Christ's school consisting of four classes of Christians

1. They desire heartily and sincerely not only that God may be their God, but that they may be his people: and wish as heartily that they may have a child-like love to him, as that he may have a Fatherly love to them. They are as willing to be his to serve him, as that he should be theirs to save them. They take Christ Jesus not as a Physician to make use of ⟨p. 209⟩him in a case of necessity, but as a Husband to love and live with him: and not only as a Saviour, but as a Prince to rule and a Prophet to teach them. They implicitly take whole Christ in all his offices, and not divided. And who but a new-born Soul doth? The natural man (especially if assisted by the common principles and grace of the Gospel) desires to be happy; and in relation thereunto may wish God to be his God by way of privilege; but then he fails as to the other part of being equally desirous to be Gods by way of duty; which every Saint doth do in its measure: yea, though they have not yet attained the witness and seal of the Spirit that they are the Children of God. The least Saint feels the work, though it (if I may so speak) have not yet heard the voice of the Spirit bearing witness thereunto, and is thereby in a sure state, though it have not the assurance of it: for 'tis beyond nature at highest, with all its attainments, to desire and endeavour to serve God as well as to be saved by him; to be like him as to be liked of him; to be conformable to him, as to have Salvation from him; to obey commands as to enjoy promises and privileges; to be holy, as to be happy; to have grace to glorify God, as well as to be glorified thereby; to be in Jesus Christ, not only that there may be no condemnation, but a new creation; and to be sanctified as to be justified and saved; to live as well as to die the death of the righteous.

1. They desire heartily and sincerely not only that God may be their God, but that they may be his people: and wish as heartily that they may have a child-like love to him, as that he may have a Fatherly love to them. They are as willing to be his to serve him, as that he should be theirs to save them. They take Christ Jesus not as a Physitian to make use of ⟨p. 209⟩him in a case of necessity, but as a Husband to love and live with him: and not only as a Saviour, but as a Prince to rule and a Prophet to teach them. They implicitely take whole Christ in all his offices, and not divided. And who but a new-born Soul doth? The natural man (especially if assisted by the common principles and grace of the Gospel) desires to be happy; and in relation thereunto may wish God to be his God by way of priviledge; but then he fails as to the other part of being equally desirous to be Gods by way of duty; which every Saint doth do in its measure: yea, though they have not yet attained the witness and seal of the Spirit that they are the Children of God. The least Saint feels the work, though it (if I may so speak) have not yet heard the voice of the Spirit bearing witness thereunto, and is thereby in a sure state, though it have not the assurance of it: for 'tis beyond nature at highest, with all its attainments, to desire and endeavour to serve God as well as to be saved by him; to be like him as to be lik'd of him; to be conformable to him, as to have Salvation from him; to obey commands as to enjoy promises and priviledges; to be holy, as to be happy; to have grace to glorifie God, as well as to be glorified thereby; to be in Jesus Christ, not only that there may be no condemnation, but a new creation; and to be sanctified as to be justified and saved; to live as well as to die the death of the righteous.