of the Jews must be different from that of the Gentiles. The Gentiles were called into the Kingdom of God as Strangers and Foreigners, who had never been in it before. But the Jews then were Subjects of God's Kingdom under the old Form; and therefore could be called only to fubmit to it, as it was new modelled under the Melah. Or they were called to Repentance, to the Faith, Allegiance and Obedience of the Son of God, and to the Hope of eternal Life through him; whom rejecting, they were caft out of God's peculiar Kingdom.

99. IV. As God formed believing Jews and Gentiles into one Body; and as he brought the Gentiles out of Darkness and Idolatry into a new and happy State of Existence, he is faid, 1. to create and make them, and they are his Work and Workmanship, 2. to quicken them, or to give them Life, 3. to have begotten, or regenerated them. [17] Eph. 11. 10, "We are his Workmanship, created in Chrift Jefus unto good Works." Col. iii. 10, "And have put on the new Man, [the Chrif tian State] which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him." Ver. II, Where [in which new Man] there is neither Greek nor Jew," &c. Eph. ii. 15, "To make [or create] in himself of twain one new Man." iv. 24, " And that he put on the new Man, which after God is created in Righteoufnefs and true Holinefs." Jam. i. 18, "Of his own Will begat he us with the Word of Truth, that we [Chriftian Jews] fhould be a Kind of First-fruits of his Creatures." [The Jews were first converted by the Preaching of the Gofpel, that they might be, like the Firft-fruits under the Law, the best of the Kind, and the most exemplary Christians.] Rom. xiv. 20, " For Meat deftroy not the Work of God." [The Work of God here is a Chriftian; and destroying him is, in the Senfe of the Apostle, giving him Occafion to renounce his Chriftian Profeffion.

100. Eph. ii. 5, "When we were dead in Sins God hath quickened us [Gr, made us to live] together with Chrift, (by Grace ye are faved)." Col. ii. 13. Rom. vi. 13, " Yield yourselves unto God, as thofe that are alive from the Dead," [the Heathen World, who are represented as dead, Eph. v. 14. 1 Pet. iv. 6. Hence corrupt Chriftians, who live like Heathens, are faid to be dead while they live, or, by their Profeflion have a Name to live, 1. Tim. v. 6. Rev. iii. 1.]

101. Jam. i. 18, "Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth, that we fhould be a Kind of Firft-fruits of his Creatures." 1 Pet. i. 3, "Blefied be the God, and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who-hath begotten us again [avayemsaç regenerated us] to a lively Hope.” Ver. 23, “Being born," begotten, "again [avyvumu regenerated,] not of corruptible Seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God.” Tit. iii. 5, "Not by Works of Righteoufaefs we have done, but according to his Mercy he faved [93] us, by the Washing [125] of Regeneration, and Renewing of the Holy Ghoit." I John v. 1,-" Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him alfo that is begotten of him." Ver. 18,-" He that is begotten of God keepeth himfelf [is obliged, [274] is furnished with Means proper to enable him, to keep himfelf] and keeping himself] that wicked One toucheth him not."

102. Thus as God has created us Chriftians, and made us live, we have received a new being or exiftence, [20]. Cor. i. 30, "Of him are

ye"

ye" [Gentiles, who once were "the things which are not," Ver.28.] 2 Cor v. 17, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are paft away, behold, all things are become new." Further,

103. V. Hence, as he made Christians live and begat them, efpecially the believing Gentiles, by bringing them into a new and happy ftate of being, (1.) He fuftains the character of a Father, and (2.) They are his children, his fons and daughters, which were born to him. [21] Rom. i. 7, "To all [Chriftians] that be at Rome,-Grace to you, and peace from God our Father." I Cor. i. 3. 2 Cor. i. 2. Gal. i. 4. Eph. i. 2. Phil. i. 2. iv. 20, Col. i. 2. 1 Thef. i. 1, 3.

