Anfa.

No, We must therefore fo understand it, in things that man is capable of: We have member for member with Adam, every man, head for his head, and legs for his legs; but every man is not the firft Adam, that every man is not capable of. So Jefus Chrift, He is made like to us, but He is not a finner, that He was not capable of: And fo we have grace for grace, Answerable Grace; 'tis to be understood in things that we are capable of: We are not Saviors, we are not Mediators, we are not Chrifts. In fome of thofe things that we are not capable of: yet there is fomewhat in a Christian, that in fome other kind is Anfwerable thereunto: As now for example, When our Lord and Savior Chrift was Baptized, the Heavens opened, and the holy Ghoft fell down upon Him in the shape of a Dove: The holy Ghoft does not fo fall down upon men now, but yet 'tis fhed abroad in the hearts of all that are godly. He is the great King, and the Priest, and the Prophet of His Church: All the Saints are Kings, and Priests, and Prophets; but not to that beighth as He was. To open this a little, that I may cleer the

Point.

Is our Lord and Savior Chrift a Prophet? and as a Prophet does He teach His People? the Sains; in that of the Rev. 11. Revelation, The Two Witnesses are faid to prophefie in sackclotb. They are faid to Prophefie too.

3.

4.

Is our Lord and Savior Chrift a King? and as a King, does He Over come, and fubdue Satan? and cur Infts? and 1Job.5. the world? So do the Saints too. This is your Victory whereby ye Over-come the world, even your Fish. As a King. Does He, Overcome, and fit down in Hus Throne? So do they too: in the 3. of the Revelations, and the 21 verfe: To him that overcometh will I grant to fit with me in my Throne; even as I alfo overcame, and am fet down with My Father in His Thr me. (Mark I pray ;) Chrift hath a Throne on Earth: (Saies He) As I overcame, and am fet down with my Father in His Throne in Heaven: So thofe that overcome fhal! fit down; Mat.8. That is, have Communion. Many fhall come from the Eaft, and from the Weft; and fhall fit down with Abraham, and Ifaac:

II.

That

That is, have Communion with them. So here, To him that overcomes, will grant to fit down with me in my Throne: They hal have Comunion with Jefus Chrift in his Throne. As a King, does the Lord Jefus Chritt Rule the Nations, and Pfal.2.9. break them in pieces with a rod of iron? So fhall the Saints do in their generation, and in their way. Look I pray into the 2d of the Revelation, the 26. verfe: And he that overcometh and keepeth my Works unto the end; To bim will I give power over the Nations. And he fall rule them with a rod of iron: (Mark) And he shall rule them with a rod of iron: As the veffel of a potter fhall they be broken to shivers, even as I received of my Fa ther. He does not fay, Even as I recived this Doctrine of Father, but as I (which you reade of in the fecond Pfalm) received this Power from my Father: they fhall communicate with me in this Power: Even as I received of my Father, So fhall they receive it; they fhall have Communion with Him in this.

my

Is Jefus Chrift a Priefi? and as a Prieft, Does He Sacrifice? So do the Saints too. The Apoftle Exhorts the Romans, That they offer up themselves a reasonable Sacrifice. As a Prieft, Rom.12.1 does He make Iterceffion? So 'tis laid concerning the Saints, in the 8. of the Romans: The Spirit of God that is upon them, makes Interceffion with groans that cannot be expreft. As a Prieft, does Jefus Chrift, as our great High-Priest, Enter into the Holy of Holieft? that you will fay belonged unto the Priest alone, and none might enter into the Holieft, and the Holy of Holieft but the Prieft. So do the Saints too: See I pray, what Communion, and fellowship the Saints have with Jefus Chrift: Saies he, in the 10. of the Heb. and the 19. ver. Having therefore, Brethren, boldneß to enter into the Holieft by the Blood of Jesus; by a new and living way &c. Is our High Prrieft entered into the Holy of Holieft as a HighPrieft? You shall have Communion in His Prieftly Office too: and as He entered into the Holy of Holieft: fo fhalt you too. Thus Thus you fee, there is an Answerablenes in the Saints, with what is in Christ. And indeed, herein does our Spiritual Regeneration, go beyond our Generation:

For,

Applic. I

For, though a child be like unto the father in this, that he is a man like the father, and he hath a bead like the father, and arms, and legs like the father: yet his feature may not be like the fathers, lineaments not alike: But now, in our Spiritual Regeneration, there is fuch a likeness; as whatfoever Grace, or Holiness is in Jefus Chrift, there is fomwhat in all the Saints that is Answerable thereunto.

