And hence believers shall finally be perfected, when they come to receive the full communications of his grace in the future world. It is by their union to Christ, and supplies derived from the fulness which is in him, that glorified saints attain to the perfection of knowledge and grace. By this are they perfectly delivered from all remainders of sin and corruption; by this are all the powers and faculties of their souls brought into a glorious conformity unto Christ himself, that they shall be like him, when they see him as he is; and by this they are completely qualified for the ravishing joys of the heavenly state, and the eternal praises of redeeming love. "In the dispensation of the fulness of times, God will gather together in one, all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are in earth, even in him.-That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ," Eph. i. 10. 12. "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.— -Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me," John xvii. 23, 24.

Here, sir, it will be proper to make a pause, and to consider this with a special application to your own state. It is proper to consider, where it is that you are looking for supplies of grace; to your own good purposes and endeavours, to your prayers, meditations, good affections, and resolutions; or to this inexhaustible treasury of grace that there is in Christ, to be obtained by the renewed exercise of faith in him. It is proper to consider, whether you are indeed joined to the Lord, and have one spirit with him. Whether you have a sensible experience of the blessed operations of the Holy Spirit, divorcing you from your idols, mortifying your appetites and passions, quickening

your graces; and inflaming your affections to God and godliness. At least, whether you are groaning under the burthen of your imperfections, and longing after the quickening influences of the Divine Spirit in your soul, to bring and keep you nearer to God; and whether the Spirit does thus help your infirmities, with groanings which cannot be uttered. It is proper to consider, whether you have the evidence of your union to Christ, by your being a partaker of the Divine nature, by your steady desire and endeavour after conformity and subjection to the Divine will, by your having the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom at heart, and by keeping your eye upon his glorious example, that you may follow his steps; and whether you are still looking to him by faith, for his quickening influences, and for an interest in his intercession, whensoever you find yourself come short of these attainments. You will pardon this digression, when you consider by what motive it is occasioned. You will remember, that I am not explaining this fundamental principle of christianity as a mere matter of speculation, or to entertain your curiosity; but that you may know what is the hope of your calling, and what is the foundation of your confidence. But it is time I should proceed to some further description of the nature of that union to Christ under consideration. I shall but briefly hint at a few particulars more.

3. There is such a union between Christ and believers, whereby the whole church becomes the body of Christ, and all true believers are members in particular. He is given to be the Head over all things to his church, "which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all," Eph. i. 22, 23. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular," 1 Cor. xii. 27. "Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is

named," Eph. iii, 15. The whole church, whether militant or triumphant, are, by their union to Christ, one church, one family, and one body, whereof Christ himself is the Head. The family in heaven, indeed, as adult children, have their inheritance in possession, while the family on earth, as minors in their nonage, have only necessary supplies for their support, comfort, and growth, till they come into a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. But then the fulness of the glory in the one, and the gradual progress of grace in the other, are both the product of their union to Christ. And as the whole church is the body of Christ, so each particular believer is a member of that body; and hath both his body and soul united unto the person of Christ, by a union that can never be dissolved, by a union that will not only continue with the soul, in its separate and intermediate state, but will also continue with the body, in its state of dissolution, whereby its glorious resurrection and final renovation will be secured, and them which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

4. This union is such, that Christ and believers have one common interest. I have hinted at this before, but it requires some more particular illustration. It should then be observed, that, in the great design of reconciling sinners to God, and preparing a chosen number for eternal glory, Christ and the church were one mystical person; so one, that what he did was imputed to them, as if done by them; and what they deserved was imputed to him, as if he had been personally_obnoxious. Thus the Lord Jesus Christ is called THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, Jer. xxiii. 6. And the church, by virtue of this union to Christ, is considered as the same person, and has the same characters ascribed to her. This is the name wherewith she shall be called,

The Lord our righteousness," Jer. xxxiii. 16. This identity of person was founded on the eternal covenant of redemption. The Lord Jesus Christ was

foreordained to the office and work of a Saviour and Mediator, "before the foundation of the world," 1 Pet. i. 20. And we were chosen in him, before the foundation of the world; and predestinated unto the adoption of children by him, and thus we become accepted in the Beloved, Eph. i. 4—6. And as he was foreordained to the work and office of a Redeemer, so likewise to all that grace, righteousness, strength, and glory required thereunto; not only to that which was peculiar to himself, but to that also which was needful to be communicated to the church, and to all that should ever believe on him, in their state of probation here, or perfection hereafter. And, on the other hand, as believers were chosen in him, so they were chosen to be partakers with him, in that common stock or deposit committed to him, for both their present and eternal interest and happiness. Thus the obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ becomes our righteousness, his sufferings our atonement; and he is a fountain opened to us, for all supplies of grace, upon our union to him by faith." He bore our sins in his own body on the trec," 1 Pet. ii. 24. And we are complete in him, Col. ii. 10. Thus likewise the believer's sufferings in his cause are the sufferings of Christ, Col. i. 24. The believer's graces are the graces of Christ, owned by and derived from him; and of his fulness they all receive, and grace for grace, John i. 16. And the believer's good conversation is in Christ, 1 Pet. iii. 16. In fine, the whole interest of the church is the interest of Christ, and is by him taken care of, and provided for, as his own: and the whole interest of Christ is the interest of the church; and the

believer is most nearly affected with the interest of Christ's kingdom, as what most nearly concerns him. Thus is the church united to Christ, and thus has he

graven her upon the palms of his hands, and her walls are continually before him.

5. The union between Christ and believers is such as that they have thereby one common relation. He is their everlasting Father, their Head, their Husband, their Brother, their Friend, theirs by all relations of nearest intimacy. His Father is their Father, his brethren are their brethren, and his God is their God. "Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God," John xx. 17. Thus are believers distinguished from the rest of the world, dignified and exalted above all those who are esteemed great and honourable among men, by their near relation to Him who is "higher than the highest, and is the Prince of the kings of the earth."

6. The union between Christ and believers is such that they have thereby one common inheritance. They being children, are heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, Rom. viii. 17. "And if I go," says the blessed Saviour, "and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also," John xiv. 3. There is nothing can break the bond of union between Christ and believers: the union will not be

dissolved, but perfected by death. "Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord," Rom. viii. 38, 39. This is the hope of their calling, this the inheritance of the saints-that when