Two discourses concerning the Holy Spirit, and His work the one, Of the Spirit…

(§ 12.) FOURTHLY, Saving Grace hath an immediate respect unto the Friestly Office of Jesus Christ, with the Discharge thereof in his Oblation and Intercession. There is, I acknowledge, no Gracious Communication unto Men that respects any one Office of Christ exclusively unto the other. For his whole Mediation hath an Influence into all that we receive from God in a way of Favour or Grace. And it is his Person as vested with all his Offices, that is the immediate Fountain of all Grace ⟨p. 127⟩unto us. But yet something may, yea, sundry things do peculiarly respect some one of his Offices, and are the immediate Effects of the Virtue and Efficacy thereof. So is our Reconciliation and Peace with God the peculiar Effect of his Oblation, which as a Priest he offered unto God. And so in like manner is our Sanctification also, wherein we are washed and cleansed from our Sins in his Blood, Ephes. 5. 25, 26. Tit. 2. 14. And although Grace be wrought in us by the Administration of the Kingly Power of Christ, yet it is in the pursuit of what he had done for us as a Priest, and the making of it effectual unto us. For by his Kingly Power he makes effectual the Fruits of his Oblation and Intercession: But Gifts proceed solely from the Regal Office and Power of Christ. They have a remote respect unto, and Foundation in the Death of Christ, in that they are all given and distributed unto, and for the good of that Church which he purchased with his own Blood; but immediately they are Effects only of his Kingly Power. Hence Authority to give and dispose them is commonly placed as a Consequent of his Exaltation at the Right Hand of God, or with respect thereunto, Mat. 28. 18. Acts 2. 33. This the Apostle declares at large, Ephes. 4. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Christ being exalted at the Right Hand of God, all Power in Heaven and Earth being given unto him, and he being given to be Head over all things unto the Church, and having for that end received the Promise of the Spirit from the Father, he gives out these Gifts as it seemeth good unto him. And the Continuation of their Communication, is not the least Evidence of the Continuance of the Exercise of his Kingdom: For besides the Faithful Testimony of