All the Members of the natural Body have their Nourishment from the Head. | VI. So all the Members of the mystical Body receive Nourishment from Christ, who is the only Head thereof; and from hence the Apostle condemneth those false ⟨p. 98⟩Professors, and counterfeit Christians, who pretended to much Piety and Religion, but did not receive their Doctrine and Principles from Christ, nor were they united unto him by Evangelical Faith. Not holding the Head, 1from which all the Body by Joints and Bonds having Nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the Increase of God.
VII. In the natural Body, betwixt the Members and the Body there is a marvellous Nearness, or blessed Union. | VII. So there is a wonderful Nearness, and blessed Union between Jesus Christ, and every Member of his mystical Body: For we are Members of his Body, of his Flesh, 2and of his Bones.
VIII. The Body natural increases in Strength, Bigness, and Beauty; according to the Age of the Body, is the Perfection and Excellency of it. | VIII. So the Church increases in spiritual Strength, Bigness, and Glory. The Church is but small and weak now, in comparison of what she shall be, when she is come to her full Growth, and perfect State. There will be a great Addition to the Church in the latter Day: The Lord shall rise upon thee, 3and his Glory shall be seen upon thee; and the Gentiles shall come to thy Light, and Kings to the Brightness of thy Rising. Lift up thine Eyes round about, and see; all they gather themselves together, they come unto thee; thy Sons shall come from afar, and thy Daughters shall be nursed at thy side, &c. to the end of the Chapter, compared with chap. 66.8, 9, 10. where you may read of the Multitude that shall be added to her, and of the Abundance of her Glory. And as she shall grow in Bigness, so likewise she shall increase in spiritual Knowledge, Faith, and Godliness.4 For the Earth shall be filled with the Knowledge of the Glory of the Lord, as the Waters cover the Sea. All the Officers, and glorious Gifts appertaining to them, that are given to the Church, are for the perfecting of the Saints, 5for the Work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect Man, unto the measure of the Stature of the Fullness of Christ.
All the Members of the natural Body have their Nourishment from the Head. | VI. So all the Members of the mystical Body receive Nourishment from Christ, who is the only Head thereof; and from hence the Apostle condemneth those false ⟨p. 98⟩Professors, and counterfeit Christians, who pretended to much Piety and Religion, but did not receive their Doctrine and Principles from Christ, nor were they united unto him by Evangelical Faith. Not holding the Head, 1from which all the Body by Joints and Bonds having Nourishment ministred, and knit together, encreaseth with the Increase of God.
VII. In the natural Body, betwixt the Members and the Body there is a marvellous Nearness, or blessed Union. | VII. So there is a wonderful Nearness, and blessed Union between Jesus Christ, and every Member of his mystical Body: For we are Members of his Body, of his Flesh, 2and of his Bones.
VIII. The Body natural encreases in Strength, Bigness, and Beauty; according to the Age of the Body, is the Perfection and Excellency of it. | VIII. So the Church encreases in spiritual Strength, Bigness, and Glory. The Church is but small and weak now, in comparison of what she shall be, when she is come to her full Growth, and perfect State. There will be a great Addition to the Church in the latter Day: The Lord shall rise upon thee, 3and his Glory shall be seen upon thee; and the Gentiles shall come to thy Light, and Kings to the Brightness of thy Rising. Lift up thine Eyes round about, and see; all they gather themselves together, they come unto thee; thy Sons shall come from afar, and thy Daughters shall be nursed at thy side, &c. to the end of the Chapter, compared with chap. 66.8, 9, 10. where you may read of the Multitude that shall be added to her, and of the Abundance of her Glory. And as she shall grow in Bigness, so likewise she shall encrease in spiritual Knowledg, Faith, and Godliness.4 For the Earth shall be filled with the Knowledg of the Glory of the Lord, as the Waters cover the Sea. All the Officers, and glorious Gifts appertaining to them, that are given to the Church, are for the perfecting of the Saints, 5for the Work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come in the Ʋnity of the Faith, and of the Knowledg of the Son of God, unto a perfect Man, unto the measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ.
- 1Col. 2.18, 19.
- 2Eph. 5.30.
- 3Isa. 60.2, to 9.
- 4Hab. 2.14.
- 5Eph. 4.11, 12, 13, 14.
