the Church his Bride i Reuel 21 2. 22.17 his loue k Cant. 1.8 5.1.2 his doue his vndefiled Spouse a pure Virgin l Psal 45. 2 Cor. 11 2. prepared for him and in whom he greatly pleaseth and delighteth m Psal 11.13.15 himselfe We know how neare and strait the vnion is between the husband and his deere and louing Spouse they are according to Gods owne ordinance but one flesh n Gen. 2.14 Ephe. 5.30 31. Such is the vnion in this spirituall mariage betweene Christ and his Church and euery faithful member of the same Thus then thou seest what a neare and strait vnion and coniunction there is betweene Christ and the true Christian euen all that are iustified by his grace and sanctified by his spirit They are in him and he is in them Hee is their head they are his o 1 Cor. 6.15 12.27 members flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone they are ingraffed into him and become one with him p Iohn 17.10.21.22.23 as he is one with the Father He dwelleth in them and they in him q Ephe. 3.17 1 Cor. 6.17 Iohn 6.56 But lest thou shouldst conceiue of this amisse consider seriously what manner of Vnion this is how it is wrought A heauenly meditation and vvorth thy best attention First then know that this vnion is not carnall but spirituall not naturall but supernaturall and mysticall It is not a carnal or a corporall vnion as if Christs body vvere turned into our bodies as the Papists faine in that new-deuised Transubstantiation and strange metamorphosis of theirs nor ioyned vnto them in a locall or bodily manner Thou must not imagine any such matter for that were with the Capernaits r Ioh. 6.41.52 to conceiue grossely of Christ our Sauiour and vvith Nicodemus s Ioh. 3.4 to shew thy selfe altogether carnall inconceiuing these heauenly mysteries It is against the nature of Christs body which is t Eph. 1.20 4.10 ascended into Heauen and there sitteth at the right hand of God in glory therefore cannot be vnited vnto vs in that maner being on earth so many thousand miles distant from him But it is a spirituall and heauenly vnion It is not a reall transfusion of the substance of Christ vnto vs as some Heretikes haue dreamed but an essentiall communication of himselfe and his graces vnto vs in a spirituall manner More distinctly First the faithfull are vnited vnto his flesh and to his humane nature then by meanes hereof vnto his diuine u Ioh. 6.53.56.57 Hebr. 10.10.20 nature His flesh is as it vvere the vaile by which they haue entrance into the holy of Holies and became in a sort partakers of his diuine x 2 Pet 1.4 nature Their whole person is vnited vnto Christ whence they are sayd to be his flesh and his bones not as they are men but as they are Christians and ingraffed into him and so with him make one body vvhereof hee is the head they the members Whole Christ is vnited vnto them both his humane his diuine nature and they are wholy vnited vnto him both their soules and y 1 Cor. 6.15 bodies their whole person For to giue some proofe of this which some otherwise happily may doubt of they are coupled to Christ the second Adam as Heâ—ah was ioyned to the first Adam for that vnion betweene them was a type of this spirituall vnion betweene him and his Church his Spouse Now the whole person of Euah was ioyned and vnited to the person of Adam whence they are said to be no more two but z Ge. 2.24 Ephe. 5.31 one flesh Againe not the soule onely or the body onely of euery beleeuer is redeemed and saued by Christ but both and therefore not one but both must needs be ioyned and vnited vnto Christ for out of him there is no saluation a Acts â— 12 neither for one nor other Moreouer the whole person of the Sonne of God assumed and vnited vnto himselfe the vvhole nature of man not his flesh only or his soule onely but both and therefore by vertue of that vnion the whole nature of man must be vnited vnto him Lastly Christ whole Christ in his diuine nature and in his humane nature in his soule and body euen consisting of these together ioyntly and not seperatly is the b Eph. 5.23 head and and Sauiour of all his faithfull members and therefore their whole person must of necessitie be vnited to him otherwise how shall he be the head of both and the Sauiour of both euen of the whole man Thus then there is a true a reall an essentiall and entire vnion betweene the faithfull and Christ if wee respect the things vnited viz. Christ and his members but if wee regard the manner of this vnion it is wholy spirituall mysticall and supernaturall farre aboue the reach of the natural c 1 Cor. 2.14 man yea of any man fully to conceiue and comprehend it nay it is a great and a vvonderfull mysterie firmely to be beleeued as an article of our Faith and not curiously in a carnall and sensible manner to be searched into And therefore the Apostle shadowing it out vnto vs by