him to be silent the Spouse being sick of love her tongue was as the pen of a ready writer Cant. 5. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy his head is of fine gold c. If Wine be in the house the Bush will be hung forth and where there is a principle of godliness in the heart it will vent it self at the lips the Bush will be hung forth How can they be termed godly 1. Who are possessed with a dumb devil They never have any good discourse they are fluent and discoursive enough in secular things they can speak of their wares and drugs they can tell what a good crop they have but in matters of Religion they are as if their tongue did cleave to the roof of their mouth There are many persons if you come into their company you cannot tell what to make of them whether they are Turks or Atheists for they never speak a word of Christ. 2. Whose tongues are set on fire of Hell Their lips do not drop honey but poyson to the defiling of others Plutarch saith speech ought to be like gold which is then of most value when it hath least dross in it O the unclean malicious words that some persons utter What an unsavoury stench comes from these dunghils those lips had need have Davids Bridle that gallop so fast in sin Can the body be healthful when the tongue is black Can the heart be holy when the devil is in the lips A godly man speaks the language of Canaan Mal. 3. 16. They that feared the Lord spake often one to another 4. A godly man is heavenly in his Operation The motions of the Planets are Caelestial A godly man is sublime and sacred in his motions he works out salvation he puts forth all his strength as they did in the Olympicks that he may obtain the Garland made of the Flowers of Paradise he prays fasts watcheth he offers violence to heaven he is divinely acted he carries on Gods Interest in the world he doth Angels work he is in his Operations Seraphical 5. A godly man is heavenly in his Expectation his hopes are above the world Tit. 1. 2. In hope of eternal life A godly man casts Anchor within the vail he hopes to have his fetters of sin filed off he hopes for such things as eye hath not seen he hopes for a Kingdome when he dies a Kingdome promised by the Father purchased by the Son assured by the Holy Ghost as an Heir lives in hope when such a great Estate shall befall him so a Childe of God who is a Co-heir with Christ hopes for glory This hope comforts him in all varieties of condition Rom. 5. 2. We rejoyce in the hope of the glory of God 1. This hope comforts a godly man in affliction hope doth lighten and sweeten the most severe Dispensations A Childe of God can laugh with tears in his eyes the time is shortly coming when the Cross shall be taken off his shoulders and a Crown set upon his head A Saint at present is miserable with a thousand troubles in an instant cloathed with Robes of Immortality and advanced above Seraphims 2. This hope comforts a godly man in death Pro. 14. 32. The righteous hath hope in his death If one should ask a dying Saint when all his earthly comforts were gone what he had left he would say the Helmet of Hope I have read of a Martyr Woman who when the Persecutor commanded that her breasts should be cut off she said Tyrant do thy worst I have two breasts which thou canst not touch the one of Faith the other of Hope A soul that hath this blessed hope is above the desire of life or the fear of death Would one be troubled to exchange a sorry Lease for an Inheritance that will be for him and his Heirs Who would care to part with life which is a Lease will soon be run out to be possessed of a glorious Inheritance in light 6. A godly man is heavenly in his Conversation he casts such a lustre of Holiness as adorns his Profession he lives as if he had seen the Lord with bodily eyes what zeal sanctity humility shines forth in his life A godly person doth emulate not only the Angels but imitate Christ himself 1 Iohn 2. 6. The Macedonians celebrate the Birth-day of Alexander on which day they wear his picture about their necks set with Pearl and rich Jewels so a godly man carries the lively picture of Christ about him in the heavenliness of his deportment Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation is in heaven Use 1. They must needs be cast over the Bar for ungodly who are eaten up with the world godly and earthly is a contradiction Phil. 3. 18 19. For many walk of whom I now tell you even weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ whose god is their belly who mind earthly things We read the earth swallowed up Korah alive Numb 16. 32. This Judgement is on many the earth swallows up their time and thoughts and discourse they are buried twice their hearts are buried in the earth before their bodies How sad is it that the soul that Princely thing which is made for Communion with God and Angels should be put to the Mill to grinde and made Mancipium terrae a slave to the earth How is the soul become like the Prodigal chusing rather to converse with swine and feed upon husks than to aspire after Communion with the blessed Deity Thus doth Satan befool men and keep them from heaven by making them seek an heaven here Use 2. As we would evidence our selves to be born of God let us be of a sublime heavenly temper We shall never go to heaven when we die unless we are in heaven whilest we live That we may be more Noble and raised in our affections let us seriously weigh these four considerations 1. God himself sounds a retreat to us to call us off the world 1 Iohn 2. 