A47542:995
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.
Thirdly, The Union of the Soul with Christ, as to the excellent, firm, and abiding Nature thereof, is further demonstrated and strengthened, by the consideration of the Union of Christ to the Father, and them, as it is expressed by our blessed Lord; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfect in One, [Greek or Hebrew], into one: First, the Father in Christ, the Fullness of the Godhead being in him bodily; then, Christ in Believers: so that from that fullness of Grace, Strength, &c. that the Father communicated to the Son as Mediator, by virtue of his Union with him, (and which is ⟨p. 228⟩communicable to us) all his Members do receive from Christ by virtue of their Union with him. Our Lord prayed, in Verse 20, That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, &c. Now though it be hard to understand the Nature of this Union in some Respects, yet this is easy to comprehend, viz. that the Union between the Father and Christ is an inseparable Union, it is an abiding Union, or it is a Union that cannot be dissolved. Why then let us consider, since Christ prayed the Father, and was heard herein, that all that the Father had given him, might be one, as He and the Father was one: What can be a greater Argument to prove, that that Union which is between Christ and Believers is an inseparable, an abiding, and an undissolvable Union? The Union here doth not respect that Essential Union that is between the Father and the Son, but in respect of Christ, as he is our Head and Mediator; in which respect the Father poured into him of his abundant Fullness, that so we having a firm, perfect, and settled Union with him, might in a glorious manner receive from him, and be supplied with all things we need. And Christ being the Medium of our Union with God, both the Father's Union with Christ, and Christ's Union with us, are for the final Perfection, and completing that Glorious Work he hath begun in the Souls of his People, until we all come to be with him where he is, and behold his Glory. If therefore we consider the Nature of this Union, and the Prayer of Christ, that it might be perfected and abide undissolvable, it must follow that it is impossible for any Soul that is thus united to the Lord Jesus, ever so to fall away as eternally to perish.
Thirdly, The Union of the Soul with Christ, as to the excellent, firm, and abiding Nature thereof, is further demonstrated and strengthened, by the consideration of the Union of Christ to the Father, and them, as it is expressed by our blessed Lord; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfect in One, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, into one: First, the Father in Christ, the Fulness of the Godhead being in him bodily; then, Christ in Believers: so that from that fulness of Grace, Strength, &c. that the Father communicated to the Son as Mediator, by virtue of his Union with him, (and which is ⟨p. 228⟩communicable to us) all his Members do receive from Christ by virtue of their Union with him. Our Lord prayed, in Verse 20, That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, &c. Now though it be hard to understand the Nature of this Union in some Respects, yet this is easy to comprehend, viz. that the Union between the Father and Christ is an inseparable Union, it is an abiding Union, or it is a Union that cannot be dissolved. Why then let us consider, since Christ prayed the Father, and was heard herein, that all that the Father had given him, might be one, as He and the Father was one: What can be a greater Argument to prove, that that Union which is between Christ and Believers is an inseparable, an abiding, and an undissolvable Union? The Union here doth not respect that Essential Union that is between the Father and the Son, but in respect of Christ, as he is our Head and Mediator; in which respect the Father poured into him of his abundant Fulness, that so we having a firm, perfect, and setled Union with him, might in a glorious manner receive from him, and be supplied with all things we need. And Christ being the Medium of our Union with God, both the Father's Union with Christ, and Christ's Union with us, are for the final Perfection, and compleating that Glorious Work he hath begun in the Souls of his People, until we all come to be with him where he is, and behold his Glory. If therefore we consider the Nature of this Union, and the Prayer of Christ, that it might be perfected and abide undissolvable, it must follow that it is impossible for any Soul that is thus united to the Lord Jesus, ever so to fall away as eternally to perish.
