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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	mystical_a	person_n	union_n	3,769	5	10.8414	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02260	The happines of enjoying, and making a true and speedie use of Christ Setting forth, first, the fulnesse of Christ. Secondly, the danger of neglecting Christ, and the opportunity of grace. Thirdly, the Lord Jesus the soules last refuge. Whereunto is added, St. Pauls legacie, or farewell to the men of Corinth. By Alexander Grosse B.D. Minister of the Gospel, and pastour of Bridford.	Grosse, Alexander, 1596?-1654.	1640 (1640)	STC 12395; ESTC S103450	151,344	397

enlivening the soules of men graciously reigning and ruling within them plentifully ministring all spirituall and heavenly gifts unto them k Rev. 7.15 Hee that sitteth on the throne saith Saint John shall dwell among them they shall enjoy his grace and favour here and his glory hereafter The God-head dwells in the humane nature of Christ by personall and perpetuall union of both natures and this is the dwelling here spoken of Whence wee see that Doctr. Christ is God and man in one person by an inseparable union The pillar which conducted Israel was a fire and a cloud yet both but one Pillar Christ the great conductor and guide of Gods Israel is God and likewise man yet in both but one person therefore called l Isa 7.14 Immanuel God with us or God made flesh noting the union of his two natures in one person and his office of mediation between God and Man being the authour of salvation both temporall and eternall to the soule and body of man The Temple was a type of Christ stone without and gold within Christ was flesh without according to his humane nature full of resplendent glory and divine majestie within in respect of his divine nature In the Temple the glory of God appeared the Temple was filled with it in the flesh of Christ the God-head inhabiteth most gloriously replenishing it The m Iohn 1.14 Word sayth Saint John was made flesh and dwelt among us and wee beheld his glory as the glory of the onely begotten of the Father full of grace and truth The Word was made flesh not by bare and naked inhabitation in the flesh presence with the flesh affection to the flesh or grace and dignity conferred on the flesh nor by conversion of the word into flesh or commixture of the Word with the flesh but by the assumption of our flesh into the unitie of his person the hypostasis or subsistence of the Sonne being made the hypostasis or subsistence of the flesh assumed the flesh subsisting in the person of the Word The Apostle makes mention of the Sonne thus speaking to the Father n Heb. 10.5 Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not but a body hast thou fitted me by incarnation by uniting it to my person and this union is not a union of two persons in one Christ but of two natures in one person the subsistence of the word is so communicated to the flesh that the Word and flesh are one person the naturall properties and operations of both natures remaining distinct and without confusion the divine and humane nature are both united the humane nature is assumed the divine nature is the assument not the person but the nature of man not man but the humanitie is taken by Christ into the unitie of his person otherwise hee should not bee one but two persons not one but two Christs The Scripture therefore calles him Davids o Mat. 22.45 Sonne and Davids Lord because hee is both God and Man in one person And this union is without mutation of the divine Person without division confusion or separation of the natures the union is everlastingly permanent Of this Christs appearing to the Fathers of old in the shape of man were Praeludiums Symbols and this was also typified by the Tabernacle of Moses in the Desert that being a type of Christs assuming our flesh and dwelling amongst us as in a Tabernacle The Tabernacle was a testimony of Gods presence with his people p Luk 1.18 78 79. God by his Sonne made flesh doth testifie himselfe to bee graciously present with us The people came to the Tabernacle to worship invocate and offer their Sacrifice unto God God will not bee invocated and adored by man but in and through Christ manifested in the flesh of man And it was necessary that Christ should be God and Man in one person 2 Grounds hereof In regard of the exaltation of the humane nature of Christ above all creatures all Men and Angels 1. Christs exaltation Saints and Angels are one with God and Christ by gracious qualities consent of will and opinion and mysticall conjunction the humane nature of Christ is one with his divine person by a more transcendent eminent and immediate conjunction being assumed into the unity of his person Ioseph was exalted above his brethren