The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher…The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher…

Object. You will say unto me, But how can this be? we have ordinarily understood it otherwise, and so we have heard it preached too, That Christ in a Believer, is nothing else but the Grace of Christ; and the Spirit in a Believer, is nothing else but the Gifts, Graces, and Operations of the Spirit: and indeed, how can it be otherwise? For if Christ be really united unto each Believer, really in a Believer by his Spirit, and so made one with him; then a Believer may say, I am Christ, and I am the Spirit; Which is Montanism, and which is Blasphemy: and therefore, how can this be, that Christ is really united to each Believer by his Spirit, and really in a Believer by his Spirit?

Object. You will say unto me, But how can this be? we have ordinarily understood it otherwaies, and so we have heard it preached too, That Christ in a Beleever, is nothing else but the Grace of Christ; and the Spirit in a Beleever, is nothing else but the Gifts, Graces, and Operations of the Spirit: and indeed, how can it be otherwaies? For if Christ be really united unto each Beleever, really in a Beleever by his Spirit, and so made one with him; then a Beleever may say, I am Christ, and I am the Spirit; Which is Montanisme, and which is Blasphemy: and therefore, how can this be, that Christ is really united to each Beleever by his Spirit, and really in a Beleever by his Spirit?

Answ. I confess this is very hard to understand: and when I consider the In-Being of Christ in a Believer, I remember that story that is written concerning Austin; That walking by the Sea-side, he saw a Boy take a Mussel-shell, and go to the Sea, carrying water with his Mussel-shell into a Ditch that was by, out of the Sea into the small trench: He asked the Boy, what he would do? Says he, I will empty all the Sea into that Ditch: And he Smiles, and told him he could not do it: Says he, No more able are you, with the Mussel-shell of your Understanding, to carry out the Ocean of the Trinity in a small Tractate and Discourse of your own. And what is our Understanding, but as a little Mussel-shell in regard of Christ, and the glory of the Trinity? Surely, we are not able with this little Mussel-shell, for to carry out all the depth of this Truth in a small Discourse. But it is a great Mystery. Are ye able to tell me, How the Child is formed in the Mothers womb? Or, are ye able to tell me, How the Soul is United to the Body? Who then can tell exactly, How Christ is United