The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

But as to the union here mentioned; as, till ⟨p. 158⟩the image of God be perfected, it is not completed; so it cannot but be perfect then; When the soul is perfectly formed according to Gods own heart; and fully participates the divine likeness, is perfectly like him; that likeness cannot but infer the most intimate union that two such natures can admit. That is (for nature) a love-union; such as that which our Saviour mentions, and prays to the Father to perfect between themselves, and all believers, and among believers mutually, with one another.¹ Many much trouble themselves about this Scripture;² but sure that can be no other then a love-union: For, (1.) 'Tis such an union as Christians are capable of among themselves,³ (for surely he would never pray that they might be one with an union whereof they are not capable.) (2.) 'Tis such an union as may be made visible to the world. Whence 'tis an obvious corollary, that the union between the Father and the Son, there spoken of, as the pattern of this, is not their union or oneness in essence, (though it be a most acknowledged thing, that there is such an essential union between them) for who can conceive that Saints should be one among themselves, and with the Father, and the Son, with such an union as the Father, and the Son are one themselves, if the essential union between Father and Son were the union here spoken of? But the exemplary or pattern-union, here mentioned, between Father and Son, is but an union in mind, in love, in design, and interest; wherein he prays▪ that Saints on earth might visibly be one with them ⟨p. 159⟩also, that the world might believe, &c.

But as to the union here mentioned; as, till ⟨p. 158⟩the image of God be perfected, it is not compleated; so it cannot but be perfect then; When the soul is perfectly formed according to Gods own heart; and fully participates the divine likeness, is perfectly like him; that likeness cannot but infer the most intimate union that two such natures can admit. That is (for nature) a love-union; such as that which our Saviour mentions, and prayes to the Father to perfect between themselves, and all believers, and among believers mutually, with one another.