That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also have fellowship with us ; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1: 3.

The apostle in the two former verses had been speaking of Christ, he Father, as being in each other, as one in each other, and as communion with each other. For if Christ was from everlasting with the Father, if He was that Eternal Life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto the apostles by his open Incarnation, then what hath been expressed is most certainly deducible therefrom. So he here in the words before us, informs the saints to whom he writes, concerning his end and design in his writing on this subject unto them. 'That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. In the vast designs of Jehovah concerning Christ God-Man and by the Personal Union of the Essential Word, and Son of God to the Man Christ, a foundation was laid in the infinite mind, for an union and communion of all the elect in Christ, and through Him. So that as the Father dwelleth in Christ, and He dwelleth in the Father, and by this most blessed incomprehensible union, the Father is in Christ, and Christ is in the Father, so there follows from it, that communion which is only known to them, and enjoyed by them, and which is wholly incommunicable, an ineffable. Yet as a pattern and evidence of it, the union of Christ as the head of the whole election of grace, with his whole social body, the church, is the foundation of all the communion Christ hath with each, and every member of the same. And from this union, all the blessings of Christ being their eternal head flow down to them. Our Lord saith, " I am in the Father, and the Father in me: the Father dwelleth in me. John xiv. 10. Of his church he says, " At that day. (viz. when the Holy should be given unto them,) ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." V. 20 Again, "As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father : so, he that eateth me, even he shall live by me." vi. 57. Where there is union there cannot but be communion. And it is according and in proportion to the union which is the cause thereof. In the words before us, which are a continuation of the former subject, we have the following particulars.

1. The declaration of the apostles, delivered by them, through the mouth of an individual, who spoke for them all. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you.

2. The end and design of the apostle John in this. That ye also may have fellowship with us.

3. Who they were with whom they had fellowship. With the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4. The truth and reality of this, which is thus confirmed. And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. That we have this fellowship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, is infallible truth. I set my seal to it as such, says the apostle John. I am

1. To set before you the declaration expressed in my text : which contains the whole subject of the apostles ministry. Beyond which they could not go. Nor could greater things be expressed. It being the wisdom of God in a mystery. The hidden wisdom of God. The manifold wisdom of God. The unsearchable riches of Christ. The true knowledge of which, in the hand of the Spirit, is the means of comforting the hearts of saints, of "knitting them together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Surely all this, was contained in the preaching of the true doctrines of our Lord Jesus Christ by the holy apostles of the Lord and Saviour. This most assuredly is, for the essence of it, contained in this declaration before us. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. They could not declare more than they had seen and heard, in Christ, and from Christ, with whom they had personal converse in the days of his flesh. And all which they had seen and heard in Him, and from Him, they made a full declaration of, in their ministry unto the people. They were his witnesses unto the people. They had seen Him, whom many prophets and righteous men had desired to see, yet had not. their desires granted. They had heard Him speak, who spoke as never man spoke, whom prophets and kings had desired to hear, vet were not admitted to have their ears thus favoured. They saw Him, heard Hun, conversed with Him, who was the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Even Him, who said, " I came down from heaven." " I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world." "Before Abraham was, I am." They had heard our Lord Jesus Christ speak out all his heart. So that they were most abundantly qualified to bear their testimony of, and concerning Him. Our apostle using the plural number, sews that the whole testimony borne by all the apostles, was one and the same. It was one and the same gospel in each of their mouths. What they knew of Christ, they set forth. What they had received of Him, and from Him, they fully expressed. The communion they had with Him, they made known. They did not keep the knowledge. of it within themselves ; to themselves : and amongst themselves. The declaration which they made of this, was to saints. Not to others. No. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. Who are holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling. Who are with us partakers of Christ. A most noble instance of spiritual generosity. Worthy of imitation by all the servants and ministers of Christ, in every age, and throughout all generations. They should be as so many mouths, engaged and employed to speak out his whole heart. To sound forth his most glorious praise. To declare his glorious acts. To talk of his power. To shew forth his salvation from day to day. To speak of the glorious honour of his Majesty, and of his wondrous works. To utter forth the memory this great goodness, and to sing of his righteousness. They will do so. They cannot but act thus, if they have seen Him: if they have conversed with Him : if they have heard Him : if they have been taught by Him as the Truth is in Jesus. They and we cannot but speak what we have seen in Him: received from Him : and been taught by Him. And to whom will they make their declaration of Him ? To sinners, and saints. To the former they will sound forth this most solemn declaration, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners;" which, when received by the power. of
