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

2dly, The union between Christ and Believers is not merely a Moral one, such as consists in a reciprocal Love, in an harmony of Wills, and confederacy of Affections. Very true it is, that there is a very great Union of Love between Christ and Believers: All the Loves and Friendships in the world are but Pictures and little Images, being compared with the Love and Friendship which is between Christ and Believers; wonderful is his Love towards them; As early as eternity it self, his eyes and his heart were upon them; he assumed flesh to espouse them to himself; he shed his Blood to purchase them; he dyed on a Cross to redeem them; he draws his own Image upon them; he loves and delights in them as the purchase of his Blood, and the little pictures of himself; he is indeed wonderfully taken and ravished in them, as if they had unhearted him, or carried away his heart. In like manner Believers, though not in equal degrees, have a great Love to him; they put off corrupt self for him; their old earthly members are crucified with him; their souls thirst and faint in holy desires after him; so high a rate and value is set upon him, that all other things are but as dross and dung in comparison; such are the pleasures and complacencies which ⟨p. 123⟩they have in him, that they can joy in sufferings, and glory in reproaches for him, his Presence and Love sweetens every condition: thus there is an union of Love between Christ and Believers. But this is not all, some of the ancient Fathers seem to hint somewhat more.¹ St. Hilary and St. Cyril of Alexandria contend that our union with Christ is not merely per concordiam voluntatis, by a Concord of will. St. Chrysostom saith, That we are not only united to Christ, [Greek or Hebrew], in a way of Love,² but [Greek or Hebrew], in the thing it self. To make it appear that our union with Christ is not merely a moral one, I shall offer some Considerations.

2dly, The union between Christ and Believers is not meerly a Moral one, such as consists in a reciprocal Love, in an harmony of Wills, and confederacy of Affections. Very true it is, that there is a very great Union of Love between Christ and Believers: All the Loves and Friendships in the world are but Pictures and little Images, being compared with the Love and Friendship which is between Christ and Believers; wonderful is his Love towards them; As early as eternity it self, his eyes and his heart were upon them; he assumed flesh to espouse them to himself; he shed his Blood to purchase them; he dyed on a Cross to redeem them; he draws his own Image upon them; he loves and delights in them as the purchase of his Blood, and the little pictures of himself; he is indeed wonderfully taken and ravished in them, as if they had unhearted him, or carried away his heart. In like manner Believers, though not in equal degrees, have a great Love to him; they put off corrupt self for him; their old earthly members are crucified with him; their souls thirst and faint in holy desires after him; so high a rate and value is set upon him, that all other things are but as dross and dung in comparison; such are the pleasures and complacencies which