A23636:136
The principles of the Protestant religion maintained, and churches of New-England, in the profession…
The principles of the Protestant religion maintained, and churches of New-England, in the profession and exercise thereof defended against all the calumnies of one George Keith, a Quaker, in a book lately published at Pennsylvania, to undermine them both / by the ministers of the Gospel in Boston.The principles of the Protestant religion maintained, and churches of New-England, in the profession and exercise thereof defended against all the calumnies of one George Keith, a Quaker, in a book lately published at Pensilvania, to undermine them both / by the ministers of the Gospel in Boston.
printed by Richard Pierce, 1690
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Introduction › Reflections on Chapt. 5. Of God, His Decrees &c.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But a right Conception of the Mystery of our Union and Communion with God and Christ, will soon detect his Fallacies: Union is the ground of Communion; and therefore, such as is the Union: such is the Communion. Now this Union is one of the Gospel Mysteries, Eph. 5.32. only this much we know to our present purpose; 1. That it is an Union between two, Viz. Christ and ⟨p. 68⟩Believers. 2. That these two are made one by this Union, Joh. 17.21. 3. That they are so one, as that they are still two Persons, two distinct in nature; It is an Union, but not a Confusion; they are so one, as the Husband and Wife are one, who are two persons, but one in Relation, and the fruits of it, Eph. 5.32. God is God, & man is man still. 4. That this Union is made by Faith on our part, by which we take possession of Christ: and His Spirit on His part, by which He dwells in us, Gal. 3.26. 1. Cor. 6.7. 5. That by Virtue of this Union God in Christ becomes the Believers Portion, Lam. 3.24. 6ly. That God in Christ communicates Himself to them according to their Capacity, and that is by way of Efficacy and Influence. Hence, 1. All His Divine Attributes are employed for their Benefit, Deut. 33.27 Exod. 34 6, 7. 2ndly. the Spirit of Christ dwells in them by His Influence, Rom. 8.11. 3dly. Christ as a Fountain of Grace derives streams down to them, having a stock put into His hands as Mediator, Joh. 1.16. 4thly. They are made to share with Him in His Mediatorial Glory. cap. 17.24. But what is there in all this of our being Deified, or Christed? which if he intend not, he hath said nothing to the purpose.