Trinity there must be as many persons in the God-head as waies of personating the God-head or of its subsistence 5. Againe Every such person must be a Christ God and Man personally united make a Christ gallant we shall be all Christs severall Christs as many Christs as Christians all of us Lords as was said of Christ Fooles there will be Lords many but we have but one Lord Jesus Christ If this union be personall then it followes as what is proper to the Godhead may be attributed to the person so what is attributed to the man-hood should be attributed to the person The person thus in union should be God-man Infinite Immense Eternal c. Againe take the persons of Familists as sinners and it may be said as of Christ God dying so of Familists God sinning God a swearer God a drunkard God a blaspheamer This would be sweet stuff yet it must be so if God and a sinner be personally united Let me give you Pauls sence of Christ formed in us in the true sence and so conclude with this Question For the clearer understanding of this mystery I shall speak as plainly as I can and the rather because some would charge me with denying that Christ is in us formed in us c. I shall therefore grant as much as may be granted First I say that true beleevers the called of God they are really united unto Christ one with Christ one with the humane nature of Christ one with the Divine nature of Christ one with the person of Christ But how to be understood anon 2. We are one with God in union if you will with God one with the nature of God one with the persons in the God-head Father Sonne and Spirit 3. I say that Christ is really in us nay the person of Christ is in us 4. Nay the Godhead is in us Farther 5. I say that Christ is formed in us 6. That we are partakers of the divine nature For my meaning in all this I intend not what the Familists intend when they speake this as I have before delivered I take it not in that sense 1. I say we are really united to God and Christ as really as a branch is united to the vine the wife to the husband the building to the foundation the head unto the members and the members to the head as really as the Father and Sonne and Spirit are one which is one step-farther I say as truly and as really It followes not in all respects the same kind of union to the same participation and communion these comparisons and resemblances of our union doe not alway hold out the kind of the union but for the most part the verity the truth of the union it were grosse blasphemy to assert other wise 2. Christ and God are really in us but not in the same manner is God in us as in the severall persons of the Trinity or as in the humane nature of Christ I have proved this already 3. Wee are united to the person of Christ but not made one person with Christ 4. Christ is formed in us but not in the same way and manner as hee was formed in the wombe of the virgin the word is not so made flesh in us as there it was not so manifested in our particular flesh as in that particular flesh this I have already prooved 4. Wee are really pertakers of the divine nature but not in the same way and manner as Christ was partaker of the divine nature I have likewise proved this already and therefore shall speak no more to these negatives I shall not speak of the severall sorts of union t is well known there are severall hee that knowes not this knowes nothing the union of the soul and body is one kind of union the union of head and members a secondly the union of members in one body a 3d. the union of husband and wife a 4th of foundation and building a 5th of vine and branches a 6th of the two natures in Christ a 7th of the persons in the divine essence an 8th c. Of a Christian with God and Christ a 9th c. 2. Nor of the severall respects of Gods being or presence in himself in his son in all Creatures in heaven in hell in his ordinances in his people who knows not but that these are severall and must not bee Confounded neither shall I speak how Christ is in himself in his father in earth in heaven in his ordinances in his peoples hearts c. 3. I shall not speak in the 3. place of the severall sorts of Gods working manifesting himself in heaven in Glory one way to saints in Glory another to saints on earth in Grace in types in truth nor how he may make known in creatures his power and God head c. For the better understanding of the mysticall union observe these points The matter is very high the words shall bee the plainer that the meanest capacities may take it in I shall use as few termes of art as may bee the truth in this point is above art note 1. That there is a generall union an especiall union between God and his Creatures 2. This union whither generall or speciall is reall really uniting them 3. This reall union is the originall of a reall Communion between God and the creature 4. This reall union may be diversely Considered according to the diverse respects and diverse effects of union 5. Every union between God and the creature is not this mysticall union of which we speak 6. The Gratious soule mystically united unto God may bee thus united unto God in more respects