above all the Nobles in the Court of Pharaoh Christ even according to the flesh is exalted above all men yea above all the Angels the choycest Nobles of him that is the King of kings From this personall union is derived an incomprehensible communication of all divine and heavenly gifts to the humane nature of Christ an unction above q Ps 45 7. all his fellowes like that of Ioseph to Benjamin five times as good many degrees more excellent then that which is bestowed on his brethren whether Angels or Men the Spirit being given unto him r Ioh. 3.34 above measure having all heavenly fulnesse like the fulnesse of light in the Sunne or waters in the Sea From this union the humane nature obtaines the honour of adoration yet not of the flesh as flesh but of the God-head in the flesh the God-head and the manhood making but one person in the Sonne and hee is said to bee set downe at the right hand of God being made so Å¿ Heb. 1.4 much better then the Angels as hee hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they the Angels being servants Christ a Sonne both by eternall generation and hypostaticall union 2. Mans salvation In regard of mans salvation Such was mans necessitie of Christs incarnation of his assuming mans flesh into the unity of his person that hee could not bee saved but by such a Redeemer as was both God and Man in one person First the Majesty of God the poverty and indigencie of man the greatnesse of the evill to bee removed and the greatnesse of the good to bee restored required that mans Redeemer should bee God Such is the Majesty of God that none could interpose himselfe but hee that is one with the Father the Angels could not they themselves have need of a mediator of t Col. 1.16 17. union and confirmation they themselves compared with God are not u Job 15.15 pure in his sight and therefore they w Isa 6.2 cover their faces how much lesse can man doe it when not one of them is x Rev. 3.10 righteous The evill to be taken away sinne and the consequents of sinne the wrath of God the power of Satan death temporall and eternall are a disease of that difficultie that none can cure it a fire of that heat that none can endure it a burthen of that weight that none can stand under it but hee that is omnipotent for by whose passion can the offence of an infinite Majestie bee expiated but by his who is also infinite By whose intercession can the wrath of God be appeased but by his

light but the Sunne is more full the Rivers be full of waters but the Sea is more full their fulnesse is not communicable to others they cannot derive their graces to others but Christ as a head and fountaine imparts his fulnesse to others and therefore the Apostle saith here of him In him dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily and yee are complete in him who is head of all Principality and power The Apostle having dehorted and disswaded from hearkning to receiving Christs fulness the ground of the Apostles dehortation from humane doctrine and embracing the doctrines traditions devices and inventions of men as from emptie Lamps wherein is no light to discover sin to reveale God in Christ to make man wise unto salvation as from woodden swords fairly guilt and flourisht over but having no edge no power to penetrate the heart to hew downe sinne to cast downe the holds of ungodlinesse as from broken Cisternes wherein is no pure and living water to refresh the soule to satisfie the thirst thereof as from Chaffe wherein is no nourishment to strengthen the inward man and as from false Physicke wherein is no vertue to heale the breaches of the soule and to cure the wounds of the Conscience Having disswaded from this by an argument drawne from the vanitie emptinesse idlenesse unprofitablenesse and deceitfulnesse of such doctrines and observations hee here perswades by another argument drawne from the perfection and fulnesse of Christ In Christ is the height of all perfection such perfection that no more can bee added to him in him meets the fulnesse of all perfections as of beames in one Sunne and lines in one Center and rivers in one Ocean Whatsoever fulnesse or perfection can bee mentioned desired imagined it is to bee found in him It is absurd to runne to a rotten Cisterne for water having by us a full and living fountaine to goe to a glow-worme for light having the Sunne to guide us It is a great folly to have recourse to humane traditions Philosophicall doctrines vaine and empty ceremonies having Christ in whom dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily and in whom we are complete In the words wee have a double plenitude or fulnesse The first of Christ A double Fulnesse vers 9. The second of his members vers 10. The first is originall absolute independent the second communicated derivative and borrowed The