Precious faith considered in its nature, working, and growth

Thirdly, Precious faith doth unite us unto Christ, and gives us a being in him: A believer from the first instant of faith is no longer in himself or the old Adam, but a man in Christ; hence the same royal robe of righteousness which Christ hath upon himself, covers him also, which renders faith exceeding precious. George Prince of Anhalt was upon this account much delighted with this similitude, As the ring is highly prized for the diamond in it, so faith justifies us for the pearl of price, the Son of God, whom it apprehends; the believer is found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, Phil. 3.9. Hence also the very same spirit of holiness which is upon Christ in heaven above measure, falls down upon the believer according to measure; a piece ⟨p. 135⟩of bread is a poor inanimate thing in it salt, but when by digestion it comes into the body and is transubstantiated into flesh, there is an humane spirit in it; a man before faith is an earthly carnal thing, but as soon as by faith he becomes a member of Christ, a piece as it were of his flesh and of his bones, he hath another spirit in him, even the same with Christ; Christ above and he below, and the same spirit in both: a great mystery, such as a naked assent cannot reach unto: he that hath no more is but a glass eye, or wooden leg in the body of Christ, or rather he is not at all in it, but outwardly tied to it by a name and form of knowledge, without any part in the righteousness or spirit of Christ.

Thirdly, Precious faith doth unite us unto Christ, and gives us a being in him: A believer from the first instant of faith is no longer in himself or the old Adam, but a man in Christ; hence the same royal robe of righteousness which Christ hath upon himself, covers him also, which renders faith exceeding precious. George Prince of Anhalt was upon this account much delighted with this similitude, As the ring is highly prized for the diamond in it, so faith justifies us for the pearl of price, the Son of God, whom it apprehends; the believer is found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, Phil. 3.9. Hence also the very same spirit of holiness which is upon Christ in heaven above measure, falls down upon the believer according to measure; a piece