Jewels and attire If Adam had a world Eve did participate with him Thus it is in the earthly marriage much more is it so in the spiritual one When such an one as Christ is joined to Believers what and how great must the communications be The earthly Husband according to his state and degree doth communicate to his Wife what then doth Christ who hath a Deity and unfearchable riches in him communicate to those who are in conjunction with him Want they cannot while he hath a Deity or be without a supply till his riches be exhausted They go no longer in the rags of their own unworthiness but are covered with the robe of his pure righteousness guilt can no longer abide on them because they are sprinkled with his aroning blood while he hath an Holy Spirit they cannot want the Jewels and ornaments of Grace their love meekness obedience patience shew that he hath put some of his beauty upon them his wine-cellar of Scriptures and Ordinances stands open to them that they may taste and drink of Divine Consolations at last they shall enter into the palace of Heaven and there partake of his glory No Husband but himself can so communicate The other is this That in Marriage there is a due propagation of mankind individuals dye but mankind is preserved generation supplies what death devours Also in the spiritual marriage there is a double propagation one of Believers another of good works First in the Church there is a propagation of Believers such an one as Christ could not but have a seed his name was to be continued as long as the Sun Psal 72.17 In the original it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his name shall be sonned or childed in a succession of Believers The Church at first was in a Believer or two but being Christs Spouse she becomes Mother of thousands a spiritual Eve to bring forth Sons unto God In the power of the Word and Spirit which are as the seed and formative virtue in this heavenly generation multitudes of Believers come forth as the dew from the womb of the morning not in the Jewish Church only but in the Gentile world also the wilderness buds and blossoms the barren sing for joy the tent is enlarged the curtains are stretched forth the Church breaks out on the right hand and on the left in an admirable fertility this is the fruit of this Divine Marriage between Christ and his Church Again In particular Believers there is a propagation of good works as we are in conjunction with Adam we are impotent and barren but as soon as we are in conjunction with Christ we have power and holy fruits To open this it will be worth while to consider the words of the Apostle Ye are become dead to the law by the body of Christ that ye should be married to another to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God For when we were in the flesh the motions of sins which were by the law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death But now we are delivered from the law that being dead wherein we were held that we should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter Rom. 7.4 5 6. Here we have two sorts of persons the unregenerate who are in the flesh of corrupt nature and the regenerate who have a new spirit or principle in them Two sorts of Marriage one unto the Law in the unregenerate and another unto Christ in the regenerate Two sorts of fruit one unto death in sinful actions another unto God in good works The unregenerate are married to the Law they are under the curse of it as sinners they have but the naked letter of it which commands but helps not Nay their corruption is accidentally irritated by it their inward malignity swells and rises against the holy commands which stand in Scripture as so many dams and bars to their impetuous lusts Hence they bring forth nothing but fruit unto death what they seem to do in Gods service they do only in the oldness of the letter in the external work without a spirit or principle for it The regenerate are dead to the Law and married to Christ they are not under the curse of the Law but pardoned in Christ they have not the meer outward letter only but the quickning spirit they are not irritated by the command but delight in it as in their joy and treasure Hence they bring forth fruit unto God they serve him in newness of spirit in the suavity of internal holy principles their good works are not brought forth in bondage and servility but by a free spirit and in the easiness of the new creature We see here that the progeny of good works issues not out of nature or the letter of the Law but out of a conjunction and spiritual marriage with Christ who by his Holy Spirit quickens Believers to bear holy fruits The conjugal union in the earthly pattern not being enough the Holy Ghost goes on to set forth the mystical union by that which is between the foundation and the building Christ in Scripture is called a foundation upon a double account he is the foundation of Doctrine Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 Here the Apostle speaks of a foundation of Doctrine the consequent words make this appear the gold silver and precious stones are pure and solid Doctrines the wood hay and stubble are vain and frivolous ones both are called mans work which the fire shall try He is also the foundation of Believers They are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone Ephes 2.20 It 's true the Apostles and Prophets are here called a foundation but they are only a doctrinal foundation Christ is the personal one they are a foundation metonymically only Christ is so properly upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets is no other than upon Christ whom they in their Preaching laid as the foundation of the Church The Foundation and the Corner-stone are both one and the same Christ as a Foundation he bears up and sustains the Church as a Corner-stone he joins and holds together the two walls of it made up of Jews and Gentiles In this resemblance three or four things may be considered The Foundation and the Building are both framed by Art First the pattern is in the mind of the Builder and then the thing is set up In the Spiritual Foundation and Building the Art was not humane but Divine the Idea of them was not in mans mind but in Gods man falling off from his bottom of primitive integrity could not have a foundation in himself God in infinite wisdom contrived that he might have one in another the way was admirable the eternal Word was made flesh two natures met in one person an humane in