the vnion which is betweene Man and Wife coupled together in mariage-bond breakes forth into this d Eph. 5.32 speech This is a great Secret or a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great Mysterie viz. this vnion beweene Christ and his Church It is a great mystery not to be comprehended by sense and carnall reason but to be beleeued and apprehended by faith onely which is that supernaturall light by which we see things that are e Heb. 1.11 invisible cannot be otherwise seene or discerned Happy are they that haue felt by comfortable experience what it is that we say Hauing seene what this vnion betweene Christ and the faithfull is it is next to bee considered how it is wrought in them This vnion therefore and spirituall coniunction is wrought by the spirit on Christs part and by faith on our part These are the two bands of it First the spirit through the effectuall operation and working thereof knitteth them vnto Christ As the nerues or sinewes being diffused from the braine into all the parts and members of the body doe ioyne and vnite them al vnto the head from whence they receiue life and action So the Spirit of of Christ proceeding from him who is the head of the Church is diffused as it were and communicated vnto his whole body which is the Church a 1 Cor. 12 27. and vnto euery member of the same euery particuler beleeuer and so knitteth and vniteth them vnto Christ their head so that they haue communion with him and receiue from him all spirituall grace b Ioh. 1.16 life and motion according vnto their measure c Rom. 12.3 1 Cor. 12.11 Ephes 4.7 yea it knitteth them
vnto him in a more strait and neare vnion then the members of the naturall body are knit and vnited vnto the head For they may be seperated from it and so perish but there is no seperation no diuision no dis-vnion possibly to be made betweene d Rom. 8.39 Christ and any one of his members much lesse the whole Church Againe for I had rather bee too plentifull then too sparing in the illustration of this so excellent and so heauenly a truth as all the members of the body are vnited vnto the head and quickened by one and the same soule vvhich animates them and conuayeth naturall life vnto euery one of them So all the faithfull vvhether they be in Heauen aboue or in Earth below of the Church militant or triumphant are ioyned and vnited vnto CHRIST by one and the selfe-same Spirit vvhich comming from the Head CHRIST IESVS giueth spirituall life quickening and motion vnto them so that the vvhole body being coupled and knit together e Ephes 4.16 by euery ioynt receiueth increase of grace by degrees and groweth vp daily more and more till the body of CHRIST vvhich is his CHVRCH bee fully perfected and consumated receiuing the f Ephes 4.13 accomplishment of all Grace and Glory in the highest heauens This is the first meanes whereby this vnion is made betweene CHRIST and the faithfull euen this sacred bond of the Spirit And from this efficacie and operation of the spirit vniting vs vnto CHRIST it is said by the Apostle that wee euen all beleeuers haue drunke into the same g 1 Cor. 12 13 Ephes 4.4 Spirit And againe that wee are baptized into one body that is wee are made one Body vvhereof Christ is the Head Now that other bond by vvhich they are tied and vnited vnto Christ and that on their part is Faith For the Spirit of God hauing begotten a true and liuely faith in vs by the preaching of the Word by meanes of this excellent grace we are vnited vnto Christ For thereby we lay hold on Christ with all his merits and h 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 3.18 Phil. 3.21 1 Ioh. 3.2 Gal. 2.20 benefits and apply them in particular to our selues and so become one vvith him all vvhich he hath done for mankinde being made as proper vnto vs as if it were our owne And hence it is that Christ is said to dwell in our hearts by i Ephes 3.17 Faith Faith is the hand as it were whereby vvee receiue Christ being offred vnto vs in the Word by meanes of it Christ is made ours and we his by an inseparable vnion And thus wee haue at large described that spirituall and mystical vnion vvhich is betweene Christ and the faithfull his members So neare and so strait a vnion that the holy Ghost in Scripture giueth sometimes as was sayd the name of Christ himselfe vnto the Church and calleth it by his owne name euen as the name of the husband by reason of that vnion betweene them is giuen vnto the Wife and she called by his name As k 1 Cor. 12 12. the body is one saith the Apostle hath many members euen so is Christ that is the Church of Christ Such is the nearenesse and efficacie of that spirituall coniunction of Christ and the faithfull that he cals them not onely Christians as sometimes they are l Acts 11.26 named or his Spouse his Sister his m Cant. 5.2 Loue his Doue