[vi]

In which cenfure, I think, I am no tyrant (which the Philofopher names the worit of wild beats :) and I am fure I am no flatterer, (which he calls as justly, the worst of tame beafts.)

Let the fimple fouls (the pauciffima lectionis mancipia) who take the doctrine of diftinét communion with the divine perfons, to be a new fangled one, and uncouth; obferve the words of the Reverend Mr. Sam. Clark (annotator on the Bibie) in his fermon on 1 John i. 7. It is to be noted, that the is a diftinct fellowship with each of the perfons of the bleffed Trinity. Let them attend what is faid by Mr. Lewis Stucly, in his preface to Mr. Polwheil's book of quenching the Spirit; It is a moit glorious truth, tho' confidered but by few, that ⚫ believers have, or may have, distinct communion with the three perfons, Father, Son, and Spirit. This is attefted by the finger of God, and folemnly owned by the first and beft age of chriftianity.' To name no more; let them read heedfully but the fecond chapter of this treatife, and its hoped that then they fhall no longer contra antidotum infanire no longer rage against God's holy medicinal truth, as St. Auftin faith he did, while he was a Mamchee; testifying in fo many words, his error was his very God.

Reader, I am,

Thy fervant in Christ Jefus,

DANIEL BURGESS.

That the faints have communion with God. 1 John i. 3. confidered to that purpfe. Somewhat of the nature of communion in general.

N the first epistle of John, chap. i. ver. 3. the apoftle affures them to whom he wrote, that the fellowship of believers is with the Father and with bis Son Jefus Chrift: and this he doth with fuch an unufual kind of expreflion as bears the force of an affeveration, whence we have rendered it, Truly our fellowship,

c..

The outward appearance and condition of the faints in thofe days being very mean and contemptible, their leaders being accounted as the filth of this world, and as the offscouring of all things, the inviting others unto fellowship with them, and a participation of the precious things which they did

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enjoy, feems to be expofed to many contrary reafonings, and objections: what benefit is there in communion with them? Is it any thing else but to be fharers in troubles, reproaches, fcorns, and all manner of evils? To prevent, or remove these and the like exceptions, the apostle gives them to whom he wrote to know, and that with fone earnestness of expreffion, that notwithstanding all the difadvantages their fellowship lay under, unto a carnal view, yet in truth it was, and would be found to be (in reference to fome with whom they held it) very honourable, glorious and defirable: For truly, faith he, our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jefus Chrift.

This being fo earnestly and directly afferted by the apoftle, we may boldly follow him with our affirmation, viz. That the faints of God have communion with him and an holy and spiritual communion it is, as fhall be declared. How this is spoken diftinctly, in reference to the Father, and the Son; must afterwards be fully opened, and carried on.

By nature, fince the entrance of fin, no man hath any communion with God. He is light, we are darkness, and what communion bath light with darknefs? He is life, we are dead. He is love, we are enmity, and what agreement can there be between us? Men in fuch a condition, have neither Chrift, nor hope, no. God in the world, Eph. ii. 12. Being alienoted from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, chap. iv. 18. Now, tavo cannot walk together unless they be agreed, Amos iii. 3. Whilft there is this diftance between God and man, there is no walking together for them in any fellowship, or communion. Our firit interest in God, was fo loft by fin, as that there was left unto us, in ourselves, no poffibility of a recovery. As we had deprived ourfelves of all power for a re

turnal, fo God had not revealed any way of accefs unto himself, or that he could under any confideration be approached unto by finners, in peace. Not any work that God had made, not any attribute he had revealed, could give the leaft light into fuch a difpenfation.

The manifeftation of grace and pardoning mercy, which is the only door of entrance into any fuch communion, is not committed unto any but unto him alone, in whom it is, by whom that grace and mercy was purchafed, through whom it is difpenfed, who reveals it from the bofom of the Father. Hence this communion and fellowship with God is not in exprefs terms mentioned in the Old Testament, the thing itself is found there; but the clear light of it, and the boldnefs of faith in it, is difcovered in the gupel, and by the Spirit adminiftred therein. By that Spirit, we have this liberty, 2 Cor. iii. 17, 18. Abraham was the friend of God: Ifa. xli. 8. David a man after his own heart. Enoch walked with him, Gen. v. 24. All enjoying this communion and fellowship for the fubftance of it; but the way into the holieft was not yet made manifest, whift the first tabernacle was standing, Hcb. ix. 8. Though they had communion with God, yet they had not a boldness and confidence in that communion. This follows the entrance of our High Priest into the most holy place, Heb. iv. 16. and x. 9. The vail alfo was upon them, that they had not freedom and liberty in their accefs to God, 2 Cor. iii. 15, 16. &c. But now in Chrift, we have boldnefs and accefs with confidence, to God, Eph. iii. 12. This boldnefs and accefs with confidence, the faints of old were not acquainted with. By Jeluis Chrift alone then on all confiderations as to being, and full manifestation, is this distance taken away; He hath confecrated for us a new and living way

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ver.

(the old being quite fhut up) through the vail, that is to fay his flefb, Heb. x. 20. And through him ave have an access by one Spirit unto the Father, Eph. ii. 18. We who fometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Chrift, for he is our peace, &c. 13, 14. Of this foundation of all our communion with God, more afterwards and at large. Upon this new bottom and foundation, by this new and living way, are finners admitted unto communion with God, and have fellowship with him. And truly for finners to have fellowship with God, the infinitely holy God, is an aftonifhing difpenfation. To fpeak a little of it in general, communion relates to things and perfons. A joint participation in any thing whatever, good or evil, duty or enjoyment, nature or actions, gives this denomination to them to partaking of it. A common interest in the fame nature gives all men a fellowship or communion therein. Of the elect it is faid, Heb. ii. 14. thofe children partook. of, (or had fellowship in with the rest of the world) flesh and blood; the fame comnmon nature with the reft of mankind; and therefore Christ also came into the fame fellowship : There is also a communion as to state and condition, whether it be good or evil; and this either in things internal and fpiritual, fuch as is the communion of faints among themfelves; or in respect of outward things; fo was it with Chrift and the two thieves, as to one condition, and to one of them in refpect of another. They were under the famefentence to the cross, Luke xxii. 40. ejufdem doloris focii. They had communion as to that evil condition whereunto they were adjudged. And one of them requested, which he obtained, a participation in that bleffed condition, whereupon our Saviour was immediately to enter. There is alfo a communion or fellowfhip in actions, whether good