first is the fountaine the second the streame the first the root the second the branch the first is of the head the second is of the members the first is like the fulnesse of the Sunne the second is like the fulnesse of the Starres the first like the fulnesse of a King the second like the fulnesse of a Subject the former like the fulnesse of the Lord and Master of the house the later like the fulnesse of a Servant in the house For in Christ dwelleth all the fulnesse of the God-head bodily and wee are complete in him who is head of all principality and power First of the former of these An●lysis the plenitude and fulnesse of Christ For in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily In the words wee have 1. Terminus connexionis First a terme or note of coherence For which is a particle redditive rendring the reason of the foregoing sentence Beware lest any man spoyle you through Philosophy and vaine deceit Be not a scholler in their schoole understand not beleeve not adore not after their doctrines there is no need of having recourse to them you have all in Christ For in him is the fulnesse of the God head all fulnesse appertaining to life and happinesse is to bee found in Christ Jesus 2. Subjectum Secondly here is a subject in him in Christ in his person as he is the Sonne of God by eternall generation as he is God and Man in one person as hee is Mediatour a middle person between God and Man by divine ordination by his office of mediation In Christ is such perfection that there needs no addition 3. Actus Thirdly here is the act dwelleth an act of duration Christs humane nature and his God-head are never separated Fourthly 4. Tantum here is the matter which is in Christ and that is a fulnesse a perfection the highest perfection the greatest fulnesse the fulnesse of any thing is the excellencie of the thing fulnesse of corne in the eare fulnesse of branches and fruit on the tree fulnesse of children in the house as of arrowes in a quiver fulnesse of light in the Sunne fulnesse of pretious substance in a pearle is the excellencie of the eare the tree the house the Sunne the pearle divine and incomprehensible fulnesse is the excellencie of Christ Jesus above others Such is Christs fulnesse that in comparison thereof the fulnesse of all creatures is but emptinesse 5. 5. Quale Here is the qualitie or condition of Christs fulnesse The fulnesse of the God-head a fulnesse communicable to no creature In Saints and Angels there is a finite fulness of divine qualities in Christ there is the infinite fulness of the divine essence a fulnesse by which d Heb. 1.4 hee hath obtained a more excellent name then the Angels Hee that partakes of God above others is more excellent then others the Lord Jesus is farre exalted above all creatures Sixtly 6. Modus here is the manner how this fulness dwelleth in Christ Bodily not seemingly but really truly and in deed not figuratively and in shadow as hee dwelt in the Temple but completely not by power and efficacie as hee dwelleth in all creatures nor by grace as in the Saints nor by glory as in the blessed in heaven but Essentially Substantially the humane nature being assumed into union with the person of the Word Great is the difference between the dwelling of the God-head in Christ and in his members Such is the presence of the fulnesse of the God-head in Christ that hee is abundantly able to fill all that come unto him CHAP. II. Declaring the vanity of joyning humane observations to Christ Jesus 1. Terminus connexionis BUt first of the terme of connexion the particle For rendring the reason why wee should abstaine from all forraigne and strange guides to direct us from all the rotten pillars of humane inventions to support us and from the broken Cisterne of all the traditions and observations of men to fill us to perfect us to promote the welfare of our soules for or because in Christ there is all fulnesse and therefore no cause no need of stepping out from Christ of casting our eyes abroad on other lights of joyning other things to Christ of mixing and mingling other things with Christ Whence we learne that Such is Christs fulnesse Doct. that men ought not to joyne to him other Doctrines and observations to further their eternall happinesse Such is the fulnesse of the light of the Sunne that the traveller need not joyne

