The Whole Body of Religion, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Concerning the true diſpenſation of redemption, ſalvation, and life: and therefore the neceſſitie of our union and communion with Chriſt.
DOCTRINE. I. That ſalvation and eternall life is placed onelyonly in Chriſt that from him it may be communicated unto us.
WE believe, that as the ſinne of Adam, and death which followed thereupon, remained not onelyonly in Adam; but alſo from him, as from the head of all mankind,aRom. 5.12. paſſed upon all men, whoſoever are by common generation already come from him, or are yet to come: So alſo that the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt and eternall life which is onelyonly due unto him, remained not in him alone, but was derived upon all men, whoſoever are by regeneration of the holy Ghoſt made one with him, and doe as true members cleave faſt unto him as being the head of all the Church; and that Chriſt alſo came in the fleſh to this end, and that all ſalvation and life is placed in him, to be really and truely diſpenſed, and communicated unto all the elect, which are united unto him.
DOCT. II. That indeed the grace of redemption, and ſalvation is ſeriouſly offered unto all: but really communicated to none but the elect, which are made one with Chriſt.
FOr we believe, that, althoughaMark. 15.10. redemption, ſalvation, and life eternall, which are the gifts of God, be ſeriouſly propounded, and offered unto all by the preaching of the Goſpell (for, that many are not made partakers of it, it is their own fault) Yet they are really communicated unto none but thoſe, which being from all eternitie elected and predeſtinated in Chriſt as the head of all the elect, to be made his members, and ſo partakers of ſalvation, and being afterwards in due time called by the preaching of the Goſpell, and indued with faith by the holy Ghoſt, are grafted into Chriſt, and ſo made one with him.
DOCT. III. To the true participation of ſalvation, how neceſſarie our union or communion with Chriſt is.
AS neitheraIohn 15.1, 2, &c. the vine branch from the vine, nor the bough from the tree, can ſuck ſappe and life, unleſſe both the one and the other be united as a part unto the one and the other: And again, as the members of the body can neither draw motion, nor ſenſe, nor life from their head, unleſſe they be united to the head: So neither can men receive life and ſalvation from Chriſt, in whom they are alone, unleſs they be truely ingrafted into Chriſt, and be united unto him by a true and reall union, and being united do alſo remain and abide in him.
DOCT. IV. That we cannot be united unto Chriſt, unleſſe he do firſt unite himſelf unto us.
SEeing then the participation of true righteouſneſſe, ſalvation, and life, depends wholly upon the moſt neceſſarie communion of us with Chriſt: and hereunto both the preaching of the Goſpell, & the adminiſtration of the Sacraments, and all the Eccleſiaſticall miniſterie is referred: For this cauſe, what our faith and belief is concerning this matter, briefely and plainly, as near as we can, we thought good to declare and teſtifie unto all the Church of Chriſt, in certain Theſes, or Poſitions here following. And firſt we believe, that, asa1 Iohn 4.10. we love Chriſt, as Iohn ſpeaketh, becauſe he firſt loved us; and therefore we come unto him with our Spirit, becauſe he firſt came unto us by his; and therefore we embrace him by faith, becauſe he firſt embraced us by the virtue of his Spirit and begate faith in us: So neither can we be joyned & united unto him, unleſs he firſt joyne and unite himſelf unto us. For one is the cauſe of the other: the former, of the latter. Wherefore we are to pray, that he would be pleaſed toaIohn 14.23. come unto us, and make his abode with us,
DOCT. V. That Chriſt's union with us, and ours with Chriſt is threefold: and what their order is.
FUrther we acknowledge a threefold union of Chriſt with us, and us with Chriſt; The firſt, in our nature once made; the ſecond, which is every day made in the Perſons of every one of the elect, but as yet abſent from the preſence of the Lord; and the laſt, which ſhall be with the Lord in our own Perſons, when we ſhall be perſonally preſent with him, when God ſhall bebColoſſ. 3.11. 1 Cor. 15.2…. all in all. And the firſt of theſe is referred unto the ſecond; and the ſecond, unto the third: As nature was ordained unto grace; and grace, unto glorie. For the firſt was made by the aſſumption of our nature, into the unitie of the Perſon of the Word. The ſecond is made by the aſſumption of our Perſons into grace, and into one Myſticall body with him, and ſo unto thea2 Pet. 1.4. participation of the divine nature, as Peter ſpeaketh. The third and laſt ſhall be made by the aſſumption of us all into glorie everlaſting with Chriſt. And we doubt not but Chriſts will was, to ſhew unto us before the ſecond by the firſt, and the third by the ſecond: that by what is done already we might be confirmed in hope of that which ſhall be hereafter.
