654 THE CHURCH CALLED THE CITY oF GOD. Book IV. 19. It perfeCtly cures all Difrempers of the Head, occalioned by Error, and erro– neous Principles, that corrupt the Underfranding. 20. It is Water of Life, he that drinks of it lhall never die, ]obn iv. 14. <J'hirdly; This River bath three fpecial Streams, I. The Stream of Ordinances. 2. The Stream of heaver.ly Graces. 3· The Stream of divine Promifes. Sinners come to thefe Waters, 0! come before the Stream be turned another way. See River and Water of Life. METAPHOR. XL In a glorious City ufually is the King's Palace, or his chief Place of Relidence, which tends much to its Honor and Renown. PARALLEL. XI. The Church is the Habitation of God~ <rhe Lord dwel/eth in Zion, in J udah is God kuown ; his Name is great in Ifrael, in Salem alfo is his <ra– bemacle, and his Dwelling·place in Zion. This is for the everlafring Honor and Renown of the Church. <rhe Lord dwel!eth in Zion. Sing Praifes, for the L ord bath cbofen Zion, ht bath do/iretl. it for hi.< Habitation. 'Ibis is my Rejt for e~·er, Pfal. ix. I I. !fa. viii. 18. Pfal. lxxvi. I, 2, 3· and cxxxii. I3, I4. 'Ibough he be the high and lofty One that in– babiteth Eternity, yet he dwelleth with them that are of an bumble and contrite Spirit, Ifa. lvii. 15. The fpecial ar.d moll: gracious Prefence of God is with his People. XII. A City bath feme certain XII. So the Church of God hath many gloriPrivileges, Freedoms, and Jmmuous Privilege:; and Immuniries belonging to it, nities belonging ro it, which Stranwhich unc~mverted Sinners have no Right to. gers have·nothing to do with; FoThe fir£1: Privilege, or part of that Freedom reigners may not dwell within the that belongs to the City of God, is Pardon of Walls of iome Cities. Sin. <J'he Inhabitants Jhall not f~y, I am jick; the People that dwell therein Jhall be forgiven their Iniquity, !fa. xxxiii. 24· 1. This is a glorious Privilege and Freedom, if we confider the abominable .and heinous Nature of Sin, which is opened under the third Head of Metaphors. z. Becaufe of that which is couched and compre– hended under the Blefling of Pardon; when God abfolves a poor Sinner, he nor c,nly forgives, but alfo forgets, their Sins and Iniquities he remembers no more. 3· Be– caufe it is a Freedom from the Guilt of it. 4· Becaufe it is a Freedom from the Power and Dominion of it, Rom. vi. 14. 5· It is a Freedom from the Punilhment of it, Rom. viii. 1. I ]obn v. 24. 6. Becaufe it is a purchafed Freedom, it was obtained by a great Sum, viz. the Sum of God's great Love and Grace, with the Sum of Chrifl's Blood. Remiflion is through Chri£1:'s Atonement. 7· Becaufe it is a fealed Free– dom, it is made ove.r to the Soul by the King's own Seal, the Spirit of God, that f'reat Seal of Heaven, Eph. i. 13, I4· 8. Becaufe it is a la£1:ing Freedom; the Sins of Believers are forgiven for ever, they lhall never be laid to their Charge. The fecond Privilege of this City is, Gofpel-fellowfl1ip, free Acccfs to the Lord's Table, and Communion with the Saints : <rhey are made to }it down together in heavenly Places in Chri.ft ']efus, Eph. ii. 6. ' The third Privilege is Right to the Miniflry; they may all lay claim to the Minif– ters and Mini£1:ry of the Word: Whether Paul, or Apollo, or Cephas, all are yours, I Cor. iii. 27, 28. They, and all their Gifts and gracious Endowments, are the Saints. The fourth Privilege is, their undoubted Right to the City-Stock, or the Church's Patrimony. I. The Stock of Prayers; fincere Souls have a Right to all the Prayers of the Church. 2. To that Store and fpiritual Provifion, viz. the Bread of Life, &c. that is laid up in her. God will blefs the Provijion of Zion, and fatisfy her Poor with Bread, Pfal. cxxxii. 15. 3· The Stock of Promifes. God hath promifed to blefs, comfort, £1:rengthen, beautify, build up, and fave Sion, and confeguently every Saint and Member thereof; for all thofe, and many more like Promifes, are directly made to every fincete Soul or Citizen of Sion. The fifth Privilege is, free Accefs to the Throne of Grace, Epb. ii. 18. 2 Sixthly,
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