230 Of COMMUNION with 1. Grace of perfonal prefence and comelinefs. (a) So we fay a graceful and comely perfon, either from himfelf or his ornaments. This in Chrift, upon the matter, is the fubjeft of near one half of the book of canticles, it is all() mentioned, Pfal. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the children of roes; grace is poured into thy lip:. And unto this firft head in refpeft of Chrift; do I refer alto that acceptation of grace, which in refpeft ofus, I fix in the third place. Thofe inconceivable gifts and fruits of the fpirit, which were bellowed on him, and brought forth in him, concur to his perfonal excel- lency, as will afterward appear. 2. Graceoffree favour and acceptance. (b) By this grace we arePaved, that is, the free favour and gracious acceptation of God in Chrift. In this fenfe is it ufed in that frequent expreffion, IfI havefound grace in thyfight, that is, if I be freely and favourably accepted before thee. So he giveth grace, that is, favour, to the humble, yam. iv. 6. Gen. xxxix. 21. chap. 41. 37. Aus vii. to. t Sam. ii. 26. 2 Kings XXV. 27, &c. 3. The fruits of the fpirit, fanftifying and renewing our natures, enabling unto good, and preventing from evil, are fo- termed. Thus the Lord tells Paul, his gracewas fufficient for him, that is, the affiftance againft temptation which he afforded him, Col. iii. 16. 2 Cor. viii. 6, 7. Heb. xii. 28. Theft two latter, as relating unto Chrift, in refpeft of us who receive them, I call purchafed grace, being indeed purchafed by him for us, and our communion with him therein, is termed a fellowship in his fufferings, and the power of his refurreftion, Phil. iii. un. Let us begin with the first, which I call perfonal grace, and concerning that do thefe two things. (r.) Shew what it is, and wherein it confifteth, I mean the perfonal grace of Chrift: And (2.) Declare how the Saints hold immediate communion with -hito therein. To the handlingof the first, I (hall only premife this obfervation. It is Chrift as mediator of whom we fpeak, and therefore by the graceof hisper fon, I underftand not, [a.] The glorious excellencies of his deity, confidered in it felf, abflrad- ing from the office which for us, as God and man, he undertook. [a.] Nor the outward appearance of his human nature, neitherwhen he cónverfed here on earth, bearing our infirmities (whereof; by reafon of the charge that was laid upon him, the prophetgives quite another charafter, Ifa.lii. r4.) concerning which fume of the ancients were very poetical in their expreflìons-: nor yet as now exalted in glory; a vain imagination whereof, makes many bear a falfe, a corrupted refpeft unto Chrift, even up- on carnal apprehenfions of the mighty exaltation of the human nature, which is but to know Chrift after the flesh, 2 Cor. v. 19. a mifchief mch improved by the abominationof fooli(h Imagery. But this is that which I intend ; the graces of the perfonof Chrift, as he is vefted with the office of mediation, his fpiritual eminency, comelinefs and beauty, as appointed and anointed by the father unto the great work of bringing home all his elefi unto his bofom. Now in this refpeft the fcripture defcribes him as exceeding excellent, comely, and defirable, far abovecomparifon with the chiefeft, choiceft, cre- ated good, or any endearment imaginable. 8xrá iXProv.Aáé,v 3zf 34. Cant. iíi. 6, 7, 8, 9,. w, n. Can[. v.9, ro, rq ra, i3, r4, r5, 6, rye. (4) Rom. i. iv, t6, v, azq xi,40. Either H. 17. Pfal. ixxxiv. u. Ephef. N. 5. Ads rot. 40, xViii, 07. A 4, 5, 6. z Thel( ii. 56. Titus M. 7. Rev. i. 4, 6, Pfal.
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