DOCT. VI. That, as the firſt union was made, to expiate and take away ſins; ſo likewiſe the ſecond, to make us partakers of that benefit.
WE believe therefore (to omit things that are impertinent to our preſent purpoſe, and to come nearer to the matter) we believe, I ſay, that the Son of God, according to the eternall will of the Father, of himſelf, and of the holy Ghoſt, as to expiate and take away our ſins, he aſſumed into the unitie of his Perſon which was conceived in the wombe of the Virgin by the power of the holy Ghoſt, and in it fulfilled the Law of God perfectly for us, and became obedient unto his Father even unto death, and by the ſame fleſh offered up for a ſacrifice for our ſinnes, purchaſed in himſelf eternall ſalvation for us: So alſo to make us really partakers of the ſalvation purchaſed for us by the ſacrifice of his own fleſh, after another manner of union he takes and kuits us unto himſelf in ſuch ſort, that we are united unto him, though not into one Perſon, yet into one true myſticall body, whereof he is head, and all we are members, whereby we become partakers of the divine nature.
DOCT. VII. As the firſt union, ſo likewiſe the ſecond is made by the power of the holy Ghost.
NEither doubt we but that the Son of God, our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, as in the firſt union, by the power of his Spirit, he aſſumed and took upon him our fleſh and bloud (for he was conceived man by the holy Ghoſt, and that without ſinne: for which cauſe alſo he is called thea1 Cor. 15 4…. Heavenly Man) ſo alſo in the ſecond he gives us his fleſh and his bloud, and communicates himſelf wholly unto us, and by this communion ſo knits, conjoynes, and incorporates us unto himſelf by the efficacie of his Spirit, that ſtill the bond that knits Chriſt unto us and us unto him, is the ſame Spirit, which Spirit as it effected in the wombe of the Virgin, that the Son of God became fleſh of our fleſh and bone of our bones: So alſo by working in our hearts, and incorporating us into Chriſt, it effecteth likewiſe that we by the participation of the body and bloud of Chriſt, become fleſh of his fleſh and bone of his bones, eſpecially when it ſtirreth up faith in us whereby we embrace, and lay hold on Chriſt, and acknowledge him to be true God and Man, and ſo a perfect Redeemer and Saviour.
DOCT. VIII. That our union with Chriſt is in ſuch ſort Spirituall, that it is notwithſtanding true and reall.
SO believe we this other union alſo, no leſſe almoſt then the former (if I may ſo ſpeak) to be Spirituall, that yet it is true and reall: For by the Spirit of Chriſt we, though here on earth, are really and truly joyned with the body bloud and ſoul of Chriſt now raigning in heaven, and with his divine nature abiding in us: inſomuch that this myſticall body which conſiſteth ofa1 Cor. 12.12. Chriſt as the head, and the faithfull as the members thereof, is ſometimes ſimply called Chriſt. So great is the conjunction of Chriſt with the faithfull, and the faithfull with Chriſt, that it is not amiſſe in ſome ſort to ſay, that, as the firſt union was of two natures in one Perſon, ſo alſo this of many Perſons as it were into one nature, according to theſe texts of Scripture:b2 Pet. 1.4. That you might be partakers of the divine nature; and, We are members of his body, of his fleſh, and of his bones.
DOCT. IX. The Confirmation of the opinion fore-going: How cloſe and near this union is.