fulnesse in Christ so all Christians must worke their hearts to a holy gracious full and constant acquiescence in Christ to stay on Christ to quiet and content themselves in and with Christ never declining from Christ never stepping out nor going aside from Christ to any other helper but as the eye doth quiet it selfe in the fulness of the light of the Sun and looks for no other light the builder quiets himselfe in the strength of the rock and looks out for no other foundation to build upon So let us quiet our selves in Christ and looke for no other guide no other supporter no other helper no other comforter no other Saviour As old Iacob sometime said of Ioseph It is f G●● 45. ●8 enough Ioseph is yet alive I will goe and see him so let us say It is enough Christ liveth Christ reigneth Christ hath fulnesse wee will goe to him stay on him satiate and delight our soules in him This the Lord requires Hee g Is●y 5● 10 that walkes in darknesse and hath no light let him stay upon the Lord and trust in the name of his God Mat. 6. As the house in the Parable stayed upon the rocke when the windes did blow and the waves did beat thus in the windes and waves of all trouble let us stay on Christ without wavering to this the Lord gives many sweet encouragements h Psal 37. Verse 3. Trust in the Lord with a full a quiet a composed and resolved minde and doe good live graciously walke holily keepe close to God so shalt thou dwell in the land thou shalt not bee dismayed with any feares nor grow impatient with troubles nor bee overcome with sorrowes nor removed from thy station but verily thou shalt bee fed thou shalt enjoy every necessary good thing with a settled quiet contented minde Verse 4. Delight thy selfe also in Lord as a childe in the father as a wife in the husband as a rich man in his treasury delight thy selfe in the commandement of God as in the light which guides thee in the promise of God as in the staffe which sustaines thee in the favour of God as in the warmest Sunne that ever shined upon thee in the attributes of God as in the branches shadowing and streams refreshing thee Thus delight thy selfe in the Lord and hee shall give thee thy hearts desire he shall fully answer all thy holy and gracious desires when thou hast thus fully committed thy selfe unto him and quieted thy selfe with him verse 5. Commit thy way also to the Lord receive all thy direction from him doe all according to his prescription leave the issue of all to his disposition and he shall bring it to passe give it such an issue as shall be greatly for thy comfort verse 7. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him though thou suffer many evils doe not repine doe not limit nor prescribe God doe not step aside from God to any forbidden helpes suppresse the tumults of thy heart and wait as Noah did for the abatement of the waters and comming of the Dove quiet thy selfe in Christ looke upon the authoritie of Christ to dispense all as hee pleaseth upon the wisedome of Christ to make a way for thy soule to escape upon the power of Christ to deliver thee upon the presence of Christ to minister encouragement to thee upon the love of Christ to sweeten the bitterest estate unto thy soule upon the faithfulness of Christ never to forsake thee upon the happines of cleaving close to Christ thogh all the world oppose thee and upon the abundant fulnesse that Christ is to thy soule when all other things are taken from thee and thou shalt solace and stay thy selfe upon Christs fulnesse with a full acquiescence From the fulnesse of the Lord JESUS flowes a full fountaine of consolation to the soules of all beleevers 7. Consolations flowing from Christs fulnesse consolation against all externall wants He cannot bee poore that hath Christ in whom is all fulnesse when hee is spoyled of all hee hath an abiding substance Christ is the Sunne in whom is all light the Pearle in whom is all worth the Tree on whom grows all fruit The Soule which is espoused to the heire of all things hath no cause to complaine of the want of riches hee that enjoyes Christ and distracts himselfe about worldly abilities knowes not his own happinesse under-values the portion which God hath given him having a feast of fat things a rich jewell a living spring a glorious Sunne at home seekes abroad for huskes to feed him drosse to enrich him a glow-worme to warme him and ditch and dirty water to quench the thirst that is within him What is the vintage of Abiezer to the gleanings of Ephraim the onions and garlicke of Egypt to the grapes of Canaan Is Pharphar like Jordan Is the broken cisterne like the fountaine The fulnesse of the world to the fulness of Christ is nothing hee that hath Christ hath the richest portion though he have nothing besides him Here is consolation against the want of carnall friends earthly peace and worldly comforts though Saul cannot be merry without a Fidler Ahab without Naboths vineyard Haman without Mordecays courtesie a man that hath Christ hath that which makes him merry without all these If Plato could tell the Musicians that Philosophers knew how to dine and sup without them much more they who enjoy Christs fulnesse know how to solace themselves in the absence of earthly comforts Here is consolation against all opposing