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

This union is such, that no distance of place or time can break or dissolve it.

No distance of place can do it. In merely Political or Moral unions, distance of place hinders not, but vital influence appertains not to them. In the natural Vine or Head there is a vital influence, but then there must be a local conjunction, the Vine doth not communicate juice to a distant branch, nor an Head to a distant member; but though Christ be in Heaven, and believers on earth, yet he influences life and strength into them. The reason is, because he doth it by a spirit which is infinite; a finite spirit cannot at once move and actuate distant subjects; yet an infinite one, which is every where, can do it. The same holy Spirit which is in Christ above, is communicated to us here below, to move and actuate us; the vital influence is not at all hindered by local distance. When our Lord discoursed of eating his flesh, and drinking his blood, Joh. 6. they murmured, and said, This is an hard saying, who can bear it? Our Saviour knowing this, returns them this answer, Doth this offend you? What if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth, ver. 61, 62, 63. There was no reason to be offended at his Doctrine, He would ascend ⟨p. 143⟩up to heaven; and then his flesh would be as distant from men as heaven is from earth, yet this hinders not eating of, or union with him. The Spirit would be in and with the eater to quicken and strengthen him. No local distance can interrupt this union or influence. I conclude this with the words of the Reverend Usher: ¹The union between Christ and believers is altogether spiritual and supernatural; no Physical or Mathematical continuity or contiguity is any ways requisite thereunto; it is sufficient for the making of this union, that Christ and we be knit together by those spiritual ligatures, the quickening spirit, and a lively faith.