he Holy Ghost into the heart, they will add, " God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life :" and these words also, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life :" then the ministers of Christ will proceed to shew them what they are in Christ. How they stand in him. What views the Father hath of them in Christ. How he loves them in his Son. How he hath accepted their persons in Him the Beloved. How completely saved they are in Christ. That they are blessed in Him with all spiritual blessings. And are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The apostle here speaks for all his brethren, and in their names he speaks to all saints. Let them be distinguished as they might, by their age, and state in Christianity : fathers, babes, or young men in Christ. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. As they had themselves been feasted with a sight of Christ, with his having opened his heart unto them, with the words which he had spoken in their hearing, and personally unto them, so they Make in, and by their writings, a free, full, and clear discovery of the same, for the universal benefit of the whole church of God. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. This brings me

2. To speak of the end and design of the apostle John in this. 'That ye also may have fellowship with us. Church fellowship, which is the communion of saints, is an inexpressible blessing. It consists in imparting to each other an account of what the Lord hath done for our souls : how he opened our eyes to behold Him ; how he made way for us to receive Him, by giving us to hear his voice in the everlasting gospel, and by that very means entering our hearts, and possessing, dwelling, and continuing to abide in them. We receiving the same truths, enjoying the same spiritual apprehensions of Christ, and loving each other in Christ, by the same Spirit, who revealed Christ in us, and to us, it is hereby we are one spirit with each other in the Lord. We have fellowship with each other in the same Spirit; with the same Christ; in the same salvation : with the same God and Father in the same ordinances. We are one family to the Lord. The apostle sets this forth most sweetly to the saints at Ephesus, whom he thus addresseth. " I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."" iv. 6. It is said of the members of the first apostolic church, "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Act ii. 42. Saints are not all of them embodied into a church state. Yet as saints they have fellowship with each other in Christ, at the Throne of his grace ; in praying for each other ; in praising and blessing God for what he hath done for each other ; and in conversing with each other. And sometimes without having the least knowledge of each other. As they are importunate before the Lord, for his blessing on his church universally. The fellowship our text is speaking of, it is wholly and altogether supernatural and divine. It is with the Father, and the Son. It is with the apostles in their fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And this is his very end and design in his writing unto them. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us : and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

John and the rest of the apostles, being of one spirit in the Lord, he brings them in, as uniting with himself, in what lie here inserts. We is the term lie uses. So it was in the former verses. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of life. For the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and shew unto you that Eternal Life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us : and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. Most assuredly, his design in declaring to the saints, all he, and the rest of the apostles knew of Christ, in his Person, as from everlasting He was with God, and was God of what He was, as God and Man in one Christ of what he was in his Incarnate state of what he spake and did in our world, in the days of his flesh of what He did, and spake in his Resurrection state-and of what they knew of Him, and the communion which they had with Him ; now that He was in his exalted state-with the fellowship he continued to hold with them, and which He was most graciously pleased to admit them to hold with Him, must be very interesting to the saints. If it had not been so, it had not been declared by him to them. It is well therefore here to remark, that the Holy Ghost intended by this very epistle, to admit real saints, into proper views and perception of this great subject, and what is contained in communion with God, in all his Persons. And this as suited to the relation they stand in to us. It is a personal communion. It is the very perfection of grace and glory. We cannot reach higher this side heaven. We cannot go beyond it, No, not in glory. It is the very perfection of the life of faith. It is the utmost blessedness of the life of' glory. On earth we enjoy it by faith. In heaven by sense. Now, by spiritual perception, then, by supernatural sense and vision. That which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us. We cannot enjoy God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, any further than we have the true knowledge of them. The saints to whom John wrote and declared these important truths, might know them as truly, and intellectually in their own renewed minds, as the very apostles themselves did. Yet they did not know them so comprehensively. This being the case, the one could impart a knowledge of these vast subjects, so as thereby to be improving to the mind, and lead them further and more apprehensively into the subject.

