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

The Spirit is the principle or first mover that actuates these Graces: and this speaks union with Christ; the Spirit, which is upon him, falls down upon believers to actuate the Graces in them; Believers are all one body, and, as one body, they have one spirit in them from Christ the Head; ⟨p. 194⟩they are all one new man in Christ, Eph. 2.15. Though the Apostle there speak of Jews and Gentiles, yet he saith not, one people; but, which is more emphatical, one new man in Christ: they are one new man, because, as one man, they are acted by one spirit; they are one new man in Christ, because the Holy Spirit, which is upon him, is that one Spirit which acts them; the Sons of God, [Greek or Hebrew], are acted and moved by the Spirit, Rom. 8.14. That Spirit, which anointed the humane nature of Christ the natural Son, falls down upon the adopted ones, to act and move them: Actuation by one spirit proves, that they are in intimate union with him; that they are indeed mystical parts and members of him, who acts and moves them by his own Spirit. This may be illustrated by that in the first Chapter of Ezekiel, when the wheels went as the living creatures did, and were lifted up as they were; it was plain, that there were some invisible bands between them; the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels, vers. 21. In like manner, when believers show forth the virtues of Christ, and walk as he walked; it is very plain, that they are in near conjunction with him; the Spirit doth act them in ways of conformity to him, ⟨p. 195⟩who as an Head is joined unto them. That phrase, of walking in Christ, Col. 2.6. points out a walking not merely after his pattern and command, but in his power and spirit, as becomes those who have received him, and are united to him.

The Spirit is the principle or first mover that actuates these Graces: and this speaks union with Christ; the Spirit, which is upon him, falls down upon believers to actuate the Graces in them; Believers are all one body, and, as one body, they have one spirit in them from Christ the Head; ⟨p. 194⟩