11. 11, 13.

2 Thef. i. 2. ii. 16, "God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and given us everlasting confolation, and good hope through grace." I Tim. i. 2. Philem. 3. Rom. viii. 15, "Ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby ye cry Abba, Father." Gal. iv. 6. 2 Cor. vi. 17,-"Be ye feparate [from the Gentile world] and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you."

104. Rom. viii. 16, 17, "The Spirit itself beareth witnefs with our fpirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs," &c. John i. 12, "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the fons [Gr. children of God,-which were born, not of blood, &c. but of God." 1 John iii. 1, "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we fhould be called the fons [Gr.children] of God." Rom. ix. 26, "And it shall come to pafs, that in the place where it was faid unto them, ye [Gentiles] are not my people, there fhall they be called the. children [Gr. Jons] of the living God." 2 Cor. vi. 17,-"I will be a Father unto you, and ye [believing Gentiles] fhall be my fons and daughters, faith the Lord Almighty." Gal. iii. 26, "For ye are all [Jews and Gentiles] the children [Gr. fons] of God by faith in Jefus Christ." Eph. i. 5.

105. 1 Pet. i. 22, 23, "Seeing ye have purified your fouls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, unto unfeigned love of the brethren, fee ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. Being born [begotten] again [regenerated] not of corruptible feed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever." ii. 1, 2, "Whereof laying afide all malice, and all guile, and hypocrifies, and envies, and evil-fpeakings; as new-born babes defire the fincere milk of the world, that ye may grow thereby." I John v. 4, "For whatsover is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." [Pfal. xxii. 31, "They fhall come and fhall declare his righteous nefs unto a people that fhall be born, that he has done this."]

106. VI. And, as the whole body of Chriftians are the children of one Father, even of God, this naturally establifheth among themfelves the mutual and indearing relation of brethren and fifters, and they are obliged to regard and love each other accordingly. [25] Ads ix. 30.. xv. 36, "Let us go and visit our brethren in every city." 1 Cor. v. II. 5, 8. vii. 12, 15. Col. i. 2, "To the faithful brethren in Chrift." Thef. iii. 6. Phiiem. 16. Rom. xii. 10. 1 Pet. i. 22. iii. 8, "Love as brethren." Rom. xvi. 1, "I commend Phebe our fifter." Jam. ii. 15, "If a brother or fifter be naked," &c.

vi.

2

And, as we stand in the relation of children to the God and Father

of

of our Lord Jefus Chrift, hence it is that we are his Brethren, and he is confidered as the Firft-born among us." Mat. xxviii. 10. John xx. 17, "Jefus faith,-Go to my Brethren, and fay unto them, I afcend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God." Heb. ii. 11, 17. Rom. viii. 29,-"That he might be the First-born among many Brethren.” 107. VII. And the Relation of God, as a Father, to us Chriftians, who are his Children, will lead our Thoughts to a clear Idea of our being, as we are called, the Houfe or Family, of God, or of Chrift. [26] 1 Tim. iii. 15, " But if I tarry long, that thou mayeft know how to behave thyfelf in the Houfe of God, which is the Church of the living God." Heb. iii. 6, "But Chrift as a Son over his own Houfe; whofe Houfe are we, [Chriftians,] if we hold faft the Confidence and Rejoicing of the Hope firm unto the End." Heb. x. 21, "And having a great High-prieft over the Houfe of God," &c. 1 Pet. ix. 17, "For the Time is come that Judgment muft begin at the House of God; [that is, when the Christian Church shall undergo fharp Trials and Sufferings;] and if it firft begin at us [Chriftians, who are the House or Family of God,] what fhall the End be of them that obey not the Gospel?" [that is, of the infidel World, who lie out of the Church. See Rom. i. 5. xv. 18. 1 Pet. i. 22.] Eph. ii. 19,-"We are of the Houfbold [Domeftics] of God."-iii. 14, 15,-" I bow my Knees unto the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, of whom the whole Family in Heaven and Earth is named," &c.

