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

The supply of the Spirit from Christ unto Believers,¹ doth ever continue in some ⟨p. 157⟩measure; it's true, it doth not ever continue as to the accessories of Grace; but it ever continues as to the vitals and essentials of it; it doth not keep them from all acts of sin, but under their greatest falls it ever upholds a state of grace and spiritual life in them: They may fall, and that grievously; yet still there is a lamp, the habits and principles of Grace are not extinct in them; He that is born of God cannot sin, 1 Joh. 3.9. That is, he cannot sin so as to unframe the new creature; he cannot sin so, as to lose the remaining seed in him; the Reason is, because the Spirit continues to bear him up in a state of Grace. This continuance of the Spirit is upon a double account, the one is the durable foundation of it; the communication of the Spirit is founded upon the satisfactory and meritorious sufferings of Christ; there is an endless life of merit in him; his blood is of an eternal efficacy: Hence the supplies of the Spirit procured thereby, never fail. Very remarkable is the difference between the case of Adam and the case of Believers; in him one act of sin drove out a stock of pure holiness; in them many sins do not drive out their imperfect graces; the Reason is, their graces respect a great foundation, an infinite treasure of merit, which moves the ⟨p. 156⟩[…] ⟨p. 157⟩[…] ⟨p. 158⟩Spirit to bear them up in being; but his holiness doth not do so. For them, as under the second Covenant there is a ransom, a satisfaction of immense value to interpose, that the forfeiture of their habitual graces made by sin may not be taken; but for, him as under the first Covenant there was nothing to interpose, nothing to bear off justice from taking the forfeiture. The other thing is the office of Christ; a Vine is to communicate juice to the Branches; an Head is to communicate vital influences to the Members; the rich anointing of the Spirit was upon Christ not as a mere private person, but as a Trustee and a Treasurer for Believers, that out of his fullness they might have grace for grace. It lies upon his truth and faithfulness to perform his trust and office; if he did not communicate the Spirit to his Branches and Members, he should cease to act like a Root and Head; but, because he never does what unbecomes him, the communication must continue as long as he is a Root or Head.