Meditations and Discourses on the Glory of Christ

AND that new Heavenly Nature which is thus formed in Believers, as the first vital Act of that Union which is between Christ and them by the Inhabitation of the same Spirit, is peculiarly his Nature. For both is it so as it is in him the Idea and the Exemplar of it in us, inasmuch as we are predestinated to be conformed unto his Image; and as it is wrought or produced in our Souls by an Emanation of Power, Virtue, and Efficiency from him.

AND that new Heavenly Nature which is thus formed in Believers, as the first vital Act of that Union which is between Christ and them by the Inhabitation of the same Spirit, is peculiarly his Nature. For both is it so as it is in him the Idaea and the Exemplar of it in us, inasmuch as we are predestinated to be conformed unto his Image; and as it is wrought or produced in our Souls by an Emanation of Power, Vertue, and Efficiency from him.

THIS is a most heavenly Way of the Communication of himself unto us, wherein of God he is made unto us Wisdom and Sanctification. Hereon he says of his Church, This now is Bone of my Bone, and Flesh of my Flesh; I see my self, my own Nature in them, whence they are comely and desirable. Hereby he makes way to present it to himself a glorious Church, not having Spot or Wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without Blemish. On this Communication of Christ unto us by the forming of his own Nature in us, depends all the Purity, the Beauty, the Holiness, the inward Clory of the Church. Hereby is it really, substantially internally separated from the World, and distinguished from all others, who in the outward forms of things, in the Profession and Duties of Religion seem to be the same with them. Hereby it becomes the First Fruits of the Creation unto God, bearing forth the Renovation of his Image in the World: Herein the Lord Christ is, and will be glorious unto all Eternity. I only mention these things, which deserve to be far more largely insisted on.