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

The conjugal union in the earthly pattern not being enough, the Holy Ghost goes on to set forth the mystical union by that which is between the foundation and the building. Christ in Scripture is called a foundation upon a double account; he is the foundation of Doctrine, Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. 3.11. Here the Apostle speaks of a foundation of Doctrine; the consequent words make this appear: the gold, silver and precious stones are pure and solid Doctrines; the wood, hay and stubble are vain and frivolous ones; both are called mans work which the fire shall try. He is also the foundation of Believers; They are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, Ephes. 2.20. It's true, the Apostles and Prophets are here called a foundation; but they are only a doctrinal foundation, Christ is the personal one; they are a foundation metonymically only, Christ is so properly: upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets is no ⟨p. 68⟩other than upon Christ, whom they in their Preaching laid as the foundation of the Church. The Foundation and the Cornerstone are both one and the same Christ; as a Foundation he bears up and sustains the Church; as a Corner-stone he joins and holds together the two walls of it made up of Jews and Gentiles.

In this resemblance three or four things may be considered.

The Foundation and the Building are both framed by Art. First, the pattern is in the mind of the Builder, and then the thing is set up. In the Spiritual Foundation and Building the Art was not humane but Divine; the Idea of them was not in mans mind but in Gods; man, falling off from his bottom of primitive integrity, could not have a foundation in himself, God in infinite wisdom contrived that he might have one in another; the way was admirable, the eternal Word was made flesh; two natures met in one person; an humane, in which he obeyed and suffered for us; and a Divine, which put an infinite value upon his obedience and sufferings; in these, full satisfaction was made for sin, a purchase of grace and glory was obtained for sinners, an incomparable pattern of sanctity and obedience is set before us, and an Holy