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

Also there is a conformity to his sufferings in bearing the Cross; they that are in him in their first Espousals, did receive him entirely, Cross and all; and so virtually and in purpose, did swallow down all the persecutions that were to go along with the Gospel. And if God call them out to it, they are ready to take up the Cross, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in their flesh; the satisfactory sufferings of Christ in his natural body were full and perfect, but the sufferings of Christ in his Mystical body are daily to be filled up, and all that are in him are content to bear their part in them. Christ hath sanctified the way of affliction by going himself in it to glory; and they are willing to follow him in thither. He drunk up the cup of wrath to the bottom, and they are content to take such drops of it as are allotted to them. In the midst of afflictions and bloody sufferings they carry themselves as parts of the holy Lamb, some of his meekness and patience ⟨p. 292⟩rests upon them to tell the world that they are his; they do not murmur at instruments, but submit to the will of their Father, who sits in Heaven and orders all; they do not wave the Cross, but accept it as a piece of conformity to their Head, who died on a Cross to sweeten it to his members. To them reproaches for Christ are as marks of honour. Sufferings for the Gospel as pledges of future glory. Some of the Martyrs have styled their Prisons a Paradise; their Chains an ornament. This is an high proof of union with Christ. They that suffer with him shall be sure to reign with him. If a man be not willing to suffer for him, he hath not any part in him; he doth not accept of him upon the terms of the Gospel. Such an one would have a Christ of his own fancy, not a crucified one; a Gospel and no Cross in it; and an Heaven and no sufferings in the way to it, which can never be. In suffering times the leaves of his profession will fall off, he will appear as a mere man of this world; one who loves the world above Christ, and fears temporal sufferings more than eternal. A true Christian he cannot be; omnis Christianus est crucianus, all that are in Christ learn the lesson of the Cross. This is the second Conformity.

Also there is a conformity to his sufferings in bearing the Cross; they that are in him in their first Espousals, did receive him intirely, Cross and all; and so virtually and in purpose, did swallow down all the persecutions that were to go along with the Gospel. And if God call them out to it, they are ready to take up the Cross, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in their flesh; the satisfactory sufferings of Christ in his natural body were full and perfect, but the sufferings of Christ in his Mystical body are daily to be filled up, and all that are in him are content to bear their part in them. Christ hath sanctified the way of affliction by going himself in it to glory; and they are willing to follow him in thither. He drunk up the cup of wrath to the bottom, and they are content to take such drops of it as are allotted to them. In the midst of afflictions and bloody sufferings they carry themselves as parts of the holy Lamb, some of his meekness and patience