1 may win Chrift, and be found in him, not having on mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Chrift, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his refurrection, and the fellowship of his fufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Thus you may fee evidently, that the foundation of the Apoftle's joy, and fellowship with God, in the uprightness of his walk, according to the law, and his feeming zeal for GOD; but in the communications of the grace of God to his foul, was that only, which rendered him meet to hold communion with his Maker, and made him fo earnestly defire to know CHRIST, the power of his refurrection, and the fellowship of his fufferings.

Friendly. But you know that the cafe of Nicodemus and Paul were fingular, they were adapted to the times in which they lived, being Jews, to whom pertained the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, and the promises; fo that it was no wonder that they were zealous for the religion of their fathers; but now the cafe is quite different, as life and im mortality are brought to light by the gospel, therefore is it not poffible for a perfon by this life and light, without being regenerated, to enjoy communion with GOD?

Truth. No; though the gospel is ftiled the ministration of life, good news, and glad tidings of great joy, yet we find it is only to thofe that enjoy the communications of grace by the ministration of the word, I Cor. i. 18. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto them that are faved, it is the power of God; and it was this which made him fay, to the believing Theffalonians, Our gofpel came not unto you in word only, but in power, and in the Holy Ghoft, and in much affurance. It was this fpiritual and internal operation, by the means of the gospel, which made the Apoftle fpeak in fuch a triumphant manner to the believing Corinthians, 2 Cor. ii. 14, 15, 16. Now thanks be unto God which caufeth us to triumph in Chrift, and maketh manifeft the favour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a fweet favour of Chrift in them that are faved, and in them that perish: To the one we are a favour of death unto death; and to the other, the favour of life unto life. And who is fufficient for these things? which makes it manifeft that neither the miniftration of the word, nor all the outward privileges of the gospel, will not of itfelf, render any foul meet to enjoy communion with God, for of itself, it is a dead letter, the favour of death unto death. Nay, the preaching of the cross, wisdom, love, and power of God dif

played in the falvation of finners by the death of CHRIST, is foclifhnefs to them that believe not; 1 Cor. ii. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishnefs to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually difcerned. Therefore it is plain, that the word of itself (without regenerating grace be produced thereby) cannot render any man fit to converfe with GOD.

And it likewife appears manifeft to me, that Nicodemus, though a Teacher in Ifrael; and Paul, though brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, while under the law, were both of them ftrangers to communion with GOD; as they rested in the shell and fhadow of the types under the law, and did not behold by faith, Chrift the promised MESSIAH, as the fum and substance of them. Hence it was that Nicodemus was fo ignorant of the new birth, and Paul thereby thought that he ought to de many things contrary to Jefus of Nazareth.

Friendly. But may not an unregenerate man think that he enjoys communion when in reality he does not?

Truth. Yes, I believe he may, and thereby deceive his own foul; for no doubt but Nicodemus and Paul thought they were in a fafe way for heaven, the one a Teacher in Ifrael, and the other exceeded above many of his equals in the religion of his fathers; but yet they were both deftitute of faving grace, till CHRIST manifefted himself to their fouls; fo it is feared, that there are many, very many profeffors, that not only barely think, but content themselves that they enjoy communion with GOD, because they regularly hear the word preached, embrace the ordinances of the gofpel, and add to all this prayer and almsgiving, fuch as feeding the hungry, cloathing the naked, vifiting the fick, relieving the deftitute, (things good and beautiful in their place) but all this a perfon may perform, and yet his foul be deftitute of communion with God; because communion with Gon exceeds all this, and confifts in nearnefs to GOD, a fpiritual perception of the glories of his love, a fenfe of pardoning mercy, with a view of particular interest therein.

Friendly. May not a perfon hold communion with GOD, upon the foundation of his own obedience to the law?

Truth. No, it is now by fin rendered impoffible, Gal. iii. 10. As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse. Now man, by the best and most conftant obedience that he can perform, ftands condemned before GoD, and GoD holds him guilty, because he has tranfgreffed his law; and therefore there can be no communion with GOD, upon the foot of obe

dience to the law, for life. and falvation; for under the first covenant, having broken the conditions of it, man is confidered. as a guilty creature, obnoxious to wrath: for a broke Jaw admits of no familiarity between GoD and the foul, as all title. and right to divine favour is forfeited, irrecoverably so, and that for ever; and that is not all, for fin by the law, not only deprives the man of the favour of God, but renders him liable to feel the weight of his indignation for ever, Gal. iii. 10. Curfed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them. So that it appears impoffible that a tranfgreffor of the law of GoD can enjoy any fpiritual nearness and friendship with his Maker, upon the foot of his obedience to the law, that requiring a perfection of holiness in thought, word, and deed, to render the finner acceptable to GOD; and the finner being by nature for ever in an incapacity to yield that obedience the holy law of GOD requires; therefore he ftands condemned by all the obedience his heart, his tongue, or hands can perform; and can never enjoy fellowship upon the foot of that covenant by which he ftands condemned before GOD. Befides, the perfections of the Godhead ftrictly forbid the finner's holding fellowship with GOD by a broken law, as divine righteoufnefs, and infinite holinefs, demand full fatisfaction for fin, reparation for the breaches of the holy law, before there can poffibly be communion with God; for man, in a state of innocency, was not only approved and accepted with GoD, but the ultimate delight of his foul was in his Maker; he then drew near to God with familiarity; but when he had finned, by tranfgreffing the law of GOD, he faid, when GoD called to him, I heard thy voice in the garden, and was afraid. Here you fee that fin had put an end to communion with God, for inftead of delight in his name, perfon, or prefence, he only heard his voice and was afraid: the covenant of works being broken by fin, communion with GOD upon the foot of creature-obedience, was no more; fin had shut that door, and for ever barred up fellowship with God that way; fin has not only rendered man unacceptable to GOD, but his heart is thereby adverse to all that is good; therefore it is impoffible that he fhould delight in that being who is goodness itfelf. Moreover, there must be the acceptation of our perfons before the Divine Being can maintain fellowship with us; from whence it follows, that we can now hold no communion with GoD, but by that covenant that provides for the acceptation of our perfons, and the removation of our tranfgreffions, which can only be in that new

