This communion hath two parts, fellowship of the members with the head, and of the members with themselves. The communion of the members with their head is not outward, but altogether spiritual in the conscience: and ⟨p. 500⟩for the opening of it, we must consider what the Church receiveth of Christ, and what he receives of it. The Church receives of Christ four most worthy benefits. The first, that Christ our Mediator, God and man, hath truly given himself unto us, and is become our lot and portion, and withal God the father, and the holy spirit, in him, as David saith,1 Jehovah is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou shalt maintain my lot: the lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places: yea I have a fair heritage. And,2 My flesh faileth: and my heart also: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. The second is, the Right of adoption, whereby all the faithful whether in heaven or earth are actually made the children of God. The benefit is wonderful, howsoever carnal men esteem not of it. If a man should either by election or birth, or any way else be made the son and heir of an earthly prince, he would think himself highly advanced: how highly then are they extolled which are made the sons of God himself? The third benefit is a title and right to the righteousness of Christ in his sufferings, and his fulfilling of the law. The excellency of it is unspeakable, because it serves to award the greatest temptations of the devil. When the devil replieth thus, thou art a transgressor of the law of God, therefore thou shalt be damned: by means of that communion which we have with Christ we answer again: that Christ suffered the curse of the law to free us from due and deserved damnation: and when he further replies, that seeing we never fulfilled the law, we can not therefore enter into heaven: we answer again, that Christs obedience is a fulfilling of the law for us, and his whole righteousness is ours to make us stand righteous before God. The fourth benefit is a right to the kingdom of heaven, as Christ comforting his disciples saith, Fear not little flock, it is your fathers pleasure to give you a kingdom: and hence it is sundry times called athe inheritance and the lot of the Saints.
This communion hath two parts, fellowshippe of the members with the head, and of the members with themselues. The communion of the members with their head is not outward, but altogether spirituall in the conscience: and ⟨p. 500⟩for the opening of it, we must consider what the Church receiueth of Christ, and what he receiues of it. The Church receiues of Christ foure most worthy benefits. The first, that Christ our Mediatour, God and man, hath truely giuen himselfe vnto vs, and is become our lot and portion, and withall God the father, and the holy spirit, in him, as Dauid saith,1 Iehoua is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup: thou shalt maintaine my lot: the lines are fallen vnto me in pleasant places: yea I haue a faire heritage. And,2 My flesh faileth: and my heart also: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for euer. The second is, the Right of adoption, whereby all the faithfull whether in heauen or earth are actually made the children of God. The benefit is wonderfull, howsoeuer carnall men esteeme not of it. If a mā should either by election or birth, or any waie else be made the sonne and heire of an earthly prince, he would thinke himselfe highly aduanced: how highly then are they extolled which are made the sonnes of God himselfe? The third benefit is a title and right to the righteousnes of Christ in his sufferings, and his fulfilling of the lawe. The excellencie of it is vnspeakable, because it serues to award the greatest temptations of the deuill. When the deuill replieth thus, thou art a transgressour of the lawe of God, therefore thou shalt be damned: by means of that communion which wee haue with Christ wee answere againe: that Christ suffered the curse of the lawe to free vs from due and deserued damnation: and when he further replies, that seeing we neuer fulfilled the lawe, we can not therefore enter into heauen: we answer againe, that Christs obedience is a fulfilling of the law for vs, and his whole righteousnesse is ours to make vs stand righteous before God. The fourth benefit is a right to the kingdome of heauen, as Christ comforting his disciples saith, Feare not little flocke, it is your fathers pleasure to giue you a kingdome: and hence it is sundrie times called athe inheritance and the lot of the Saints.
- 1Psal. 16.5.
- 2Psal. 73.26.
- aAct. 26.18. Coloss. 1.12. Eph. 1.18.
