A practical exposition on the 130th Psalm

Secondly, They have a Real Relation unto Christ as he is the living Quickening-Head of the Church; for he is so, even the living spiritual fountain of the spiritual life of it, and of all vital Acts whatever. Christ is our life, and our life is hid with him in God, Col. 3. 2, 3. That Eternal Life which consists in the ⟨p. 334⟩Knowledge of the Father and the Son, Joh. 17. 3. is in him as the cause, head, spring and fountain of it. In him it is in its fullness, and from thence it is derived unto all that believe, who receive from his fullness Grace for Grace, Joh. 1. 16. All ••ue saving sanctifying Grace, all spiritual life, and every thing that belongs thereunto is derived directly from Christ as the living Head of his Church, and fountain of all spiritual life unto them. This the Apostle expresseth, Ephes. 4. 15, 16. Speaking the truth in love, grow up into him in all things, which is the Head even Christ; from whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love. To the same purpose he again expresseth the same matter, Col. 2. 19. All Grace in the whole body comes from the Head Christ Jesus; and there is no growth or furtherance of it, but by his Effectual working in every part to bring it unto the measure designed unto it. Nothing then, no not the least of this Grace can be obtained but by virtue of our Union unto Christ as our head, because it consists in a vital effectual influence from him, and his fullness. And this kind of Relation unto Christ, all Grace that is, or may be in unregenerate men, is incapable of.

Secondly, They have a Real Relation unto Christ as he is the living Quickning-Head of the Church; for he is so, even the living spiritual fountain of the spiritual life of it, and of all vital Acts whatever. Christ is our life, and our life is hid with him in God,