15. Love not the world We may use it as a posie of flowers to smell to but it must not lie as a bundle of myrrhe betwixt our breasts Rom. 12. 2. Be ye not conformed to this world do not hunt after the honors and profits of it and as Gods Precepts so his Providences are to beat us off the world Why doth he send War and Pestilence What means the heat of this great anger Surely dying times are to make men die to the world 2. Consider how much below a Christian it is to be earthly-minded We laugh sometimes at Children when we see them busying themselves about toys blowing bubbles in the ayr out of a shell kissing their Babies c. when in the mean time we do the same at death what will all the world be which we so hug and kiss but as a Baby of Clouts it will yield us no more comfort then and to be taken up with these things how far is it
the spirit comes very neer to the despighting of it How can men be sanctified but by the spirit therefore to reproach that is to make merry with their own damnation Use 2. As you would be listed in the number of the godly labour for the blessed indwelling of the spirit pray with Melancthon Lord inflame my soul with thy holy spirit and with the Spouse Awake O North-wind aad come thou South blow upon my garden Cant. 4. 16. As a Mariner would desire a wind to carry him to Sea so beg the prosperous gales of the spirit and the Promise may add wings to prayer Luke 11. 13. If ye being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Spirit to them that ask him Gods spirit is a rich Jewel go to him for it Lord give me thy spirit where is the Jewel thou didst promise me When shall my soul be as Gideons Fleece wet with the dew of heaven Consider how needful the spirit is without it we can do nothing acceptably to God 1 VVe cannot pray without it 't is a spirit of Supplication Zac. 12. 10. It both helps the invention and the affection Rom. 8. 26. The spirit helps us with sighs and groans 2. We cannot resist temptation without it Act. 1. 8. Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you He who hath the tyde of corrupt nature and the wind of temptation must needs be carried down the stream of sin if the contrary wind of the spirit doth not blow 3. VVe cannot be fruitful without the spirit Aureus imber sitientia caelo â—orda rigans VVhy is the spirit compared to dew and rain but to show us how unable we are to bring forth a Crop of Grace unless the dew of God fall upon us 4. VVithout the spirit no Ordinance is effectual to us Ordinances are the Conduit-Pipes of Grace but the spirit is the Spring Some content themselves that they have a Levite to their Priest but never look any further as if a Merchant should content himself that his ship hath good tackling and is well manned though it never have a gale of wind The Ship of Ordinances will not carry us to heaven though an Angel were the Pylot unless the wind of Gods Spirit blow The Spirit is the Soul of the Word without which it is but a dead letter Ministers may prescribe Physick but it is Gods spirit must make it work Our hearts are like Davids body when it grew old they covered him with cloathes but he gat no heat 1 King 1. 1. So though the Minister of God ply us with prayers and counsels as with hot cloathes yet we are cold and chill till Gods spirit comes and then we say as the Disciples Luke 24. 32. Did not our hearts burn within us Oh therefore what need have we of the spirit 3. You who have the blessed spirit manifested by its energy and vital operations 1. Acknowledge Gods distinguishing love the spirit is an ear-mark of Election 1 Iohn 3. 4. Christ gave the bag to Iudas but not his spirit The spirit is a Love-token where God gives his spirit for a pawn he gives himself for a portion The spirit is an Epitomizing blessing it is put for all good things Mat. 7. 11. What were you without the spirit but as so many carkasses Without this Christ would not profit you the Bloud of God is not enough without the Breath of God Oh then be thankful for the spirit this Loadstone will never leave drawing you till it hath drawn you up to heaven 2. If you have this spirit do not grieve it Eph. 4. 30. Shall we grieve our Comforter Quest. How do we grieve the Spirit Answ. 1. When we unkindly repel the motions of it The spirit sometimes whispers in our ears and calls to us as God did to Iacob Gen. 35. 