strengthens unto all duties He is united to Believers He is food by way of eminency Several conclusions drawn from the resemblances viz. That the Vnion between Christ and Believers is not meerly a political one That it is not meerly a moral one Several reasons to prove the same That this Vnion affords support to Believers That it gives a vital influence to them That it is a very intimate Vnion That it hath a great mystery in it That it is very lasting and durable AFter all these resemblances the Holy Ghost yet proceeds on to set forth the mystical union by that which is between the food and the body This resemblance we have notably opened in the Sixth chapter of St. John where our Saviour who used to spiritualize every thing raises up his discourse above earthly food to heavenly above the typical to the real Manna which is himself who came down from Heaven to give life to the world In this Discourse several things offer themselves to us 1st Christ is the true food of the Soul The Jews dream'd that at the coming of the Messiah they should have a wonderful feast of outward varieties but he tells them that he himself was the feast My flesh is meat indeed my blood is drink indeed vers 55 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is though Metaphorically yet truly such it doth what meat and drink are to do nourish and strengthen the receiver nay it hath not only an analogy to but an eminency above all corporeal food it nourishes and strengthens us in the Soul the noblest part of man and that not for a day but to all eternity Hence our Saviour tells them That they should not labour for the meat which perisheth but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life which the Son of man should give unto them vers 27. He is the food of the Soul upon a double account The one is this His flesh and blood as crucified and satisfactory to Divine justice do strengthen us against the curse and condemnation of the Law The moral Law is immortalized by its own intrinsecal rectitude the very frame of mans soul puts him under it his Reason cannot but be bound to know the supreme Truth his Will cannot but be bound to love the supreme Goodness the respects in his rational powers towards the Creator are a Law not to be altered as long as God is God and man man this Law cannot but be obligatory one jot or tittle of it cannot fall to the ground To make it the more sacred and venerable Divine Justice fenced it in with a Threatning and added a Curse against the transgressor Cursed is he that continueth not in all the points of it The wages of sin is death All men being transgressors Conscience as soon as it is awakened tells a man his own these and these things are sins thus and thus thou hast done the offended Law condemns thee the wrath threatned hangs over thy head the consequent of this is That the heart is full of inward wounds and terrors it knows not which way to look or turn it self Take a sinful man in these circumstances where doth his strength lye what plea or answer hath he to the broken Law How or which way may the Curse be avoided or the Conscience eased The only thing can be said is this Christ was made a Curse for us he is the end of the Law for righteousness he hath made a perfect atonement and satisfaction this is the Believers hope and confidence this is his great plea and answer to the charge of the Law Ostendo sidejussorem meum saith Bishop Davenant when the Law makes its demands against me I shew my Sponsor Christ who satisfied it This is lively expressed in Anselms direction for the visitation of the sick Si Dominus te voluerit judicare dic Domine mortem Domini nostri Jesu Christi objicio inter me tuum judicium alitèr tecum non contendo si tibi dixerit quia peccator es dic mortem Domini nostri Jesu Christi pono inter me peccata mea si dixerii tibi quod meruisti damnationem dic Domine mortem Domini nostri Jesu Christi obtendo inter me mala merita mea ipsiusque merita offero pro merito quod ego debuissem habere nec habeo That is if the Lord would judge thee say Lord I place the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and thy judgement otherwise I will not contend with thee if he say to thee that thou art a sinner say I place the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and my sins if he say to thee that thou hast deserved damnation say Lord I put the death of our Lord Jesus Christ between me and my evil merits and I offer his merits for my own which I should have and have not It is not in our inherent graces to justifie us against the Law these are not our Christ these do not satisfie the Law these do not make a compensation for sin no it is Christ only that doth this his death which satisfied Gods heart must satisfie ours his precious body and blood are the food which when fed on by Faith cheer the Conscience and fill it with peace Hence the Noble Luther tells the menacing Law O Lex immergo conscientiam meam in vulnera sanguinem mortem resurrectionem victoriam Christi praeter hunc