powers in Christ is all fulnesse hee is a Shepheard able to deliver his flock from the Beare and the Lyon hee is a wall of fire able to defend his citizens and burne their enemies hee is a husband able to rescue his Spouse and destroy them that make warre on her as David rescued his wives and destroyed the Amalekites that carried them away captives Here is consolation against all soule infirmities in Christ is all fulnesse fulnesse of mercie to pity and pardon us fulnesse of power to strengthen us fulnesse of grace to heale us fulnesse of love to solace us fulnesse of peace to quiet us and the fulnes of all goodnes to perfect us The Lords servants should not bee so much dejected with the thought of their owne emptinesse and weaknesse as revived and cheared with the meditation of Christs fulnesse CHAP. XI Declaring the inseparable union of Christ's two natures in one person THE third thing in these words is an act dwelleth an act of permanencie and duration expressing the inseparable union between the two natures of Christ in one person the divine dwelling in the humane Man i Ioh. 6.56 1 Ioh. 4.16 dwells in Christ and God by faith as by an instrument by love as by a witnesse of his societie and communion with God and Jesus Christ God and Christ dwell in men by grace and heavenly effects regenerating the hearts of men

Christ. Fol. 113 CHAP. XI Doct. 3. Christ is God and man in one person by an inseparable union Fol. 116 Two grounds hereof Fol. 119 Mans honour and the exaltation of mans nature is opened Fol. 123 Man is charged not to debase himselfe but maintain the honor to which Christ hath exalted him with the manner how to doe it Fol. 126 127 CHAP. XII Mans choicest excellency consisteth in union with God Fol. 128 The benefits thereof Fol. 131 CHAP. XIII Doct. 4. Christs perfection and fulnesse doth infinitely surpasse the fulnesse of all creatures Fol. 134 Three grounds of this Fol. 135 Such as are filled with fulnesse of God are filled with choicest fulnesse Fol. 139 CHAP. XIIII The superlative excellency of Christ above all creatures is declared Fol. 142 Foure excellencies in Christ on which men must fasten the eyes of their faith Fol. 148 CHAP. XV. The happy and blessed condition of them that are partakers of Christ is set forth Fol. 157 Illustrated in 5. particulars Fol. 160 Doct. 5. Christ dwelling in our flesh is true God his names attributes and workes prove it meditation whereof tends to admire embrace feare exalt and stay on Christ. Fol. 168 CHAP. XVI Doct. 6. Such alone as are truely holy and gracious are complete and perfect in Christ Jesus Fol. 172 Profane men strangers to perfection ib. Such alone as are gracious partake of Christs fulnesse Fol. 173 Doct. 7. There is a spirituall and heavenly perfection and fulnesse in Gods faithfull servants Fol. 174 Severall sorts of fulnesse ibid. CHAP. XVII Foure grounds of the Saints fulnesse Fol. 180 Two sorts of men strangers to Christ Fol. 185 CHAP. XVIII Foure markes or characters of spirituall and heavenly fulnesse Fol. 189 An exhortation to spirituall and heavenly fulnesse Fol. 193 Foure meditations inducing thereunto Fol. 195 The dolefulnesse and danger of neglecting Christ and the opportunity of Grace Doct. 1. The state of that person or people is very dolefull which continueth barren under the plentifull and powerfull meanes of salvation Fol. 207 Doct. 2. It t s very dangerous and fearfull for any people or person to neglect the meanes and times of grace which God doth offer them Fol. 242 The souls last refuge a Sermon on Revel 22.20 Note By how much the neerer communion we have now with Christ by grace and holiness by so much the more his second comming is desired by us Fol. 259 Note No man rightly desires Christs comming but he that hath assurance of the good and benefit of his comming Fol. 260 Doct. It is the unfained desire of Gods faithfull servants to have the full fruition of Christ Jesus Fol. 263 Note Love and mercy are sweetly knit together in Christ Jesus Fol. 282 Note If Christ be not our Lord and Master first he will never be our Saviour at last ib. St. Pauls Legacie A Sermon on 2 Cor. 13.11 Doct. 1. The Ministers long and frequent preaching must be attended with much perfection in the people Fol. 8 Doct. 2. There is in all Gods faithfull Ministers a very servent and unfained love to their hearers Fol. 19 Note The labours of Gods choicest Ministers are not everlasting but of a short continuance Fol. 25 Doct. 3. The full and thorough conforming of our selves to the doctrine of Gods Messengers ministers great joy and gladnesse though they depart from us Fol. 26 Doct. 4. It is the duty and must bee the care of Gods children to strive to more spirituall perfection Fol. 34 Doct. 5. Gods children ought to be very comfortable though many changes and