An Expojition of the Epiftle ~ . J'erm. f. Yet Secondly, So as ordinarily irt all other Epiftlesin their blefJ!rigs prefixed, ~themention of the Sp1rit IS omtttcd,. and the reafo~ 1s, becaufe tt 1s both his Of- · J • fice and work to reveal and commu~1cate th1s Grace from the Father, and peace 06ferv, from the Soh ; hence mdeed and m truth bleiiing from the Holy Ghofi comes to be wiflt'd, in the very praying for a communication of Grace and Peace J 1 ·om God the Father a11d Chrtf/; for, asRom. 5· )• The !oveofGod isjheda6road in ottr hwrts Gy the Holy Ghofl which is given us; .he is that Perfon that lead– cth us out of our fel ves unto the grace of God the Father, and the peace and fatisfacrion made by Jefus Chrifi. Thofe other two perfons are in their fevcral works rather the objects of our Faith and confolatioh, out the Holy Gh<ifl he is the Author and efficient both of our Faith oti diem, and comfort enjoy'd in and from them, We look up to God the Father as the fountain of Grace ; and we look up to Jefus Chrifl as the fountain of our Peace, But we are to look at the Holy Ghofi as the Revealerofboth thefe from both. You will underfiand the ju!\nefs of thi• Reafon, why he omitted the mention of him by this like In– fiance: when you make your Prayers, (and a bleiiing is a kind of Prayer) you ufe to pray to the Father, and likewife ill the Name of Cbrifl, but you do not at all, or feldom read in all the Scriptures of Prayers made tg the Holy Ghofi: And why? Becaufe it is his Office to make the Prayers themfelves, which you thus put up to the other two Perfons, and th~rein lieth his honour. Thus here Grace from God the Father, arid peace from J•Jiu Chrifl; but he that revealeth both thefe is the Spirit, I willlhut up this with one Scripture, whereiri this our Apofile making the fame kind of Prayer, or bleiiing, confirineth this Noti– on, mentioning all thcfe three feveral parts, and Influences of the three Per– fans. In the fame order and difference I have now given, and unto the fame 'purpofe, 2 Cor. 1 ~· '4· The Gract of our Lord Jeftu Chrirl, and the love of God, a11d the commum'o11 of the Ho!J Ghofl 6e with rou, &c. That which is attributed to the Holy Ghofi, is (as was faid ) to communicate, and re– veal all both that Grace and Love in God, and in Jefus Chrift. [To you] That is, every one of you in particula·r.. I will not omit this mention of the Perfons to whom thefe are wilhed, which was the third thing mentioned. He had enfiiled them Saints and Faithful in the fir!\ verfe . and yet after that, wifueth Grace and Peace to them. ' The berl Chrijlians here 1fted Peace, a11d to tbat md Chriji's blood a11d jatisfartioti ( which is alone the procttrer of all ottr Ptace) to wajh their Souls dairy with the Efficiency, and Spirits of that 6/ood; midlilu– wi{e for the acceptation evm of their Holhujs a11d Faithft~!tujs thty 11eed Grace too, the fru favour of God. Grace attd Peace to you Saimi mtd Faithful Ephifja11s. They both need the things themfelves to b~ daily continued unto them; and their Souls need to apprehend more of them, and about them, to have more enlarged Revelation of them made to their Faith. Hafi thou Peace already with God through Faith? Yet frill thou haft Guilt and Doubtings, thy Faith is mixt with Unbelief; there– fore thou needefi more of peace, Ptace 6e to )'OU, Again , haft thou Af– furance of God's Love ? Yet, Oh how little doj/ thott know of it! (as 'jo6 fpeaks, ) This Grace and Love of God, and Chrifl paffith K11owledge Ephef. 3· 19. As in like manner this peace is faid to pafs underfianding; 2 Pet. '• 2. Phi!. 4· 7· And this is the Apofiles meaning in his Benedicti– on in both Epiflles, Grace fmd Peace 6e mtt!tiplied (faies he) tbro11gh the knowledge of God (the Father and his Love) tlltd of Jefiu our Lord (and his fatisfacrion for you.) Hence it is evident, that the communication of thefe to us, is through our knowledge and apprehenfion thereof encreafed and multiplied; as alfo a further polfeiiion of them thereby. Many are the Obfervations that Interpreters, upo!! feveral Epifiles, do from hence raife, for which I refer the Reader to their Comment~ I fl1all fum up that which I would commend to you in this one Meditation. Seeing
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