then one 7. For distinctions sake whither properly or improperly wee may say there are severall unions though indeed properly severall modes or waies of union between God and the elect soul this premised I conclude 1. The elect soul hath God united to it though not onely in the generall and universall union in respect of which God may be said to be united to the whole creation this is not as an Elect soule but in Common as a creature this union I take to be held out in that text In him we live and moove and have our being this union for its forme is made up 1. on gods part by that common spirit or spirit in common in fluences which actuates the whole creation in ' esse operari in essence and operation see Gen. 1.2 2. on the creatures part by that dependance natural which the creature hath on God for this esse operari through the spirit he that knowes not this knowes little this union every creature hath with Gods Familists goe no higher then this they may be thus united unto God and yet divels but this union the elect soul hath as a creature and more 2. The elect soule hath God united to it in a speciall which is called a my sticall union in respect of which God is not united to the
THE BOTTOMLES PIT Smoaking in FAMILISME As may appeare by ashort discourse on Gal. 1.9 together with some breef notes on AB COPPâ—â— Recantation Sermon as 't were Preached at Burford Sept. 23. 1651. By JOHN TICKELL Minâ—â—â—â—â— to the Church in ABINGâ—ON Berks This may serve for a Key to Familisme 'till another opening to most if not all their chambers of Imagery Also to vindicate the true Gospell God and Scripture-purity and answer severall weigâ—ty questions concerning the Mysticall Vnion There shall arise false Christs c. Mat. 24.24 Printed at Oxford by L. â— for 〈…〉 Anno. Dâ—â— 165â— To the Reverend his honoured Father Mr GEORGE HUGHES Pastor of the Church in Plymouth DEVON Honoured Sir I Can never tell the World how much I owe you Natures account is much but that of Grace is more you have me on both in eternall obligations bound as yours Rich and free grace all powerfull love through your selfe as the instrument Gave me my true my best my lasting I meane my spirituall being the forme of Christ in mee Not Familistically Sir I blesse God for Himselfe his Sonne his Spirit his Gospell your selfe What cause Sir have I to blesse God for you you have begotten nouresht brought me up as your own Sonne in the Gospell I will not like Jacob pluck my Brother by the heele Who ever were the first I blesse God I was not the last of your first fruits in Tavestocke Devon Sir I am a plant of your planting watering and a member and a Minister in the Church of Christ unworthy of either but blessed be God for both who planteth a vineyard and eateth not the fruit thereof I send you here a cluster I would they were either faire or ripe they are yet too greene for your tast however they are the first fruits from a slip of your owne I beg your Acceptance I am sure of your protection what I am and have is yours blessed be God that I have the honour to subscribe your Sonne in the Gospell J. TICKELL Abingdon Octob. 3. 1651. To All that love the Lord JESUS in or neere BURFORD Grace and Peace SPECIALL providence brought me to Burford had there not been more of Gods will then of my will in it I had not been there that day nor staid there that houre some suspected a designe I can assure them I knew not of any lecture there that day till as I was riding by the Church-yard one told me that Mr Coppe was then to Preach having not long before heard of his Recantation and liberty I was very willing to understand of the worke of God upon him upon this account I hastned to the Church when I came to the doore I saw there much people ready to heare but the Pulpit empty and no one there as yet to Preach I was no sooner thinking whether I were best to stay that houre or immediatly to returne from whence I came then I was prest in Spirit a Scripture with strong impressions being presented to me to take the opportunity of speaking something to the People ere Mr Coppe came in This motion put me on motion towards the Pulpit from whence assistance from God desired this exhortation such as 't is was then delivered a Gospel blessing rest upon it Preached and Printed So much may serve for that If any desire the knowledge of my Commission let them read Mark 16.5 Math. 28.19 20. 