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

Again, These Graces are tokens of the divine Presence, and so import the Inhabitation of God in us: these are tokens of the divine Presence. When nature exceeds it self, and rises above its own level, as the Sea did, when the waters were as a Wall to Israel on both hands, it is a sure sign that God is there. When poor lapsed men are lifted up above their natural self, and elevated into a divine Life (as it always is, when the holy Graces are wrought in them) it is a sure sign that God is there of a truth. Humane nature cannot of it self ascend into the sphere of Grace, only a supernatural power can do such a thing. These Graces are such tokens of Presence, that, where-ever they are, there God doth inhabit. ⟨p. 192⟩In the old Temple there were divers tokens of Presence; such as the Urim and Thummim; the Ark with the Tables in it; the Lamps, the fire from Heaven, and the Holy of Holies were. Hence it is said, that God did dwell in it; but in Believers there are better tokens of Presence than those; if we look to the intrinsical value of things, the breast-plate of Faith and Love is before the Urim and Thummim: the Law in the heart exceeds the Tables in the Ark; an illuminated mind is more excellent than outward Lamps; an holy ardour of affections, is more valuable than the fire from Heaven; a pure heart is above any outward Oracle; those tokens in the Temple were material things, a-kin in the matter of them to this lower world; the Sanctuary it self was but a worldly Sanctuary; but these Graces are spiritual things, their birth are as high as Heaven: Believers; in whom they are, are [Greek or Hebrew], a spiritual house for God to dwell in: those were typical tokens, made such by mere institution, without which they would be but as other parts of matter; but these are real tokens, in their own nature bearing the very image and resemblance of God himself; where these are, there God dwells in an eminent manner: the Shechinah, or ⟨p. 193⟩habitation of God in the Saints, is a middle thing, between the hypostatical dwelling of the Godhead in Christ, and the typical dwelling of it in the Temple; it is much higher than all types and shadows; and in excellency next unto God in the flesh.

Again, These Graces are tokens of the divine Presence, and so import the Inhabitation of God in us: these are tokens of the divine Presence. When nature exceeds it self, and rises above its own level, as the Sea did, when the waters were as a Wall to Israel on both hands, it is a sure sign that God is there. When poor lapsed men are lifted up above their natural self, and elevated into a divine Life (as it always is, when the holy Graces are wrought in them) it is a sure sign that God is there of a truth. Humane nature cannot of it self ascend into the sphere of Grace, only a supernatural power can do such a thing. These Graces are such tokens of Presence, that, where-ever they are, there God doth inhabit.