A55302:52
Christus in corde, or, The mystical union between Christ and believers considered in its…
Christus in corde, or, The mystical union between Christ and believers considered in its resemblances, bonds, seals, privileges and marks by Edward Polhil ..., Esq.Christus in corde, or, The mystical union between Christ and believers considered in its resemblances, bonds, seals, priviledges and marks by Edward Polhil ..., Esq.
London: printed by A.M. and R.R. for Tho. Cockerill, 1680
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The next thing is, There is an excellency in the mystical union, above all, and every one of the other unions which resemble it. It is more excellent than any one of them singly taken. The Holy Ghost doth not shadow it out by one or two resemblances, but by many; and those resemblances do not all point it out in one or two respects, but in more and various ones: if one resemblance or respect might have reached it, there would have been no use or need of any more. It is also more excellent than all of them put together; they are but shadows and resemblances, the mystical union is the truth and substance of them all; in them mere creatures, and those upon earth are united together; in this Believers are united to him who is Godman. In some of them there is union without vital influence; in this there is union with it: in others of them there is an influence, but it is only of a natural life, ⟨p. 31⟩and that only while a local conjunction between the things united is maintained: But in this there is an influence of a spiritual and Divine life; and this, notwithstanding that the local distance between Christ and Believers be as vast, as it is between Heaven and Earth: In them there is nothing but plain Law, or Love, or Art, or Nature; but in this there is a secret, a mystery of grace, an admirable conjunction of Believers to Christ, and by him to the Father. I conclude with the excellent words of Zanchy, 1Hoc est mirabile hujusce unitatis mysterium, quae constat Deo Patre, Christo Mediatore, & Ecclesiâ vinculo Spiritûs Sancti cum Christo & cum Patre conjuncta: This is the admirable mystery of this Union, which is made up of God the Father, Christ the Mediator, and the Church, by the bond of the holy Spirit with Christ and with the Father conjoined.
The next thing is, There is an excellency in the mystical union, above all, and every one of the other unions which resemble it. It is more excellent than any one of them singly taken. The Holy Ghost doth not shadow it out by one or two resemblances, but by many; and those resemblances do not all point it out in one or two respects, but in more and various ones: if one resemblance or respect might have reach'd it, there would have been no use or need of any more. It is also more excellent than all of them put together; they are but shadows and resemblances, the mystical union is the truth and substance of them all; in them meer creatures, and those upon earth are united together; in this Believers are united to him who is Godman. In some of them there is union without vital influence; in this there is union with it: in others of them there is an influence, but it is only of a natural life,