A Golden Chain

The benefits which we receive by this Mystical union are manifold. For it is the ground of the conveyance of all grace. The first is, that by means hereof every Christian as he is a Christian or a man regenerate hath his beginning and being in Christ, howsoever as he is a man he hath his being and subsisting in himself, as Paul saith,¹ Ye are of God in Christ. And, We are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones. Howe will some say can this be? After this manner. The comparison is taken from our first parents. Eve was made of a rib taken out of Adams side, he being cast into a slumber: this being done, Adam awaked and said, This now is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh Christ was nailed on the cross and his most precious blood was shed, and out of it arise and spring all true Christians; that is, out of the merit of Christs death & passion, whereby they become new creatures. Secondly, every one that believeth in Christ by reason of this union hath an unspeakable prerogative: for hereby he is first united to Christ, and by reason thereof is also joined to the whole trinity, the father, the son, and the holy Ghost, and shall have eternal fellowship with them. Thirdly, sundry men specially Papists deride the doctrine of justification by imputed righteousness: thinking it as absurd, that a man should be just by that righteousness which is inherent in the person of Christ; as if we should say, that one man may live by the soul of another: or be learned by the learning of another. But here we may see that it hath sufficient foundation. For there is a most near and strait union between Christ and all that believe in him: and in this union Christ with all his benefits according to the tenor of the covenant of grace, is made ours really: & therefore we may stand just before God by his righteousness; it being indeed his, because it is in him as in a subject; yet so, as it is also ours; because it is given unto us of God. Now there is no such union between man and man, and for that cause one man can not live by the soul of another, or be learned by the learning of another. Fourthly from this fountain springs our sanctification, whereby we die to sin and are renewed in righteousness and holiness. Worms & flies that have lien dead all winter, if they be laid in the sun in the spring time begin to revive, by virtue thereof:

The benefits which we receiue by this Mysticall vnion are manifold. For it is the ground of the conueiance of all grace. The first is, that by means hereof euery Christian as he is a Christian or a man regenerate hath his beginning and being in Christ, howesoeuer as he is a man hee hath his beeing and subsisting in himselfe, as Paul saith,