A47542:971
A golden mine opened, or, The glory of God's rich grace displayed in the mediator to believers, and his direful wrath against impenitent sinners containing the substance of near forty sermons upon several subjects / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by the author, 1694
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.
1I Closed last Day with the fifth Argument.
Sixthly, I shall now proceed to my next Argument, to prove, That none of Christ's Sheep can so fall away as eternally to perish. And that shall be taken from the Nature of that Divine, Spiritual and 1Mystical Union that there is between every true Believer, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
By the way;
Let it be considered, that this Union by the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, is not a Personal Union, that is impossible; he doth not assume our Nature, and so prevent our Personality, which (as one observes) would make us one Person with himself: But he dwells in our Persons, keeping his own, and leaving us our 1Personality indefinitely distinct: But it is a Spiritual Union, a Mysterious and Mystical Union, more to be admired, than undertaken fully to be defined by any Man under Heaven. Many Debates there have been about this Union amongst Learned Men, some carry it too high, and some too low; for though it be not a Personal Union, yet it is more than a Union in Love and Affection, or in Principle, in Design and Interest, which may be between one Friend and another.
First, It is such a strong Union intensively, that Christ and a regenerate Man become one Spirit: He that is joined unto the Lord, is 1one Spirit: One Spirit (saith Reverend Charnock) as if they had but one Soul in two Bodies. What the Spirit doth in Christ, it doth also in a Believer, according to the Capacity of the Soul: The same Spirit which was the immediate Conveyer of Grace to the Humane Nature of Christ, is so to us; Christ hath an Essential Holiness in respect of his Godhead, but a Derivative Holiness as Man: and this Derivative Holiness proceeded from the Spirit's dwelling in him without measure, which we have in our Measures: And by virtue of this Union, by the same Spirit whereby we become one Spirit with Christ; not only that Grace which is in us, and in the greatest Apostle, is the same; but that Grace which is in us, and in our Blessed Mediator the Man Christ Jesus, are of the same Nature and Original: As the Light of the Sun, and the Light of the Stars, are the same, but they differ in Degrees, not essentially. And as we say of Souls, Animae sunt pares dignitate, saith Charnock; though the Actions are not the same, because of the indisposition of the Organs, and the predominancy of some particular Humour. 'Tis the same Spirit in Christ and a Believer, as it is the same Soul in dignity, which is in an Infant and a Man of most refined Parts. It is more here, for 'tis the same Spirit in respect of his Person, which makes Christ very near of Kin to us; this Spirit must either desert Christ or us, before this Union can be dissolved: Not Christ, for he had it in the World not in Measures, and he is yet anointed with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows: Not us, because the Promise of Christ cannot be broken. This being the Top-stone of the Comfort of Believers, in sending this Comforter that he may abide with us for ever. Evident it is, that it is such a Union that Believers are said to partake of the Divine Nature; that the Holy Spirit is promised to them, and in a spiritual manner is united to them, and dwelleth and abideth in them, and that for ever, cannot be denied. Christ shows us, that this Union arises from our spiritual eating of his Flesh, and drinking of his Blood: He that eateth my Flesh, and drinketh my Blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. But when some were offended, and could not 2see how this could be, he said unto them, ver. 63.
First, It is such a strong Union intensively, that Christ and a regenerate Man become one Spirit: He that is joined unto the Lord, is
It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the Flesh profiteth nothing; (it is not such eating as the Idolatrous Papists dream of) it is by the Holy Spirit, by the indwelling of the quickening Spirit, whereby we have a real participation ⟨p. 223⟩of Christ: He is in us by his Spirit, (as a Vital Principle, changing our Hearts, and working in us his own Holy Image, infusing Gracious Dispositions and Sacred Habits in the Soul) and we are in him by Faith, in a gracious, hidden, and mystical manner; and this Union cannot be dissolved.
It is the Spirit that quickneth, the Flesh profiteth nothing; (it is not such eating as the Idolatrous Papists dream of) it is by the Holy Spirit, by the indwelling of the quickning Spirit, whereby we have a real participation ⟨p. 223⟩of Christ: He is in us by his Spirit, (as a Vital Principle, changing our Hearts, and working in us his own Holy Image, infusing Gracious Dispositions and Sacred Habits in the Soul) and we are in him by Faith, in a gracious, hidden, and mystical manner; and this Union cannot be dissolved.