Hereby way would be made, for real saints, to be led to apprehend the blessedness, of real, free, open, manifestative communion with the Persons in Godhead, in all their glorious acts of grace, and outgoings of their love, to the church in Christ, from everlasting. This therefore was the great and gracious design of the apostle to effect by this epistle. As also by his gospel, and the whole of his ministry. He, and the rest of his brethren, had but this one end and design. That as they knew Christ,
the church might know Him too. As truly, fully, and comprehensively, as to all true spiritual communion as they did. That the saints with
them, might have the same holy fellowship, with themselves, and that they might also enjoy amongst themselves, with each other, and in their own souls, the same blessed fellowship with the Holy Ones, which the apostles did. It being their birth-right, their one common privilege, as being of one and the same spiritual community. And God in all his Persons, love, salvation, and Glory, being their portion and inheritance, he would have them to have clear apprehensions of the same, and know themselves as truly invested into right and title to all these blessings, as any of the apostles were. These being the ends and design of the apostle towards them, in his saying, That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, is very expressive of the generosity and greatness of his mind unto them. That you, to whom I write may have fellowship with us, in all the mysteries of grace: in all the communicable blessings of everlasting love : in all the riches of Christ's most glorious mediation : in all the efficacy of his most perfect righteousness, and most precious blood shedding. In his fulness. That there may be a free access to Him, and to the Father in Him, through the gracious guidance and influxes of the Holy Ghost, within you, and upon you. So as that what we have said, concerning his Person, in every particular, may have its inbeing and indwelling in your minds; so as to operate within you, and upon you, and be the very means of drawing out your hearts, affections, and desires after Him, who is the very center and circumference of all our desires : and of yours also, so far as our account of Him, and declaration made, and given by us concerning Him, have been received, and are embraced, and believed by you. I conceive we may distinguish the real fellowship the apostles had with Christ, from what other saints have. They were favoured with personal converses with Christ. They received their knowledge of Him, more immediately, and intuitively from the Holy Spirit. In consequence of which, their faith was more simple. It was always, at all times, in every case, and circumstance, in act and exercise, after the descent of the Holy Ghost upon them.
All other saints, and we with them, receive the grace of faith and the subject of faith from the written word. That is the glass, and the ordinance of worship, in the which we behold the Lord. It is but at the best, but through a glass darkly. Whilst their sight of Him was most clear. And whilst in his incarnate state, they took in but very imperfect conception of Him; yet when the Holy Ghost came in upon them fully, after our Lord was fully invested with eternal glory, they were then so enlightened into the true knowledge of what they had seen, and heard of Him, as led them into such personal fellowship in a way of communion with Him, as I should conceive, none beside were ever favoured with in a time state. There was an absolute necessity it should be thus with them. They were to speak and write on every article of faith, and state the same, as exactly as it was stated in the mind and will of God. They were to express everlasting love, in all its glorious fruits and effects, and in all the gracious discoveries made of the same by God himself, to the hearts of his people, in the real communion he is pleased to hold with them, and in the gracious manifestations of Himself to their minds. Their, writings were to be immutable records of what God is in Christ, and to his Church in Him. And the very way and manner in which it pleases Him to make the same known unto them. Now most assuredly, in proportion to their knowledge of Christ, such must have been their faith in Christ. Such also must have been their confidence in Christ. Such their enjoyments of Him. Such their aspirations after Him. Such their high prizing of Him. Such their valuation of Him. Such their cleavings unto Him. Such their communion with Him. They knew Him to be their supreme life. Whilst we who acknowledge Him to be our life, scarce apprehend what is contained in the very expression. They obtained many blessed interviews with Him, in a way of personal communion with Him, in an immediate and direct way : whilst we are generally looking to our own inherent graces, to encourage, and bring about this holy communion between Him, and us. As they could write fully and freely on this subject, so they had a very large and comprehensive knowledge of the same. The end of John, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, in writing as he did, which was altogether under the influence-and immediate unction of the Holy Ghost, was, that all the saints in Christ Jesus, throughout the whole world, might have fellowship with Him, and the rest of the apostles in this blessedness, which consisted in fellowship with the Father, and the Son. This brings me to my

