satisfied Gods justice in suffering in my stead being made a curse for me and in his own self bearing my sins in his own body upon the tree so I look for 1 Peace in my self from above being crucified with Christ Gal. 2. 20 2 Power over sin within being crucified with Christ in my corrupt nature Rom. 6. 6. Christ stood on the Crosse as my surety in my stead 1 As a sinner for he was made sin for me 2 Cor. 5. 2. 2 As accursed for hee was made a curse for me Gal. 3. 13. So being one with him 1 As hee in my nature is full o◠grace so out of his fulnesse I looke to receive grace for grace Joh. 1. 16. Col. 1. 9. 2. 3 9 10. 2 My best duties are in me damnable but in Christ Jesus God and Man my Mediator and Master my person is accepted and all my actions pleasing Eph. 1. 6. 3 I see my self shut out of Paradise I have no hope of heaven in my selfe a dead dog a damned creature an heir of hell but God which is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith hee hath loved me when I was dead in sin hath quickned me together with Christ and raised mee up with him and made me sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus So then in Christ I rose and in Christ now I raign in heaven being now on earth i. e. I see by faith my own nature in Christ sitting at the right hand of God who is my good and great high Priest In 1 Presenting my person to the Father and making mee pleasing unto him Heb. 4. 14. 2 Perfuming my prayers and praying for mee to his Father Heb. 7. 25. Revel. 8. 3 4. 3 Preparing a place for me and me for that place by his Spirit John 14. 2 16. Col. 1. 12. §. 5. Q. VVHat are the blessings that Christ Jesus brings A. First Eternall election to life in his Fathers love Eph. 1. 4. 2 Adoption to become the son of God with himselfe Eph. 1. 5. 3 Acceptation of my person and all my actions in him Eph. 1. 6. 4 Redemption of my soule and body by his blood and justification whereby I am fully cleared from Gods judgement freed from Gods wrath my sins forgiven and I freely accounted as just Eph. 1. 7. 5 Vocation whereby I am the called of Christ Jesus Rom. 1. 6. in the Gospel wherein he hath abounded to me in all wisdome and prudence having made knowne unto mee the mystery of his will Eph. 1. 8 9. 6 Eternall salvation and an immortall inheritance in heaven with all Angels and Saints that ever were or shall be Eph. 1. 10 11. And all this to the praise of the glory of his grace Eph. 1. 6 12. §. 6. Q. VVHat are the graces that Christ Jesus gives A. 1. Knowledge Col. 2. 3. to understand 1 The Word of God and meaning of the Scriptures Luke 24. 45. 2 The will of God Iohn 15. 15. and the minde of Christ 1 Cor. 2. 16. 3 The mysteries of the kingdome of heaven Mat. 13. 11. 4 The misery wretchednesse blindnesse poverty nakednesse of my naughty nature Rev. 3. 17 18. Rom. 7. 18. 5 The graces of the Spirit in me and the good things which are freely given unto mee of God through Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 2. 12. 2 Faith with the beginning and increase thereof Mark 9. 24. Luke 17. 5. Eph. 2. 8. 3 Repentance with a mourning melting spirit Acts 5. 31. for every sin in my self and others by Christs look on me Luke 22. 61 62. and mine on Christ Zech. 12. 10. 4 Love to God and men good and bad Deut. 30. 6. Rom. 5. 5. 1 Thes. 4. 9. Mat. 5. 44. 5 The feare of the Lord God Ier. 32. 40. This covenant is made in Christ Heb. 8. 8. therefore he gives it working it in mee by his Spirit and warning me of it by his Word Luke 12. 5. 6 Hope of my inheritance in heaven Rom. 15. 13. 2 Thess. 2. 16. 7 In a word all other graces springing from the Father the fountaine of grace conveied in Christ through his flesh by his Spirit into my heart shed abroad and streaming on to everlasting life Iohn 4. 14. 7. 37 38. Gal. 5. 22 23 24. §. 7. Q. VVHat must you doe on your part to continue your communion with God the Father in Christ Jesus by the Spirit A. 1. Generally 1 Fly for my life every sin open or secret and every appearance of evill that may separate betweene God and me or make mee faile of his grace in Christ or grieve his holy Spirit Esay 59. 2. Heb. 12. 15. Eph. 4. 30. 2 Follow after holinesse and in all holy occasions company and courses commanded by God and commended by good men continue and increase in all goodnesse all good duties cleansing my selfe continually from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse in his feare 2 Cor. 7. 1. 2 Particularly 1 I give all diligence alwayes to make my calling and election sure 2 Pet. 1. 10. 2 Walke humbly with my God hourely with a reverend awfull respect of his presence fearing to offend his Majesty in any thing Mich. 6. 8 Psal. 139. 2 3. 3 Renew my repentance daily for my hourely offences or frailty confessing them in particular and craving pardon and purging 1 Joh. 1. 9. 4 I humble my selfe weekly in fasting for some speciall sins and daily slips in his service or my calling put aside some houres if I cannot a whole day Mat. 5. 20. and 6. 17. 