by virtue of our Union with him: Col. ii. 11. 12, In whom alfo ye are circumcifed with the cir cumcifion made without hands, in putting off the body of the fins of the flesh, by the circumcifion of Chrift: buried with him in baptism, wherein alfo you are rifen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.' Rom. vi. 4. 5. 6. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death: that like as Chrift was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even fo we alfo fhould walk in newnefs of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we fhall be alfo in the likeness of his refurrection knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of fin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not ferve fin.' There is a Power or Virtue in the Death and Refurrection of Chrift, for fanctifying of his Members, applied to them by the Spirit: Gal. vi. 14. God forbid

:

hat I fhould glory fave in the crofs of our Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.' Philip. iii. 10. That I may know him, and the power of his refurrection, and the fellowship of his fufferings, being made conformable unto his death.' Compared with John xvi. 15. All things that the Father hath, are mine: therefore faid I, that he [the Spirit of truth] fhall take of mine, and fhall fhew it unto you." That Power or Virtue is a Power or Virtue whereby his Members are made conformable to him in his Death and Refurrection, to the fanctifying of them effectually, Philip. iii. 10. compared with Rom. vi. 5. 6. forecited. We are made conformable to him in his Death, dying un

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to Sin, as Chrift died for Sin, a violent Death, lingering, and painful, yet voluntary, Gal. vi. 14. above cited. Compared with Chap. v. 24. And they that are Chrift's, have erucified the flesh, with the affections and lufts.' We are made conformable to him in his Refurrection, rifing from qur Sins to a new Manner of Life, continued during our Abode in the World, and perfected in Glory; as Christ rose from the Dead, to a new Manner of Life, continued till his Afcenfion: Rom. vi. 4. forecited. 2 Cor. v. 17. If any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature: old things are passed away, 6 behold, all things are become new. Now, in applying of that Power and Virtue of Chrift's Death and Refurrection unto us, there must be a Communication of habitual and actual Grace from him unto us; and that because without it we cannot be fo conformed to him in his Death and Refurrection: John xv. 4. 5. < Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.' The Death and Refurrection of Chrift come to have fuch a conforming Virtue and Power on his Members, inaf much as he died and rofe again as a public Perfon, their Head, and merited this their Conformation to his Image: See Rom. vi. 4. to verf. 12. Wherefore, as there is in Adam's Sin and Death a Virtue conforming his natural Offspring unto him therein, to their Defilement; fo there is in Christ's Death and Refurrection a Virtue conforming his Members unto him in them, to their Sanctifica

tion: I Cor. xv. 22. As in Adam all die, even fo in Chrift fhall all be made alive.' verf. 47. 48. 49. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the fecond man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, fuch are they alfo that are earthy and 'as is the heavenly, fuch are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall alfo bear the image of the 'heavenly.' Gal. ii. 20. forecited.

Queft. 36. What are the Benefits which in this Life do accompany or flow from Juftification, Adoption, and Sanctification?

Anf. The Benefits which in this Life do accompany or flow from Juftification, Adoption, and Sanctification, are, Affurance of God's Love, Peace of Confcience, Joy in the Holy Ghoft, Increase of Grace, and Perfeverance therein to the End.

EXPLICATION.

Thefe Benefits accompany or flow from Jufti fication, Adoption, and Sanctification, with this Difference, That fome of them may proceed on the mere Reality of Grace, others of them require alfo the Evidence of Grace.

Thofe of them that require the Evidence of Grace, are, Affurance of God's Love, Peace of Confcience, and Joy in the Holy Ghost.

The

1.2.

The Afurance of God's Love that accompanies or flows from Juftification, Adoption, and Sancti fication, is, That whereby a true Believer is certainly affured of God's Love of Complacency in him, and that he is in the State of Grace, and hall perfevere therein: Rom. v. 1. 2. Therefore being juftified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrift. By whom alfo we bave accefs by faith into this grace wherein we ftand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.' verf. 5. And hope maketh not afhamed, because the love of God is fhed abroad in our hearts, by the Holy Ghoft which is given unto us.' 1 John iii. 14. We know that we have paffed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.' Chap. v. 13. Thefe things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.' A Believer may attain unto this Afsurance, in the Ufe of ordinary

lation: 2eans, without extraordinary Reve.

i. fo. 'Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election fure.' Heb. vi. 11. And we defire that every one of you do fhew the fame diligence, to the full affurance of hope unto the end, And the fpecial Means for that End, are, clofe walking with God, Self-examination, and the right Ufe of the holy Sacraments: John xiv. 21. He that bath " my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifeft myfelf to him.' 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine yourfelves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own felves: know ye not your own

felves,

felves, how that Jefus Chrift is in you, except ye be reprobates?' Rom. iv, 11. And he [Abraham received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of 'the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcifed. Compared with Acts viii, 39. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch faw him no more; and he 'went on his way rejoicing.' And I Cor. x. 16. The cup of bleffing which we blefs, is it not the com'munion of the blood of Chrift? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Chrift? The Grounds from whence a Believer may raife this Affurance, are, the infallible Truth of the Word of Grace to him in the Scriptures, and the Evidence of Grace in his own Heart: 1 John v. 13. Chap. iii. 14. forecited. verf. 18. 19. My little children, let us not love in word, neither " in tongue, but in deed, and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and fhall aflure our hearts before him.' And a Believer is enabled to difcern thefe Grounds of Affurance, fo as to be affured upon them, by the Spirit's fhi ning in his Heart, on the Word of Grace, and on the Work of Grace there: Luke xxiv, 45. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the fcriptures, 1 Cor. ij. 12. Now we have received, not the fpirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. For fo the Spirit attefts, and he fees the one to be the Spirit's own infallible Word to him, and the other his gracious Work in him: Rom. viii. 16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our fpirit, that we are the children of God.' Com

pared