3d. Particular, to consider those with whom the apostles had fellowship. I ask, who were they ? the reply is, the Father, and the Son. And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. This is now to be particularly discoursed on, to be opened, and explained. May the Lord assist herein. It being a point of vast importance. It may be best in going through this part of my discourse, to speak in a distinct manner on the same. In the first place, the apostle speaks in a very positive manner, and asserts for himself, and the other apostles, Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. This is here to be observed. The sacred writers speak in very positive terms on the most important subjects. They do not go about to explain the subjects they declare. But they utter the same, and there leave it, setting their apostolic seal thereto. Communion with God-it must be the supreme corner-stone of Christianity. Yet our apostle does not say what it is, wherein it consists, nor by what means he, and the we in whose names he expresses this great truth, enjoyed it. He only says, Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. I should apprehend, the we spoken of, enjoyed communion with the Father, in the knowledge they had of his everlasting love, which they had clear apprehensions of in the Person of Christ. In the views they had of Christ, as the gift of the Father's love. As his salvation. In whom was all his delight. In whom he shone forth in all the glorious beams of his everlasting love. This they had a real knowledge of. And so they had of the Person of Jesus Christ. They knew him to be the Son of God. The God-Man, the Head, the Life, the Husband, the Saviour of his church and people. And so they had of the real and actual blessedness of having communion with Him. So that they could most truly say, Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. As this was declared for the benefit of the whole church, down to the very end of this present time state, and the blessed fruits and effects of the same will remain in the minds of saints in heaven to all eternity, it may not be amiss to open this truth which is here asserted concerning fellowship with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, and point out what it consists in. It may here be asked, is not the Holy Ghost a Person in the Godhead equal with the Father, and the Son ? Is it not by Him, we have communion with the Father and the Son? Why then is he not named by the apostle? The reply to each of these particulars is this. The Holy Ghost is a Person in the Godhead. He is spoken of by our Lord Jesus Christ as such, again and again in the 14th, 15th, and 16th chapters of John's gospel. It is by Him as the sole efficient cause, we have communion with the Father, and the Son, and we read of the communion of the Holy Ghost, in the apostle's benediction. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. And the reason why He is not here named by the apostle is this. The Father, and Christ are the Persons on whom our faith is exercised, and with whom we converse. The Holy Ghost his work is all within us. He is an indweller in our souls. It is by his indwelling in us that He puts forth his life and power within us. He reveals Christ to us. He sheds abroad the Father's love in our hearts, He leads us into fellowship with the Father and the Son, therefore it is, He being the author of all this, He is not mentioned. So as that thereby the subject of communion with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ might not be broken in upon, or interrupted. I would here ask, what is communion with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ? The answer is this. It is an unity of mind. So as for God to let in Himself upon our minds, as to give us such apprehensions of his love, as afford us a real, spiritual knowledge of and acquaintance with the same, so as for us to partake of the reality thereof. Our fellowship with the Father, consists in having spiritual sensations of his love imparted to our minds. Our Lord expresses himself on this great subject thus. " He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him." And again, " If a man love me, he will keep my words ; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John xiv. 21-23. The Father, and the Son, possessing the renewed mind, with thoughts of their great love, and this to such a degree, as for the child of God to enjoy the real apprehension of the same, this is for the Father and the Son to have and hold communion with us. And our fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, is the blessed fruit and effect of this. Our minds being thus spiritually enlightened and enlarged towards the Father for his love, and towards his Son Jesus Christ for saving us in Himself, with an everlasting salvation, we have free and blessed accesses to the Father and the Son, in the which we have real fellowship with them in our prayers, praises, and acknowledgements of them, in their everlasting favour and good will towards us. It may here be observed that the union we have with the Person of Christ, is the foundation of all the communion we have with Him and the Father in Him on earth, or shall be admitted to in heaven, and the Holy Ghost is the manifester of this union unto us. So says our Lord. He had been speaking of his giving his apostles the Holy Ghost. And he adds, " At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." John xiv. 20. There is a variety of unions in which Christ and his church are related to each other. There is first an election union, which is that comprehensive one, by which Christ and his church were united together from everlasting. He the Head, and they his members. Christ was not chosen for the church. But the church was chosen for Him, and the church was chosen in Him, and this was the first act of everlasting love towards her, and this was before the foundation of the world. This is election union. On this followed a marriage union. Christ and his Bride were set up in Heaven from eternity. The one was given to the