his Vndefiled c. but euen Christ his owne name Whence also it is that that vvhich is done to the Church or any member thereof he accounteth it as done to himselfe whether it be good or euill The workes of Loue and Charity done to his poore members in the day vvhen hee shall sit vpon his Throne to iudge the World he will pronounce them to haue beene done vnto himselfe I was a hungry n Mat. 25.35.36.40 and ye gaue ME meate I thirsted and yee gaue ME drinke naked and yee clothed ME sicke and ye visited ME c. In as much as ye haue done it vnto one of the least of these MY Brethren yee haue done it vnto ME. And when Saul persecuted the poore Saints of God and breathed out threatnings slaughter against them Christ looking downe from heauen and beholding him cries out vnto him with a loud voice o Acts 9.4 Heb. 4.15 Zach. 2.8 1 Cor. 12.26 Saul Saul why persecutest thou Me The Foote is wounded on earth and the Head feels it and complaines of it from Heauen The persecution or wrong done to his Church or any member thereof he esteemeth it as done to himselfe O my soule raise vp thy selfe vnto the oft and serious consideration of this spirituall and mysticall vnion of the faithfull with Christ their head and Sauiour Oh how full is it of sweetnesse much comfort and inward solace Thinke of it and beleeue it without all wauering and doubting Say not as carnall men are wont and as Nicodemus did in a point of like nature How can this be p Iohn 3.9 6.42 How can Christ being in heauen so farre distant from vs in regard of bodily presence be vnited vnto vs Reason not so as flesh and blood will suggest vnto thee but beleeue this stedfastly and assuredly as if thou beest spirituall and not carnall thou wilt and canst not doe otherwise The trueth of God hath sealed it the Scriptures in many places ratifie and confirme it and it is a great measure of infidelitie to denie it or to doubt of it Thou seest it not vvith the eyes of thy body What then vvilt thou beleeue nothing but that which thou seest with thy bodily eyes then thou wilt not beleeue that there is a Vnion betweene thy soule and thy body for thou seest it not with thine eyes and yet if it were not thou wert a dead man and a liuelesse carkasse Thou wilt not denie but that there is a Vnion betweene man and wife though they be distant in place yea though the one of them be in this country and the other in that for it is a receiued Maxime or rule granted of all that distance of place dissolueth not the marriage-bond both Gods law and mans law so determineth it and wilt thou be so faithlesse as not to beleeue that there is a Vnion betweene that heauenly bridegroome Christ Iesus though he be in heauen and his faithfull members many of them on earth Shall not faith be of more efficacie then nature Thou wilt not denie that which experience teacheth thee except thou beest blinde that the sight of the eye of thy bodie in a moment of time as it vvere and in an instant doth reach vnto the Starres in the firmament and is in a sort vnited vnto them though so many thousand miles distant from thee and wilt not thou graunt much more that faith which is the eye of the soule and of a farre more powerfull and piercing nature may
ascend presently into heauen vvhere Christ sitteth in glory and lay hold vpon Christ and so ioyne and vnite the beleeuer vvith Christ not onely vvith his Deitie which is euery where but also with his humanity which is in heauen onely yea vvith vvhole Christ God and man Be not so carnall so incredulous Haue faith and thou vvilt beleeue it yea if thou hast faith and the spirit of Christ dwelling in thee thou canst not but most assuredly beleeue it as a mayne Article of thy Christian Faith and a principall pillar and ground-worke of thy saluation Neyther doe thou thinke it sufficient to beleeue it onely but labour to feele it by a comfortable experience of it and withall seeke to raise vp thy selfe by the due meditation thereof to the beholding of the infinite and vnspeakeable loue and bounty of Christ thy Sauiour towards thee and towards all true beleeuers Assure thy selfe of his loue who hath come downe from heauen and by a spirituall marriage allied yea linked himselfe vnto thee q Esay 9.6 Hebr. 2.16 giuing himselfe vnto thee clothing himselfe with thy flesh and ioyning thee vnto himselfe and in him vnto God his Father r Iohn 17.21 Isa 53. and so in him and through him made thee partaker of all those rich treasuries of his grace and glory euen whatsoeuer he hath wrought for mankinde and s Rom. 8.32 1 Cor. 3.21.22 Reue. 2.17 27.28 3.5.12.21 made promise of in the Gospell vvherein that contract which is made betweene him and thee is published to the vvhole world and the consummation thereof by that marriage-feast and ioyful solemnities reserued for another world in that glorious kingdome