1. Arise go to Bethel So saith the spirit Arise go to prayer retire thy self to meet thy God Now when we stifle these motions and entertain temptations to vanity this is a grieving of the spirit if we check the motions of the spirit we shall lose the comforts of the spirit 2. We grieve the spirit when we deny the work of the spirit in our hearts if one gives another a token and he should deny it and say he never received it this were to abuse the love of his friend So Christian when God hath given thee his spirit witnessed by those meltings of heart and passionate breathings after heaven yet thou deniest that thou ever hadst any renewing work of the spirit in thee this is high ingratitude and is a grieving the good spirit renounce the sinful works of the flesh but do not deny the gracious work of the spirit SECT XI 11. The godly man is an humble man he is like the Sun in the Zenith which when it is at the highest shows lowest St. Austin calls Humility the Mother of the Graces but ere I show you who is the humble man I shall lay down three distinctions 1. I distinguish between being humbled and humble a man may be humbled and not humble a sinner may be humbled by affliction his condition is low but not his disposition a godly man is not only humbled but humble his heart is as low as his condition 2. I distinguish between outward humility and inward there 's a great deal of difference between an humble carriage and an humble spirit a person may carry it humbly 1. Towards others yet be proud who more humble than Absalom in his outward behaviour 2 Sam. 15. 5. When any man came neer to do him obeysance Absalom took him by the hand and kissed him But though he had an humble carriage he aspired after the Crown ver 10. As soon as ye hear the sound of the Trumpet ye shall say Absalom reigneth in Hebron Here was Pride dressed in Humilities Mantle 2. A person may behave himself humbly towards God yet be proud 1 King 21. 27. Ahab put on sackcloth and fasted and went softly but his heart was not humble A man may bow his head like a bull-rush yet lift up the Ensigns of Pride in his heart 3. I distinguish between Humility and Policy many make a shew of Humility to work their own ends The Papists seem to be the most humble mortified Saints but it is rather subtilty than humility for by this means they get the Revenues of the earth into their possession all this may be and yet no godliness Quest. How may a Christian know that he is humble and consequently godly Answ. 1. An humble soul is emptied of all swelling thoughts of himself Bernard calls Humility a Self-annihilation Iob 22. 29. Thou wilt save the humble In the Hebrew it is Him that is of low eyes An humble man hath lower thoughts of himself than others can have of him
nothing for Works like the Lawrel that makes a flourish but bears no fruit 10. A godly man will suffer persecution he will be married to Christ though he settle no other Joynture upon him but the Cross he suffers out of choice and with a spirit of gallantry Argerius wrote a Letter to his friend dated From the pleasant Garden of the Leonine prison The blessed Martyrs who put on the whole Armour of God did by their courage blunt the edge of Persecution The Juniper Tree makes the coolest shadow and the hottest coal So Persecution makes the coal of love hotter and the shadow of death cooler Thus a godly man goes round the whole Circle of Religious Duties and obeys God in what ever he commands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Object But it is impossible for any one to walk according to the full bredth of Gods Law and to follow God fully Answ. There is a two-fold obeying Gods Law the first is perfect when all is done that the Law requires this we cannot arrive at in this life Secondly There is an incompleat obedience which in Christ is accepted This consists in four things 1. An approving of all Gods Commandments Rom. 7. 12. The Commandment is just and holy and good and ver 16. I consent unto the Law that it is good There is both assent and consent 2. A sweet complacency in Gods Commands Psal. 119. 47. I will delight my self in thy Commandments which I have loved 3. A cordial desire to walk in all Gods Commands Psal. 119. 5. O that my ways were directed to keep thy Statutes 4. A real endeavour to tread in every path of the Command Psal. 119. 59. I turned my feet unto thy Testimonies This God esteems perfect obedience and is pleased to take it in good part Zacharias had his failings he did hesitate through unbelief for which he was strucken dumb yet it is said he did walk in all the Commandments of the Lord blameless Luke 1. 6. Because he did cordially endeavour to obey God in all things Evangelical obedience is true for the essence though not perfect for the degree and wherein it comes short Christ puts his Merits into the Scales and then there is full weight SECT XXIII 23. A godly man walks with God Gen. 6. 9. Noah walked with God The Age in which Noah lived was very corrupt ver 5. The wickedness of man was great in the earth But the iniquity of the times could not put Noah out of his walk Noah walked with God Noah is called a Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2. 5. Noah preached 1. By Doctrine his preaching was say some of the Rabbins after this manner Turn ye from your evil ways that the waters of the Floud come not upon you and cut off the whole seed of the Race of Adam 2. Noah preached by his life he preached by his humility patience sanctity Noah walked with God Quest. What is it to walk with God Answ. Walking with God imports five things 1. A walking as under Gods eye Noah did reverence a Deity A godly man sets himself as in Gods presence knowing his Judge looks on Psalm 16. 8. I have set the Lord always before me Here was Davids Opticks 2. Walking with God implies the familiarity and intimacy the soul hath with God Friends walk together and solace themselves one with another The godly make known their requests to God and he makes known his love to them There is a sweet intercourse between God and his people 1 Iohn 1. 