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all_o this_o and_o to_o prevent_v objection_n it_o be_v evident_a from_o this_o very_a chapter_n that_o when_o christ_n speak_v in_o the_o first_o person_n i_o and_o in_o i_o he_o can_v mean_v this_o of_o his_o own_o person_n but_o of_o his_o church_n doctrine_n and_o religion_n according_a as_o the_o circumstance_n of_o the_o place_n require_v thus_o in_o the_o 5._o ver._n i_o be_o the_o true_a vine_n you_o be_v the_o branch_n he_o that_o abide_v in_o i_o and_o i_o in_o he_o the_o same_o bring_v forth_o much_o fruit_n for_o without_o i_o you_o can_v do_v nothing_o i_o will_v willing_o learn_v what_o sense_n can_v be_v make_v of_o this_o if_o we_o understand_v it_o of_o the_o person_n of_o christ_n for_o it_o be_v not_o very_o intelligible_a how_o we_o can_v be_v or_o abide_v in_o the_o person_n of_o christ_n and_o it_o be_v more_o unintelligible_a still_o how_o we_o can_v be_v in_o the_o person_n of_o christ_n and_o the_o person_n of_o christ_n at_o the_o same_o time_n be_v in_o we_o 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word_n abide_v in_o you_o ver._n 7._o if_o my_o doctrine_n and_o
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the_o revelation_n christ_n have_v make_v whereas_o his_o first_o undertake_n be_v to_o show_v how_o impossible_a it_o be_v to_o understand_v these_o thing_n saving_o and_o clear_o notwithstanding_o all_o those_o revelation_n god_n have_v make_v of_o himself_o and_o his_o will_n by_o moses_n and_o the_o prophet_n and_o by_o christ_n himself_o without_o a_o acquaintance_n with_o his_o person_n but_o to_o let_v that_o pass_v i_o shall_v begin_v with_o the_o knowledge_n of_o god_n his_o nature_n and_o property_n and_o i_o shall_v not_o particular_o examine_v every_o thing_n he_o say_v but_o principal_o take_v notice_n of_o those_o peculiar_a discovery_n of_o the_o nature_n of_o god_n which_o the_o world_n be_v ignorant_a of_o before_o and_o of_o which_o revelation_n be_v whole_o silent_a but_o be_v now_o clear_o and_o save_o learn_v from_o a_o acquaintance_n with_o christ_n person_n the_o light_n of_o nature_n and_o the_o work_n of_o creation_n and_o providence_n and_o those_o manifold_a 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as_o ready_a to_o pardon_v they_o when_o they_o return_v to_o their_o duty_n as_o a_o kind_a father_n be_v to_o receive_v a_o humble_a and_o penitent_a prodigal_n these_o property_n of_o god_n be_v plain_o reveal_v in_o the_o scripture_n without_o any_o further_a acquaintance_n with_o the_o person_n of_o christ_n and_o have_v christ_n never_o appear_v in_o the_o world_n yet_o we_o have_v reason_n to_o believe_v that_o god_n be_v thus_o wise_a and_o good_a and_o holy_a and_o merciful_a because_o not_o only_o the_o work_n of_o nature_n and_o providence_n but_o the_o word_n of_o god_n assure_v we_o that_o he_o be_v so_o the_o appearance_n of_o christ_n do_v not_o first_o discover_v the_o nature_n of_o god_n to_o we_o but_o only_o give_v we_o a_o great_a expression_n of_o god_n goodness_n than_o ever_o we_o have_v before_o confirm_v we_o in_o the_o belief_n of_o what_o we_o have_v
such_o but_o as_o they_o be_v member_n of_o his_o body_n for_o he_o be_v the_o saviour_n of_o the_o body_n and_o redeem_a his_o church_n with_o his_o own_o blood_n hence_o st._n john_n tell_v we_o in_o his_o first_o ep._n ch._n 1._o ver._n 3._o that_o which_o we_o have_v see_v and_o hear_v the_o whole_a doctrine_n and_o history_n of_o the_o gospel_n declare_v we_o unto_o you_o that_o you_o also_o may_v have_v fellowship_n with_o we_o and_o true_o our_o fellowship_n be_v with_o the_o father_n and_o with_o his_o son_n jesus_n christ._n first_o that_o you_o may_v have_v fellowship_n with_o we_o become_v member_n of_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n by_o which_o mean_v you_o have_v fellowship_n and_o communion_n with_o god_n and_o christ._n and_o therefore_o those_o public_a censure_n whereby_o rot_a or_o dead_a member_n