5 Remember to covenant monthly with my Lord in the Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ Jesus or as oft as it is administred 1 Cor. 11. 26. 6 Once in the yeare cast up all my accounts see how my Communion is increased and my corruptions lessened and how far I am gone and grown in grace and in the knowledge of Christ Lev. 16. 34. Once a yeare Merchants cast up their whole accounts and Husbandmen know their increase of corne and cattell So they who are wise Merchants and working Christians may observe in themselves a change or increase in a yeares space what cannot be so sensibly perceived in a short time 7 The Christian Sabbaths and Saints must be my delight holy and honorable when and with whom I have more opportunity and time to have communion with thy God Isa. 58. 13. Psal. 16. 3. 8 The Word of God must abide dwell in me richly wherein I may acquaint my selfe with my Masters will my Fathers love and communicate both to my fellow servants and brethren Col. 3. 16. 9 Take heed of omitting any occasion of doing good or receiving good in conference or company with men or my good duty in publicke or private before God Mal. 3. 16. 10 Beware of carelesse and customary performance of any holy duty but do it in love of Communion with my God that by every prayer I make every word I heare c. I
THE GREAT MYSTERY OF GODLINESS JESUS CHRIST our Lord GOD and MAN and MAN with GOD One in JESUS CHRIST our LORD By Mr. ERBURY Minister of the Word 1 COR. 2. 6 7 14. We speak wisdome among them that are perfect yet not the wisdome of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought But we speak the wisdome of God in a Mystery But the naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned Gal. 3. 28. Ye are All One in Jesus Christ LONDON Printed by M. F. for ROB. MILBOURNE in little Britain at the signe of the Holy Lamb 1640. THE MYSTICALL Union of CHRIST and his CHURCH Grace Mercy and Peace with all spirituall and speciall blessings of Heaven be multiplied upon you and in you by the blessed Spirit from God the Father through CHRIST JESUS our Lord Amen Q. WHat must you do to be holy here and happy hereafter A. Two things First Know CHRIST John 17. 3. Secondly Be knit unto him Johnâ—7 21 22 23 24. Q. By what meanes may we come â—o this A. First Outwardly 1. In the Word I am taught to know him Joh. 17. 8. 2. In the Sacraments I am tied and knit to him 1 Cor. 10. 61. Secondly inwardly 1. By Faith on my part Ephe. 3. 17. Gal. 3. 27 28 29. 1. Grounded on the Word wherein I receive him 2. Growing in the Sacrament wherein I am received into him 2. By the Spirit on Gods part 1 Cor. 6. 17. and 12. 13. 1. Assuring Christ unto me in the Word Eph. 1. 13. 2. Sealing Christ unto me in the Sacrament Rom. 4. 11. This is my Body so the Word saies without when the bread is given in the Sacrament and so the Spirit speaks within assuring yea making 1. The Body of Christ as verily present to the faithfull as the bread is to the receiver 1 Cor. 11. 24 26. 2. The faithfull partaker of Christs Body as verily as of the bread which he eates 1 Cor. 10. 16. 3. The faithfull one with Christs Body as verily as the bread received eaten is one with his body that feeds upon it 1 Cor. 12. 12. PART I. Quest WHat is it to know Christ A. To find 1. The want of Christ Phil. 3. 7. 2. The worth of Christ Phil. 3. 8. 3. A willingnesse in me to receive Christ Phil. 3. 9 10 12 14. First when I feele the want of Christ in respect of the guilt and filth of sin in me Secondly find the worth of Christ to pardon and purge my sin Thirdly feele and find a willingnesse in me to receive Christ that is to accept of him on his own conditions 1 Not only to be my Priest and Jesus to save me by his blood Heb. 2. 17 2 Nor only to be my Prophet and Christ to teach me by his Word Act. 3. 22. 3 But also to be my Prince Lord to rule mee by his Spirit leaving my old lust and living by his laws denying my selfe and delighting to do whatever he commands Act. 5. 31. Then I know Christ and this is to beleeve in him Read 1 Joh. 1. 6 7. and cha. 2. 1 2 3 4. So Mat. 28. 20. Mar. 9. from v. 43. to the end Luke 6. 46. Joh. 15. 14. §. 1. Q. HOw do you know the want of Christ A. 1 I am far and for ever in my selfe separated from God by my sin naturall and actuall Isa. 59. 2. Psal. 58 3. Ephe. 2. 13 14. 2 I am foully stained and stinking with all sin in my whole nature soule and body Psal. 14. 3. and 51. 5. Rom. 3 from ver. 10. to 20. 3 There is no power in me to think a good thought or to keep any one of Gods commandements once in all my life 2 Cor. 3. 5. Rom. 3. 9 10. James 3. 2. 4 There is no plague but is upon me and for the sinfulnesse of my nature sins of my life every curse of God is on my soule and body in this life and that which is to come Deut. 27. 26. 28. 16 Mat. 25. 41. 5 There is no good dwelling in my flesh nay not onely an emptinesse of all good but an enmity against it Gen. 6. 5. Rom. 7. 18. 8. 7. 6 I have no power to please God in any good I doe Rom. 8. 8. Prov. 15. 8. Heb. 11. 6. 7 I have no hope to goe to heaven when I die 1 Cor. 15. 50. Rev. 21. 