Ver.2 i . the 17íh Chapter of St. J OH N.- 303 I. The fame Spirit that uniteth the Members to the Head, uniteth the Members orie to another. Therefore the Apoflle, as an Argument ofUnion, urgeth the Communion of the fame Spirit : Phil. 2. r, 2. if any Fellowfhip ofthe Spirit, fall ye my Joy, that ye be like- minded, having thefame Love, being ofone Accord, of one Mind. As Chrift is the Head of the Church, fo the Holy Ghofi is the Soul of the Church, by which all the Mem- bers are aged : As in the Primitive Times; .Átis. 4.32. the Multitude of them that belie- ved, were of one Heart, and of one Soul. And this is that that Chrift prayeth for here, that they may all be one, in the Communion of the fame Spirit, that they may be of the fame Religion, and have the fame Aim, and the fame Affé&ion to good things. 2. From the Communion ofthe Spirit, there is a fecondary Union by Love; and feeking one another's good,as if they were but one Man ; where-ever difperkd through- out the World, and whatever diftin &ions of Nations and Interefts there are, they may love and defile the good of one another, and rejoice in the Welfare, and grieve for the Evil of one another. Eze4 r. 24. When the Beaffs went, the Wheels went, and when the Beafis were lifted up from the Earth,the Wheels were lifted up over again fl them ; and the reafon is given, for the Spirit oftbe living Creature was in the Wheels. The fame Spirit is in one Chriltian, that is in another, and fo they with well to one another, even to thofe whom they never taw in the Fleth. Col. 2. r. For I would that ye knew hose great conflill I have for lox, andfor them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not feen my Face in the F1efh: What Wreftlings had he with God, and Fightings for their faltes, even for them that had not feen his Face in the Fleth! fo careful are the Members one of another. 3. This Love is manifefted by real Effects. Look as by virtue of Union with.Chril }, there are real Influences of Grace that pafsout to us, it is not idle and fruitlefs : fo by virtue of this Union that is between the Members, there is a real Communication of Gifts, and Graces, and the good Things of this Life one to another. If the Parts of the Body keep what they have to themfelves, and do not difperfe it for the ufe of the Body, it breedeth Difeafes, as the Liver the Blood, the Stomach the Meat, the Liver imparts Blood to the Veins, and the Stomach fends the Food abroad into its proper Veflels and Channels : So God's Children impart their fpiritual, or temporal Gifts, as the Body needeth. When a Famine was but prophefied, the Difciples thought of fending relief according'to their ability, to the Brethren of Judea, Ads t i. ag. It is never right, but when there is this forwardnefs 10 diltribute and communicateaccording to the Neceffi- ties of the Body. IL Why Chrift valueth it fo much, as to make it his only Recluell for Believers in the prefent State ? I anfwer, We can never be happy, till we have a (hare in this L Becaufe Goa hath inftituted the Mythical Union to be a means to convey all Grace to us, Grace to us here, and Glory hereafter ; we receive all from God in it, and by it. Chrift without us doth not fave us, but Chrift in us : Chrift without us is a perfect Sa! viour, but not to you, the Appropriation is by Union. Generally we think we Mall be Caved by a Chrift without us: He came down from Heaven, took our Nature, died for Sinners; afcended up into Heaven again, there he maketh Intercefñon; all this is without us. Do not fay there is a Saviour in Heaven, is there one in thy Heart ? Cal, 1.27. Chrill in you, the Hope of Glory. He Both not fay, Chrift in Heaven the Hope of Glory, though that is a Fountain of Comfort, but Chrift in you. r Cor. r. 3o.Ofbins are ye in Chrifl Jefas, who of God is made unto ma Wifdom, and Righteoulfrefs, and Sanffi- fication, and`friedemption. Whatfoever is imputed or imparted, Light, Life, Grace, Glory, it is (hill in him. Still look to Chrift within you. It were a merry World to carnal Men, to be faved by a Chrift without them. Chrift without eftablifheth the Merit, but Chrift within maketh Application : 2 Cor. 13. 5. Knowye notyour own felver, bow that Chrifi is inyox, except ye be Reprobates ? Unlefi firft or laft he be in you, though difallowed for the prefent, he will be of no advantage to you. You have nothing to (hew, till you feel Chris within you. All the ACts of his Mediation mutt be ailed over again in the Heart. His Birth ; he mull be born and formed in us, Gal. 4.19. My little Children, of whom I travel in Birth again, until Chrifl be formed in yox., His Death, Rom. 6.4.Therefore we are buried with him by Baptifm into Death. His Befurre &ion, Cola 3, t. If ye then be rifin with Chrift, feekthofe Things that are above. His Afcenfion, Eph. 2.6. fnd bath raifed sir up together, and made us fit together in heavenly Places in Chrifl Jefes. His
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