of his where thou shalt liue and remaine with him for euer inioying his loue and the comfortable fruits and effâ—cts of it in vnspeakeable and glorious manner to thy endlesse and euerlasting blisse and happinesse Assure thy selfe of this and let thy heart spring for ioy in thee yea with heart and voyce sing forth cheerefully with the Spouse that heauenly Ditty and marriage-song I am t Can. 2.16 5.4.16 6.2 8.6.7 my welbeloueds and my welbeloued is mine His mouth is as sweet things and he is wholy delectable My heart is altogether affectioned towards thee Set me as a seale on thine heart as a signet vpon thine arme for loue is strong the coales thereof are fiery and the flame vehemeÌ„t much water cannot quench it neyther can the flouds of persecution drown it If any would giue all the substance of his house yea all the riches of the world I would u Phil. 3.8 contemne despise it rather then be x Ruth 1.17 parted from thee O my blessed Sauiour Redeemer who hast loued me so dearely and giuen thy selfe y Gal. 2.20 1 Cor. 3 21. Reuel 21.7 for me yea vnto me that thou mighist make me one with thee and one with thy Father and so heire of all things both in heauen and in earth Assure thy selfe hereof and raise vp thy selfe thereby in a ioyfull manner to sing praises vnto him continually who hath done so great things for thee without any deserts of thine and z Rom. 8.23 long earnestly for the time wherein thou shalt in a more heauenly manner enioy the benefit of that blessed vnion desire to be a Phil. 1.23 dissolued from this earthly bodie and to be with thy Sauiour in the heauens which is euery way best for thee Sigh after him and let him heare thee crying after him with the voyce of his Spouse O my welbeloued flee away b Can. 8.18 and be like vnto the swift Roe or to the young Hart vpon the mountaines Come riding vpon the heauens in those fiery chariots to iudge the world and to take me vnto thy selfe and to carry me with the voyce of triumph c Psal 45.14 and melodie into that glorious palace which thou hast prepared for mee there to dwell with thee for euer and with the Spirit the Bride Come d Reue. 22 17.20 Psal 22. Come Lord Iesus come quickly My soule thirsteth after thee my God Sauiour when shall I come and appeare before thee when shall I see thy face enioy thy blessed and glorious presence in those heauenly mansions which thou art gone before to prouide for me e Ioh. 14.2 and for thine with me Thus doe thou vnfainedly desire and long for continually that glorious f Tit. 213 appearance of our Sauiour when as hee shall be made g 2 Thes 1.10 maruellous in his Saints and cause thee to see how great thy blessednesse is in regard of that heauenly vnion and coniunction with him And in the meane while rest with patience and comfort thy selfe in all estates for can it be but that it should be wel with the who art so nearely allied vnto Christ his vvelbeloued Spouse vvhom he hath married h Hose 2.19 vnto himself for euer in righteousnesse in mercy and in compassion yea for vvhom hee hath shed his owne precious bloud that so he might cleanse i Ephes 5.26 and sanctifie thee vnto himselfe yea vvhom he hath made flesh of his flesh Can it bc that he should not haue a speciall care ouer thee k Rom. 8.32.33 Psal 23.1 34.10 84.11 and prouide euery thing for thee vvhich he seeth to be best for thee Can he suffer any euill to happen vnto thee yea rather will he not seeke by all meanes to cherish thee No man euer yet hated his owne flesh but nourisheth and cherisheth it l Ephes 5 29 Euen so doth the Lord his Church which is his owne body whereof he is m Ephes 5.23 the head and Sauiour Euen nature will teach euery one to make much of his bodie to preserue it from all euill from all hurts and dangers vvhich might befall it or any part or member of it and to do it all the good hee can by any meanes how much more shall Christ vvho is the God of nature and the fountaine of all grace and farre more tender ouer his bodie the Church and all the members of it then any man is or possibly can be of his owne naturall and corruptible bodie how much more shall he saue defend preserue and prouide all things necessary and conuenient for his It cannot be otherwise n Eccles 8 12 Isay 3.10 Assuredly it shall be well vvith thee and with all that are his He is Almightie and able to doe it for thee and most louing carefull and tender ouer thee and therefore will doe it according to his promise plighted vnto thee in this behalf o Hebr. 13 10 Comfort thy self with this and feare not howsoeuer Sathan and his wicked instruments p Psal 3.6 118.6 shal oppose themselues against thee be not danted or dismayed thereat yea let them as they haue cause be stricken with feare damped in their malicious courses inteÌ„ded against thee Litle think