other, and solemnly married before the Three in Jehovah before the world began. Hence you have Christ, God-Man, the Bridegroom of his church, thus expressing himself in the viii. chap. of the Proverbs. " Then I was by him, as one brought up with him : and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him: rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth ; and my delights were with the sons of men." v. 30, 31. There is also a representative union between Christ and the Elect. He represented them, and acted for them, as their Head, and Surety, in the everlasting covenant. This He gave full evidence of in the fulness of time, when he came into our world, and became thereby one with his people, so that " both lie that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified are all of one ;" that is of one nature. " Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same ; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Heb. ii. 11-14. There is also a grace union. Mr. Joseph Hussey says, "There are three unions in Christ, suited to the three operations of all the three persons in God. I mean three unions of God's children, and all of them before faith. Viz. Election Union, Representation Union, and Regeneration Union. Out of all these ariseth a fourth union which is a union with Christ, distinct from union in Christ, this consists in union and cleaving to him by faith." There is also a Glory Union of which our Lord speaks thus ; " And the glory which thou gayest me I have given them ; that they may be one even as we are one. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one ; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me. John xvii. 22, 23. This glory union will break forth upon the church in her resurrection state. Now in consequence of all these unions, there is a proportional communion with all the Persons in Godhead, in the Person of Christ, with the Church. And as these unions are made known to the spiritual minds of the saints, so they have likewise in proportion to the light and knowledge of the same, by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost, real communion with the Father and the Son. So as that they may say as truly as the apostle here doth, Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. I would here recite the end of the apostles writing this. It was that saints might know what they had a right unto, what they should seek after, and expect. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us, in all the truths, mysteries, grace and glory of the everlasting gospel, which contains a glorious revelation of the Father's everlasting love, and the Essential, Personal, Relative, Mediatorial Glories of Christ, of his Headship to his Church, as her Grace Head, and as her Glory Head, as we the apostles of the Lord and Saviour have. And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son
Jesus Christ. We saw him with our bodily eyes, in his incarnate state.
We saw him also with the, eyes of our minds. We had fellowship with Him, and the Father in Him. this was the case with us, and the blessing
bestowed on us, in his resurrection state. Now that He is ascended, and lives in heaven after the power of an endless life, we have further and more spiritual communion with Him. He hath made good his promise to us. " At that day ye shall ask in my name ; and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you : for the Father himself loveth you,
because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world ; again I leave the world, and go to the Father." John xvi. 26, 27, 28. By virtue of this having been realized unto us, we know the Father more clearly and as Personally distinct from the Son than heretofore. We have real communion with Him. We can and do declare unto you, Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the
greatest honour, dignity, and blessing which we can possibly be favoured with on Earth, or in Heaven. It was the highest attainment to which the
apostles-themselves arrived. As hereby the Father's love, and Son's salvation were most distinctly and spiritually realized in them, and unto them. The knowledge of God the Father and of his Son Jesus Christ, went first, and communion with them in real personal fellowship followed after. So it will in heaven and glory everlasting. So that to keep every
thing in its proper place, the knowledge of God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, is the first and greatest blessing, either in earth or heaven. And communion with the Father and the Son, is the very next unto it, both on earth, or in heaven. All which originate it, us, and we receive the same into our minds, from the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with its: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. This was the blessed state to which the apostles were advanced. John was one of' these. He as well as they, had fellowship with the Holy Trinity. This must have been in the right understanding of the glorious display made of grace, in their everlasting love to the persons of the elect. In the union of each of the divine Persons unto them in the Person of Christ, God-Man. In the true knowledge of all those spiritual blessings bestowed upon them, as tile fruit of God's everlasting love to them, in the Person of Christ. And into clear distinct fellowship with the Father, in his love to their persons in Christ, God-Man, in whom they were accepted. And with Christ Jesus the Son of the Father, in his love to them, and salvation wrought out for them. In whom they were everlastingly complete. In whose work they were everlastingly saved. In whom they shone with lustre, dignity, and majesty, and glory, in the sight of their heavenly Father. This brings me to my last head of this discourse, in which I am

