Christus in corde, or, The mystical union between Christ and believers considered in its…

First, there is somewhat in which the head agrees with the members, the head hath the same nature with them; Christ hath the same nature with Believers; he, though the eternal word, took an humane nature that he might be an head to them; the Children being partakers of flesh and blood, he also took part of the same, Heb. 2.14. that they, in themselves poor fallen creatures, who could not immediately approach unto his Deity, might through the veil of his flesh come and be joined to him as their head; that from the fountain of his Deity, all Graces might flow through his humanity, as through a channel unto them: Here is admirable encouragement for their Faith; the glorious Son of God ⟨p. 93⟩came down into their flesh, that they might join themselves to him, and receive Divine influences from him. Again, there is somewhat in which the head exceeds them; the Schoolmen place this excess in three things, in ordine, in perfection, in virtute, ¹in order, in perfection, in virtue. The head is in order the first and highest part; Christ even in his humane nature is first in dignity, and higher than all men; he is in nearer conjunction with the Deity than all creatures are; creatures of life are nearer to the Deity than those of mere being; creatures of sense are nearer to it than those of life; intellectual creatures are nearer to it than those of sense only; but the humane nature of Christ is nearer to it than all the rest, as being hypostatically united to it; we are predestinated to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren, Rom. 8.29. Christ is the first-born, first in dignity and prerogative; his image is the prototype and grand sampler according to which all Believers are formed and fashioned in holiness; the graces of all Saints, as well those before his incarnation, as those after it, carry a respect to him as the first and chiefest of all.

First, there is somewhat in which the head agrees with the members, the head hath the same nature with them; Christ hath the same nature with Believers; he, though the eternal word, took an humane nature that he might be an head to them; the Children being partakers of flesh and blood, he also took part of the same,