An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…

and withal they are at so great a distance from us, that we may as easily imagine an immediate union to Christ, as to them; Those on earth are not all the body of Christ, and so not properly within the Authors discourse; however if we consider the business, those vincula unionis, the holy Spirit and Faith, which unite them all immediately to Christ, are resident in particular Believers; and therefore it is a wonder to me, that those particular Believers, in whom the Divine Bonds reside, should not be immediately united to Christ: It is apparent, that in case those Bonds in particular believers should be dissolved, the whole Catholic Church on earth would be dissolved also; and how then can particular persons be less than immediately united to Christ? Add hereunto, that none are in the Church Catholic but real Believers, and in the very instant of believing they are united to Christ; and therefore it is not at all supposable, that they should ⟨p. 174⟩first be united to the Church, and by that means to Christ: That place in the Corinthians quoted by the Author, Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular proves it not: The Church of Corinth was not the whole body of Christ, neither is there any syllable in it to prove, that first we are united to the Church, and then to Christ.

and withal they are at so great a distance from us, that we may as easily imagine an immediate union to Christ, as to them; Those on earth are not all the body of Christ, and so not properly within the Authors discourse; however if we consider the business, those vincula unionis, the holy Spirit and Faith, which unite them all immediately to Christ, are resident in particular Believers; and therefore it is a wonder to me, that those particular Believers, in whom the Divine Bonds reside, should not be immediately united to Christ: It is apparent, that in case those Bonds in particular believers should be dissolved, the whole Catholick Church on earth would be dissolved also; and how then can particular persons be less than immediately united to Christ? Add hereunto, that none are in the Church Catholick but reall Believers, and in the very instant of believing they are united to Christ; and therefore it is not at all supposeable, that they should ⟨p. 174⟩first be united to the Church, and by that means to Christ: That place in the Corinthians quoted by the Author, Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular proves it not: The Church of Corinth was not the whole body of Christ, neither is there any syllable in it to prove, that first we are united to the Church, and then to Christ.