4. To consider the truth and reality of this, which is thus confirmed. And truly our , fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. It is of great importance to us, and we do well to consider it, that our Lord Jesus Christ, sealed every truth he delivered all through out his incarnate state, with his own blood. The apostles set their seals, to the truth of all which they heard, and received from Him. And there are a variety of important matters, in their writings, which they have not only sealed, but have left their seals on, to express the immutability and importance of the same, in every age, and throughout all following ages, and generations. There can be nothing of greater importance, than what concerns the Person of Christ. His Incarnation in the fulness of time. The truth and reality of this. Next to it, there never was any thing of more importance to the church of Christ, than the testimony given concerning all this, by these very persons who were eye and earwitnesses of the same. It is from their writings, through the light and teaching of the Holy Ghost, we derive all our true knowledge of the Lord and Saviour. We therefore find their positive assertions concerning the eternal and immutable subjects of the everlasting gospel, very supporting to our minds. As they are expressed by apostolic authority. So we also do, when they in their own persons, and from their own knowledge and experience, set their seals to confirm the Truths they have been declaring. Communion with the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, by the Holy Ghost, who dwells personally in the saints, is a most glorious mystery of grace. Nature cannot apprehend it. Sense must have nothing to do with it. None can have the least conception of the nature, the importance, the excellency, the blessedness of the same, but such as are born from above. No. Nor these either, but as enlightened, inspired, and supernaturally lifted up into the true knowledge and enjoyment of the same. Spiritual Life is a great mystery. The whole essence of which consists in communion with God. The apostles were favoured with it. Therefore one of them for all the rest, says in the words before us. Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. This is, says he, an immutable verity which we can each of us set our seals unto : and which I declare for your spiritual benefit and advantage also. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. This then is made known by the apostle, and declared to the whole church of Christ, for their benefit and advantage, which they should also seek for, and aim at the attainment of real and distinct fellowship, with the Person of the Father, and of his Son Jesus Christ. They should not look at the privilege as being so supremely great, and so far beyond them, that they have no right to expect so inestimable a blessing. They were to look on it as a blessing of free grace, which they should look on themselves as interested in, and had a right and title unto, as truly as the apostles had. And if they did not enjoy the same, it was because their faith had not attained the true conception and knowledge of it. They were not to expect it in the same way, nor to the same degree as the apostles had it. They having been favoured with fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, in such a way and manner, as was personally peculiar to them, and them alone. They could say, each of them, and one for all the rest, truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus, Christ. They could freely and fully, from their own enjoyment of this, confirm the truth and reality of it to all other saints. Yet they would they also should know, the way for their having and holding fellowship with the Holy Trinity, was clearly set before them also. That they wrote on this subject unto them to express their love to Christ to them. To excite them to the enjoyment ,of the same inestimable favour. That the apostles and all the church of Christ, might most blessedly share, and partake of this blessing of gospel grace. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us. In all the blessings, benefits, gifts, and graces bestowed on the whole church, in her eternal Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. Which belonged to each and every one of them, as real members in Him. And truly, says the apostle, our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. It is without doubt the case with some saints, not clearly to apprehend and discover this blessed fellowship, carried on by the Holy Spirit in their souls. And even when they do conclude it must be thus with them, that they have some real fellowship with the Lord, yet it most certainly is the case, they have not clear and distinctive perceptions of real personal fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Yet there can be no communion with the Father without the Son, nor with the Father and the Son without the Spirit. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, is the medium of communion. The Holy Ghost is the efficient cause of this communion. The Father is He with whom we have this communion. The God-Man, is the Mediator of all our union and communion with God. The more therefore we eye Him, and have our hearts drawn out after Him, and fixed on Him as our center ; so we the more clearly understand the grace of fellowship with God. What it consists in : how it is enjoyed : what our conceptions of it are: and how we have in our souls at times, clear personal communion with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, who liveth, dwelleth, and abideth in us. May the Lord accompany what hath been delivered, so far as agreeable with his truth, with his own blessing. Amen.