nihil planè videre audire volo O Law I drown my Conscience in the wounds blood death resurrection and victory of Christ besides him will I see and hear nothing This is the true way of peace and holy rest the oriency of this Divine Truth is such that it hath extorted a confession from its enemies The Schoolmen themselves as Bishop Andrews hath observed whatever they are in their Quodlibets and comments on the Sentences yet in their Soliloquies and devotional meditations acknowledg Jehovah justitia nostra Cardinal Contarenus saith that we must viti tanquà m re stabili justitiâ Christi nobis donatâ lean on Christs righteousness communicated to us as on a stable thing This is it which stablishes and strengthens the heart against the accusations and terrors of the Law The other is this The flesh and blood of Christ as it is procurative of the Holy Spirit doth strengthen Believers unto all the duties incumbent on them the Spirit is from Christ as an Head and it is from him as aliment his Members have it and so have the feeders on him Hence in that sixth Chapter of John after a very Divine Discourse touching eating his flesh and drinking his blood he adds It is the spirit that quickeneth vers 63. The feeders on him have of his Spirit which strengthens them in the inner man this strength notably discovers it self in them their corruptions how strong soever are subdued The Spirit of life which is in Christ makes them free from the Law of sin Satan that evil one is
are made conformable to his death Phil. 3.10 There are two things in this conformity There is a conformity to his sufferings in the mortification of sin Our old man is crucified with him Rom. 6.6 We suffer in the flesh ceasing from sin 1 Pet. 4.1 What Christ suffered in his pure flesh by way of expiation that those that are in him suffer in their corrupt flesh by way of mortification Was he arraigned and condemned to die they serve sin so He was charged with blasphemy they charge it upon sin which in its rebellion blasphemes Gods Soveraignty in its turpitude his Holiness in its secrecy his Omniscience in its ingratitude his Goodness in its folly his Wisdom and in all his glory He was charged to say That he could destroy the Temple they charge it upon sin which hath laid those souls which were made to be Temples of the Holy Ghost in spiritual ruins The mind of fallen man lies in darkness the will in the chains of concupiscence the affections in the grave of earthly things They adjudg sin unto death as being the greatest of evils Was he stript they deal so with sin They unvail and undress it pluck off its false colours disrobe it of all its pomps and shadows of seeminggoodness and make it appear in its ugly hue and nakedness so that it looks as it is sinful sin and an evil of evils a thing most worthy to be crucified Was he nailed to the Cross they nail sin there they restrain the inward corruption that it cannot go at large and riot in open scandals no nor steal out in an evil thought but it will be arrested in its passage to the will they set guards within and without that it may not creep in by the ports of sense nor rise up out of the deep of the heart Within there is a watch over the thoughts and without over the sensible objects There are such nails of restraint that it cannot move or stir it self but it dies away by little and little Was he pierced they pierce sin and let out the vital blood I mean the love and joy and delight of it It is a prodigious thing in their eyes to love that which crucified their dear Saviour and makes war upon their good God to joy in that which hath been their sorrow and set the whole Creation a groaning about their ears or to delight in that which in it self is a meer ataxy and confusion and in the soul is an hellish blot and turpitude It is their daily work to cast it out of their hearts as an accursed thing and in an holy hatred to pursue it to the death The violence done to Christ they put upon it till it do like one upon a Cross give up the Ghost This is a sure mark of union with him They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5.24 They have done it and because sin is long a dying they are still a doing of it more and more If a man indulge his lusts it is a meer vanity for him to imagine that he is in Christ he cannot at the same time be a subject of Christ and a drudg to sin he cannot be joined to a crucified Saviour and to the Crucifier too his heart cannot at once be a Temple of the Holy Ghost and a stable of unclean lusts these things are utterly inconsistent All that are in Christ die to sin having in his death the great pattern of Mortification and from it a spirit for the work Also there is a conformity to his sufferings in bearing the Cross they that are in him in their first Espousals did receive him intirely Cross and all and so virtually and in purpose did swallow down all the persecutions that were to go along with the Gospel And if God call them out to it they are ready to take up the Cross and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in their flesh the satisfactory sufferings of Christ in his natural body were full and perfect but the sufferings of Christ in his Mystical body are daily to be filled up and all that are in him are content to bear their part in them Christ hath sanctified the way of affliction by going himself in it to glory and they are willing to follow him in thither He drunk up the cup of wrath to the bottom and they are content to take such drops of it as are allotted to them In the midst of afflictions and bloody sufferings they carry themselves as parts of the holy Lamb some of his meekness and patience rests upon them to tell the world that they are his they do not murmur at instruments but submit to