27. O how miserable and wretched is that man or woman that lives and dies as many doe Mat. 7. 13. in this corrupt and cursed condition without Christ §. 2. Q. VVHat worth do you find in Christ A. 1. The excellency of his person being the onely begotten beloved Son of God the heire of all things the head of his Church Angels Principalities and Powers being subject unto him Eph. 1. 21 22. Col. 1. 15 16 17 18 19. Heb. 1 2 3 4. 1 Pet. 3. 22. 2 The exceeding riches of his grace freely offered and fully given unto me in the Gospel Eph. 2. 7. 3. 8. Isay 61. 1 c. 3 The blessings that he brings Acts 3. 26. Eph. 1. 3. 4 The graces that he gives John 1. 14. 16. O how happy is that man or woman that is made one with the Son of God! how few are they Christ knowes Mat. 7. 14. yet thrice happy is hee or shee that have him for their head and husband who hath all power in his hands all heavenly blessings to bestow upon them all spirituall graces to give unto them and an unsearchable riches of grace to endow them to eternall glory Q. What is the grace of Christ A. It is an honourable holy and happy condition that Christ hath called me unto by the Gospel who being the second Adam received my nature unto himselfe restored it with himselfe into favour with God againe from whom I fell and raised my faln nature into a higher favour and grace with God the Father then it was in the first Adam before his fall Eph. 2. 5 6. 1 He hath taken my nature separated from God and hath now united it to the Godhead for ever Joh. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 11 14. 2 He hath sanctified my nature sinfull in me but perfectly holy in him Luke 1. 35. Joh. 17. 19. Heb. 7. 26. 3 He hath in my nature fulfilled the whole Law for me which I could never doe Rom. 10. 5. 8. 4. 4 Hee hath for my sin in my stead suffered the whole wrath of the Lord the curse of the Law which I could never suffer Isa. 53. 4 5. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Gal. 3. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 24. 5 He filled my nature in himselfe with all grace God gave him not the Spirit by measure but being made flesh we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth John 1. 14. and 3.
without us Eph. 1. 23 1 Cor. 12. 12. 2 We have the fulnesse of God in Christ who being our head supplies by his Spirit all things unto us that can be had in God the Father or from him what ever can make us 1 Holy in him here 2 Happy with him hereafter Ephe. 3. 19. 1 John 1. 3. Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we aske or thinke according to the power that worketh in us unto him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Amen Eph. 3. 20 21. In him that is Christ we actually are by our actuall incorporation into that society which hath him for their head and doth make together with him one body he and they in that respect having one name 1 Cor. 12. 12. for which cause by vertue of this mysticall conjunction we are of him and in him even as though our flesh and bones should be made continuate with his Hooker pag. 123. Ergo gratulemur agamus gratias non solumnos Christianos factos esse sed etiam Christum Intelligitis fratres gratiam Dei super nos capitis admiramini gaudete Christus facti sumus Si enim ille caput est nos membra totus ille homo nos August in Iohan. tract. 31. Let us rejoyce and give thankes that we are not onely made Christian men but also made Christs Brethren yee understand the grace of God that is upon us ye understand it ye wonder at it Rejoyce ye we are made Christ For if he be the head and we the members both he and we are one whole man The Mystery of JESUS CHRIST Emmanuel GOD with us The Mystery of Incarnation God with us receiving us into himself uniting our nature with his into the person of his Son Mat. 1. 23. Ioh. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 16. 1 Tim. 3. 16. God with us The Mystery of Reconciliation God with us reconciling us unto himselfe accepting our persons not imputing our sins by the blood of his Son 2 Cor. 5. 18 19. God in Christ The Mystery of Regeneration God with us renewing our natures to bee like himselfe partakers of the divine nature changing us into his owne Image by the Spirit of his Son Col. 1. 27 28. 2 Cor. 3. 18. 2 Pet. 1. 4. Christ in us The Mystery of mysticall Vnion God with us uniting our persons to his Son by his Spirit and our faith wherby we are members of Christs body of his bone and of his flesh which we feed on finding life grace and spirituall strength conveyed through it by the Spirit from God the Father Eph. 5. 30 32. Ioh. 6. 56 60. We in Christ The Mystery of the Gospel God with us who were without God without Christ without hope or mercy no people strangers from the Common-weale of Israel and covenant of promise enemies of God children of his wrath in the power of the Devil sitting in darknesse and shadow of death dead in sins and the damnation of hell at that time we were thus being Gentiles till Christ came in the flesh and at this time we are thus being as Gentiles till our effectuall Calling by Christs Spirit Eph. 2. 