SERM. always in Heaven, labouring with all their might to do the XLVIII. will of their Heavenly Father here, as their fellow-citizens Phil. 3. 14. do it there; "Still pressing toward the mark for the prize Eph. 4. 13. of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ," "till they all

come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;" and so are fit com[Heb. 12. pany for the holy Angels and "spirits of just men made perfect."

23.]

&c.

But for the better carrying on and accomplishing the end of this their holy calling, as all civil corporations upon earth have their public meetings to consult about the affairs belonging to their body, so all that are of this Heavenly society, wheresoever they live, they often meet together in the Name of Christ their Head, and according to His appointment in places dedicated to Him, therefore called Eccl. 5. 1, the "houses of God," where He Himself always meets with them as their Lord and Governor, presiding over the whole assembly. This they are always sure of, in that He Himself Matt.18.20. asserts it, saying, "Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them." Here it is therefore that they present their common supplications before Him for all things relating to their whole body, and to every member of it. Here they perform their homage to Him as their Lord and Master, by worshipping and adoring of Him. Here they recount the great works that He hath done for them, and praise His glorious Name for all the favours which He continually bestows upon them. Here by one of His Ministers He repeats something of what He hath revealed to mankind in His Holy Word, and so puts them in mind of what He would have them to believe and do for Him; and here they feast together upon that spiritual food which He hath prepared for them, of which they all partake alike. All the Saints upon earth, [1 Cor. 10. wheresoever they duly approach to their Lord's Table, “ they

3, 4.]

r. 10.

all eat the same spiritual meat, and all drink the same spiritual drink," for they all by faith eat and drink the blessed body and blood of Christ, and so keep up their communion both with Him, and one another; for as the Apostle saith, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the

communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many, are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread." In that they all partake of one bread, they are therefore all one body, and as such, have communion among themselves, and in that they all receive the communion of the body and blood of Christ, they have thereby also communion with Him their Head. This is that which perfecteth the communion of Saints; who therefore always hunger and thirst after this bread and water of life, and catch at all opportunities they can find of communicating in it, and never "forsake the assembling of [Heb. 10. themselves together" in their particular places of their abode 25.] upon earth, till they come at last to "the general assembly [Heb. 12. of all the Saints" that ever were or shall be in the world, 23.] which shall be continued for ever in Heaven.

And verily, it is no wonder that all who are fellow-citizens with the Saints, are so careful to keep up their communion with them, considering the great immunities and privileges which are granted to this Holy City; for all that are free of this society, enjoy the whole " Liberty wherewith Christ Gal. 5. 1. hath made us free," "the glorious liberty of the children of Rom. 8. 21. God." They are all free " from the bondage of corruption," and from that also of the ceremonial law, so as not to be entangled any more with it. They are freed from the tyranny Ibid. of Satan, so as not to be any longer in subjection to him as others are," nor taken captive by him at his will." They 2 Tim. 2. 26. are freed from the power of sin, which "reigns no longer in Rom. 6. 12, their mortal bodies," seeing they are "now under the grace

14.

of Christ." They are freed from the punishments which were due unto them for their sins, by the blood of " the Lamb John 1. 29. of God, which taketh away the sins of the world." They

are freed from the cares of this world, having Him who

66

governs it, to care for them." They are freed from the 1 Pet. 5. 7. torments of a guilty conscience, from the wrath of God, and from everlasting damnation, which all other people are every moment subject to. Besides these immunities, they have many special privileges also conferred upon them, which none enjoy but they who are fellow-citizens with the Saints. They have the holy Angels to minister to them, Ps. 91. 11.

Heb. 1. 14;

XLVIII.

SERM. and to keep them in all their ways. "They all by one Eph. 2. 19. Spirit have free access upon all occasions unto the Father," John 14. 14. with a gracious promise, "That whatsoever they ask in the John 17.9. Name of Christ, shall be granted unto them." They have the one Mediator between God and men, always appearing in the presence of God, and making intercession for them, and for none but them. They, by means of the said intercession, have Almighty God reconciled to them, and the light of His countenance shining continually upon them. They have the Holy Spirit of God always abiding with them, to direct them what to do, to assist them in the doing of it, to bless and sanctify it when it is done, and to support and comfort them under all occurrences in this troublesome world. They want nothing that can either do them, or Rom. 8. 28. make them good, but "have all things working together for their good." And at the Last Day, they will be all set at the right hand of the Judge of the whole world, and will Matt.25.34. hear Him saying to them, "Come, ye blessed of My Father,

inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation ch. 13. 43. of the world." Where "they will shine forth every one as the sun, in the Kingdom of their Father, for evermore." [Ps. 149.9.]"This honour have all His Saints," these be some of the many inestimable privileges, which all who are fellow-citizens with the Saints, enjoy; but that which is the greatest of all, is, that none of them can ever be violated or infringed, for this is not like the cities of this world, which are often turned up-side down, and all the rights and privileges they so much boast of, destroyed and brought to nothing. No, this Heb. 11. 10. is the city, which as the Apostle saith, "hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God." And such an architect [Isa. 26. 4; as He be sure would build it well. He hath built it " upon a rock," the Rock of Ages, so strong and firm, "that all the powers of Hell can never shake it." I know, both the city itself, and all the citizens of it, have many enemies in the world, all the devils in Hell, and all their slaves and agents upon earth. But what can all the devils in Hell do either by themselves or agents, against a place or persons that are Numb. 23. defended by Omnipotence itself? "Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel." The greatest danger may be from those

Matt. 16.

18.]

23.

who transform themselves into "angels of light," and by God's permission, do as wonderful works as if they were so; but there is no fear of them neither, for what doth Christ Himself say? "There shall arise false Christs, and false Matt.24.24. Prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch, that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Others, it seems, they shall and do deceive; but the elect, the Saints of God, those they can never deceive. That is impossible, for they are" kept by the Almighty Power of God [1Pet.1.5.] through faith unto Salvation;" and therefore may always sing with their fellow-citizens in the Prophet, "We have Isa. 23. 1. a strong city, Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks."

These things I have transferred unto you in a figure, representing the fellowship or communion that is among God's faithful people all the world over, under the similitude of a city used by the Prophets and Apostles for that purpose, that ye may the better apprehend what we mean by the "communion of Saints," and how happy they are who are of that communion. And if there be any such here present, as I hope there are, give me leave to congratulate your exceeding great felicity, in that the Most High God, of His special grace, “hath called you out of darkness into [1Pet. 2.9.] His marvellous light:" He hath selected you from the rest of the world, as He did the seed of Jacob, to be His peculiar people: He hath delivered you in a wonderful manner from more than Egyptian bondage, from the slavery of sin and [Rom. 8. 21.] Satan, into the glorious liberty of His own children, and is now leading you through the Wilderness into the land of Canaan, and to the New Jerusalem that is above. How should this rejoice your hearts and cheer your spirits amidst all the troubles you meet with here below? You are not of this world, and therefore need not be concerned about any thing that is in it, but only how to carry yourselves in all conditions, as becometh Saints.

14.]

The city you are of," is set on a hill, and cannot be hid," [Matt. 5. and therefore ye must take special care that your "conver- Phil. 1. 27. sation may be such as becometh the Gospel of Christ." "That ye may walk worthy of God, who hath called you Thes. 2.12. unto His Kingdom and glory." "And worthy of the voca- Eph. 4. 1-3.

SERM. tion wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekXLVIII. ness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love,

endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of

peace." In short, as ye would manifest yourselves to be Col-1.10-12. Saints indeed, "Ye must walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness, giving thanks unto the Father who hath made you meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light."

But why should not we all be in the number of these blessed souls, fellow-citizens with the Saints? Blessed be God, we are all as yet capable of it, we are all called to it, we may all be so if we will! This holy city is open and free for all that will come into it, and submit to the orders and discipline that is there observed, and for us by consequence as well as for any other. Let us therefore now resolve by God's assistance to do so, seeing God hath knit together His elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of His Son, and hath invited us to come into the same society; let us stand out no longer, but use all the means which God hath ordained whereby to obtain His grace and Holy Spirit, to lead us into all truth, to mortify the deeds of the body, and to purify our hearts so, that we may perfect 2 Cor. 7.1.1 holiness in the fear of God; always looking up to Jesus the [Heb.12.2.] Author and Finisher of our Faith, and trusting on Him to intercede for us, that we may be received into the Communion of His Saints, and made fellow-citizens with them; not doubting but He will help His servants whom He hath redeemed with His own most precious blood, and make us to be numbered with His Saints in glory everlasting; which God grant we may all be, through the same our Lord and Saviour Christ, to whom, &c.

[John 16.

13.]

[Rom.8.13;