afflictions doe attend them Fol. 38 Doct. 6. There must be unanimity and consent betweene Gods children in matters of doctrine and religion Fol. 41 ERRATA Pag. 82. line 24. reade communication p. 86. l. 25. reade thirst p. 185. l 8. r. just p. 197. l. 10. r. sincere FINIS A HEAVENLY DISCOURSE OF CHRISTS FULNES TENDING TO The making of Christ most amiable and glorious in the eyes and most joyous and pleasant sweet and satisfactory to the Soules of all beleeving CHRISTIANS That their hearts may be comforted being knit together in love and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Col. 2.2 3. And of his fulnesse have we all received and grace for grace Ioh. 1.16 Omnia habemus in Christo omnia nobis Christus Ambros By A. G. B. D. LONDON Printed by R. Young for John Bartlet at the gilt Cup neere Saint Austins gate 1640. CHRISTS FULNES TRANSCENDENT COLOS. 2.9 10. For in him dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily and yee are complete in him who is head of all principality and power CHAP. I. Shewing the transcendencie of Christs fulnesse above all created fulnesse and opening the scope of the words OF all Fulnesse Divine and Heavenly fulnesse is the choycest The nearer any creature commeth unto God and the more it doth participate of the fulnesse of God the greater is the perfection the more excellent is the fulnesse thereof There is a fulnesse of light in the Sunne a fulnesse of waters in the sea a fulnesse of strength in the rockes a fulnesse of riches in the earth a Psa 104.24 The earth saith the Psalmist is full of thy riches so is the great and wide sea wherein are things creeping innumerable both small and great beasts Yet of all this fulnesse in comparison of their fulnesse who are filled with the fulnesse of Christ may wee say as Gideon sometime said of the vintage of Abiezer b Iudg. 8.2 The gleanings of Ephraim are better then the vintage of Abiezer so the gleaning the smallest gatherings of the fulnesse of Christ are better more excellent more satisfactory more permanent then the full and greatest vintage of the world this is a fulnesse making like God endearing to God leading to heavenly and sweet communion with God the least of Christ is better then the greatest abundance of the earth There is a fulnesse of wisedome and puritie a fulnesse of strength and sagacity in the Angels there is a fulnesse of holinesse and righteousnesse in the Lords faithfull servants yet is their fulnesse in respect of Christs fulnesse as no fulnesse as the fulnesse of the Starre is as no fulness in respect of the fulnesse of the Sunne and the fulnesse of the vessell as no fulnesse in comparison of the fulnesse of the fountaine their fulnesse is a derivative a borrowed fulnesse it is in them by participation as the Moone hath her light from the Sunne rivers their waters from the fountaine and the eye her sight from the soule but it is in Christ originally naturally and of himselfe their fulnesse is in them by measure according to the gift of God in Christ it is c Eph. 4.7 Job 4.33 Ioh. 1.16 infinite and above measure The Moone is full of

which Christ hath assumed abides unchangeably united to the person of the Sonne so o Ioh. 15.7 abide with Christ in attendance on his ordinances in faith in his promises in love to his truth and in obedience to his precepts As the assumed nature is ascended from the earth to heaven so raise thy thoughts and affections p Col. 3.2 from the things below to the things above ascend continually by meditation by faith by love and longing to the things which are spirituall As the assumed nature hath no subsistence but in the person of the Sonne so have thou no dependance upon any thing but on Christ alone let him q Psal 73.15 bee all in all And as the assumed nature is filled with the fulnesse of the Godhead so labour more and more to bee filled with the fulnesse of all grace and holinesse so shalt thou maintaine that honour to which Christ hath exalted thy nature CHAP. XII Shewing that mans choycest excellencie consisteth in union with God THis sheweth us wherein the choycest excellencie of man consisteth even in being united unto God in having God dwelling in his heart Wherein stands the excellencie of Christ as Man but in having the Godhead dwelling in his flesh in being assumed into the unity of the second person And wherein stands the excellencie the glory and the happinesse of man but in being reconciled and brought nigh to God in being entred into a sweet and gracious communion with God Is it not the excellencie of the branches to bee united to the Vine of the members to bee united to the head of the wife to have communion with the husband and of the children to have communion with the parent And what is the excellencie the joy and comfort of the soule but sweet and gracious