EPHE S. ii. 19. Now therefore ye are no more Strangers and Foreigners, but Fellow-Citizens with the Saints, and of the Houshold of God. I. Συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων καὶ οἰκεῖοι το Θεῖ. THE HE Church is compared to a great City that reacheth over the World, Heb. xii. 22. a City incorporated into one Body or Corporation, whereof Chrift is head, Eph. i. 22, 23. Col. ii. 19. 1 Cor. xii. 12, II. This City is governed by the Laws of God, Chrift's own Inftitution, 2 Tim. iii. 16. though every particular Corporation in it may have fome By-Laws, fo they be not contrary to the Fundamental Laws of the City, 1 Col. xiv. 40. III. Many may live near, or in the City, which yet are not of it, nor admitted into it But are ξένιοι και πάροικοι, Strangers and Foreigners, Eph. ii. 12. Such are Jews, Turks, Heathens, and all that are not true and real Chriftians; though they live among thefe Citizens, they are not Fellow-Citizens with them. IV. Many are made free of this City, admitted into it by Baptifm, and Spiritual Regeneration, being born again of Water and the Spirit, Fob. iii. 5. 1 Cor. xii. 13. and fo made FellowCitizens. V. There be many great Immunities and Privileges granted to this City, which only the Fellow-Citizens have any Right to, or can partake of. 1. Safety 1. Safety and Protection from all Manner of Enemies, Matt. xvi. 18. 2. Free Trade and Commerce for Grace and Goodness for Heaven and Happiness, which can be attained by none but fuch as are free of this City, Acts ii. 47. cap. x. 6,48. 3. Here is that Communion of Saints that is one main Article of our Chriftian Faith. Here, 1. The Saints have Communion in the Body and Blood of Chrift, whereby all Saints refort to the fame Table, eat the fame Food, drink of the fame Cup, 1 Cor.x. 16,17. I Cor. x. 3, 4. 2. Communion with God. 1. The Father, 1 Joh. i. 3. fo that we may call him our Father, 1 Job. iii. 1. 2. The Son, 1 Job. i. 3. 1 Cor. i. 9. eis xorvapiar, to the Communion, Job. i. 16. cap. xv. 4, 5. He took our Nature upon him, and in it died for us, and we have Fellowship in his Death, Phil. iii. 10. 3. God the Holy Ghoft, Phil. ii. 1. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. For Chrift being our Head, and we his Members, the Spirit is diffufed from him to us, Gal. iv. 6. 2 Pet. i. 4. 3. Communion with the Saints and Angels; above, all which make up but one Church with that below. Where Chrift is Head and Governour. Κεφαλὴ γὰ ἔτι καὶ ἀγγέλων καὶ ἀνθρώπων. Chryf. N 4 They They pray in general for as, Apoc. vi. 1o, Matt. xviii. 10. Minifter to us, Heb. i. 14. They rejoyce at our Good, Luke ii. 13, 14. tap. XV. 7. Apoc. xviii. 20. And we for our Parts praise God for them, that they are got to Heaven. But by no Means must pray to them: For, 1. They do not hear our Prayers, Ifa. lxiij. 16. 2. Nor can fulfil our Defires. 3. This is Part of that Worfhip which is due only to God, Rom. X. 14. 4. They have Communion with one another: 1. In the Exercises of all religious Duties; praying for one another, Eph. vi. 18. 2. In all Acts of Love and Charity, Job. xiii. 35. Gal. vi. 10. * Vide ut fe invicem diligunt. Tert. USE I. Make it your main Business to get to be 2. Live as becometh Saints, 1 Job. i. 6, 7. Then you will furely get to Heaven, Col. i. 12. I JOHN iii. 4. Sin is the Tranfgreffion of the Law. Ἡ ἁμαρτία ἐςὶν ἡ ἀνομία. HAT Law? WHAT 1. The Law of Nature, the Dictates of right Reason, Rom. i. 32. Παν παρὰ ἢ λόγον * ὀρθὸν, τότο αμαρτημα ἔ57. Clem. This Law appears, 1. From the Laws of Heathens, and all Na- Ἔθηκαν ὁ Θεὸς νόμον ἐν τῇ φύσει ἄγραφον. Chryf. 2. The Municipal or Civil Laws of all Countries, Rom. xiii. 1. Tit. iii. 1. 1 Pet. ii. 13. These we are bound in Confcience to obferve, fo long as they are not repugnant to the Law of God, Rom. xiii. 5. And every Tranfgreffion of fuch Laws is Sin. 3: The Divine Laws inftituted by God himfelf; which are, Ceremonial: Concerning the Sacraments, Sacrifices, Holy Times and Places, and other outward Obfervances of Priests and People among the Jews. This is now abrogated, Acts xv. 28. Col. ii. 16. Heb. vii. 12. cap. ix. 10. 2. Judicial Concerning Magiftrates, Contracts, Diftributions of Inheritances, Witness, Punishments of Blafphemy, Perjury, &c. These were made only for the Jews, and therefore cannot oblige other Nations. And the Apostle commands all Chriftians to obferve the Laws of their own Nations, though different from the Jewish, 1 Pet. ii. 13. 3. The Moral Law: Contained in the Decalogue, Deut. iv. 13. This Law is ftill in Force: 1. It is no where repealed in Scripture, and therefore must needs be in force, it having been once established. 2. It was confirmed by Chrift himself, Matt. V. 17. cap. xix. 17, 18. Rom. iii. 31. 3. v. It was enjoyned before Chrift was promifed, It was indeed the eternal Will and Pleasure of God. Usa. Obey this Law: Confider, i. It is juft and holy in it felf, Pfal. xix. 7, 8. Rom. vii. 12. 3. You will be judged by it, Jac. ii. 12... 4. Every Tranfgreffion of this Law is Sin. II. What |