeting
of
the
Saints.
Vnity
of
faith
isour
Vniform
knowledge
of
Chrift
inhca.
yen.