2 Tim. 4.2 from thence take satisfaction as for my principle the searcher of hearts best knowes it to whom I shall referre inquiries only thus much I am not a Son of contention I love truth and peace nay more then this my over-love to peace has often wronged truth but the blood of sprinkling wash this away Notwithstanding this ' has been my lot to passâ— by peace for twice or thrice to stand by truth the prince of peace once taught me this my soule bleeds when I heare the person the nature the offices the undertakings the death the blood the Righteousnesse that all-glorious-soule-saving-imputative-righteousnesse of the Lord Jesus Christ blaspheamed I had rather ye would rend my bowels stab me to the heart spill my blood as water upon the ground then reproach blaspheme despise that blood which was the price of my redemption God will judge for this Should not I speak the stones would mans bloud cries but Christs cries loud The Lord deliver me from bloud-guiltinesse through his grace I am resolved the blood of soules the blood of Christ shall not be laid to my account when their avenger makes inquisition and comes to reckon I judge not Mr Coppe but experience tels me that some he knowes can more closely deceive then ever to be plaine I met with one not long since that told me my selfe and twenty more that he that had two natures was Antichrist againe he that said that Christ had two natures is The Antichrist farther he that saies the fulnesse of the Godhead dwels not in us in the same way and manner as it did in Christ is The Antichrist the man passes for a convert but God convert him enough for that If any aske what makes this untimely birth abroad with this homely dresse untill another let them take this answere 1. Truth will abroad as well as errour and reason good shee lives in light 2. Truth is best seen naked error like a Strumpet dares not appeare without a mantle a painted face a gorgeous dresse a crucified Christ would have a crucified stile I desire to know no other Christ I am sure this Gospel without the wisdome of mans words is the power of God unto salvation 3. Phantastick preaching hearing praying writing in the great sin of our age Luther was not of the garbe wherein most of our late admired Preachers have appeared I wish good men would seriously consider and lay to heart the advantage which Familisme has taken from their seraphicall notions and speculations O that some had not set Truth on tenter-hookes to reach their phancies Christ will give them but little thankes for this for mine own part I desire rather to be understood then admired I am not willing to be taken by the ignorant or the unlearned as a Barbarian I would have the meanest capacities take in my notions especially such as have universall relation to faith and practice When I speake to the meanest I am sure the chiefest understand me For the thing it selfe I must acknowledge 't is an hasty birth but blessed be God for this as for these whence had I them Well I most gladly glory in mine infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me and this too such as ' t is if God owne it as he did the enimies themselves being judges I le owne it too and pray that the blessing of the Father of Lights may rest upon it that what is wanting in these lines may be made up in your hearts A farther account of their publike view take thus 1. When
whole creation Eph. 1. it being proper to the elect viz. Christ Angels and Saints though to Christ Angels and Saints under severall respects 3. This union wherein the elect soule hath God united to it is not an Immediate but a mediate union through a mediatour Jesus Christ Mat. 1. 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 5.19 God-man the Imanuel God whith us of him are all things especially spirituall God is in Christ uniting and reconciling c. God and the falne creature cannot unite without a mediatour no more then a consuming fire and stubble Christ is this mediatour and the union is through him John 17. read the Scripture 4. This union through a mediatour may be considered either first as uniting God and the soule the mediatour intervening or secondly as uniting the mediatour and the elect soule 5. This union may be considered with respect 1. to the present state of grace or secondly the future State of glory 6. Considered with respect to God the mediatour intervening and with respect to the present state of grace 1. God is relatively united i.e. 1. According to the uniting virtue of love divine love unites God to the soul loved 1 Sam. 18.1 with the speciall gratious-union of speciall love hence that Scripture hee that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him for God is love 1 Iohn 4.16 ubi amor tbi anima love brings an indwelling 2. 1 Sam. 18.3 Hence God stands united to the elect soule in a special-gratious-Covenant relation league hence among men the terme of the united provinces c. 3. Hence in those sweet relations that depend on love and a love Covenant Hosee 2.18 father husband friend in reconciliation 2 Cor. 5. Eph. 1. Col. love Amity c. make the most of it 2. Sec. 2. God is I could never meet with a fit word to set out this respect of union by it there are words used but they serve rather to vaile our ignorance then reveale this mistery mysticall it is because secret hidden and a mysterie so sayes Paul Eph. 5. in naturall things I would call it physicall set out by the union in Contact virtuall but in these supernaturall I professe I know not any word used fitly to note the nature of it I shall not Coyne new but give you the notion it self in plain words I say god is united as a speciall grace working cause I have spoken alreadye how he is not united I speak now to shew you how he is united 1 Iohn 3.2 as well as I can I shall better tell you and you will better understand it when wee are come to heaven God through the mediatour as a principle a working-cause of a spirituall being and operation unites himself to the elect soule enlightning it quickning it c. with speciall grace This is on gods part 1. 