ered that our nature is so nearly conjoined already to God. By this
step a soul climbs up to the majesty of God, and by means of this we
become partakers of the divine nature, as God of human nature, 2 Pet. i.
4. So by the same degrees we ascend to God, that God hath descended to us.
He drew near us by our nature, and we, by the intervention of that same,
ascend to him, and receive his image and stamp on our souls for the Lord
did stamp his own image upon Christ's human nature to make it a pattern to
us, and to represent to us, as in a visible symbol and pledge, what
impression he would put upon us. Then we have fellowship with him in his
offices. I need not branch them out severally. You know what he was
anointed for,--to be a Priest, to offer sacrifice, and to reconcile us to
God, and to make intercession for us,--to be a King, to rule us by his word
and Spirit, and defend us against our enemies,--to be a Prophet, to reveal
the will of God to us, and instruct us in the same. Here is a large field
of fellowship. We have admittance, by faith in Jesus Christ, to the real
advantage and benefit of all these. There is nothing in them but it
relates to us, and redounds to us. The living virtue of that sacrifice is
as fresh and recent this day, to send up a savour of rest to heaven and to
pacify a troubled conscience, as the first day it was offered. That
perfect sacrifice is as available to thy soul as if thou hadst offered it
thyself, and this day ye have the benefit of his prayers in heaven. We
partake of the strong cries and tears in the days of his flesh, and of his
intercession since, more than of our own supplications. What shall I say?
Ye have one to teach you all things that are needful for you, one to
subdue your sins under you, and, by virtue of fellowship with Jesus Christ
in these offices there is something derived from it, and communicated to
us by it, that we should be kings and priests to God our Father, kings, to
rule over our own spirits and lusts in as far as grace reigns in us to
eternal life, and that is truly an heroic royal spirit that overcomes
himself and the world, and priests, to offer unto God continually the
sacrifice of prayer and praise (1 Pet. ii. 5, 9), which are sweet-smelling
and pleasant in his sight. Yea, we should offer up our own bodies as a
reasonable service, Rom. xii. 1, and this is a holy and living sacrifice,
when we dedicate and consecrate all our faculties, members, and abilities
to