FOr as in man, the ſoul which is one and the ſame and all in every part, as well in the head, and every particular member, as in the whole body together, cauſeth all the members to be united, and grow together into one body under one head. So alſo by the power of Chriſt's Spirit which is one and the ſame in Chriſt, and in all the faithfull, it cometh to paſſe, that all of us being both in body and minde knit together into one Spiritually, become one and the ſame body with Chriſt our head, one body, I ſay, myſticall, and Spirituall; becauſe it is connected, and compacted together by the moſt ſecret bond of the ſame Spirit.
CHAP. X. That this union, foraſmuch as it is made by the holy Ghoſt, cannot be hindred by any diſtance of place.
FRom whence it followes, that this true and reall union (though Spirituall) of our bodyes and ſouls with the body and ſoul of Chriſt, cannot be hindred by any, no not the greateſt diſtance of place; becauſe it is made by the efficacie of that Spirit, which reacheth from earth even up to heaven, and higher then ſo; and knitteth together the members of Chriſt here on earth, with the head in heaven ſitting at the right hand of the Father, conjoyning them together in one ſo cloſely and nearely, as the ſoul of man doth the armes & legs, hands and feet, and the other members with the head into one body, though the man ſhould be ſo great and tall for ſtature, that having his feet ſet in the Centre of the earth, his head ſhould reach to heaven even to the ninth ſpheere. So great is the virtue and power of the ſoul. How great then is the virtue, and power of the holy Ghoſt, who is true God, and omnipotent!
DOCT. XI. That the holy Ghoſt, by whom this union is made, is given by Chriſt, at the preaching of the Goſpell, and the adminiſtration of the Sacraments.
WE believe further, that this Spirit, by which Chriſt knitteth himſelf unto us, and us unto himſelf; his fleſh with ours, and ours with his, is communicated by Chriſt at his own pleaſure, and according to his grace, when, and where, and after what manner it pleaſeth him, but ordinarily at the preaching of the Goſpell, and the adminiſtration of the Sacraments. A viſible teſtimonie whereof there was, in the infancie of the Church, when, as we read, thoſe which received the Goſpell, and were baptiſed, or on whom hands were laid, beſide the inviſible grace of regeneration, received alſo ſundrie and ſenſible gifts of the Spirit.
DOCT. XII. That this union is the principall end of the Goſpell and Sacraments.
FRom whence we eaſily gather, what is the principall end of the preaching of the Goſpell, and the adminiſtration of the Sacraments: to wit, this: Our communion with Chriſt the Son of God, who for us was made fleſh, who ſuffered & died for us, but now raigneth in heaven, and communicateth ſalvation and life to his elect and choſen: Our Communion with Chriſt, I ſay, here inchoate, and begunne, but hereafter to be perfected and finiſh'd in heaven: that further by this our true and reall connexion & conjunction, with his fleſh and bloud, and his whole Perſon, we may at length be made partakers of eternall life, which was purchaſed by him, and reſideth or abideth in him.
DOCT. XIII. That this union is not imaginarie, nor made by participation of gifts onelyonly, but alſo by communication of ſubſtance.
BUt, for this cauſe do we call this our preſent incorporation with Chriſt, true, reall, and ſubſtantiall: to meet with the errour of thoſe which think that the union which we hold is but onelyonly imaginarie; and therefore falſe: or if true; that then it is onelyonly by the participation of Spirituall gifts, and the grace of Chriſt, without the communication of the ſubſtance of his fleſh & bloud.
DOCT. XIV. That this union is made by no other means, but onelyonly by the holy Ghoſt and by faith.
BUt again, leſt any ſhould falſely imagine, that we hold this union to be made with the fleſh of Chriſt, either, as if it were here really preſent upon earth, by any Phyſicall or naturall contact, whether groſſe or ſubtill, as all ſienſible things are united with the ſenſe; ſome after a more groſſe, and others after a more ſubtill manner: Or elſe with the ſame fleſh, as it is abiding in heaven, by Species in the minde, which the Philoſophers call Intelligible, as all things Intelligible are united with the Intellect, which receiveth them by certain images, and mentall repreſentations: Therefore we adde further the manner how this union and Incorporating is made, to wit, by the Spirit of Chriſt really communicated unto us, and abiding in us, and kniting us unto Chriſt, and ſtirring up faith in us to embrace and lay hold on Chriſt.