be_v cut_v of_o from_o the_o body_n of_o christ_n consist_v in_o cast_v such_o person_n out_o of_o the_o society_n of_o christian_a people_n in_o debar_v they_o from_o the_o communion_n of_o prayer_n and_o sacrament_n and_o all_o religious_a office_n which_o be_v a_o plain_a demonstration_n that_o our_o union_n to_o christ_n be_v not_o a_o union_n to_o his_o person_n of_o which_o more_o hereafter_o but_o consist_v in_o a_o sincere_a and_o spiritual_a communion_n with_o the_o christian_a church_n otherwise_o this_o external_a communion_n with_o the_o church_n can_v be_v no_o visible_a signification_n of_o our_o union_n to_o christ_n nor_o can_v our_o excision_n from_o the_o visible_a church_n signify_v our_o separation_n from_o he_o but_o three_o it_o will_v be_v requisite_a now_o iii_o to_o explain_v more_o particular_o the_o nature_n of_o this_o union_n between_o christ_n and_o the_o christian_a church_n which_o be_v not_o a_o natural_a but_o a_o political_a union_n that_o be_v such_o a_o union_n as_o be_v between_o a_o prince_n and_o his_o subject_n christ_n be_v a_o spiritual_a king_n and_o all_o christian_n be_v his_o subject_n and_o our_o union_n to_o christ_n consist_v in_o our_o belief_n of_o his_o revelation_n obedience_n to_o his_o law_n and_o subjection_n to_o his_o authority_n hence_o our_o saviour_n tell_v the_o jew_n if_o you_o continue_v in_o my_o word_n then_o be_v you_o my_o disciple_n indeed_o john_n 8._o 31._o which_o be_v the_o same_o thing_n with_o be_v in_o he_o and_o by_o keep_v his_o commandment_n we_o abide_v in_o his_o love_n john_n 15._o 10._o &_o 14._o 21._o and_o to_o have_v his_o word_n abide_v in_o we_o be_v a_o description_n of_o the_o close_a and_o firm_a union_n to_o he_o john_n 15._o 7._o as_o obedience_n to_o our_o prince_n be_v the_o strong_a bond_n of_o a_o political_a union_n which_o be_v dissolve_v and_o break_v by_o disobedience_n and_o rebellion_n thus_o our_o saviour_n call_v himself_o a_o shepherd_n and_o christian_n his_o sheep_n john_n 10._o to_o signify_v that_o authority_n he_o have_v over_o his_o church_n which_o bear_v some_o analogy_n to_o the_o government_n of_o a_o shepherd_n which_o be_v ofttimes_o use_v as_o a_o name_n of_o power_n and_o authority_n as_o god_n be_v style_v the_o shepherd_n of_o israel_n psalm_n 80._o 1._o and_o king_n be_v frequent_o call_v shepherd_n both_o by_o profane_a and_o sacred_a writer_n though_o this_o name_n be_v most_o common_o give_v to_o prophet_n who_o feed_v and_o instruct_v the_o church_n which_o include_v power_n and_o authority_n and_o so_o do_v very_o proper_o belong_v to_o our_o saviour_n who_o erect_v this_o spiritual_a kingdom_n on_o the_o foundation_n of_o his_o doctrine_n and_o law_n and_o by_o the_o exercise_n of_o his_o prophetical_a office_n for_o which_o reason_n he_o be_v call_v the_o shepherd_n and_o bishop_n of_o our_o soul_n thus_o he_o be_v call_v a_o head_n and_o the_o church_n his_o body_n a_o husband_n and_o the_o church_n his_o spouse_n which_o two_o metaphor_n signify_v the_o same_o thing_n and_o be_v both_o of_o they_o name_n of_o power_n and_o authority_n as_o appear_v from_o eph._n 5._o 23._o etc._n etc._n for_o husband_n be_v say_v to_o be_v the_o head_n of_o their_o wife_n as_o christ_n be_v the_o head_n of_o the_o church_n and_o be_v command_v to_o love_v their_o wife_n as_o their_o own_o body_n as_o christ_n love_v his_o church_n so_o that_o a_o husband_n as_o a_o husband_n represent_v the_o head_n and_o the_o wife_n the_o body_n and_o what_o the_o meaning_n of_o all_o this_o be_v the_o apostle_n plain_o tell_v we_o that_o christ_n be_v call_v the_o head_n and_o husband_n because_o he_o have_v the_o rule_n and_o government_n of_o we_o and_o therefore_o exhort_v wife_n to_o be_v subject_a to_o their_o husband_n as_o the_o church_n be_v subject_a unto_o christ_n the_o spiritual_a head_n v_o 24._o for_o because_o the_o head_n in_o the_o natural_a body_n have_v the_o command_n and_o government_n of_o all_o the_o member_n hence_o