Secondly, This Union must needs be most intimate, near and strong, if we consider by what Metaphors it is set forth in God's Word.
1. It is a Marriage-Union; like as a Man and his Wife are said to be one Flesh, so he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit. No Man ever hated his own Flesh, but nourished and cherished it as the Lord the Church. He that loveth his Wife, loveth himself; a Man and his Wife is but one Mystical Self: and what is in Nature as to the Perfection of it, is much more eminently in Christ. Now since God hath fitted to our Nature a Care of our Body, this Care be sure is much more in Christ, when the Apostle shows what the Love of the Husband should be unto the Wife; and that a Man leaves both Father and Mother, and cleaveth to his Wife; and they two shall be one Flesh: Saith he, This is a great Mystery; but I speak 1concerning Christ and his Church; or of Christ and every believing Soul. The Union between Husband and Wife is near; ay but Death dissolves this Union, because they can be united, or be one no longer than both live: But Christ lives for ever, and the Soul of a Believer lives for ever: Nay, Believers have Eternal Life in them, and they shall never die; therefore it follows this Union abides for ever: He hath betrothed his Saints, his Spouse unto himself for ever. And can any then dissolve this Marriage-Contract and Conjugal Union? Is Christ able to preserve his Souse, or the Soul that is united unto him? Is it in the Power of his Hands? Pray, Brethren, consider it well. Will any of you that have a Spouse, a Wife that you dearly love, suffer her to be torn into pieces, and basely murdered before your Eyes, if you could prevent it? And do any think that Christ, who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth, Power over Sin, the World, the Devil, yea, over Hell and Death; will he, I say, ever suffer his Spouse to be destroyed and murdered by Sin, World, or Devil? Strange! did he die for her, and has he married her, and made her one Spirit with himself; and will he leave her to conflict, to fight and war with an Enemy that he knows is too strong and mighty for her, and not come in, rush in to her assistance, to save and rescue her from such bloody, cruel, and barbarous ⟨p. 224⟩Enemies? No doubt but he will rise up with Indignation and Jealousy, to save every Soul that is so related and united to him.
1. It is a Marriage-Union; like as a Man and his Wife are said to be one Flesh, so he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit. No Man ever hated his own Flesh, but nourished and cherished it as the Lord the Church. He that loveth his Wife, loveth himself; a Man and his Wife is but one Mystical Self: and what is in Nature as to the Perfection of it, is much more eminently in Christ. Now since God hath fitted to our Nature a Care of our Body, this Care be sure is much more in Christ, when the Apostle shews what the Love of the Husband should be unto the Wife; and that a Man leaves both Father and Mother, and cleaveth to his Wife; and they two shall be one Flesh: Saith he, This is a great Mystery; but I speak
Thirdly, This Spiritual Union between Christ and every believing Soul, is set forth by that near and intimate Union which there is between the Natural Body and every Member thereof: The Head and Members make but one Body; even so Christ is the Head of his Saints, and they being many, are all Members of that one Body. Christ and all Believers make but one Mystical Christ: Even as the Body is one, and hath many Members, and all the Members of that 1one Body, being many, are one Body; so is Christ, that is, Christ Mystical. Now this Relation of Head and Members, I say, holds forth this Spiritual Union between Christ and every Believer: We are Members of his Body, of his Flesh, and of his Bone. And it is 2from their Head, Jesus Christ, that every Member receives Divine and Saving Influences of Life, Strength, Government and Guidance, as the Apostle shows; From whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted, by that which every Joint supplieth, according to the effectual 3working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body, unto the edifying of it self in Love. Our Union with Christ brings us into a fixed Settlement, and secures us from all Fears or danger of miscarrying, let all Enemies do what they can. Can the Members be lost that have such a Head? Our Union with Christ cannot consist in the communication of any thing unto us as Members from him the Head: But it must be in that which constitutes him and us in this Relation, (saith a Reverend Minister) he is our Head antecedently in order of Nature, to any communication of Grace from him as a Head, yet not antecedent to our Union it self. Herein then consists the Union of Head and Members; that tho they are many, and have many Offices, Places, and Dependencies, yet there is but one living, quickening Soul in Head and Members: The same Life that is in the Head, is in the Body and in every Member thereof in particular; and he that offers Violence to one Member, offers Violence to the Body and the Head also: And as one living Soul makes the natural Head and Members to be but one Man, one Body; so one quickening Spirit dwelling in Christ, and in his Members, gives them their Mystical Union, and makes them but one Body: As the first Man Adam was made a living Soul, so the last 4Man Adam was made a quickening Spirit.
