§ 19. 2. And the chief part of this communion will be that in which we are Receptive; even Christ's Communications to the Soul. And as the Infinite Incomprehensible Deity is the Root or first Cause of all Communication, Natural, Gracious and Glorious, to Being, Motion, Life, Rule, Reason, Holiness and Happiness; and the whole Creation is more dependant on God, than the Fruit on the Tree, or the Plants on the Earth, or the Members on the Body, (though yet they are not parts of the Deity, nor Deified, because the Communication is Creative;) so God useth Second Causes in his Communications to inferior Natures: and it is more than probable, that the Humane Soul of Christ primarily and his Body secondarily are the chief second cause of Influence and ⟨p. 74⟩Communication both of Grace and Glory, both to Man in the Body, and to the separated Soul. And as the Sun is first an Efficient communicative second Cause of seeing to the Eye, and then is also the Object of our sight; so Christ is to the Soul *For as God, so the Lamb is the Light and Glory of the heavenly Jerusalem: and in his light we shall have light. Though he give up the Kingdom to the Father, so far as that God shall be all in all, and his Creature be fully restored to his favour, and there shall be need of a healing Government no more, for the recovering of lapsed Souls to God; yet sure he will not cease to be our Mediator, and to be the Churches Head, and to be the conveying cause of Everlasting Life, and Light, and Love to all his Members: As now we live because he liveth, even as the Branches in the Vine, and the Spirit that quickeneth, enlighteneth, and sanctifieth us, is first the Spirit of Christ before it is ours, and is communicated from God by him to us; so will it be in the state of Glory: For we shall have our Union and Communion with him perfected, and not destroyed or diminished. And unless I could be so proud as to think that I am or shall be the most excellent of all the Creatures of God, and therefore nearest him, and above all others, how could I think that I am under the Influence of no second Cause, but have either Grace or Glory from God alone?
§ 19. 2. And the chief part of this communion will be that in which we are Receptive; even Christ's Communications to the Soul. And as the Infinite Incomprehensible Deity is the Root or first Cause of all Communication, Natural, Gracious and Glorious, to Being, Motion, Life, Rule, Reason, Holiness and Happiness; and the whole Creation is more dependant on God, than the Fruit on the Tree, or the Plants on the Earth, or the Members on the Body, (though yet they are not parts of the Deity, nor Deified, because the Communication is Creative;) so God useth Second Causes in his Communications to inferiour Natures: and it is more than probable, that the Humane Soul of Christ primarily and his Body secondarily are the chief second cause of Influence and ⟨p. 74⟩Communication both of Grace and Glory, both to Man in the Body, and to the separated Soul. And as the Sun is first an Efficient communicative second Cause of seeing to the Eye, and then is also the Object of our sight; so Christ is to the Soul *For as God, so the Lamb is the Light and Glory of the heavenly Hierusalem: and in his light we shall have light. Though he give up the Kingdom to the Father, so far as that God shall be all in all, and his Creature be fully restored to his favour, and there shall be need of a healing Government no more, for the recovering of lapsed Souls to God; yet sure he will not cease to be our Mediator, and to be the Churches Head, and to be the conveying cause of Everlasting Life, and Light, and Love to all his Members: As now we live because he liveth, even as the Branches in the Vine, and the Spirit that quickneth, enlightneth, and sanctifieth us, is first the Spirit of Christ before it is ours, and is communicated from God by him to us; so will it be in the state of Glory: For we shall have our Union and Communion with him perfected, and not destroyed or diminished. And unless I could be so proud as to think that I am or shall be the most excellent of all the Creatures of God, and therefore nearest him, and above all others, how could I think that I am under the Influence of no second Cause, but have either Grace or Glory from God alone?
- *This one Truth will give great Light into the Controversies, about God's gracious Operations on the Soul: For when he useth second Causes, we see he Operateth according to their limited aptitude: And Christ's humane Nature, and all other second Causes are limited, and operate variously and resistibly, according to the Recipients capacity.