head_n be_v a_o common_a name_n for_o prince_n and_o governor_n deutr._fw-la 28._o 13._o the_o lord_n shall_v make_v thou_o the_o head_n and_o not_o the_o tail_n and_o thou_o shall_v be_v above_o only_o and_o thou_o shall_v not_o be_v beneath_o that_o be_v thou_o shall_v rule_v and_o govern_v psalm_n 18._o 43._o thou_o have_v make_v i_o the_o head_n of_o the_o heathen_a and_o a_o people_n who_o i_o have_v not_o know_v shall_v serve_v i_o and_o therefore_o the_o apostle_n always_o expound_v this_o metaphor_n of_o christ_n be_v a_o head_n by_o power_n and_o authority_n eph._n 1._o 20_o 21_o 22._o have_v set_v he_o at_o his_o own_o right_a hand_n in_o heavenly_a place_n far_o above_o all_o principality_n and_o power_n and_o have_v put_v all_o thing_n under_o his_o foot_n and_o give_v he_o to_o be_v head_n over_o all_o thing_n to_o the_o church_n which_o be_v his_o body_n col._n 1._o 18._o and_o he_o be_v the_o head_n of_o the_o body_n the_o church_n who_o be_v the_o beginning_n the_o first_o bear_v from_o the_o dead_a that_o in_o all_o thing_n he_o may_v have_v the_o pre-eminence_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d that_o be_v that_o he_o may_v not_o only_o excel_v other_o thing_n but_o that_o he_o may_v rule_v and_o govern_v they_o for_o so_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d signify_v he_o who_o have_v the_o first_o place_n of_o authority_n because_o government_n be_v natural_o entail_v on_o the_o great_a excellency_n and_o perfection_n thus_o christ_n be_v the_o head_n of_o all_o principality_n and_o power_n that_o be_v their_o lord_n and_o governor_n col._n 2._o 10._o this_o be_v the_o true_a explication_n of_o this_o relation_n betwixt_o christ_n and_o his_o church_n he_o be_v the_o head_n and_o husband_n because_o he_o be_v invest_v with_o authority_n to_o govern_v and_o the_o church_n be_v his_o body_n and_o spouse_n because_o it_o must_v be_v obedient_a to_o his_o law_n and_o subject_a to_o his_o government_n as_o we_o know_v it_o be_v very_o familiar_a to_o call_v a_o society_n of_o man_n who_o live_v under_o the_o same_o law_n and_o civil_a government_n a_o body_n politic_n which_o signify_v their_o subjection_n to_o the_o same_o authority_n as_o a_o body_n have_v but_o one_o head_n and_o that_o regard_v they_o must_v have_v to_o the_o preservation_n of_o the_o whole_a and_o their_o mutual_a care_n of_o each_o other_o as_o member_n of_o the_o same_o body_n now_o the_o true_a reason_n why_o this_o spiritual_a kingdom_n of_o christ_n be_v describe_v by_o the_o authority_n of_o a_o shepherd_n over_o his_o sheep_n and_o of_o a_o head_n and_o husband_n over_o his_o body_n and_o spouse_n be_v to_o signify_v the_o mildness_n and_o gentleness_n of_o his_o government_n and_o that_o great_a and_o near_o concern_v he_o have_v for_o the_o welfare_n of_o his_o church_n that_o he_o govern_v his_o church_n with_o the_o care_n and_o tenderness_n of_o a_o shepherd_n that_o he_o defend_v and_o ransom_n his_o church_n with_o his_o own_o blood_n as_o a_o good_a shepherd_n lay_v down_o his_o life_n in_o defence_n of_o his_o sheep_n john_n 10._o that_o he_o love_v his_o church_n with_o the_o natural_a kindness_n of_o a_o head_n or_o husband_n that_o his_o government_n be_v only_o for_o the_o good_a of_o his_o church_n not_o for_o his_o own_o private_a advantage_n as_o a_o kind_a husband_n exercise_v no_o other_o authority_n over_o his_o wife_n but_o what_o be_v for_o her_o good_a as_o well_o as_o his_o own_o or_o as_o the_o head_n have_v no_o other_o concern_v but_o that_o all_o his_o member_n be_v preserve_v in_o their_o natural_a state_n and_o vigour_n and_o perform_v their_o proper_a and_o natural_a office_n and_o therefore_o we_o may_v be_v secure_a that_o his_o yoke_n be_v easy_a and_o his_o burden_n light_n that_o he_o will_v be_v gentle_a in_o his_o discipline_n and_o favourable_a in_o his_o censure_n especial_o when_o we_o consider_v how_o dear_o he_o have_v purchase_v this_o relation_n to_o his_o church_n