The Godly Man's Picture

This union with Christ, may well be called mystical, it is hard to describe the manner of it; as it is hard to show the manner how the soul is united to the body, so how Christ is united to the soul; but though this union be spiritual, it is real: Things in nature ⟨p. 345⟩work often insensibly, yet really, Eccles. 11. 5. we do not see the hand move on the Dial, yet it moves; the Sun exhales and draws up the vapours of the earth insensibly, yet really; so the union between Christ and the soul, though it be imperceptible to the eye of reason, yet is real, 1 Cor. 6. 17.

This union with Christ, may well be called mystical, it is hard to describe the manner of it; as it is hard to shew the manner how the soul is united to the body, so how Christ is united to the soul; but though this union be spiritual, it is real: Things in nature ⟨p. 345⟩work often insensibly, yet really, Eccles. 11. 5. we do not see the hand move on the Dial, yet it moves; the Sun exhales and draws up the vapours of the earth insensibly, yet really; so the union between Christ and the soul, though it be imperceptible to the eye of reason, yet is real, 1 Cor. 6. 17.

Before this union with Christ, there must be a separation; the heart must be separated from all other lovers; as in marriage there is a leaving of Father and Mother, Psa. 45. 10. Forget also thine own people, and thy Fathers house; So there must be a leaving of our former sins, a breaking off the old league with hell, before we can be united to Christ,