3. Our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our Communion is with the Father and his Son Iesus 3. Walking with God is a walking above the earth A godly man is elevated above all sublunary objects that person must ascend very high who walks with God A Dwarf cannot walk among the Stars nor can a dwarfish earthly soul walk with God 4. Walking with God denotes visible piety walking is a visible posture grace must be conspicuous to the beholders He walks with God who discovers something of God in his carriage he shines forth in a Bible-Conversation 5. Walking with God imports a continued progress in Grace it is not only a step but a walk there is a going on towards perfection A godly man doth not sit down in the middle of his way but goes on till he comes at the end of his Faith 1 Pet. 1. 9. Though a good man may be extra semitam yet not extra viam He may through infirmity step aside as Peter did but he recovers himself by repentance and goes on in a progress of holiness Iob 17. 9. The righteous also shall hold on his way Use 1. See from hence how improper it is to call them godly who do not walk with God They would have Noahs Crown but they do not love Noahs walk Most are found in the Devils black walk Phil. 3. 18. Many walk of whom I tell you weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ. 1. Some will commend walking with God and say it is the rarest life in the world but will not set one foot in the way all that commend Wine do not come up to the price many a Father commends virtue to his Childe but doth not set him a pattern 2. Others walk a few steps in the good old way but they retreat back again If the ways of God were not good why did they enter into them If they were good why did they forsake them 2 Pet. 2. 21. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment 3. Others slander walking with God that it is a melancholly walk and such as are less zealous are more prosperous this God accounts blasphemy 2 Pet. 2. 2. The way of truth shall be evil spoken of In the Greek it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it shall be blasphemed 4. Others deride walking with God as if it were a way of foolish preciseness What you will be of the Holy Tribe You will be wiser than others There are some persons if it were in their power would jeer Holiness out of the world The Chair of the Scornful stands at the Mouth of Hell 5. Others instead of walking with God walk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the flesh 1. They walk by Fleshly Opinions 2. They walk after Fleshly Lusts. 1. They walk by Fleshly Opinions There are six of these 1. That it is best to do as the most do to steer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the course of the World to be in the Mode not to get a new heart but to get into a new fashion 2 That Reason is the highest Judge and Umpire in matters of Religion we must beleeve no farther than we can see for a man to become a fool that he may be wise to be saved purely by the righteousness of another to keep
so desirable at death why should we not pursue after it now godliness is as needful now and would bee more feasible 5 There are but few godly they are as the gleanings after vintage most receive the Mark of the Beast Rev. 13. 17. The Devil keeps open house for all comers and hee is never without ghuests this may prevail with us to be godly if the number of the Saints be so small how should we labour to be found among these pearls Rom. 9. 27. but a remnant shall be saved it is better going to Heaven with a few than to Hell in the crowd 6 Consider how vain and contemptible other things are about which persons void of godliness busie themselves men are taken up about the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things of this life and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind Eccles. 5. 16. can the winde fill what is gold but dust Amos 2. 8. which will sooner choak than satisfie pull off the mask of the most beautiful thing under the Sun and look what is within there is care and vexation and the greatest care is yet behinde and that is account The things of the world are but as a bubble in the water or a Meteor in the air But godliness hath a real worth in it if you speak of true honour it is to be born of God if of true valour it is to fight the good fight of faith if of true delight it is to have joy in the Holy ghost Oh then espouse godliness here is reallity to be had of other things we may say as Zac. 10. 2. They comfort in vain CHAP. VII Prescribing some helps to Godliness Quest. But what shall we do that we may be godly Answ. I shall briefly lay down some rules or helps to godliness 1 Be diligent in the use of all means that may promote godliness Luke 13. 24. strive to enter in at the straight gate what is purpose without pursuit when you have made your estimate of godliness prosecute those mediums which are most expedient for obtaining it 2 If you would be godly take heed of the world 't is hard for a clod of dust to become a star 1 Ioh. 2. 15. love not the world many would be godly but the honours and profits of the world divert them where the world fills both head and heart there is no room for Christ he whose minde is rooted in the earth is likely enough to deride godliness when our Saviour was preaching against sin the Pharisees who were covetous derided him Luk. 16. 