DOCT. XV. The confirmation of both: To wit, that this union is eſſentiall; and that it is made by the holy Ghoſt onelyonly and by our faith.
BOth theſe, to wit, that this our union is eſſentiall, and that it is made by the holy Ghoſt onelyonly, and by our faith; the holy Scripture doth fully and clearly ſhew unto us. The Apoſtle writing to theaEph. ….14, 15, 16. Epheſians, foraſmuch as, Chriſt, having aboliſhed enmitie, and broken down the wall of partition, hath reconciled both unto God, & one with another, two moſt divers people, both Iewes and Gentiles; and foraſmuch as all are ingrafted into Chriſt, and regenerated by the holy Ghoſt: Therefore doubted not to ſay, that both were made, not One people (as one would have thought) but, to ſhow how near this union is, One new man, even in Chriſt. Therefore, ſeeing that we are all regenerated by one and the ſame Spirit and live as it were by one and the ſame ſoul, and are united unto one head, which is Chriſt: Not without juſt cauſe are we all called, One new man. And again in the ſameaEpheſ. 4.15.16. Epiſtle deſcribing our moſt near & eſſentiall incorperating into Chriſt, he compateth him unto the head and us unto the members compacted and joyned together unto the head by joynts, nerves, and ligaments: which draw their life and motion from the head. This ſimilitude is verie ordinarie and frequent in the Scripture: ſo that from hence we may eaſily and cloarly underſtand, what and how great this our union is with Chriſt, by reaſon of his Spirit which dwelleth in all the regenerate. For the ſame cauſe alſo, the ſamebEpheſ. 2.20. &c. Apoſtle compareth Chriſt unto a ſoundation; and all the faithfull unto ſtones (but living ſtones, as it likewiſe the ſoundation, that they may grow up, and receive increaſe from him) built upon the foundation:c…. In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord d22.through the Spirit. Which alſo, before the Apoſtle,eMatt. 16.18. Chriſt himſelf did more then once, making himſelf the foundation; and his Church, the building: which reſteth really upon the foundation, and is unſeparably joyned unto it. Hither alſo pertaineth that place, where Chriſt calleth himſelffIohn. 15.1, &c. the vine, and us the branches: which drawing life and ſappe from the vine do both live and bring forth good fruit. The ſame thing alſo is declared by the ſimilitude of angRom. 11.17. Olive-tree, into which the faithfull, being as boughes cut off from the wild-olive-tree, are grafted; that they may bring forth good Olives. And this ingrafting is by the holy Ghoſt and by faith: whereupon in the Epiſtle to the Philippians it is called thehPhil. 2.1. fellowſhip of the Spirit; and in the Epiſtle to the EpheſiansiEph. 3.17. Chriſt is ſaid to dwell in our hearts by faith. Neither is it obſcure that the Apoſtle calls the incorporating of the Church with Chriſt, and Chriſt with the Church, and every faithfull member thereof, a Spirituall marriage, ſpeaking after the manner of the Prophets, in which two are made one fleſh.aGen. 2.24 They two ſhall be one fleſh, ſaid God: But the Apoſtle ſaith,bEph. 5.32. This is a great Myſterie: but I ſpeak concerning Chriſt and the Church. And this we often meet with all which Iohn writeth concerning this union, and the Spirit whereby it is made, and known.c1 Iohn 4.17. Hereby (ſaith he) know we that we dwell in him and he in us: becauſe he hath given us of his Spirit. Therefore he dwelleth in us, and we in him by the ſame holy Spirit, which is in him, and in us. Hither may we adde alſo That to the Romanes,dRom. 2.9. If any man hath not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his. Now the Apoſtle underſtood thoſe to be Chriſt's, which are his true and lively members.
DOCT. XVI. A concluſion, that this union is eſſentiall; and, that it is made onelyonly by the holy Ghoſt, and our faith.
