The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in CambridgeThe vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge

First of all, by the Union that there is between Christ,¹ and a Believer: there is a glorious, a blessed, an incomparable union between Christ, and every Believer, though he be never so weak, though he be never so poor. There is a union between the Root, and the Branches; and by virtue of that union, the Root sends forth life, and strength into all the Branches: but yet notwithstanding, the Root is not in the Branches; nor the Branches in the Root, mutually. There is a union between the Head, and ⟨p. 22⟩the Members; and by virtue of that union, the Head hath an influence upon all the Members: but yet the Head is not in the Members; nor the Members in the Head. But now, there is a union between Christ, and Believers: and Christ is in them; and they are in Christ: We in Christ, and Christ in us. There is a glorious, and blessed union between them. Now union is the cause of communion, or communication: bread is united unto a mans body by eating of it; and so by virtue of the union, strength is derived into all the parts, into all the members; and the nearer, and closer unto, this union is, the more full is the communication. Now though the union between Christ, and a Believer, be set out in Scripture phrase, under such Metaphors as these: The Root, and the Branches: The Husband, and the Wife: And the Head, and Members; yet none of all these are able to reach it, not in all respects: 'tis a glorious, and 'tis a blessed, and incomparable union. And therefore, there must needs be a communication of the fullness of Christ to every Believer.

First of all, by the Union that there is between Christ,¹ and a Beleever: there is a glorious, a blessed, an incomparable union between Christ, and every Beleever, though he be never so weak, though he be never so poor. There is a union between the Root, and the Branches; and by vertue of that union, the Root sends forth life, and strength into all the Branches: but yet notwithstanding, the Root is not in the Branches; nor the Branches in the Root, mutually. There is a union between the Head, and ⟨p. 22⟩the Members; and by vertue of that union, the Head hath an influence upon all the Members: but yet the Head is not in the Members; nor the Members in the Head. But now, there is a union between Christ, and Beleevers: and Christ is in them; and they are in Christ: We in Christ, and Christ in us. There is a glorious, and blessed union between them. Now union is the cause of communion, or communication: bread is united unto a mans body by eating of it; and so by vertue of the union, strength is derived into all the parts, into all the members; and the nearer, and closer unto, this union is, the more full is the communication. Now though the union between Christ, and a Beleever, be set out in Scripture phrase, under such Metaphors as these: The Root, and the Branches: The Husband, and the Wife: And the Head, and Members; yet none of all these are able to reach it, not in all respects: 'tis a glorious, and 'tis a blessed, and incomparable union. And therefore, there must needs be a comunication of the fulness of Christ to every Beleever.