14. The world eats out the heart of godliness as the lvy eats out the heart of the Oak the world kills with her silver darts 3 Inure your selves to holy thoughts serious meditation represents every thing in its native colour it shews an evil in sin and a lustre in grace By holy thoughts the head grows clearer and the heart better Psa. 119. 59. I thought on my waies and turned my feet unto thy testimonies Did men step aside a little out of the noise and hurry of business and spend but half an hour every day in thinking upon their souls and eternity it would produce a wonderful alteration in them and tend very much to a real and blessed conversion 4 Watch your hearts it was Christs watch-word to his Disciples Mat. 24. 42. Watch therefore the heart will praecipitate us to sin before we are aware a subtil heart needs a watchful eye watch your thoughts your affections the heart hath a thousand doors to run out at O keep close sentinel in your souls stand continually upon your Watch-tower Hab. 2. 1. when you have prayed against sin watch against tentation most wickedness in the world is committed for want of watchfulness watchfulness maintains godliness it is the selvedge which keeps religion from ravelling out 5 Make Conscience of spending your time Eph. 5. 16. redeeming the time Many persons fool away their time some in idle visits others in recreations and pleasures which secretly bewitch the heart and take it off from better things What are our golden hours for but to mind our souls Time mis-improved is not time lived but time lost Time is a precious commodity a peece of wax in it self is not much worth but as it is affixed to the label of a Will and conveyes an estate so it is of great value Thus time simply in it self is not so considerable but as salvation is to be wrought out in it and a conveyance of heaven depends upon the well improvement of it so it is of infinite concernment 6 Think of your short stay in the world 1 Chron. 29. 15. Our daies on the Earth are as a shaddow and there is none abiding There is but a span between the Cradle and the Grave Solomon saith there is a time to bee born and a time to dye Eccles. 3. 2. but mentions no time of living as if that were so short it were not worth naming and time when it is once gone cannot be recalled the Scripture compares time to a flying Eagle Io◠9. 6. yet herein time differs from the Eagle the Eagle flies forward and then back again but time hath wings only to fly forward it never returns back fugit irrevocabile tempus The serious thoughts of our short abode here would be a great means to promote godliness what if death should come before we are ready what if our life should breathe out before Gods spirit hath breathed in he that considers how flitting and winged his life is will hasten his repentance when God is about to make a short work he will not make a long work 7 Possess your selves with this maxim that godliness is the end of your Creation God never sent men into the world only to eat and drink and put on fine cloathes but that they might serve him in righteousness and holiness Luk. 1. 75. God made the world only as an attiring room to dress our souls in he sent us hither upon the grand errand of godliness should nothing but the body the bruitish part bee looked after this were basely to degenerate yea to invert and frustrate the very end of our being 8. Be often among the godly they are the salt of the earth and will help to season you Their counsels may direct their prayers may quicken Such holy sparks may be thrown into your breasts as may inkindle devotion in you It is good to be among the Saints to learn the trade of godliness Pro. 13. 20. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise CHAP. VIII Exhorting such as have made a Profession of Godliness to persevere Use 2. MY next Use is to exhort those who wear the Mantle and in the judgement of others are looked upon as godly that they would persevere Heb. 10. 23. Let us hold fast the profession of our Faith This is a seasonable Exhortation in these times
grace shine in his soul and the next day his light put out in obscurity This would spill a Christians comfort and break asunder the golden Chain of Salvation but be assured O Christian he who hath begun a good work will ripen it into perfection Christ will send forth judgement unto victory he will make grace victorious over all opposite corruption If grace should finally perish what would become of the smoaking flax And how would that title properly be given to Christ Finisher of the Faith Object No question this is an undoubted priviledge to such as are smoaking flax and have the least beginnings of grace but I fear I am not smoaking flax I cannot see the light of grace in my self Answ. That I may comfort the smoaking flax why dost thou thus dispute against thy self What makes thee think thou hast no grace I believe thou hast more than thou wouldst be willing to part with thou valuest grace above the gold of Ophir How couldst thou see the worth and lustre of this Jewel if Gods Spirit had not opened thy eyes Thou wouldst fain believe and mournest that thou canst not believe are not these tears the Initials of Faith Thou desirest