108. VIII. Further; as the Land of Canaan was the Estate, or Inheritance, belonging to the Jewish Family or Houfe, fo the Heavenly Country is given to the Chriftian House, or Family for their Inheritance. [27] A&ts xx. 32, " And now, Brethren, I commend you to God, and to the Word of his Grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an Inheritance among all them which are fanctified." Col. ii. 24, "Knowing that of the Lord ye fhall receive the Reward of the Inheritance." Heb. ix. 15, "He is the Mediator of the New Teftament,-that they which are called might receive the Promife of eternal Inheritance." 1 Pet. i. 4, "God has begotten us again,-to an Inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that paffeth not away, referved in Heaven for us (*). Hence we have the

title

(*) As the Share, which any particular Jews had in the Land of Canaan, is frequently confidered as their Lot and Inheritance [xλngos xxλngovozia] among God's People, fo fome judicious Perfons fuppofe, that the Apostles confider that Share and Interest, which any Part of the Chriftian Church have in the prefent Privileges of the Kingdom of God, as their Inheritance, or the Part of their Lot. Acts xxvi. 18,– -" To turn the Gentiles from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God, that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins, and an Inheritance [or Lot, nλxpor] among them which are fanctified by Faith that is in me." So we may understand. Eph. i. 11, 14, 18. [See Locke on thefe Verfes] Col. i. 12, " Giving thanks to the Father who has made us meet to be Partakers [or rather, to be taken into a Part] of the Inheri tance [or Lot] of the Saints in Light;" that is, who has vouchfafed you a Share in the Light of the Gofpel, which he now affords to his Saints, (127] having freed you from your former Gentile Darkness, and "tranflated you in to the Kingdom of the Son of his Love;" as it follows in the next Verie, Ver. 13. It is thus, perhaps, that the Gentiles are faid to be Fellow-Heirs with the Jews, Eph. iii. 6. "That the Gentiles fhould be Fellow-Heirs, and of the fame Body, and Partakers of his Premife in Chrift, by the Gospel.'

But

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 promised to them that love him." Rom. viii. 17. 1 Pet. iii. 7.

109. And as Canaan was confidered as the rest of the Jews, fo in reference to our trials and afflictions in this world, Heaven is confidered as the rest of Chriftians. [28] 2 Thef. i. 7, "And to you who are troubled, rest 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 feem to come fhort of it. For unto us hath the gofpel been preached as well as to them;" that is, we have the joyful promise 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 Christians now in this world, as well as for the Jews formerly in the wilderness. Which is the point the apostle is proving from Ver. 3, to 10.

110. IX. Thus Christians, 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." Roma v. 11, "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 Christian profeffion and privileges] to God, the judge of all." Ver. 29, "Our God is a confuming 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 ufing your liberty as a cloak of malicioufnefs, but as the fervants of God."

111. Hence converfion from Heathenifm to Chriftianity is "turning from Satan, vanities, idols unto God, to ferve the living and true God,' Acts xiv. 15. xxvi. 18, 20. 1 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 profeflion 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 Chrift our Lord,”&c. Eph. vi. 6, "As the fervants of Chrift." Col. iii. 24. Rev. i. 1, "To fhew unto his fervants things which muft fhortly come to pafs;

and

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

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 fometimes 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 alfo 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 privilege of all profeffed Chriftians.

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

118. On the other hand; the body of the Jewish nation, (having through unbelief rejected the Melliah, and the gofpel, and being, therefore, caft out of the city and kingdom of God) are, in their turn, at prefent, reprefented under the name and notion of enemies; Rom. xi. 28," As concerning the gofpel, 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 alfo 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 efponfed you to one husband, that I may prefent you as a chafte virgin to Chrift." Eph. v. 22-32, "Wives, fubmit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband 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 hufbands 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