A55302:56
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.
Such are the Subjects. And what is the nearness between the King and them? On the one hand he, though the Son of God, came down from Heaven, and became partaker of flesh and blood with them; on the the other, they, though naturally but the sons of fallen Adam, became through grace, the seed of Christ himself: his blood runs in their consciences; his Divine Spirit breathes in them; his holy image appears in their hearts and lives; the Subjects are all Sons, and resemble their Governor: Here is not a single relation, but one relation upon another: this is the nearness. The result is this, he being so incomparable a King, they being such excellent Subjects, the nearness between them being so great, the union must needs be a ⟨p. 36⟩very choice one. Who would now live under the power of sin, and not much rather join himself to the blessed kingdom? A better Ruler or Society then, there cannot be found.
2dly. The more right the Laws and Administrations of a Kingdom are, the better is the Union. There are two sorts of Laws, there are Laws of constitution according to which a King is made; if he be in by election or succession, he stands upon some positive Law, or consent which amounts to a Law; if he be in by conquest in a just War, he stands upon the Law of Nature, which saith, that the captive must be subject to the victor. There are also Laws of Administration according to which a King is to Govern his Subjects; without the first Laws, there can be no King rightly constituted to have Subjects united to him; a people may be under a Tyrant, but it is not united to him. Without the second Laws there will be no rule of government, no right administration of things in a Kingdom. According to this distinction, I shall lay down two things touching the Mediatory Kingdom of Christ: The one is this, The Law of constitution must needs be very righteous, as being no less than the Decree and Ordinance of God himself; he ⟨p. 37⟩was made a King immediately by God; his Kingdom was not (as ordinary ones in part are) an human creature; but a pure Theocracy, altogether of Divine Ordination. I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion, saith God of Christ,