Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

1. It is a most real union; it is not a mere notional and intellectual union, that consists only in the understanding and without the understanding is nothing; it is not an imaginary thing, that hath no other being but only in the Brain; no, no, it is a true, real, essential, substantial union; In natural unions, I confess, there may be more evidence, but there cannot be more truth; spiritual Agents neither have, nor put forth less virtue, because sense cannot discern their manner of Working; even the Load-stone, though an earthen substance, yet when it is out of sight, whether under the table, or behind a solid partition, it stirreth the needle as effectually as if it were within view. Shall not he contradict his senses, that will say, It cannot work, because I see it not? Oh my Saviour! thou art more mine, than my Body is mine: my sense feels that present, but so as that I must lose it: but my faith so feels, and sees thee present with me, as that I shall never be parted from thee.

1. It is a most real union; it is not a meer notional and intellectual union, that consists only in the understanding and without the understanding is nothing; it is not an imaginary thing, that hath no other being but only in the Brain; no, no, it is a true, real, essential, substantial union; In natural unions, I confess, there may be more evidence, but there cannot be more truth; spiritual Agents neither have, nor put forth less virtue, because sense cannot discern their manner of Working; even the Load-stone, though an earthen substance, yet when it is out of sight, whether under the table, or behind a solid partition, it stirreth the needle as effectually as if it were within view. Shall not he contradict his sences, that will say, It cannot work, because I see it not? Oh my Saviour! thou art more mine, than my Body is mine: my sense feels that present, but so as that I must lose it: but my faith so feels, and sees thee present with me, as that I shall never be parted from thee.

2. It is a very near union: You will say, how near? If an Angel were to speak to you, he cannot satisfy you in this: only as far as our understanding can reach it, and the Creatures can serve to illustrate these things, take it thus: Whatsoever by way of comparison can be alleged concerning the combination of any one thing with another: that, and much more may be said of our union with Jesus Christ. To give instance out of the Scripture: see what one stick is to another being glued together: see what one friend is to another, as Jonathan and David, who were said to be woven and knit each one to other: see how near the father and the child are: how near the husband and the wife are: