they have an interest in his graces, and are secure of all necessary communications of grace, as he shall see their case require. The believer's refuge, therefore, in all his trials, in all his prevailing darkness, deadness, temptation, and imperfection, is to act faith in Christ, for grace to help in time of need. There is a sufficient stock laid up for him in the hands of Christ; and if he will reach forth the hand of the soul, and, by a believing view of the fulness of Christ, be ready to receive, he shall surely find the grace of Christ sufficient for him, and the strength of Christ made perfect in his weakness. If he will eat Christ s flesh, and drink his blood, that is, if he will exercise a lively faith in him, he shall, by virtue of this communication of the Spirit of grace," dwell in Christ, and Christ in him."

t

Hence also believers, by being joined to the Lord, are one spirit with him in another respect. They have the same mind in them that is in Christ Jesus. They have the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom at heart, as their own interest. They have their wills, in some measure, subjected to the will of Christ. They who abide in him, do carefully endeavour to walk even as he walked, to make him their exemplar, in the regulation of their affections, appetites, passions, and of their whole conduct and conversation; in their aims, desires, delights, love to, and zeal for, the service of God, in love to the brethren; and in their diligence and activity in doing the work he has appointed them, while it is day. "He that thus keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in Christ, and Christ in him; and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath

given us."

But "he that hath not thus the Spirit of Christ, is none of his."

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."

"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."

own state.

Here, Sir, it will be proper to make a pause, and to consider this with a special application to your 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, quickering your graces, and inflaming your affections to God and godliness. At least, whether you are groaning under the burden of your imperfections, and groaning 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 of 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 in 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, what the foundation of your confidence, and where the returns are to be made for all your experience of grace and life. 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. Then 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." "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." "Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." 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 non-age, have only necessary supplies for their support, comfort, and growth, till they come unto 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 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. 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." 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." "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." 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 depositum committed to him, for both their present and eternal interest and happiness.