neuer deceiue g 1 Ioh. 4.20 thy selfe with the vaine dreames of thine owne braine but know thy selfe and confesse as the trueth is that thou art not yet vnited vnto Christ that thou hast no part in him but art a stranger from him from that life of grace and glory which flowes from him yea that thou art of that serpentine h Gen. 3.15 seed which is alwayes at enmitie with the redeemed of Christ one of that vvicked race and of Sathans brood i Ioh. 3.10 a childe of the curse and an heire of perdition k Phil. 1.28 who could neuer abide the sonnes of the promised l Gal. 4.29 If thou sayest thou art in the light thou giuest God the lie m 1 Iohn 2.9.11 nay thou art couered vvith darkenesse and walkest like one blinded vnto thine owne destruction in that place of vtter darkenesse and euerlasting desolation Gracious Lord as thou hast in the riches of thy mercies vnited me vnto CHRIST and so through him to all that are his making vs all members of one body vvhereof he is the Head so vnite my heart and soule I humbly pray thee in an entire loue and affection vnto thee and vnto thy Sonne my blessed Lord and Sauiour and in him and for his sake to all those in vvhom I can see any signes or euidences that they are ingraffed into that mysticall body together with me children of the same Father brethren of the same Sauiour and Heires of the same grace and glory which thou hast freely promised to all thine O let mee neuer hate despise or vvrong the least of them in any sort for thereby I should shew my selfe to be very vnnaturall but let mee loue them delight in them n Psal 16.3 and seeke to doe o Gal. 6.10 them vvhat good I can by any meanes Let mee root out of my heart all sinister conceits and wicked surmises which are the very bane of true Christian loue and Charitie and let me bend my selfe alwayes to thinke the best of p 1 Cor. 13 them and to doe the best for them according to their necessitie and my ability yea let them alwayes bee deare vnto mee and precious in mine eyes and so much the more as they shall appeare to be more neerely and firmely vnited vnto thee that thus I may please thee and haue assurance that I am a liuely member of CHRIST IESVS the Head of his Church and my blessed LORD and Sauiour to whom with thee and thy Spirit be all prayse and glory both now and euermore Amen A wicked life and the profession of Religion how ill they agree AS is a precious Pearle in the dirt or a Iewell of Gold in a Swines snout so is the name of a Christian or the profession of Religion in one of a wicked and prophane life How vnbeseeming a thing is it How ill doe they agree How is the glory and beautie of the one stained and blemished by the vilenesse and basenes of the other Either therefore let men neuer take this honour vnto themselues to be called and accounted Christians and to weare the badge and cognisance of Christs holy and redeemed ones or else let them as it is meet they should cast away the cloaks of shame wherewith they haue couered themselues heretofore and abandon all their former sinfull and euill courses wherein formerly they haue walked to the dishonour of God a Rom. 2.24 the disgrace of their profession b 1 Pet. 2.12 Tit. 2.5 yea and to the increase of their owne condemnation if they continue in their wickednesse c 2 Pet â— 21 O blessed Lord as it hath pleased thee in the riches of thy mercies to call me to the knowledge and the acknowledgement of thee to the profession of thy glorious name euen of thy Christ to be called a Christian and to stand vpon the priuiledges and royall prerogatiues which belong vnto those that are indeed his redeemed ones bought with his most precious bloud so I humbly beseech thee to make my life and conuersation euery way answerable to my calling and profession Let me consider oft and seriously of the dignitie and excellency whereunto I am aduanced aboue those that are aliants from thee strangers from thy couenant d Ephes 2.12 without Christ without God and without the name of Christianity and godlinesse children of the night e 1 Thes 1 5.5 and of darkenesse and let me alway be ashamed to doe any thing whereby I may in any sort bring a staine vpon that which is and should be my glory or a dishonour to that blessed and glorious name after which I am called causing others through my folly and wickednesse to speake euill of thee and of thy grace and truth yea let the very thought of this that I should be so ouertaken at any time as Lord thou knowest what my fraily and weaknesse is if I be not continually strengthened and supported by thee let it euen cause me to blush within my selfe and to hang downe my head with griefe and sorrow and withall to stirre vp my selfe to walke more carefully f Ephes 5.15 and circumspectly all my daies striuing and indeauoring as to haue the name of a Christian so to follow the example of Christ g 1 Pet. 2. to tread