By way of Application then: If this be fo; That the Saints do receive from Chrifts Fulness, Grace for Grace; Grace Answerable to the Grace of Chrift: That whatsoever Grace, or Holiness there is in Chrift, there is fomwhat in all the Saints that is Answerable thereunto. Then what abundance of men and women are there, even living under the Gofpel; that have no prefant fhare or faving intereft in Jefus Chrift. Me thinks I hear this Doctrine crying aloud, and faying; ftand by Profane men, ftand by: You that are meerly Civil, and Moral people, ftand by: And all Hypocrites, ftand by; as having no fhare and interest in Jelar Chrift

As for Profane men: they will be Drunk, and Swear, and commit Adultery and Lye, and break the Sabbath: But would Jefus Chrift do fo? They count it the life of their life, and the foul of their foul, to be at a merry meeting, a jovial meeting: but would Jefus Chrift do fo? When Jefus Chrift was upon the Earth, He went up and down doing good, and scattering good, communicating good; and they go up and down fcattering their fins: and is this Grace for Grace? is this Answerable? I appeal to

you:

As for those that are meerly Civil, Moral. Though they will not fwear great, and grofs Oathes; yet fwear by their Faith, and by their Troth: but would Jefus Chrift do fo? They carry a fecret fpleen,and envy at the power of godlinefs, and thofe that have it: but would Jefus Chrift do fo? They frame up their Religion, and their Worship according to the Times; if Authority command it, they will

do

they will do it whatever it be: but would Jefus Chrift do fo? When Jefus Chrift was upon the Earth, he was Zea lous, The Zeal of thine house bath eaten me up: but they are Iob, 2.17 formal, and they are Lukewarm: Oh! is this Grace for Grace? is this your Answerableness? and are thefe in Jefus Chtift? As for thofe that are Hypocrites: They have alwaies fome fecret fin or other, fome back-door or other that they may go out at: but had Jefus Chrift fo? They lie contemplating, and chewing of the Devils Cud; and are indulgent to their bafe thoughts, their finful thoughts; but was Iefus Chrift fo? They favour gifts, and expreflions more than Graces: but did Jefus Chrift do fo? They, though they feem to be mortified, and dead unto the groffer part of the world, meat, drink, and clothes: yet they are no way mortified, and dead unto the finer part of the world, their Names, and their Credits: Was it thus with lefas Chrift? Indeed an Hypocrite, through the ftrength of Education, living under the Gospel, may fet himfelf to imitate Chrift: but there is an Artificial imitation; and a Natural refemblance. A father may have two fons; The one that is unlike him, but imitates him: the other that does naturally refemble the father, and imitate him too: Such are the Saints, being made partakers of the Divine Nature; they naturally care for the things of Chrift: hypocrites do not fo. Behold! here's the Character of a Christian indeed, he hath Grace for Grace, whatever Grace there is in Chrift, he hath fomewhat Answerable thereunto. Oh! how few men and women are there in the world,that have a faving fhare and intereft in lefus Chrift! Secondly. If this Doctrine be true: What a happy, Applic.2 and bleffed thing is it for a man to be in Chrift! Behold! the Dignity of the Saints! Beloved! here's glory on this fide glory; 'tis the glory, and the honor of a man to be like to God: 'tis the glory, and honor of a Difciple to be like his Mafter: 'tis the glory, and honor of a Child to be like his Father:'tis the glory,and honor of a Chriftian to be like unto Iefus Chrift: Every Chriftian, hath the Image

S

of

Quest

Answ.

of Chrift drawn upon him. Had our Lord Jefus,the Great, and Mighty Potentate, only come by a poor foul, and caft His Skirt over him, and said unto the foul, wear thou my Livery: it had been a great honor to belong to Chrift, to wear His Livery: But behold! here's more than fo, the Saints do not only wear His Livery, but they have His Grace: and their Grace is of the fame nature with the very Grace of Chrift; as our Grace fhould have been of the fame nature with Adams, if Adam had ftood. Yea, not only their Grace is of the fame nature; but look what Grace Christ had, they have Anfwerable to it. Had this great and royal Loadftone,that draws all mens hearts after Him; only touch't our hearts that we might have followed Him; what a mercy had it been! But behold! here is more than fo: the Saints they have Grace for Grace; whatsoever Grace, or Holiness there is in Chrift, fomwhat in a Chriitian Anfwerable thereunto. Oh! Dignity! Oh! Dignity! how can a Chriftian but be welcom to God the Father, that does not come only in the Name of Chrift to Him; but brings the Image of Christ too with him, Grace for Grace. Oh! who would not be Incouraged to get in to Jefus Chrift? Oh! you that are in Chrift, do you know what priviledges you walk under every day? You, fome times, are ready to envy at the men of the world: but ] pray, Would you now change your condition with them? Such a one, he hath paffion for paffion; and pride for pride; and fin for fin with the world and you have, Grace for Grace with Jefus Chrift. Here's Dignity! here's Priviledg indeed!

But you will fay; All Dignity cals for Duty: Suppofe it be fo; That whatfoever Grace, and Holinefs there is in Chrift, there is fomewhat Anfwerable in my foul: Oh! what is my Duty now that does flow from hence?

Surely, you cannot be proud of it, for then you fhall not be like to Chrift; Who though He thought it no robbery to be equal with God the Father He humbled Himfelf,and became of no reputation. Beloved, you know that all Ta

lents