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

The other is an humble dependence upon the influences of Christ the Head; as in Christ personal, the humane nature depends upon the divine; so in Christ mystical, the members depend upon the head; as Christs humane nature acted in union with the divine, so Christians do all in union with Christ; there is a Spirit flowing from Christ, which touches and moves all his members. Hence they are said to live in the spirit, pray in the spirit, walk in the spirit, do all in the spirit which descends upon them from the Head. Hence St. Paul saith, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, Gal. 2.20. He lived an holy life, but it was in dependence upon Christ; he did the Will of God, but he was acted by the Spirit of Christ in the doing of it: there is a vast difference between a mere Moralist and a right Christian; the Moralist cries up the Fountain of Virtue in his own reason and will; the Christian cries up the Fountain of Grace in Christ; there are the full treasures of Grace; there are the rich anointings of the Spirit. The Moralist expects ⟨p. 299⟩all,¹ [Greek or Hebrew], from himself; and in all doth sibi fidere, trust to himself. The Christian hangs upon Christ, and adheres to him, that he may have continual supplies of grace from him; the Moralist is a self-subsister, he stands upon his own bottom, works out of his own stock, and is All to himself; the Christian subsists in Christ, he is a branch in him; in the root he flourishes, off from it he withers; he is a member of him, in union with the head he acts and moves in holy Works, in separation from him he can do nothing; he waits and looks up to him, that he by the influences of his Spirit, may enlighten him when dark, quicken him when dead, draw him when back ward, strengthen him when weak, hold him when falling, enlarge him when in straits, and actuate him to do Gods Will in the midst of infirmities; in all the good works that he doth, he acts in dependence upon the influences of grace. Here again we may try our selves whether we be in Christ or not; how is it with us? what is the posture of our inward man? do we live in dependence upon Christ our Head? do we sanctify the Fountain of grace in our hearts? do we look up to him to move and act us by his Spirit? if so, it is sure that we are members of him, and live like such in dependence upon him.