1 Cor. 6.19 by that speciall spirit or the speciall Influences of the spirit which actuates the spirituall elect soule in its spirituall being operation 2. 1 Iohn 4.13 on the creatures part by the dependance of the spirituall soule on god for this wrought in it by the spirit From this union it is said hee that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit 1 Cor. 6.7 and 1 Cor. 12.13 by one spirit wee are united c. 7. Considering it with respect to the mediatour his union with us it is 1. A Relative union I shall not speak of the union of love wherein Christ is united to the elect soule 2. nor of that speciall Covenant Cant. 2.6 wherein the mediatour stands united 3. nor of all the sweet relations that flow from it as husband father friend c. I should bee then too large but thus 1. Christ stands as it were in a spiritually Civil Ep. 1.22 Rom. 5.14 1 Cor. 5.21.22.45 Rom. 11.16.17 Heb. 7.22 Es 53. 1 Ioh. 1.2 2 Cor. 5.21 2 Cor. 5.14 Kor 6.11 1 Cor. 12.12 Gal. 3.16 and politicall union mystically united to his Church as an head-man a repraesentative thus he is said to bee the head of the Church the second Adam the second man roote roote-man you know the union between the surety and his friend of the proxy the representative the Burgesse in parliamt. c. hence floweth communion spirituall Christ is reckoned to us and wee reckoned to Christ Christ made our sin wee made the Righteousnes of God in him read at large Rom. 5. wee are in divine Law reckoned as really one with him as if though not one person hence our communion in election Justification Adoption sanctification glory Christ is that in respect of us what he is not in respect of himself and wee are that in respect of Christ what wee are not as in our selves hence that in Joan. 17.23 I in them and they in mee hence the Communion in attribution Communicable so Also is Christ Christ mysticall Christ Jesus in union with his Church as Christ he is not considered without his Church he is as God therefore that is not communicable his people as such are not considered without Christ no more then a body without an head This is a soul enriching-union call it what you will This union is by Gods gracious Covenant Grant on Gods part Ephe. 1.4 This may be before we be from eternity chosen in him we thus are in Gods account or virtually 2. By the spirit working faith 3. Ephe. 3.17 Faith wrought by the spirit bringing us on our part in time actually into this Covenant state and so union with Christs The union of Christ I shall speak unto elsewhere 2. The kind 1. Cor. 15 Ioh. 6. 1. Cor. 8.6 Christ stands in such an union as we were but now speaking to in respect of God as a principle active and a working cause in subordination to God the Father united to the elect soule Cod works by Christ Heb. 1.2 This is by the spirit from Christ The forme and the Father being to us as the soule is to our body a quickning principle though not in every particular as the soule to the body I speak as to influence quickning to a spirituall life 1. Ioh. 4.12.13 working in us habits of Grace as anon whereby we are enabled likewise by faith and love and other Graces in severall respects to unite to Christ and maintain Communion with him This is set out by the union between not a civil but a naturall head and members So 1. Cor. 12. 1. Cor. 12 Col. 1.18.19 Col. 2.19 Ioh. 15.1 Pet. 2 the head is the seat of the spirits naturall giving out influence to all the body by these spirits so Christ Hence not only civilly but otherwise this is set out by the Vine and Branches building and foundation Hence the Communion of Sanctifiing influences The same spirit working that in measure in us Ioh. 1.16 Ioh. 3.34 Col. 1.19 1. Ioh. 5.20 Ephe. 3.19 which it wrought in Christs humane nature
in fulnesse Even grace for grace and we are said to have it from his fulnesse On this account I might now here speak of the union as it is on our parts with God As 1. Intellectuall the understanding and God by knowledge and vision of faith 2. Morall the will by faith cleaving to God in Christ and so of love c. but this would make this Volume swell From what hath bin spoken concerning union you may answer the question concerning Presence thus breifly 1. God and Christ are present Symbalically or Typically and analogically the rock followed them and that was Christ Typicall So the Cloud and Temple c. 2. Essentially by his Immense presence filling all things places fil'd of none Mat. 28.29 So he is in every thing place even Hell So is the God-head of Christ or Christ as God every where Familists make a great matter of this But alasse this is not his speciall presence Devils have this though we have more 3. Act. 17.27 Energetically by power and providence operative 1. Generall and common in all creatures to works of nature Of him are all things in him we live 2. Speciall and Saving the speciall works of grace in the hearts of his people from regeneration to perfection But this