the will of their Father who sits in Heaven and orders all they do not wave the Cross but accept it as a piece of conformity to their Head who died on a Cross to sweeten it to his members To them reproaches for Christ are as marks of honour Sufferings for the Gospel as pledges of future glory Some of the Martyrs have stiled their Prisons a Paradice their Chains an ornament This is an high proof of union with Christ They that suffer with him shall be sure to reign with him If a man be not willing to suffer for him he hath not any part in him he doth not accept of him upon the terms of the Gospel Such an one would have a Christ of his own fancy not a crucified one a Gospel and no Cross in it and an Heaven and no sufferings in the way to it which can never be In suffering times the leaves of his profession will fall off he will appear as a meer man of this world one who loves the world above Christ and fears temporal sufferings more than eternal A true Christian he cannot be omnis Christianus est crucianus all that are in Christ learn the lesson of the Cross This is the second Conformity The third is this There is a conformity to the Resurrection of Christ what was done in the flesh of Christ in his corporeal Resurrection that is done in the spirits of true Christians in a spiritual One there the stone was rolled away from the Sepulchre here from the heart there the flesh of Christ was raised up by an Almighty Power here the Spirits of Christians are raised up by it In this conformity two things may be noted There is a conformity to his Resurrection in heavenliness of mind Thus the Apostle If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God Col. 3.1 As long as men are in the old Adam their center is here below their affections are buried in earthly things but as soon as they are in union with Christ they are not here any longer but they are risen their affections do not creep upon the earth but are lifted up to heaven their Faith puts back the things of time and looks
to live in the spirit pray in the spirit walk in the spirit do all in the spirit which descends upon them from the Head Hence St. Paul saith I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Gal. 2.20 He lived an holy life but it was in dependance upon Christ he did the Will of God but he was acted by the Spirit of Christ in the doing of it there is a vast difference between a meer Moralist and a right Christian the Moralist cries up the Fountain of Virtue in his own reason and will the Christian cries up the Fountain of Grace in Christ there are the full treasures of Grace there are the rich anointings of the Spirit The Moralist expects all Epict. Ench. c. 17. Sen. Ep. 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from himself and in all doth sibi fidere trust to himself The Christian hangs upon Christ and adheres to him that he may have continual supplies of grace from him the Moralist is a self-subsister he stands upon his own bottom works out of his own stock and is All to himself the Christian subsists in Christ he is a branch in him in the root he flourishes off from it he withers he is a member of him in union with the head he acts and moves in holy Works in separation from him he can do nothing he waits and looks up to him that he by the influences of his Spirit may inlighten him when dark quicken him when dead draw him when back ward strengthen him when weak hold him when falling enlarge him when in straits and actuate him to do Gods Will in the midst of infirmities in all the good works that he doth he acts in dependance upon the influences of grace Here again we may try our selves whether we be in Christ or not how is it with us what is the posture of our inward man do we live in dependance upon Christ our Head do we sanctifie the Fountain of grace in our hearts do we look up to him to move and act us by his Spirit if so it is sure that we are members of him and live like such in dependance upon him I will no longer insist upon the marks of union but conclude all with two things The one is this Those that are not in union with Christ had need to consider their condition what poor forlorn creatures are they what a world of guilt is there lying at their door what omissions comissions ignorances presumptions impieties iniquities what smothered light abused love forfeited creatures buried talents broken promises have they to answer for and for these things what black clouds and storms of wrath hang over their heads what dooms and fearful curses doth the broken Law pronounce against them at death and judgment what will they do how will they appear before the Holy God or what can they say or plead why his wrath should not be poured out upon them may they be saved without a Saviour or by a neglected one will the great and merciful Jesus deliver those that would not join themselves to him may his glorious satisfaction cover those that are none of his members or his precious atonement discharge those that would never receive it will the Law spare those that refuse the Gospel or the dreadful curse pass over those who have none of the blood of the Covenant sprinkled upon them It cannot be not being in union with Christ their condition is as forlorn as if there were no Christ no sacrifice or atonement no Gospel or promises at all the wrath of God abides upon them there is but a moment a little span of life between them and the bottomless pit as soon as death blows out their Candle they are in utter darkness It may be a matter of just wonder how it is possible that they should have any rest or quiet of mind in such a dreadful condition the very thought of the wrath to come is enough to dampall the joy and comfort of their lives Again Would they put dive into their own