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

though their corrupt flesh (such is its inordinate propensity to outward and sensible things) would close with every thing, and turn the whole world into Snares and Idols, yet are they not drawn away; their Faith is a victory over the World, 1 John 5.4; not merely in it self as it is a Divine Grace, but as it unites them to Christ, who overcame the world; not as a private person, but as a public one on their behalf, that it might be but as a prostrate pinioned enemy to them, that they through his Spirit communicated to them, might also overcome it; he did not gather them up out of the corrupt world to himself, that they might return thither again; their union with him is so near and strong, ⟨p. 133⟩that the world cannot take them back to it self again; its flatteries cannot allure; its fears cannot fright them away from him; Satan overthrew Adam, but he cannot do so with Believers; in assaulting him, he had only to do with a man; but in assaulting them, he sets upon those who are mystical parts and members of Christ; he hath to do with Christ himself, who is God as well as man; his hand is too strong for Satan to pluck them away from him; his Love is too great to lose his own members whom he hath purchased at no less price than his own blood. It's true, they do sometimes fall under the temptation, but then they do not fall as Adam did; they do not as he, lose the very state of Grace, or all the power of a recovery; no, the habits or vital principles of Grace are not extinct; the Spirit and Grace of Christ will raise them up again: Satan's conquest is not a total or final one; at last he shall be bruised under their feet. Christ, who in his own person conquered the Tempter, conquers him in his members also. Thus Believers are supported, because they are in union with Christ.

though their corrupt flesh (such is its inordinate propensity to outward and sensible things) would close with every thing, and turn the whole world into Snares and Idols, yet are they not drawn away; their Faith is a victory over the World, 1 John 5.4; not meerly in it self as it is a Divine Grace, but as it unites them to Christ, who overcame the world; not as a private person, but as a publick one on their behalf, that it might be but as a prostrate pinioned enemy to them, that they through his Spirit communicated to them, might also overcome it; he did not gather them up out of the corrupt world to himself, that they might return thither again; their union with him is so near and strong,