is not as in himself and in his Sonne 4. Objectively the mind by understanding and will by chusing love embracing makes God present But especially faith Christ is said to dwell in our hearts by faith faith bringing in a presence and an abiding presence of Christ unto the heart according to the presence faith gives faith sees God who is invisible and faith layeth hold on God Heb. 11.27 Moses his Optiks in Christ nay faith will make the humane nature of Christ present with the presence that faith gives which is a reall presence it can feed upon this humane nature of Christ and eate the flesh of Christ and drink his blood and really nourish the soule hereby as really as the body is nourished by its food c. Christians indeed know this from hence by the being that faith gives the soule shall be in God and God in the soule Christ in the Saints and the Saints in Christ without jumbling of their Persons natures together Alasse it is to be feared they know not this Inbeing and Indwelling of God that talke so grosly of it many talke of Gods being in them and their being in God but they know not what they say I shall speak a word concerning the Effects of these Unions these operations this In-being of God and Christ in us God forbid I should not say that Christ is in us The Deity and the humanity of Christ the Person of Christ but how you have seene I will speak no more to that Q. The agent working in us is Christ the Father the Spirit but what is the thing wrought upon us the working virtue is the power of God but what 's the effect An. This is not God himself God of God Ioh. 1.16 I say that grace wrought in us I suppose we may agree to call it grace let it be what it will is not God the Being the Essence of God produced in us there is the Being of God the Essence of God God himself producing but the thing produced is not God is not the Person of Christ is not the Person of the spirit though these Persons be there in a speall way of Presence and Union to effect it Gal. 5.22 Pet. 5.21 Eph. 1.18 1. I say grace is a fruit of the spirit 2. It is a disposition in us a qualification of our understandings and wils and affections and Gods working in us is not to set up a third thing between God and us 1. Pat. 1.21 but to dispose and frame and order our spirits to move towards him 3. This work is that which is conveyed through instruments Gal. 4.19 meanes ordinances ministers Paul travels in birth to forme this Christ and the word the Scripture word and that preached is that which is the seed of God too 't is that which things humane as well as divine concurre unto 1. Pet. 13.25 to effect and produce on the hearts and minds of men in an ordinary way as Instruments true man cannot do it alone without God and God will not do it alone without man I mean ordinarily 4. The alteration it makes upon the man on whom 't is wrought 't is no Essentiall alteration substantiall alteration the man is man still and but man though better qualified a spirituallized man his understanding is cleared of darknesse and strengthened by the enlightning of the spirit of God to understand more clearly the things of God There is not a new faculty of seeing but the hinderance removed the vaile as it were before the understanding and help afforded light brought into a dark room 1. Cor. 3.16 the objects cloathed with light So the will the will is will still no new soule but the action of the soule purified There 's a new disposition it s called new because it was old and is made new as 't were there is a new stamp upon it a peece of filver was silver before the Goldsmith toucht it An old peece of Plate put into the Furnace put in a new mould comes forth not the old peece of Plate for forme but a new though the same for substance If it be God then the soule is turned into God a creature made a God for 't is the soule that hath this work 6. Or else it 's God changed and converted into a creature which is blapheamous 7. We need not goe so far the Scripture tels us 1. Cor. 5. Eph. 3.17 it is a creature if any man be in Christ he is a new creature throughout whatever is new it s a creature still therefore not God yee are the workmanship of God in Christ Jesus created unto good works God in Christ works upon you and creates you a new unto good works that you may be able to worke new works it s you that are created you that have the alterations this alteration is not the adition of another substance which may be called you but you even you are created unto good works new made It is Gods Image created in Righteousnesse true Holynesse There can be no more for former reasons which shewed that the Deity of Christ is not formed in us and assumes not our flesh as it did the flesh in the Virgins wombe 8. This worke of god upon us hath severall names but they all note the same thing only with severall relations as the new creature because it is a creature and new wrought by the creating power of god The new birth Regeneration Ioh. 3. 1 Pet. 1.23 because it is like a birth and is a new state like the state of a man brought a new into the World A birth from above because it came from God above this worke