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…

Fourthly. You must know this, That there is a great-deal of difference between the In-being of a Spiritual thing in a Material; and the In-being of one Material, or Corporeal thing in another. I shall make it as plain as I can, and it will be of concernment to you. Take a body now, and let that be mixed with another, and each part may say, I am that which I am joined to: but take the Spirit, or a Spiritual Being, and let that be mixed with a more Material Being; and then the Material Being cannot say, I am the Spirit; and the Spirit, I am the Matter. As now ye see in the great Union between the Soul, and the Body: the Soul is in every part of a man, tota in toto; the Soul (says the Philosopher) is wholly in every part; the whole soul of man being in every part of the body: yet notwithstanding, ⟨p. 80⟩the Body cannot say, I am the Soul, nor the Soul cannot say, I am the Body, because they are thus united together. Why? because here is an Union of a Spiritual thing with a more Material, which does keep the Natures distinct. Or thus, give me leave to express it to ye: Iron and Fire being joined together, your Fire is in every part of the Iron; and yet notwithstanding, though the Fire be in every part of the Iron, the Iron cannot say, I am the Fire; nor the Fire cannot say, I am the Iron: Why? because here is a more Spiritual Body, in a more Material Body, and so the Natures are kept distinct. Or if you will, yet farther: Ye see the Light in the Air; the Light is more Spiritual than the Air, and the Light is in every part of the Air; yet notwithstanding, the Air cannot say, I am the Light, nor the Light cannot say, I am the Air; but these two are kept distinct: Why? because here is an Union of that which is more Spiritual, unto that which is more Material. So I say here, Though Christ be really United unto each Believer; yet notwithstanding, the soul of a Believer is more Material; though not in it self Material, yet in respect of Christ, the soul is a gross Nature in regard of the Spirit of Christ; and being thus (therefore) united, these Natures are kept distinct; the Spirit of Christ is kept distinct from the Nature of the soul, and the soul from the Nature of the Spirit: and therefore, the soul of a Believer, though united really unto Christ by the Spirit, cannot say, I am the Spirit, or I am Christ.

Fourthly. You must know this, That there is a great-deal of difference between the In-being of a Spiritual thing in a Material; and the In-being of one Material, or Corporial thing in another. I shall make it as plain as I can, and it will be of concernment to you. Take a body now, and let that be mixt with another, and each part may say, I am that which I am joyned to: but take the Spirit, or a Spiritual Being, and let that be mixt with a more Material Being; and then the Material Being cannot say, I am the Spirit; and the Spirit, I am the Matter. As now ye see in the great Union between the Soul, and the Body: the Soul is in every part of a man, tota in toto; the Soul (saies the Philosopher) is wholly in every part; the whole soul of man being in every part of the body: yet notwithstanding,