Christ and canst not be satisfied without him this beating of the pulse evidenceth life The iron could not move upward if the Loadstone did not draw it the heart could not ascend in holy breathings after God if some heavenly Loadstone had not been drawing it Christian canst thou say sin is thy burden Christ is thy delight and as Peter once said Lord thou knowest I love thee This is smoaking flax and the Lord will not quench it thy grace shall flourish into glory God will sooner extinguish the light of the Sun than extinguish the dawning light of his spirit in thy heart 2. Let a Christian pursue his duty There are two duties required of believers 1. Love 2. Labour 1. Love Will not the Lord quench the smoaking flax but make it at last victorious over all opposition how should the smoaking flax flame in love to God Psal. 31. 23. love the Lord all ye his Saints The Saints owe much to God and when they have nothing to pay it is hard if they cannot love him O ye Saints it is God who carries on grace progressively in your souls He is like a Father who gives his son a small stock of money to begin with and when he hath traded a little he adds more to the stock So God adds continually to your stock he is every day dropping oyl into the lamp of your grace and so keeps the lamp burning This may inflame your love to God who will not let the work of grace miscarry but will bring it to perfection The smoaking flax he will not quench How should Gods people long for heaven when it will be their constant work to breathe forth love and found forth praise 2. The second duty required of Christians is labour Some may think if Christ will not quench the smoaking flax but make it burn brighter to the Meridian of glory then we need take no pains but leave God to bring his own work about Take heed of drawing so bad a Conclusion from such good premises What I have spoken is to encourage Faith not to indulge sloath Do not think God will do our work for us and we sit still As God will blow up the spark of grace by his spirit so we must be blowing it up by holy endeavours God will not bring us to heaven sleeping but praying The Lord told Paul all in the Ship should come safe to shore but it must be in the use of means Act. 27. 21. Except ye abide in the Ship ye cannot be saved So the Saints shall certainly arrive at Salvation they shall come to shore at last but they must abide in the Ship in the use of Ordinances else they cannot be saved Christ assures his Disciples None shall pluck them out of his hand Ioh. 10. 28. But yet he gives that counsel Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation Mat 26. 41. The seed of God shall not die but we must water it with our tears the smoaking flax shall not be quenched but we must blow it up with the breath of our endeavour The second comfort to the godly is that godliness advanceth them into a near and glorious union with Jesus Christ But of this in the next CHAP. XII Shewing the Mystical union between Christ and the Saints CANT 2. 16. My beloved is mine and I am his IN this Book of the Canticles we see the love of Christ and his Church running toward each other in a full torrent The Text contains three general Parts 1 A Symbol of affection my beloved 2 A term of appropriation is mine 3 An holy resignation I am his Doct. That there is a conjugal union between Christ and beleevers The Apostle having treated at large of marriage he windes up the whole chapter thus Eph. 5. 32. This is a great mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the Church what nearer than union what sweeter there is a twofold union with Christ 1 A natural union this all men have Christ having taken their nature upon him and not the Angels Heb. 2. 16. but if there be no more than this natural union it will give little comfort thousands are damned though Christ be united to their nature 2 There is a sacred union whereby we are mystically united to Christ the union with Christ is not personal if Christs essence were transfused into the person of a beleever then it would follow that all which a beleever doth should merit But the union between Christ and a Saint is 1 Faederal my beloved is mine God the Father gives the bride God the Son receives the bride God the Holy ghost tyes the knot in marriage he knits our wills to Christ and Christs love to us 2 This union is vertual Christ unites himself to his spouse by his graces and influences Iohn 1. 16. Of his fulness have we all received and grace for grace Christ makes himself one with the spouse by conveying his Image and stamping the impress of his own holiness upon her This union with Christ may well be called mystical it is hard to describe the manner of it as it is hard to shew the manner how the soul is united to the body so how Christ is united to the soul but though this union be spiritual it is real Things in nature work often insensibly yet really Eccles. 11. 5. we do not see the hand move on the Dial yet it moves the Sun exhales and draws up the vapours of the earth insensibly yet really so the union between Christ and the soul though it be imperceptible to the eye of reason yet is real 1 Cor. 6. 17. Before this union with Christ there must be a separation the heart must be separated from all other lovers as in marriage there is a leaving of