in his steppes and to walke as he hath walked setting him alwaies as a patterne and president before me as to haue the shew so likewise the power of godlinesse in my whole life and conuersation and to walke worthy of the vocation h Ephes 4.1 wherewith thou hast honoured mee shining forth as a light in this sinfull world i Phil. 2.14 1 Pet. 2.9 and shewing forth the vertues of thee my Lord and Sauiour who hast called me out of the darknesse of sinne and ignorance into that maruellous light of thine both of grace and of glory that thus they that are enemies to thy trueth and seeke by all meanes to bring reproch vpon that glorious profession vvith vvhich thou hast graced thy seruants hauing nothing concerning me to speake euill of iustly thy great name may be glorified thy Gospell adorned that worthy calling vvhereunto thou hast called me beautified my soule and conscience comforted and both bodie and soule eternally saued in that great day vvherein thou hast appointed to iudge the world in righteousnesse by him vvhom thou hast ordayned Lord of all things Christ my righteousnesse to vvhom with thee O Father and thy blessed Spirit be all praise and glory both now and for euermore Amen A Christian eyther the best or the worst of all men most happie or most miserable A CHRISTIAN is eyther the most happie of all other men or the most miserable Most happie if he hath the trueth of that vvhich hee beareth the name of being a Christian not onely in outward profession but also in inward affection manifesting it selfe by action and outward conuersation Most miserable if
vvhiles I walke in this narrow way seeing that it tends to life and saluation but let me goe forward vvithout faynting at any time yea with much cheerefulnesse and delight knowing that all these light and momentary afflictions are no waies worthy of that glory Rom. 8.18 vnto which through the straitnesse of this gate I shall shortly haue passage All that are of the Church visible or militant shall not be of the Church Inuisible and Triumphant MAny haue accesse into the Princes outmost chamber who are not admitted into the chamber of Presence but excluded and shut out from hauing entrance thereinto In like manner Many are brought to the fellowship of the visible Church which is as it were the outmost chamber of the house of God the palace of that great King and a fauour it is that is vouchsafed them herein for all doe not attaine vnto it Psal 147.19.20 but few are so blessed as to be led by the spirit further into that secret and priuie chamber where God shewes his familiar presence Cant. 2.4 and vnto vvhich none are admitted but they vvho are of the communion of Saints Hebr. 12.22.23 of the court of heauen heires of the glory of that coelestiall kingdome where they shall alwaies attend vpon the Maiestie of the highest the great God of the vvhole world O Lord it is thy mercy that thou hast called mee to haue a place in the visible Church here on earth and to liue among thy Israel thy Saints and chosen to enioy thy word and Sacraments and to looke as it vvere Cant. 2.9 through a câ—euis into the holy of Holies for the greatest part of the world haue not obtained thus much How many thousands of Iewes Turkes heathen doe we see at this day excluded and cast out from the lists and outmost bounds of thy Church Reuel 11.1.2 But it is thy vvonderfull and vnspeakeable goodnesse towards me that thou hast admitted me into the chamber of Presence calling me to the blessed fellowship and communion with thy Saints yea vvith thine owne selfe making me one of thy Israel Iohn 14.21.22.23 Gal 2.20 Phil. 3.10 Reue. 3.20 one of thy Saints and chosen a true member of the Church militant heere on earth and heire of the glorious and triumphant Church in the highest heauens where I shall liue with thee for euer Iohn 14.2 17.24 O blessed be thy name for the riches of thy loue infinite grace vouchsafed vnto me herein through Christ Iesus my Lord. Thou mightest iustly haue excluded me as well as others yea euen from the outmost courts of thy Sion but it hath pleased thee O Father to magnifie thy great mercy towards me thy poore and vnworthy creature that so my heart might be drawne vp the more vnto thee and inflamed vvith an vnfained loue of thee O therefore that thou vvouldest knit my heart and soule vnto thee and cause me to set all the affections of my loue ioy and delight in thee to vvhom onely they are due and to whom alone I desire they may be giuen And teach me withall to seeke daily more and more to presse forward and to striue to get nearer accesse vnto thee indeauouring by a holy life and godly conuersation to obtaine full and comfortable assurance that thou hast called me into the communion of thy chosen ones admitted mee into the chamber of thy gracious presence Iohn 8.35 and that I shall abide in thy house for euer euen in those glorious mansions and heauenly habitations vvhere thine honour dwelleth and where all thy Saints shall reigne and triumph vvith thee for euermore The blessed estate of a true Christian in regard of that spirituall and heauenly vnion that is betweene Christ and him OH how blessed a Vnion is there betweene Christ and euery true Christian Who is able to expresse it who doth not admire and vvonder at it It is a great matter for them to be accounted his friends Ioh. 15.13 15. Mark 3.34 Leuit. 