The Method of Grace

Thirdly, The Sympathy that is betwixt Christ and believers proves a Union betwixt them: Christ and the Saints smile and sigh together. St. Paul in Colos. 1. 2, 4. tells us that he did fill up that which is behind, [Greek or Hebrew]—the remainders of the sufferings of Christ in his Flesh: not as if Christs sufferings were imperfect, (for by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified, Heb. 10. 14.) but in these two Scriptures Christ is considered in a twofold capacity: he suffered once in Corpore proprio, in his own person as mediator; these sufferings are complete and full, and in that sense he suffers no more: he suffers also in Corpore m•tico, in his Church and members, thus he still suffers in the sufferings of every Saint for his sake: and though these sufferings in his Mystical body, are not equal to the other, either ponder & mensura, in their weight and value, nor yet designed ex officio, for the same use and purpose, to satisfy by their proper merit offended Justice; nevertheless they are truly reckoned the sufferings of Christ, because the head suffers when the members do: and without this supposition, that place, Acts 9. 5. is never to be understood, when Christ the head in Heaven cries out, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? when the toe was trod upon on earth: how doth Christ sensibly feel our sufferings or we his, if there be not a Mystical Union betwixt him and us?

Thirdly, The Sympathy that is betwixt Christ and believers proves a Union betwixt them: Christ and the Saints smile and sigh together. St. Paul in Colos. 1. 2, 4. tells us that he did fill up that which is behind, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉—the remainders of the sufferings of Christ in his Flesh: not as if Christs sufferings were imperfect, (for by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified, Heb. 10. 14.) but in these two Scriptures Christ is consider'd in a twofold capacity: he suffered once in Corpore proprio, in his own person as mediator; these sufferings are compleat and full, and in that sense he suffers no more: he suffers also in Corpore mtico, in his Church and members, thus he still suffers in the sufferings of every Saint for his sake: and though these sufferings in his Mystical body, are not equal to the other, either pondere & mensura, in their weight and value, nor yet designed ex officio, for the same use and purpose, to satisfie by their proper merit offended Justice; nevertheless they are truly reckoned the sufferings of Christ, because the head suffers when the members do: and without this supposition, that place,