12. 3. 3 5. We with Israel The Mystery of the first Resurrection God with us in calling home his old people Israel who are now as wee were into one Church with us to confesse professe and praise Christ Jesus our Lord together on earth Rom. 11. 25. The Jewes restoring a resurrection Rom. 11. 15. that is the first resurrection Rev. 20. 5 6. Israel with us The Mystery of the second Resurrection God with us In calling us all up by the sound of a Trump at the second comming of Christ changing our bodies and carrying us up both body and soule to meet the Lord Jesus in the aire where and when the whole Church militant and triumphant the family in heaven and earth both Jew and Gentile and all the Israel of God shall meet at once and so wee shall ever bee with the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 51. 1 Thess. 4. 17. All Israel and we with God The first Mystery was God with us The last Mystery shall bee we with God And God All in All 1 Cor. 15. 28. Though I understand all Mysteries and have not love I am nothing 1 Cor 13. A plaine tryall by the Word of God of Mans spirituall estate whether he be in Christ Jesus or no In The state of Nature-Damnation or In The state of grace Salvation Flesh Spirit 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Who walke not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 1. They that are after the flesh do mind the things of flesh But they that are after the Spirit mind the things of the Spirit v. 5. The carnall mind is enmity against God for it is not subject unto the Law of God neither in deed can be so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God ver. 7 8. But to bee spiritually minded is life and peace v. 6. but ye are not in the flesh but the spirit if so bee that the Spirit of God dwell in you but if any have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his v. 9. Now then Brethren wee are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh but yet if ye live after the flesh yee shall die ver. 12. But if through the Spirit yee mortifie the deeds of the flesh yee shall live v. 13. Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are adultery fornication uncleannesse lasciviousnesse idolatry witchcraft hatred variance emulation wrath strife seditions heresies envyings murthers drunkennesse revellings and such like of which I tell you before as I have told you in time past that they which do such shall not inherit the kingdome of God Gal. 5. 19 20 21. But the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace long-suffering gentlenesse goodnesse faith meeknesse temperance against such there is no law and they that are CHRISTS have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof If we live in the Spirit let us walke in the Spirit Galat. 5. 22 23 24 25. 2 If any man be in Christ he is a new creature Old things are passed away All things are become new 2 Cor. 5. 17. If wee say wee have fellowship with with him and walke in darknesse we lie 1 Joh. 1. 6 7. He that saith he abideth in him ought himselfe also to walke as he walked 1 Ioh. 2. 7. He that saith I know him and keepeth not his Commandements is a lyar 1 John 2. 4. But who so keepeth his word in him verily is the love of God perfected hereby know we that we are in him 1 Ioh. 2. 5. He that committeth sin is of the Devill 1 Joh. 3. 8. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not 1 Ioh. 3. 6. Ye are of your father the Devill and the lusts of your father ye will do he also is a lyar Joh. 8. 44. Whosoever is borne of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him so that he cannot sin because he is borne of God 1 Ioh. 3. 9. Caine was of the wicked one and slew his brother and wherefore slew hee him because his own works were evill and his brothers good 1 John 3. 12. Marvaile not my brethren if the world hate you We know we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren 1 Ioh. 3. 13. The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God upon the sinners he will raine snares fire and brimstone storme and tempest this shall bee their portion for ever Psal. 9. 17. and 11. 6. Blessed are they that do his Commandements that they may have right to the tree of life Christ Jesus our Lord and enter in through the gates of the City Ioh. 20. 14. The hypocrites hope shall perish and the eyes of the wicked shall faile their hope shall be as the giving up of the Ghost Iohn 8. 13. and 11. 20. But the righteous hath hope in his death and he that hath the hope purifyeth himselfe as he is pure Pro. 24. 32. 1 Iohn 3. 3. 3 Shall I take the members of Christ and make them the members of an Harlot God forbid 1 Cor. 6. 15. Shall I take the tongue of Christ and make it The tongue of a swearer c. Psal. 12. 4. Mat. 5. 37. Hee that yeelds any one of his members to Sinne is no member of Christ Jesus but a limbe of the Devill of the mystery of iniquity and has no part in the Mysticall union of Christ and his Church Rom. 6 13. 14. FINIS