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IX.

Experience can say, as the Men of Samaria SERMON did to the Woman of their City: " Now

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we believe, not because of thy Saying, John iv, "for we have heard Him ourselves, and 22. "know that This is indeed the Chrift, the "Saviour of the World."

To conclude: Great and glorious to the fpiritual Eye (tho' a Stumbling Block and Foolishness to that which is carnal, both then and to this very Day) was the Opening of the Great Mystery of our Salvation by Jefus Chrift, in the Affumption of our Human into his Divine Nature, that He might fulfil the Law, as the Subftance of its Shadows, the Accomplishment of its Prophecies, and the full Satisfaction of all its Demands, both as to Sin and Obedience: Yet, if we confider this Mystery in all its Parts, this was but the Middle of it; for, He who appeared under the Law as the Angel of the Covenant, and was figured under its various myftical Reprefentations: He who in the Fullness of Time appeared in a Body of Flesh to fulfil all Righteoufnefs, and to perfect that which before was but in Part; having finished all that the Father had given Him to do in his Ministry here on Earth, when He gave up the Ghoft, He was thenceforward to be manifested

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SERMON manifefted in Spirit and Power; and acIX. cordingly our Lord told his Difciples just

20.

before his Departure, that it was expedient for them, that He fhould go away, that as the Bridegroom had been present with them in the Flesh, He might for the fu ture abide with them in Spirit-" At that John xiv." Day ye fhall know, that I am in my "Father, and you in me, and I in you." Thus, as the Lord had a Work to do for us in the Day of his Humiliation, fo had He a Work likewife to do in us after his Glorification, to manifeft Himself to us in and by the Spirit, to enlighten, comfort, and fanctify our Hearts, that we might be a holy Temple in the Lord, an Habitation of God thro' the Spirit. And this Adminiftration of the Spirit and Power of the Gospel was first manifefted in the Way of a publick Difpenfation, on the Day of Pentecoft, when the Disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost. This is that fpiritual Marriage or Union betwixt Chrift and his Church, that Fellowship of the Mystery to which we are now called, even Chrift in us the Hope of Glory; not that it first took Place after our Saviour's Afcenfion, for Salvation was always fpiritual, and could

not

SERMON

IX.

not otherwise be, but in other Ages it was a hidden Mystery, not made known unto the Sons of Men as it is now revealed by the Spirit. But to whom is it revealed? Not unto the World, not unto thofe that live in the Wickedness, Vices, and Vanities of it; not to Mockers and Scoffers, who speak evil of the Things they know not, and corrupt themselves in those Things which they naturally do know; nor yet to those that hold the Truth in Unrighteousness, or who having a Form of Godlinefs, deny the Power thereof; to thefe it is not given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom, for their Eyes are blinded, that the Light of the glorious Gospel of Chrift, who is the Image of God, cannot fhine unto them: But this great Mystery of Godliness is made manifeft to the Saints, to them who have John ii. an Unition from the Holy One, and therefore 20. know all Things needful, and are fanctified thro' the Word of his Truth. To these it John xvii. is given to hold the Mystery of Faith in a17 pure Confcience; for they have Fellowship 9. with the Father of Lights, with whom is noo Darkness at all: And as they abide in the Grace and Love of Chrift, He doth love them, and manifeft Himself unto them; John xiv.

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1 Tim. iii.

and 21,

SERMON and fo they have Fellowship with the Son: IX. And forafmuch as they all walk together in

the Light and have the fame Spirit of Peace

and Love ruling in their Hearts, they have 1 John i. Fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Chrift cleanfeth them from all Sin.

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To this Fellowship of the Mystery, even the Bleffed Communion of Saints, begun in Grace on Earth, and perfected in Glory for ever in Heaven, may God of bis infinite Love in Christ Jesus, thro' the Power of the Holy Ghoft, bring us all.-— Amen,

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The Nature and Diftinction of the two Covenants.

JEREM. XXXI. 33.

This Shall be the Covenant that I will make with the Houfe of Ifrael after thofe Days, faith the Lord; I will put my Law in their inward Parts, and write it in their Hearts, and will be their God, and they Shall be my People.

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OD'S Dealings with Mankind in re- SERMON ference to their Salvation are fet

forth to us in the facred Writings under the Name of Covenants. The Law delivered to the Ifraelites by the Hand of Mofes, as it was an external Rule and Di rectory, is called the Covenant of Works: the Gospel Difpenfation, as it is the Free Gift of God in Jefus Chrift, and the Miniftration of his Spirit operating by an in

ward

X.

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