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

THE Union between a King and his Subjects being in the earthly pattern political only; the Holy Ghost goes on in ⟨p. 46⟩Scripture to set forth the mystical union by that which is between Man and Wife. Marriage is the conjunction of man and woman in a conjugal society; it is the first primordial society, called Elementum mundi, the Element of the world; out of it spring Families, out of these are made Cities and Kingdoms; in these a Church is raised up unto God. The conjugal union is that which peoples the World, and Saints the Church: in no earthly society is there a conjunction so great as this is. Eve, the first Wife, was taken out of Adam; he was created one, then two were made out of one; and again those two were one in marriage. Man and Wife (saith St. Austin) are prima copula, ¹the first bond or tie of humane society. By this conjugal union, the Scripture shadows out the mystical one. The Book of Canticles is not (as some profane ones have fancied) a light Love-song, but an excellent Epithalamium, or Divine Ditty; which under the parable of a marriage, points out that incomparable union which is between Christ and the Church. St. Paul in the 5th Chapter to the Ephesians, exhorts Wives to be subject to their Husbands, as the Church is to Christ; and Husbands to love their Wives, as Christ loves the Church; and at last, he adds, ⟨p. 47⟩This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church, vers. 32. In the original it is, [Greek or Hebrew], In Christum & Ecclesiam, respiciens ad Christum & Ecclesiam, saith Piscator. Though the last thing the Apostle said before was touching the earthly marriage, viz. They two shall be one flesh, vers. 31. yet he looks back to Christ and the Church; the earthly marriage was but the shadow and image of the mystery; but Christ and the Church in the mystical union joined together, are the very centre and substance of it. In this resemblance, divers things may be noted.

THE Union between a King and his Subjects being in the earthly pattern political only; the Holy Ghost goes on in ⟨p. 46⟩Scripture to set forth the mystical union by that which is between Man and Wife. Marriage is the conjunction of man and woman in a conjugal society; it is the first primordial society, called Elementum mundi, the Element of the world; out of it spring Families, out of these are made Cities and Kingdoms; in these a Church is raised up unto God. The conjugal union is that which peoples the World, and Saints the Church: in no earthly society is there a conjunction so great as this is. Eve, the first Wife, was taken out of Adam; he was created one, then two were made out of one; and again those two were one in marriage. Man and Wife (saith St. Austin) are prima copula,