GAL. iv. 6. And becaufe ye are Sons, God hath fent the Spirit of his Son into your Hearts, crying, Abba Father. O Bferve here, I. In General. All the Three Perfons of the Godhead are here mentioned together, as often elsewhere, Matt. iii. 16, 17. Matt. xxviii. 19. 2 Cor. xiii, 14. 1 Joh. v. 7. II. In Particular. Concerning the Holy Ghoft, obferve, 1. He is here reckoned among the Persons of the Sacred Trinity, Acts v. 3, 4. 1 Cor. xii. 6, 11. Ifa. vi. 8, 9. cum Act. xxviii. 25, 26. Matt. xii. 31, 32. 2. As Chrift is here called the Son of God; fo the Holy Ghoft is here called the Spirit of Chrift, proceeding from the Son as well as from the Father, John xvi. 15. 3. As the Father fent the Son, Gal. iv. 4. fo he fent the Spirit of his Son too, ver. 6. amise, in both Places, John xiv. 26. 4. c. XV. 26. God fends his Spirit only to thofe who are his Sons by Adoption, ver. v. on de ese you. That ye are Sons, appears from hence, because you have the Spirit; or, because ye are Sons therefore, &c. we partake of the Spirit only by Vertue of our Union to Chrift. Which Union is made by Faith, John i. 12. M2 There Therefore none elfe are capable of it John xiv. 17. It is the Heart of Believers into which the Spirit is fent, and wherein Chrift and it dwell, Eph. iii. 17. For the Heart is the Fountain of Life, Prov. iv. 23. And the Seat of all true Grace. Hence whatsoever a Man doth, how well foever he speaks, unless his Heart be right with God, he may be confident that he hath not the Spirit of Chrift. 6. This Spirit thus fent by God into the Heart of Believers, cries, Abba Father, which is the laft and greatest Work he doth for us, and in us, and therefore fuppofeth all the reft. Now the great Things he doth are, 1. External. Which as Means he ufeth. . He hath revealed the Will of God and neceffary Truths to us, 2 Pet. i. 21. John xiv. 26. 2 Tim. iii. 16. z. He conftituteth and appointeth Minifters in his Church to expound this, the Will of God, and apply it to Men, Eph. iv. 11, 12. 1 Cor. xii. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Acts xx. 28. Acts xiii. 2. 2. Internal. By these Means, 1. He enlightens our Minds, rectifies our Judgments, and clears up our Apprehensions of the Truths he hath revealed, Acts xvi. 14. Pfal. cxix. 18. John vi. 63. 1 Cor. ii. 11, 12. John xvi. 13. 2. He convinceth us of Sin, and makes us truly fenfible of it, and Penitent for it, John xvi. 8, 9. Acts ii. 37 3. He fanctifies and renews our Wills and 4. He guides, directs and governs us in our Actions, Rom. viii. 1, 14. 26, 27. 1 Cor. xii. 3. 5. He affures us of our Adoption and Reconciliation to God; whereby we are able to call him, Abba Father, Rom. viii. 15, 16. by which Means he is an Earneft of our future Glory, Eph. i. 13, 14. USE. 1. Hence we fhould learn to adore all the Perfons of the Sacred Trinity, as all concurring in our Redemption, 2 Cor. xiii. 14. Ifa. vi. 3. Revel. iv. 8. 2. Pray earnestly for the Spirit, otherwife ye are none of Chrift's, Rom. viii. 9. nor can do any good Thing, John xv. 5. And we have a Promife for it, Luke xi. 13. M 3 ACTS 1 ACTS ii. 47. And the Lord added to the Church daily fuch as fhould be faved. I. WHAT THAT is meant by the Church? The English is from the Greek, Kveian: But the Word here in the Greek is 'ExxAnoia, frequently used in the New Testament. 1. Sometimes for the Place where the Difciples met to worship God, I Cor. xi. 22. Η Εκκλησίας τὸ Θεὸ καταφρονείτε. Sicut Ecclefia dicitur locus quo Ecclefia congregatur. Aug. Hanc tamen vocari etiam ipfam Domum Orationum, teftis eft idem Apoftolas dicens nunquid domos non babetis, &c. Id. So St. Bafil, Chryfoftom, Jerom, &c. expound it. Conveniunt in Ecclefid. Tertull. a 2. Sometimes for the Affembly met together to worship God. Any particular Congregation of Saints, Col. iv. 15. Rom. xvi. 3, 5. 1 Cor. xvi. 19. If the Apostle had meant only their private Family, he would have exprefs'd it fo, as Rom. xvi. 10, 11, 14, 15. 2 Tim. iv. 19. He means therefore the Congregation that ufually met in fome Part of their House confecrated to the Service of God. 3. Tho' there were many fuch particular Churches there, yet the Scripture often calls the whole Body of Saints in any City or Country, a Church, as the Church of Hierufalem, Act. viii. 1. Antioch,c. xiii. 1. Cæfarea, c. xviii. 22. Theffalonians, 2 Theff. i. 1. 4. For the Governours and Rulers of the Church in any City or Nation,Matt. xviii. 17. Εἰπὲ τῇ ἐκκλησία τοῦ ὅτι τοις προεδρεύσιν. Chryf. See what follows, Matt.xviii. 18. John xx. 23. 5. For the Body collective of all Christians in the World, whereof Chrift is Head, Col. i. 18. Eph. i 22, 23. c. V. 23, 25. Thus Chrift himself ufeth the Word, Matt. xvi. 18. And thus it is understood in the Creed, and in the Text. II. What are the Properties of this Church. I. It is One. Εις ἕνα καθολικὴν Σποςολικὴν. 1. As having one Head, and built upon one Foundation, 1 Cor. iii. 11. Eph. ii. 19, 20. 2. As agreeing in one Faith, Eph. iv. 5. 3. Lead by one Spirit, Eph. iv. 3, 4. Hence we should all conform to the Doctrine and Rites of the Church in general, i for: xi. 16. 2. The Church is Holy. 1. Negatively. 1. Not fo as that there were no unholy Perfons in it; for Chrift compares it to, A Floor, Wheat and Chaff, Matt. iii. 125 An Houfe, Veffels of Honour and Dishonour, 2 Tim. ii. 20. 2. Not as if any were perfectly Holy in this World, John i. 8. 2. Pofitively Holy. Because, 1. It calls Men to Holiness, 2 Tim. i. 9. 2. It engageth Men to Holiness, 2 Tim. ii. 19. In it many are fincerely Holy, Tit. ii. 14. 3. M 4 4. It |