A77358:263
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…
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The third volume. [sic] Viz. 1. The spiritual life, and in-being of Christ in all believers. 2. The woman of Canaan.The vvorks of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The third volumn. [sic] Viz. 1. The spiritual life, and in-being of Christ in all believers. 2. The woman of Canaan.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1649
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. 1 Much every way: First. If Jesus Christ be really united to each believer by his Spirit, and really in him in this spiritual and mystical way; Then a believer shall have more blessed and glorious Communion with Christ than the other way. For Union is the root of Communion: The Husband & the Wife are first Joined together, and United, and then they have Communion with one another, and Fellowship in their goods, and estate; Union is the ground of Communion. And the nearer the Union, the greater the Communion. Now if Christ should be only in a believer by the Habit of grace, the Union would not be so great: but if this be true, That Christ is really in a believer by his Spirit, Christ really United to each believer; here the Union is nearer, and therefore the Communion, and Fellowship that a believer shall have with Christ, a great deal more and more blessed.
Answ. 1 Much every way: First. If Jesus Christ be really united to each beleever by his Spirit, and really in him in this spiritual and mystical way; Then a beleever shall have more blessed and glorious Communion with Christ than the other way. For Union is the root of Communion: The Husband & the Wife are first Joyned together, and United, and then they have Communion with one another, and Fellowship in their goods, and estate; Union is the ground of Communion. And the nearer the Union, the greater the Communion. Now if Christ should be only in a beleever by the Habit of grace, the Union would not be so great: but if this be true, That Christ is really in a beleever by his Spirit, Christ really United to each beleever; here the Union is nearer, and therefore the Communion, and Fellowship that a beleever shall have with Christ, a great deal more and more blessed.
Secondly. If Christ be really united unto a believer, unto all believers by his Spirit, Then his love must needs be infinite towards believers. If that his Graces only were in them, he would love them; because thereby they should be made like unto him: but now, if his own Spirit be in a believer, then his love must needs be infinite unto a believer, and a believers love infinite to him again in his way. This is a great and glorious Privilege.