hearts it would be a weary thing to them to see their immortal spirits lye as they do in ruins and spiritual desolations to have minds and no practical light in them wills and no holy rectitude there to have love and joy and none for Christ hatred and sorrow and none for sin It would be grievous in their eyes to see their precious souls lye in the turpitude and pollution of sin in a sink of pleasure or a cave of covetousness or some other lust which like an unclean place miserably defiles it whilst it abides therein In such a doleful state what help or relief is there but in Christ Is not he the great repairer of breaches Is it not he that sets up the Divine Image and all its furniture in the Soul is not he the only one that cleanses us from the stains and turpitudes of sin There i salvation in no other but in him alone Were but men awakened they would never rest in a Christless condition the scores of guilt in conscience the wrath of God hanging over their heads the forlorn and desperate state of their own souls the wretched pollutions and defilements which they lye under would make them cry out for Christ oh give us Christ or else we dye nothing can wash out our guilt but his atoning blood nothing can cover us from wrath but his glorious satisfaction nothing can purge out our stains and set our hearts in order but his spirit the fearful condition of being without Christ would prompt them to breathe and endeavour after union with him as the only necessary and desirable thing in the world The other is this Those that are in union with Christ should carry themselves in a just decorum to that blessed state How should they study and admire the transcendent excellencies of their head what a glorious and incomparable person is he Creatures are but vanity the whole world is but a poor nothing in comparison of him what a sight is God in the flesh in whom the distance between God and man is as it were filled up in a wonderful incarnation how infinite is that love which moved him to come down into an humane nature to stand in it under the rules of his own Law nay to bleed and die upon a Cross to make a full satisfaction for the sin of the world How should those that are in him stand and adore him What rapes and extasies of affection are due to him who is all over beauty and amenity With what joys and triumphs of faith should they look upon that precious blood which cheers the heart of God and man Here they may lye down in ease and rest no fears of death or hell shall disturb them And what are the rich anointings and over-measures of the Spirit which are upon him How vast an Ocean of grace is he and what wonders are to be seen there Those that are in him have reason to stand and admire at the continual illapses of the Spirit and supplies of grace which come from him Israel could sing at an earthly fountain Spring up O well Numb 21.17 How should Christians joy in the fountain of Grace and say Flow out O infinite Well let thy streams make us glad for ever What precious thoughts should they have of him What firm adherences of will to him What total dependences upon him What pure intimate affections towards him How should their love feed and feast upon the delicious suavities and plenitudes in him Earthly things should be but as so many beautiful shadows and gilded nothings their affections should be intirely set upon him as the most amiable object of all carnal self should be left and forsaken that they may be swallowed up in him How should they study and earnestly affect to resemble him his will should be theirs theirs should be broken to pieces that it may be made one with his his mind should be in them and theirs should have pure aims at his glory they should never think that they have enough of his Image but every day endeavour to have more lively stamps and impresses of it upon their souls nay they should not rest in a meer interne assimilation to him but strive after an externe imitation of him to talk and act and live as he did as there is one Spirit in him and them so there should be the same steps in both When they go about any thing they should ask their own hearts would he if on earth do so Do we herein imitate him who is the grand copy and Idea of Virtue To hunt after the world or drown in sensuality or boil in hatred and malice is not to act as mystical parts of the great Samplar And how should they seek communion with him in Duties Providences in Creature-comforts Christ alone should be the matter of their fruition all other things should be subservient to him nothing should be good to them but what tends to him And how should they endeavour to give all content to him the least dalliances with sin are a grief to him The Physician tells us that all grief in the body proceeds from the solution of the continuum it holds good in his members nothing is more grievous to him than to have them backslide be out of joint If they should fall off from his Mysteries to their own reason or from his precepts to their own will or from his righteousness to their own works it would be a thing no less displeasing to him than unbecoming to them And how should they labour to find all content in him He is a King for power an Husband for love a foundation for support a Priest for atonement an Head for influence Nay he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all things Col. 3.11 It is safe to be under his protection sweet to be in his embraces sure to be upon his bottom comfortable to have peace by his blood excellent to have continual supplys and emanations of grace from him Nay to have him is to have all things all that are in him have reason to rest satisfied in him and to begin that Song of the Lamb which they shall be ever singing in Heaven to him FINNIS