title of heirs. Tit. iii. 7, "That being juftified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Jam. ii. 5,-"Hath not God chofen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promifed to them that love him.". Rom. viii, 17. 1 Pet. iii. 7.

109. And as Canaan was confidered as the reft of the Jews, fo in reference to our trials and afflictions in this world, Heaven is confidered as the reft of Chriftians. [28] 2 Thef. i. 7, "And to you who are troubled, reft with us, when the Lord Jefus fhall be revealed from Heaven." Heb. iv. 1, "Let us therefore fear, left a promise being left us of entering into his reft, any of you should seem to come fhort of it. For unto us hath the gofpel been preached as well as to them;" that is, we have the joyful promife of entering into reft, as well as the Jews of old. Ver. 9, "There remains therefore a reft for the people of God;" that is, for Chriftians now in this world, as well as for the Jews formerly in the wilderness. Which is the point the apoftle is proving from Ver. 3, to 10.

110. IX. Thus Chriftians, as well as the ancient Jews, are the house or family of God: or, we may conceive the whole body of Chriftians formed into a nation, having God at their head; who on this account is ftiled our God, governor, protector, or king; and we his people, fubjects or fervants. [29] 1 Pet. ii. 9, "Ye are-an holy nation." Rom. v. II, "And not only fo, but we [Gentile Chriftians] joy [Gr. glory] in God," as well as the Jews, who gloried in God as their God. Chap. ii. 17.. Heb. xii. 23, "Ye are come [by your Chriftian profeffion and privileges] to God, the judge of all." Ver. 29, "Our God is a consuming fire." I Cor. vi. II. 2 Cor. vi. 16,-" As God hath faid,-I will be their God, and they fhall be my people." Heb. viii. 10, "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Ifrael after those days, faith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be my people. Rom. vi. 22,-"Being made free from fin, and become the fervants of God." 1 Pet. ii. 16," As free, and not using your liberty as a cloak of malicioufnefs, but as the fervants of God.”

III. Hence converfion from Heathenifm to Christianity is "turning from Satan, vanities, idols unto God, to ferve the living and true God," Acts xiv. 15. xxvi. 18, 20. I Thef. i. 9.

112. Hence alfo the end of our redemption by Chrift is defcribed by "bringing us to God," by "redeeming us to God," 1 Pet. iii. 18. Rev. v. 9.-And apoftacy from the Chriftian profeffion is expreffed by "departing from the living God," Heb. iii. 12.

113. And, as God has conftituted Jefus Chrift, the head, king, and governour of the church, fo he is frequently ftiled our Lord, and we his fervants. Rom. i. 3, Concerning his fon Jefus Christ our Lord,"&c. Eph. vi. 6, "As the fervants of Chrift." Col. iii. 24. Rev. i. I, "To fhew unto his fervants things which must thortly come to pass;

and

But obferve; Inheritance, thus understood, muft include the Heavenly and Eternal Inheritance, the promife of which is a principal part of our prefent privileges.

VOL. III.

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and he sent and fignified it unto his fervant John.—ii. 20, “calls herself a prophetefs-to feduce my fervants.”

114. X. And it is in reference to our being a fociety peculiarly appropriated to God, and under his fpecial protection and government, that we are called the city of God, the holy city. [34] Heb. xii. 22,-"Ye are come unto-the city of the living God." Rev. xi. 2, "And the holy city fhall they tread under foot forty and two months.' This city is defcribed in fome future happy ftate, Rev. 21ft, and 22d chapters.

115. Hence the whole Chriftian community, or church, is denoted by the city Jerufalem, and sometimes by Mount Zion. [35] Gal. iv. 26, "But Jerufalem, which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all." -In her reformed, or future happy state, she is the New Jerufalem, Rev. iii. 12. xxi. 2. Heb. xii. 22, "Ye are come unto Mount Zion," &c. Rev. xiv. 1.

116. Hence also we are faid to be written, or enrolled, in the book of God, or, which comes to the fame thing, of the Lamb, the Son of God. [36] Rev. iii. 5, "He that overcometh, the fame fhall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life." xxii. 19, "And if any man take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God fhall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city," &c. which fhews the names of fuch are in the book of life as may be blotted out; confequently, that it is the privi lege of all profeffed Chriftians.

117. And, whereas the believing Gentiles were once ftrangers, aliens, not a people, enemies; now (Eph. ii. 19.) they "are no more frangers, and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the faints." [37] 1 Pet. ii. 10, "Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God." Now we are at peace with God, Rom. v. I. Now we are reconciled, and become the fervants of God, the fubjects of his kingdom, Rom. v. 10. Thef. i. 9. 2 Cor. v. 18, 19.

118. On the other hand; the body of the Jewish nation, (having through unbelief rejected the Meffiah, and the gospel, and being, therefore, caft out of the city and kingdom of God) are, in their turn, at present, reprefented under the name and notion of ente mies; Rom. xi. 28," As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your fake."