Fourthly, By this Spiritual Union with Christ, we partake of his Blessed Image or Divine Nature: So that the Head and Members are of one kind, and not like Nebuchadnezzar's Image, a Head of Gold, and a Belly and Thighs of Brass, and Legs of Iron, and Feet and Toes, part of Iron and part of Clay: This would be to make the Mystical Body of Christ a Monster, an Immortal Head, an Incorruptible Head, and a Mortal Body and Members, that may corrupt, putrefy and become loathsome. No, this cannot be; such as is the Head (as to Nature and Quality) such is the Body, and every Member in particular, a living Head and living Members; a Head of pure Gold, and Members of pure Gold; also a Head that cannot die, and therefore the Members cannot die. For,
Fourthly, By this Spiritual Union with Christ, we partake of his Blessed Image or Divine Nature: So that the Head and Members are of one kind, and not like Nebuchadnezzar's Image, a Head of Gold, and a Belly and Thighs of Brass, and Legs of Iron, and Feet and Toes, part of Iron and part of Clay: This would be to make the Mystical Body of Christ a Monster, an Immortal Head, an Incorruptible Head, and a Mortal Body and Members, that may corrupt, putrify and become loathsom. No, this cannot be; such as is the Head (as to Nature and Quality) such is the Body, and every Member in particular, a living Head and living Members; a Head of pure Gold, and Members of pure Gold; also a Head that cannot die, and therefore the Members cannot die. For,
Fifthly, It is a Vital Union, as you have heard, that is to say, the same Life that is in Christ, is in all Believers: And as it is in the natural Body, the Members have not only Life in the Head, but Life in themselves also; and so long as there is Life in the Head, there shall be Life in the Members, so it is here: And this must therefore be for ever; for by the same parity of Reason that one Member may die or corrupt, the whole Body may die and corrupt also. But Christ is our Life, and the Spirit, which is the Bond of this Union, communicates Life to every Soul in whom he resides and dwells; and the Holy Spirit hath taken up his abode in Believers for ever: He that hath the Spirit, hath the Son; and he that hath the Son, hath Life.—I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in 1me. From hence I argue;
Fifthly, It is a Vital Vnion, as you have heard, that is to say, the same Life that is in Christ, is in all Believers: And as it is in the natural Body, the Members have not only Life in the Head, but Life in themselves also; and so long as there is Life in the Head, there shall be Life in the Members, so it is here: And this must therefore be for ever; for by the same parity of Reason that one Member may die or corrupt, the whole Body may die and corrupt also. But Christ is our Life, and the Spirit, which is the Bond of this Union, communicates Life to every Soul in whom he resides and dwells; and the Holy Spirit hath taken up his abode in Believers for ever: He that hath the Spirit, hath the Son; and he that hath the Son, hath Life.—I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in 1me. From hence I argue;
Arg. 1. If he that believeth in Christ, or that hath Union with Christ, is a Part or Limb of Christ Mystical; then not one Soul that believes in Christ, and has real Union with him, can eternally perish. Shall a Member of Christ perish or be torn from his Body! Brethren, was it Christ's Natural Body only that was concerned in that Prophecy, A Bone of him shall not be broken? Or did Christ 1take more care of the Members of his Natural Body, than of the Members of his Mystical Body?
Arg. 2. If Christ's Love to, and Care of the Members of his Mystical Body, be greater than any Man's Love to, or Care of the Members of his Natural Body can be; then not one of Christ's Sheep or Saints can eternally perish: But his Love to, and Care of the Members of his Mystical Body is far greater than theirs can be; therefore it follows, no Believer can ever perish.
Arg. 3. If the Union between Christ and Believers be a Marriage-Union, and that those that Christ does espouse, and bring into that Relation to himself, he doth espouse for ever; if it is a Union like that Union that is between God the Father, and Christ as Mediator; if it be an indissoluble Union, a Union which God nor Christ will ever break, nor Sin, Satan, nor no Enemy can ever break; then not one Soul that is truly and really united to Christ, can ever so fall away as eternally to perish. But all this we have proved to be true, therefore not one Soul that hath true and real Union with Christ, can fall away so as eternally to perish.
Arg. 3. If the Union between Christ and Believers be a Marriage-Union, and that those that Christ does espouse, and bring into that Relation to himself, he doth espouse for ever; if it is a Union like that Union that is between God the Father, and Christ as Mediator; if it be an indissolvable Union, a Union which God nor Christ will ever break, nor Sin, Satan, nor no Enemy can ever break; then not one Soul that is truly and really united to Christ, can ever so fall away as eternally to perish. But all this we have proved to be true, therefore not one Soul that hath true and real Union with Christ, can fall away so as eternally to perish.
Arg. 4. If the Love of God, and the Love of Christ abides firm for ever to every Soul that hath Union with Christ, which is the Spring, efficient and moving Cause of this Union; then not one of them who have Union with Christ can perish. But we have proved that the Love of the Father and Son abides firm for ever to every Soul that has Union with Christ; therefore not one of them can perish for ever.
Arg. 5. If Christ died, rose again, and ascended into Heaven, as the Head and Representative of all those that were given unto him, and have Union with him, then, as sure as he is now in Heaven, they shall every Soul of them come thither: But this hereafter I shall fully prove, and clearly (God assisting) make appear when I come to speak to the next General Argument.