25.25 Heb. 2.11.12.13 his kinsmen his brethren his children as all these names and titles he giues vnto them in the Scriptures But this is not all it is not one halfe for they are not onely tyed vnto him by these strait and sacred bonds of friendship kindred and brotherhood but they are made one with him one flesh Ephe. 5.31 Ephe. 5.30 1 Cor. 12.12 Hebr. 2.11 one bodie yea in a sort himselfe hauing his owne name giuen vnto them as afterwards To shadow out this vnion vnto thee by those types as it were and semblances by which the Scriptures haue declared it vnto vs in that maner that our fraile nature is able to conceiue of it for the vveakenesse and shallownesse of our capacity is such as it is not able fully to comprehend it in the excellencie of it Seest thou not what vnion there is betweene the head and the members of the bodie So it is betweene Christ and true Christians They are knit vnto him as it were by the sinewes of the spirit and by the bond of faith as the members of the bodie are vnto the head and from him as from the head Ephe. 1.22 5.23 Gal. 2.20 life floweth into the whole bodie the life of grace and spirituall motion and action is conueyed and communicated vnto the Church and all the faithfull members thereof vvhich are the bodie of Christ 1 Cor. 12.27 Eph. 4.12 Againe this vnion betweene Christ and them is compared to that which is betweene the Vine and the branches So Iohn 15 1.2 that as the stocke and the branches grow together so the faithfull being rooted in Christ and set as it were into him a Rom. 6.5 as branches of that heauenly Vine receiue life and sappe from him growth of all spirituall and heauenly graces It is compared to a fountaine and the waters issuing and steaming therefrom b Ioh. 4.14 Likewise to the corner-stone in a building and the stones that are built vpon the same c Ephe. 2.20.22 For so Christ is often in Scripture compared to the corner-stone vpon which as their manner of building in old time in those parts was the whole building was fastened combined and so reared vp and the faithfull compared to liuing d 1 Pet. 2.5 stones built vpon that sure foundation and thence also called the temple of the holy Ghost e 1 Cor. 3.16 6.19 Ioh. 14.23 Reue. 3. wherein God himselfe dwelleth f â—0 and will dwell for euer It is compared also to the bodie and the apparrell vvhich clothes and couers it and shelters it from cold and raine and from the iniury of the weather whence the faithfull are said to put on Christ g Rom. 13 14 Gal. 3.27 And lastly to the Husband and his Spouse whence Christ is often called the Husband of his Church h Ephes 5.23 Mat. 25.6 the Bridegroome which is preparing for his marriage solemnities and
they what they do whē they do ill vnto thee they strike against the Rock which will dash them in peeces q Isay 8.15 they kicke against the pricke r Act. 9.5 Touch not mine annoynted s Psal 105 15 saith the Lord those that are annoynted with the heauenly graces of my holy spirit yea which is more touch not harme not those that are vnited vnto mee that are as neare vnto me as mine own flesh bones the t Zachar. 2 8 apple of mine eyes most deare and tender vnto me Christ cannot indure this he will not suffer it to goe vnpunished O it is a fearefull thing to be an enemie to the least of Christs redeemed ones Feare v Isay 8.12.13 not therefore the feare of any man that in opposing thee setteth himselfe against Christ thy Sauiour but let them feare and tremble whiles they doe it and trust thou in the Lord and cleaue fast vnto him in all things And seeing he hath linked thee vnto himselfe so neare making thee his Spouse and professing himselfe to bee iealous of x Exod. 20 5. Hos 2.2.7 thy loue see that thou preparest thy selfe so as thou mayest alwayes be ready to bee presented vnto him as a y 2 Cor. 11.2 pure Virgin that so hee may delight z Prou. 8.31 Cant. 4.10 in thee and in thy loue continually O mercifull LORD doe thou vvorke and frame my heart vnto these things daily more and more I humbly beseech thee especially inflame my frozen and benummed affections and kindle in me the sparkes of true and vnfained loue vnto thee who hast dealt so exceeding graciously with me aboue all merits or deserts of mine Oh what a vvonderfull and vnspeakeable loue is this of thee my