119. XI. The kind and particular regards of God to the converted Gentiles, and their relation to Jefus Chrift, is also fignified by that of a husband and wife; and his taking them into his covenant is reprefented by his efpenfing them. [38] 2 Cor. xi. 2, "For I am jealous over you with godly jealoufy: for I have efpoufed you to one hufband, that I may prefent you as a chafte virgin to Chrift." Eph. v. 22-32, Wives, fubmit yourselves unto your own hufbands, as unto the Lord. For the hufband is the head of the wife, even as Chrift is the head of the church: and he is the faviour of the body. Therefore as the church is fubject unto Chrift, fo let the wives be unto their own husbands in every thing. Hufbands, love your wives, even as Chrift alfo loved the church, and gave himself for it that he might fanctify and cleanse it, &c. So ought

men

men to love their wives as their own bodies,- -even as the Lord the church for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this caufe fhall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two fhall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I fpeak concerning Chrift and his church."

120. Hence the Chriftian church, or community, is represented as a mother, and particular members as her children. [39] Gal. iv. 26, "But Jerufalem, which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all." Ver. 27, "For it is written, Rejoice thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travaileft not: for the defolate hath many more children, than fhe which hath an hufband." Ver. 28, "Now we, brethren, as Ifaac was, are the children of Promife."- -Ver. 31, "So then, brethren, we are not children of the bond woman, but of the free."

121. Hence alfo, from the notion of the Chriftian church being the fpoufe of God in Chrift, her corruption and idolatry come under the name of fornication and adultery; and she takes the character of a whore. [40] Rev. ii. 20,-" Thou fuffereft that woman Jezebel-to teach and to feduce my fervants to commit fornication, and to eat things facrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and the repented not. Behold, I will caft her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent." Rev. xvii. 1,- "Čome hither, I will fhew thee the judgment of the ' great whore,- -with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication." Ver. 15, 16. chap. xix. 2.

122. XII. As God, by Chrift, exercises a particular providence over the Chriftian church, in fupplying them with all fpiritual bleflings, guiding them through all difficulties, and guarding them in all fpiritual dangers, he is their shepherd, and they his flock, his sheep. [41] John x. 11, "I am the good Shepherd." Ver. 16, "And other heep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they fhall hear my voice, and there fhall be one flock and one shepherd." Acts xx. 28, 29. Heb. xiii. 20. 1 Pet. ii. 25, "For ye were as fheep going aftray; but are now returned to the shepherd and overfeer of your fouls." v. 2, 3,. 4, "Feed the flock of God," &c.

123. XIII. Nearly on the fame account, as God, by Christ, has established the Chriftian church, and provided all means for our happiness and improvement in knowledge and virtue, we are compared to a vine, and a vineyard, and God to the husbandman, who planted and dreffeth it; and particular members of the community are compared to branches. [42] John xv. 1, 2, "I am the true vine, and my father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it," &c. Ver. 5, "I am the vine, ye are the branches." Mat. xv. 13, "Every plant which my heavenly father hath not planted, fhall be rooted up." Rom. vi. 5, "If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death: we fhall be alfo in the likeness of his refurrection." Mat. xx. I. The vineyard into which labourers were hired is the Christian as well as Jewish church; and fo chap. xxi. 33. Mark xii. 1. Luke xx. 9. 1 Cor. iii. 9, "Ye are God's husbandry." Rom. xi. 17, "And if fome of the branches [Jews] be broken off, and thou being a wild olive-tree,

wert grafted in among them, and with them partakeft of the root and fatnefs of the olive-tree;" &c. See alfo Ver. 24.

124. XIV. As Chriftians are, by the will of God, set apart, and appropriated in a special manner to his honour, fervice and obedience, and furnished with extraordinary means and motives to holiness, fo they are faid to be fanctified. [43] 1 Cor. i. 2, "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are fanctified (*) in Christ Jefus." vi. 11, "And fuch were fome of you: but ye are washed, but ye are fanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jefus, and by the fpirit of our God." Heb. ii. 11, "For both he that fanctifieth, and they who are fanctified, are all of one." x. 29, "Of how much forer punishment, fhall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the fon of God, who hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was fanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the spirit of grace." Jude 1, "Jude the fervant of Jesus Christ,-to them that are fanctified by God the Father, and preferved in Jefus Chrift, and called."

125. In the fame fenfe, I apprehend, Chriftians are faid to be waft [44] 1 Cor. vi. 11,-" Such were fome of you: but ye are waved." Tit. iii. 5, "Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, brt according to his mercy he faved [93] us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghoft" [poured out in its miraculous gifts.] 2 Pet. ii. 22,-"The fow that was washed, [the apoftate Chriftian] is returned to her wallowing in the mire."