communion with God in Christ Jerusalem though the joy of the whole earth pleased not Absolom unlesse hee might r 2 Sam. 14.32 see the face of his father David The paradise of the world is but a wilderness to to the childe of God unlesse hee see the face enjoy the comfortable presence of God his Father Whom doth the Psalmist pronounce blessed Him that hath communion with Princes in their Courts with Nobles in their honours with valiant men in their victories with rich men in their wealth voluptuous men in their pleasures or him that hath communion with his God in his ordinances in his spirituall comforts Å¿ Psal 65.4 Blessed saith he is the man whom thou chusest and causest to approch unto thee whom thou chusest embracing him with thy love adopting him for thy sonne and making him a member of thy Church and causest him to approch unto thee as a Scholler to thy Schoole as a friend to thy house as a childe to thy table as a bride into the bosome of thy love to know thy will to beleeve thy truth to receive thy grace and to feele thy love and to bee satisfied with the goodnesse of thy house even of thy holy Temple What is the fruit and end of all the labours of Gods Ministers but to worke and draw home the soules of men to God to the fruition enjoyment of God to union and communion with God All the labour of Eleazar was to bring home Rebecca unto Isaac to espouse her to Isaac and all the labour of Gods Ministers his servants is to bring men home to Christ to espouse them to Christ as Paul saith I t 2 Cor. 11.2 have espoused you to one husband This is the summe of all to gather men home to God and Christ as Chicken to the Henne as Sheep unto the Shepheard as Children to the Parent that they may bee u 2 Cor. 5.19 reconciled unto God made one with God and have the blessed enjoyment of God as their highest excellency chiefest good And what are the longings of the soules of holy men who have discerned Gods beauties who have tasted Gods loving kindnesse but the fruition of God in his ordinances and in his graces w Ps 42.2 My soul saith David thirsteth for God O when shall I come appeare before God! And againe My soule x Ps 119.20 breaketh for the longings which it hath unto thy judgements at all times Very vehement and laborious are the desires of Gods servants after him and his testimonies desires which doe even consume and weare out the strength and vigour of their soules desires of perseverance longing at all times in prosperitie and adversitie The soule of a good man is restlesse untill it hath the enjoyment of God and Jesus Christ nothing else can content and answere it Herein stands the excellencie the glory and comfort of it untill it attaine this it is unquiet Union and communion with God makes the soule flourish Benefits of union and communion with God as the branches by union with the vine They y Ps 92.12 that are planted in the house of the Lord that draw nigh to God conscionably frequent his word and are ingrafted into Christ they shall flourish in the courts of our God as a watered garden or a tree planted by the waters side this fils the soule with spirituall life with heavenly sense and motion as the members which are united to the head z 1 Ioh. 5.12 Hee that hath the sonne hath life power strength a blessed fulnesse of holy and heavenly life hee spiritually moves and eates and walkes and workes and rejoyceth like a living man this makes him strong as the a Mat. 7. house that was united to the rocke no windes nor waves of trouble can beate him downe this makes him strong as Christ is strong to beare afflictions and to runne like a strong man the race of Gods commandements this sustaines him in all worldly desertions this is in stead of light when he is in darknesse in stead of b Psa 4.6 wealth when he is poore c. Union and communion with God answers all things O be assured then that the top and flower of the soules happinesse consists in union with God and Christ Jesus And as the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth in the humane nature of Christ bodily substantially so labour to feele God in Christ dwelling in thy soule spiritually feele him dwelling there by illumination as the sun dwelleth in the aire by ministration as the vine to the branches by powerfull and gracious gubernation as a centurion in the army a master in the house and a king in his courts by spirituall and holy inclination bowing bending and framing the heart to doe the will of God As the pilot at the sterne workes the ship towards the haven as the spirit of the living creatures in Ezekiels vision being in the wheeles Wheresoever the Spirit moved c Ezek. 1.20 they moved so feele the Spirit of Christ in thy soule so possessing sanctifying and framing it that there be a disposition and readinesse within thee to move as God in his word