It is he that quickens by his Spirit, or conveys a vital Principle to all his, by which they ⟨p. 225⟩live spiritually, as from Adam all his live naturally: Because I live, ye shall live also. So long as there is Life in Christ the Head, there shall be Life in the Members; because that Life that is communicated to the Head without measure as Mediator, was to this very End, that it might be communicated to every believing Soul that is united to him.
Now then if it be thus, if this be the Nature of the Soul's Union with Jesus Christ, that it is set out and opened to us by the Union that there is between the Body natural and its Members; then I infer,
1. That by the Life that is in the Head, the Members live; and because of that Life that is in him, they cannot die: it was by that Spirit that is in him that we were first quickened; and Life is in us, and shall be continued to us.
1. That by the Life that is in the Head, the Members live; and because of that Life that is in him, they cannot die: it was by that Spirit that is in him that we were first quickned; and Life is in us, and shall be continued to us.
2. I also infer, That if Christ be able, or can do it, he will prevent his losing of any one of his Members: And for any one to say it is not in his Power, is Blasphemy; and to say he can, and will not, is a like Evil to assert, because it renders Christ less tender and careful of his Spiritual Members, than we are of the Members of our Natural Body. Which of us would suffer his Hand or Foot to be torn from us, nay, a Toe or Finger, if we could prevent it?
3. Furthermore I infer, That all the Members of Christ's Mystical Body, as they were all given to him, so they are all known by him; they are so many Members numerically, and no more, as it is in the Body natural. In God's Book are all his Members written, as David speaks of the Members of his Body; which some 1conclude refers to Christ chiefly, and to the Members of his Mystical Body.
Thirdly, This Spiritual Union between Christ and every believing Soul, is set forth by that near and intimate Union which there is between the Natural Body and every Member thereof: The Head and Members make but one Body; even so Christ is the Head of his Saints, and they being many, are all Members of that one Body. Christ and all Believers make but one Mystical Christ: Even as the Body is one, and hath many Members, and all the Members of that 1one Body, being many, are one Body; so is Christ, that is, Christ Mystical. Now this Relation of Head and Members, I say, holds forth this Spiritual Union between Christ and every Believer: We are Members of his Body, of his Flesh, and of his Bone. And it is 2from their Head, Jesus Christ, that every Member receives Divine and Saving Influences of Life, Strength, Government and Guidance, as the Apostle shews; From whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted, by that which every Joint supplieth, according to the effectual 3working in the measure of every part, maketh encrease of the Body, unto the edifying of it self in Love. Our Union with Christ brings us into a fixed Settlement, and secures us from all Fears or danger of miscarrying, let all Enemies do what they can. Can the Members be lost that have such a Head? Our Union with Christ cannot consist in the communication of any thing unto us as Members from him the Head: But it must be in that which constitutes him and us in this Relation, (saith a Reverend Minister) he is our Head antecedently in order of Nature, to any communication of Grace from him as a Head, yet not antecedent to our Union it self. Herein then consists the Union of Head and Members; that tho they are many, and have many Offices, Places, and Dependencies, yet there is but one living, quickning Soul in Head and Members: The same Life that is in the Head, is in the Body and in every Member thereof in particular; and he that offers Violence to one Member, offers Violence to the Body and the Head also: And as one living Soul makes the natural Head and Members to be but one Man, one Body; so one quickning Spirit dwelling in Christ, and in his Members, gives them their Mystical Union, and makes them but one Body: As the first Man Adam was made a living Soul, so the last 4Man Adam was made a quickning Spirit.