126. And as the believing Gentiles, before they were thus wafhed, were accounted unclean, it is for this reafon, the children of Chriftians are declared not to be unclean. [45] 1 Cor. vii. 14, "For the unbelieving husband is fanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is fanctified by the husband: elfe were your children unclean, [in the ftate of Heathens;] but now are they holy," [that is to fay, in the ftate of all other Chriftians, as it is reprefented in the following paragraph].

127. XV. Hence it is, that Chriftians are ftiled holy, holy brethren, a holy nation, and faints. [46] Col. iii. 12, "Put on therefore (as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies," &c. 1 Thef. v. 27, "I charge that this epiftle be read to all the holy brethren." Heb. iii, "Wherefore, hely brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling," &c. 1 Pet. ii. 9. "But ye are a chofen generation, a royal priesthood, a hely nation." Acts ix. 32, Acts ix. 32, "As Peter paffed through all quarters, he came down alfo to the faints which dwelt at Lydda." Ver. 41, "And when he had called the faints and widows." Acts xxvi. 10. Rom. i. 7, "To all that be in Rome beloved of God, called faints." xii. 13. xv. 25, 26. xvi. 15. I Cor. i. 2. 2 Cor. i. I, "Paul unto the church of God at Corinth, with all the faints which are in Achaia." 2 Cor. xiii. 13. Phil. "All the faints falute you." Eph. i. 1. Phil. i. 1. Col. i. 2, "To the faints at Ephefus, Philippi, Coloffe."

iv. 22,

128. XVI. Further; by the prefence of God in the Christian church, and our being by profeffion confecrated to him, we, as well

כל קדשיו בידך

(*) HTIAEMENOIE; as Deut. xxxiii. 3. 7 wales of typo UTTO TAS Xugas cu. Septuag.

25

-"Ye

as the ancient Jews, are made his houfe, or temple, which God has built, and in which he dwells, or walks. [47] 1 Pet. ii. 5, "Ye alfo as lively ftones are built up a fpiritual houfe," &c. I Cor. iii. 9 are God's building." Ver. 16, 17, "Know ye not that ye," Chriftians, "are the temple of God, and that the fpirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God deftroy: for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 2 Cor. vi. 16, "And what agreement hath the temple of God," the Chriftian church, "with Idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath faid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them." Eph. ii. 20, 21, 22, 66 And are built upon the foundation of the Apoftles, &c. Chrift Jefus being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together, groweth into an holy temple in the Lord: in whom you alfo are builded together, for an habitation of God, through the fpirit." 2 Theff. ii. 4,- "So that he as God fitteth in the temple of God, fhewing himself that he is God."

129. Note; here God is the fupreme builder. Heb. iii. 4, "Every houfe is built by fome one, but he that built all things is God." As if he had faid; in erecting every difpenfation fubordinate builders are employed, but God is the fupreme builder, who directs and establishes every conftitution (*). And Chrift, in the gofpel church, is the builder next to him. Heb. iii. 3, "For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Mofes, in as much as he, [Chrift Jefus,] who hath builded the boufe, the more honourable house,] hath the greater honour of the houfe;" that, is, refulting from the house. The more honourable the house, the more honourable the builder of it. Chrift adminiftred and built a more honourable conftituion than Mofes; and therefore is moft juftly intitled to an honour fuperior to his. Mat. xvi. 18, "Upon this rock will I build my church."

and Minifters are alfo builders.

II, 12.

And, under Chrift, the Apostles Rom. xv. 20. 1 Cor. iii. 10,

130. XVII. And, not only doth God, as our king, dwell in the Christian

(*) When he faith, "Every houfe is built by fome perfon, but he who built all things is God," he evidently diflinguishes between a fubordinate, and fupreme builder. But this diftinction he needed not to have mentioned, had he not spoke of a fubordinate builder before. For, if in the cafe under confideration, there be no fubordinate builder at all, this diftinction is nothing to his purpose. Then his argument would have been; Chrift must build the houfe; because no one could build it but he; feeing no houfe is built by any but God. Whereas, contrariwife, he afferts a fubordinate builder, and tells us fuch a one is confiftent with God's being the fupreme, original Builder. Christ therefore, whom alone they had mentioned before as a builder, mutt be a fubordinate builder, diftinct from God, the Supreme builder; and this Verfe must not be a part of his argument, but an explication of it; as 1 Cor. xi. 27. He was aware it might be objected: "But do not you teach that we Chriftians are God's building?" 1 Cor. iii. 9. It is true, faith the Apostle; nor is my affirming, that Christ built the Chriftian church, at all inconfiftent with it: for it must always be remembered, that in fuch cafes God is the fupreme and original workman. Whatever fubordinate agents he may employ, he is notwithstanding the principal author of every conftitution. This is one inftance of the accuracy of the apoftolic writings.

3, 12. XV.