BY theſe and the like places of holy Scripture we are perſwaded, and doubt not but Chriſt & his Apoſtles would ſignifie unto us, That the communion which all the faithfull, both great and ſmall, have with Chriſt, and with his fleſh and bloud, is true and reall: and yet not made any other way but by the power and bond of the Spirit. And therefore, although it be ſecret, full of myſteries, and Spirituall; becauſe it is made by the Spirit and by faith: Yet we are not to doubt but by reaſon of the ſame Spirit it is as true and eſſentiall, as that is between the man and the wiſe which are made … fleſh; and that, between the foundation … the ſtones which are built thereupon; and that, between the tree and the boughes; between the vine and the branches; and laſt of all that, between the head and the members which are knit together with ligaments and ſinewes▪ and live & work by one and the ſame ſoul: Inſomuch that we can have no greater union with Chriſt, whilſt we are in this mortall fleſh.
DOCT. XVII. The confirmation of the ſame by another ſimilitude, and even out of Philoſophie it ſelf.
CErtainly, If one and the ſame ſoul were in all men: it would cauſe innumerable Perſons to be but one man: As from one and the ſame eſſence in three divine Perſons, divines conclude that there is but one God. And this would appear much more to be true, if thoſe many men ſhould have but one head, whereunto to be annexed, and from whence alone to derive ſenſe and motion. What wonder then if the holy Spirit, which is but one in Chriſt and in all the godly, knit us ſo really together, that we become one with him, and with our ſelves; Yea, that we all become one new man in Chriſt our head? For in two reſpects ſaith the Apoſtles that all the faithfull are One new man, to wit,Epeſ. 2.15. in reſpect of one Spirit by which, and one head unto which we are annexed and knit.
DOCT. XVIII. That from our union with Chriſt the participation of the benefits of his death and reſurrection are derived unto us.
FRom this our communion with Chriſt followeth, and thereon dependeth the participation of his benefits, and ſalvation which he hath purchaſed for us, and hath reſiding and abiding in his fleſh and bloud: For, as vine branches cannot ſuck their nouriſhment from the vine; nor boughes from the tree; nor members of the body, from the head; nor living ſtones from the foundation, unleſſe they have a true and reall dependance and connexion with their foundation, head, tree, and vine, and abide in them: So neither can we, from Chriſt our head, foundation, tree, and vine; unleſſe we be truely ingrafted into him by the holy Spirit, and be made fleſh of his fleſh, and bone of his bones. And they do us great injurie, that therefore ſay we deny the true participation of Chriſt's fleſh and bloud, and hold onelyonly the participation of his gifts and benefits: becauſe we do not admit, that which ought not to be admitted, that Chriſt true body doth really paſſe through our mouthes into our bodyes. As if the communion which is made by the holy Spirit and by faith, were not true and eſſentiall; whereas nothing can more nearely joyne divers ſubſtances and natures together into one, then the holy Spirit: As we ſee it in the incarnation of the Son of God; and the creation of man compounded of ſoul and body. Certainly, if the communion with the body and bloud of Chriſt, which is made by the Spirit onelyonly and by faith, be not true and ſaving, unleſſe the body & bloud paſſe through our mouthes into our bodyes: Chriſt hath not provided well for his Church. And further he would have the ſame to be made at the receiving of the Goſpell, as alſo in Baptiſme; Asa1 Iohn 1.3. Iohn witneſſeth of the firſt; and theb1 Cor. 12.13. Apoſtle, of the ſecond. This is our confeſſion concerning communion with Chriſt in generall, and concerning the diſpenſation of ſalvation and life, which is in Chriſt Ieſus.
DOCT. XIX. Errours condemned.
WE therefore diſallow and miſlike the errour of thoſe, which teach that by the (opus operatum, or) performance of the outward work, without faith, and true union with Chriſt, remiſſion of ſins may be obtained, and ſalvation communicated unto men. But we condemne for blaſphemie the doctrine of thoſe, which teach that remiſſion of ſinnes, and ſalvation may be obtained by works not commanded by God, but invented by men; and thoſe ſuch as are full of ſuperſtition, and idolatrie. We condemne likewiſe thoſe, which making no account of the miniſterie of the Word, teach that ſalvation may be had, as well without, as by the hearing of the Word and the receiving of the Sacraments: and likewiſe thoſe which contend that the children of infidells as well as the faithfull in their mothers wombes, are made partakers of Chriſt's benefits.