GOD and Sauiour that thou shouldest picke and cull mee out of the a Gal. 1.4 vvorld a sinnefull vvretch a forlorne person not worthy of the least degree of thy loue a branch of that cursed b Rom. 11.17 5.12 17. roote the sonne of Adam the childe of vvrath perdition for so I must needs confesse I was by c Ephes 2.3 Tit. 3.3 nature as well as others and vnite me so nearely d Ephes 2.13 vnto thine owne selfe as to bee flesh of thy flesh and bone of thy bone one with thee as thou art one with the Father O the depth e Ephes 3.18 of thy loue and infinite compassions towards me It cannot be conceiued it cannot bee expressed vvhat a marueilous degree of loue this is It is vnsearchable boundles bottomlesse O let the meditation of it euen rauish my heart and soule and cause me to breake forth vncessantly into praise and thankefulnesse vnto thee and to seeke by all meanes to shew my loue vnto thee who hast magnified thy Grace Mercy so richly towards me in making me of so wretched a creature so blessed and glorious though the vaile be yet so spread before mine eyes that f Col. 3.3.4 1 Ioh. 3.2 I cannot perfectly see or discerne what my blessednesse and glory is but shall haue it fully manifested both vnto my selfe and others vvhen thou who art my life and hope shalt appeare in glory and be made marueilous in g 2 Thes 1.10 all them that beleeue in thee How Christians are to liue in regard of that neere vnion that is betweene them and Christ THE bodie of euery true beleeuer is a member of Christs a 1 Cor. 6.15 body How carefully therefore ought they alwayes to keepe them from being the instruments of sinne or the weapons b Rom. 6.19 of vnrighteousnesse sith Christ thereby is so greatly dishonoured Shall the members of Christ be made the limmes of Sathan Shall his tongue speake vvickednesse his eyes see vanitie his hands worke iniquitie or any part of his mysticall body be made an instrument to commit sinne and vnrighteousnesse God forbid Blessed Lord seeing it hath pleased thee of thy free grace through faith to vnite me vnto Christ my head and blessed Sauiour to ingraffe me into his body and to make euen this weake and fraile body of mine a true member of his mysticall body graunt I beseech thee that I may labour continually to keep this vessell of mine holy and vndefiled free from all pollution and defilement of sinne and from being an instrument to commit any wickednesse lest thereby I should dishonour my head shew my selfe vnworthy c 2 Cor. 6.14.15 to be ioyned vnto him in so neere and happy a vnion yea let it bee my endeauour alwayes to preserue my body in puritie and holinesse and to giue all the parts and members thereof seruants vnto righteousnesse yea to serue thee continually both in body d 1 Cor. 6.20 and spirit that so honour and glory may redound to Christ my Sauiour who with thee O Father and thy Spirit be blessed both now and for euer Amen How Christians are to be affected one towards another in regard of their vnion to Christ and each to other ALL that are true Christians being vnited vnto Christ their head are a 1 Cor. 12 members of the same body vnder Christ their head vnited each to other as they are all to Christ members one of another b Ephe. 4.4 liuing by the same Spirit and looking for the same glory c 1 Pet. 1.3 Ioh. 17.24 euen that immortall and neuer-fading inheritance reserued in the heauens for them where they shall dwell vvith Christ their Sauiour for euermore How then should they enuy hate and maligne one another and seeke to procure what mischiefe they can each to other What an vnkinde and vnnaturall thing is this Doth one member of the body euer hate d 1 Cor. 12.20.21 or enuie another yea the basest and meanest though indeed euen the basest and vncomliest haue not onely a vse and conueniencie for the rest but also a kinde of beautie and comlinesse in themselues howsoeuer in the present estate of this sinneful life couered with the shew of indecencie and morall dishonestie yea doth not one care for the other e 1 Cor. 12.25.26 suffer with the other and reioyce vvith the other So is it with all that are true Christians naturall and liuely members of that mysticall body of Christ Iesus There is a mutuall sympathy betweene them They are as it were of one heart and of one f Acts 4.32 soule They cannot but loue and affect those in whom they see euident or likely signes to perswade them that they are true Christians grafted vvith them into the same stocke they can not hate them from the heart they can not vvish or procure their euill but desire and seeke their good in all things and so much the more will their loue abound towards them as they see that they are more nearely vnited vnto Christ their Head and Sauiour Eyther therefore shew thy entire and Christian affection vnto all the Saints the members of Christ or else