Arg. 6. If the Union between Christ and Believers is so strong and firm a Union intensively, that Christ and they become one Spirit so, that as if there was but one Spirit in Christ and in them; or what the Spirit is to Christ, and doth to Christ as Mediator without measure, he is to every Believer, and does for every Believer in measure, according to each Believer's Necessity and Capacity; then this Union secures every Believer from falling so, as to perish for ever. But this we have proved is so; the Spirit must either desert Christ (as you heard) or them, if ever the Union be broken; not Christ, that all will say is impossible; not Believers, because of the blessed Union they have with him; and also, because Christ hath promised that the Spirit shall abide in them for ever. Nay, this is also the absolute Promise of the Father to the Son in the Covenant of Grace: And as for me, this 1is my Covenant with them, saith Jehovah, My Spirit that is upon thee, and my Words which I have put in thy Mouth, shall not depart out of thy Mouth, nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed, nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed's Seed, from henceforth and for ever.
Arg. 7. By virtue of this Sacred Union, because Christ lives, the Saints (or those that have Union with him) shall live also, (which Blessing besides he has by a positive Promise assured them of;) then no Soul that hath real Union with him can perish: But this our Blessed Saviour doth assert; Because I live, ye shall live also; 1that is, the Life of Grace here, and the Life of Glory hereafter.
Arg. 7. By virtue of this Sacred Union, because Christ lives, the Saints (or those that have Union with him) shall live also, (which Blessing besides he has by a positive Promise assur'd them of;) then no Soul that hath real Union with him can perish: But this our Blessed Saviour doth assert; Because I live, ye shall live also; 1that is, the Life of Grace here, and the Life of Glory hereafter.
Arg. 8. If there is no Condemnation to such who are in Jesus Christ, or have Union with him: if they have Everlasting Life, 1because they have Union with the Son, and are passed from Death 2to Life, and shall not come into Condemnation; then this Sacred Union secures and saves all that are united to Christ from falling 3away so as eternally to perish. But that all this is true, we have proved, and it is in plain words asserted by the Holy Ghost: therefore this Sacred Union secures and saves them all from eternal perishing.
Arg. 9. If Christ in us is a certain and sure Ground of the Hope of Glory, and that Hope is the Anchor of the Soul both sure 1and steadfast, that cannot be lost; then Union with Christ gives all such an assurance of Salvation; and that none of them that have Union with Christ, or have Christ in them, can eternally perish. But that this is so, the Holy Ghost doth positively assert; therefore none of them can so perish.
Arg. 9. If Christ in us is a certain and sure Ground of the Hope of Glory, and that Hope is the Anchor of the Soul both sure 1and stedfast, that cannot be lost; then Union with Christ gives all such an assurance of Salvation; and that none of them that have Union with Christ, or have Christ in them, can eternally perish. But that this is so, the Holy Ghost doth positively assert; therefore none of them can so perish.
Arg. 10. Lastly, If Faith in the Habit of it, through which by the Spirit we come to have this Actual Union with Christ, can never be lost, or shall not fail, then none that have Union with Christ shall ever perish. But that Faith in the Habit of it cannot be lost, or shall not fail, our Saviour affirms it, being one part of his Prayer when on Earth, and no doubt it is part of his Intercession now in Heaven; I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not: 1And he never asked any thing of the Father but it was granted him; And I know thou hearest me always: Therefore they can never 2perish.
I might add here that Communion which flows necessarily from this Union, which affords a strong Argument for the Saints final Perseverance: Union cannot be without Communion, for whilst the Members are united to a living Head, there will be (as one 1observes) an Influx of Animal Spirits whereby they shall partake of Life and Motion: and though a Believer, I grant, may lose the sensible Experience of Communion with Christ, yet the Spirit from their Mystical Head, will be working in them, providing for them, and standing by them.
To conclude with this Argument, I argue,
(1.) If our Union be by the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. (2.) If our Union with Christ be a Conjugal Union, a Marriage-Union. (3.) If it be as near a Union as is between the Body, the ⟨p. 232⟩Members of the Natural Body. (4.) If it be such a Union as is between the Tree and the Branches. (5.) If it be such a Union as is between the Father and Son, as Christ is Mediator. (6.) If it be a Union of Spirits, as if but one Soul was in two Bodies. (7.) If it be such a Union, that Believers partake of the Divine Nature. (8.) If it be a Vital Union. (9.) If it be such a Union that cannot be dissolved by all the Powers of Darkness, the Seed of Grace remaining: Then it is impossible for any Believer that hath Union with Christ to perish Eternally. But all these things are true; therefore no true Believer can Eternally perish.
