Communion with Christ is frequent in the lips of many men, but an hidden mystery to the Souls of most men. This Atheistical age scoffs, and ⟨p. 396⟩ridicules it, as Enthusiasm, and Fanaticism; but the Saints find that reality, and incomparable sweetness in it, that they would not part with it for Ten thousand Worlds. When the Roman Soldiers entered the Temple at Jerusalem, and found no Image there, as they used to have in their own Idolatrous Temples; they gave out in a Jeer, that the Jews worshipped the Clouds. Thus profane Atheists scoff at the most solemn, awful and sweetest part of internal Religion, as a mere fancy; but the thing is real, sure, and sensible; if there be truth in any thing in the World, there is truth in this, That there are real intercourses betwixt the visible and invisible World; betwixt Christ, and the Souls of believers, which we here call communion, 1 John 1. 3. Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Christ Jesus. 'Tis really and truly so, we impose not upon the World, we tell you no more than we have felt. The life of Enoch is called his walking with God, Gen. 5. 24. O sweet and pleasant walk! All pleasures, all joys, are in that walk with God. Blessed are the people that hear the joyful sound, they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance, Psal. 89. 15. The joyful sound there spoken of, was the sound of the trumpet, which called the people to the solemn Assemblies, where they walked in the light of Gods countenance, the sweet manifestations of his favour; and because the World is so apt to suspect the reality and certainty of this Doctrine, the Apostle again asserts it, Phil. 3. 20. Truly our conversation is in Heaven. We breath below, but we live above; we walk on Earth, but our conversation is in Heaven. To open this Point ⟨p. 397⟩three things must come under consideration,
1. What Communion with Christ is?
2. That there is such a Communion betwixt him and believers.
3. The excellency of this Communion.
Communion with Christ is frequent in the lips of many men, but an hidden mystery to the Souls of most men. This Atheistical age scoffs, and ⟨p. 396⟩ridicules it, as Enthusiasm, and Fanaticism; but the Saints find that reality, and incomparable sweetness in it, that they would not part with it for Ten thousand Worlds. When the Roman Soldiers entred the Temple at Ierusalem, and found no Image there, as they used to have in their own Idolatrous Temples; they gave out in a Jeer, that the Jews worshiped the Clouds. Thus prophane Atheists scoff at the most solemn, awful and sweetest part of internal Religion, as a meer fancy; but the thing is real, sure, and sensible; if there be truth in any thing in the World, there is truth in this, That there are real intercourses betwixt the visible and invisible World; betwixt Christ, and the Souls of believers, which we here call communion, 1 Iohn 1. 3. Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Christ Iesus. 'Tis really and truly so, we impose not upon the World, we tell you no more than we have felt. The life of Enoch is call'd his walking with God, Gen. 5. 24. O sweet and pleasant walk! All pleasures, all joys, are in that walk with God. Blessed are the people that hear the joyful sound, they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance, Psal. 89. 15. The joyful sound there spoken of, was the sound of the trumpet, which called the people to the solemn Assemblies, where they walked in the light of Gods countenance, the sweet manifestations of his favour; and because the World is so apt to suspect the reality and certainty of this Doctrin, the Apostle again asserts it, Phil. 3. 20. Truly our conversation is in Heaven. We breath below, but we live above; we walk on Earth, but our conversation is in Heaven. To open this Point ⟨p. 397⟩three things must come under consideration,
1. What Communion with Christ is?
2. That there is such a Communion betwixt him and believers.
3. The excellency of this Communion.