and living way which he has confecrated for us through the vail. Befides, in the new-covenant way, God hath been pleased to manifeft himself in a more familiar manner, than ever he did under the old covenant, which was as a creator and preferver; but under the new covenant, he discovers himself as father, and a husband, faying, I will be unto them a God, and they shall be my people. This refolve of his heart, was in confequence of his fixed and immoveable designs of his being gracious to us, in a new-covenant way, which was well ordered in all things and fure, and is an unconditional and never-failing fpring of joy to us, amidst all our various changes, diftreffes and forrows.-Though troubles may invade and furround us, yet this is matter of conftant joy, that our GoD will never recede from his gracious promife, because the motive that engaged him to manifeft himself to us, as he does not to the world, was his own fovereign pleasure; and not any motive in us, therefore nothing can turn up in us through time or eternity, that can caufe JEHOVAH to violate his promife which he hath made and confirmed by the blood of the everlasting cove nant, concerning the falvation and happiness of his people; which promife is nothing less than his engagement to remove for ever whatever may impede or hinder our communion with him, which is fin. But his gracious promife is, through a MEDIATOR, I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their fins aud their iniquities will I remember no more. It is alone upon this foundation that pardon, peace, life, and joy are communicated to our fouls. Hence it is that Gon can maintain communion with us in a way honourable to the perfections of his nature, though he is of purer eyes then to behold iniquity; because by the precious blood of the new covenant, he not only removes the guilt and punishment of fin, but cleanfeth us from that filth and contamination, which we daily contract by indwelling corruption, which, if I may fo express it, keeps the paffage free for communion between GoD and our fouls, Heb. x. 19. &c. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he has confecrated for us through the vail, that is to Jay, his flesh; and having an High-Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. This is the firm and everlasting foundation of the faint's communion with God, in all the ftreams and communications of his grace here, and glory hereafter.

From hence we conclude, that all our approaches to GoD aught to be upon this foundation, for this is the way, the

new and living way in which he draws near to us, approves of us, and delights to be gracious unto us. In fhort, upon this bottom we fhall find our joyful reception into Heaven, and poffefs ineffable felicity there.

Friendly. As it appears manifeft, both from fcripture and experience, that there is no drawing near to Gon, but through the facrifice and obedience of the LORD JESUS, John xiv. 6. I am the way, the truth, and the life; and no man cometh unto the fathor but by me; how neceffary is it then that the mind be established in this truth, as its prefent peace, and future comfort depend upon it?

Truth. Yes, a fpiritual understanding of thefe truths, is the life and joy of the Chriftian; thereby he fees that the first Covenant is fo far from fuffering, in its authority and demand, by the conftitution of the fecond, that it is highly advanced and honoured in all the perfection of its demands; because the LORD JESUS, who is the furety of the better covenant, has, in the most perfect manner, yielded that obedience thereunto which the nature of the first covenant required; and given, by his death, that fatisfaction for the breach of it which it demanded. Hence it hath all that luftre and glory whichthe nature of the law required; a glory infinitely greater than it could ever have received from man, though he had never finned, but obeyed the law perfectly for ever, Rom. iii. 31. Do we make void the law through faith, God forbid, yea, we eftablish the law; in all the demands and perfections of it, by the obedience and facrifice of the LORD JESUS; upon which account the LORD declares that he is well pleafed for his righteousness fake, because he has magnified the law, and made it bonourable. So that the new-covenant, or the covenant of grace by CHRIST, fecures the honour of the old covenant to the highest advantage; which is so astonishing that the angels themselves defire to pry into it. How Gon can fave a guilty finner, and yet not only give a due, but an advanced glory to that law which he had broken, is amazing, and calls for our wonder, gratitude, and praife! Note, men are apt to propose to themselves various ways of enjoying falvation, yet among them all, not one of them is honourable to the law of GOD, for they are far from providing that obedience which the divine law requires, or giving that fatisfaction which is due for the breach of it. GOD will never fave a fingle foul but in that way which is confonant with the honour of his perfections, and the glory of the divine law in all its demands, Rom. iii. 26.

YOL. III.

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