The great mystery of godliness Jesus Christ our Lord God and man, and man with God; one in Jesus Christ our Lord. By Mr. Erbury minister of the word.

THE MYSTICALL Union of CHRIST and his CHURCH; Grace, Mercy and Peace with all spirituall and speciall blessings of Heaven be multiplied upon you and in you, by the blessed Spirit from God the Father through CHRIST JESUS our Lord. Amen.

Q.WHat must you do to be holy here, and happy hereafter?

A. Two things; First, Know CHRIST, John, 17. 3.

Secondly, Be knit unto him, John ••7. 21, 22, 23, 24.

Q. By what meanes may we come ••o this?

A. First, Outwardly.

1. In the Word I am taught to know him Joh. 17. 8.

2. In the Sacraments I am tied and knit to him, 1 Cor. 10. 61.

Secondly, inwardly

1. By Faith on my part, Ephe. 3. 17. Gal. 3. 27, 28, 29.

• 1. Grounded on the Word wherein I receive him.
• 2. Growing in the Sacrament wherein I am received into him.

2. By the Spirit on Gods part, 1 Cor. 6. 17. and 12. 13.

• 1. Assuring Christ unto me in the Word, Eph. 1. 13.
• 2. Sealing Christ unto me in the Sacrament, Rom. 4. 11.

This is my Body, so the Word saies without, when the bread is given in the Sacrament, and so the Spirit speaks within, assuring, yea,

making

• 1. The Body of Christ as ve∣rily present to the faithfull, as the bread is to the recei∣ver, 1 Cor. 11. 24, 26.
• 2. The faithfull partaker of Christs Body as verily as of the bread which he eates, 1 Cor. 10. 16.
• 3. The faithfull one with Christs Body as verily as the bread received & eaten is one with his body that feeds upon it, 1 Cor. 12. 12.

PART .I.

Quest. WHat is it to know Christ?

A. To find

• 1. The want of Christ, Phil. 3. 7.
• 2. The worth of Christ, Phil. 3. 8.
• 3. A willingnesse in me to receive Christ, Phil. 3. 9, 10, 12, 14.

First, when I feele the want of Christ in respect of the guilt and filth of sin in me. Secondly, find the worth of Christ to pardon and purge my sin. Thirdly, feele and find a willingnesse in me to receive, Christ, that is, to ac∣cept of him on his own conditions.

1 Not only to be my Priest and Je∣sus to save me by his blood, Heb. 2. 17

2 Nor only to be my Prophet and Christ, to teach me by his Word, Act. 3. 22.

3 But also to be my Prince & Lord to rule mee by his Spirit, leaving my old lust, and living by his laws, deny∣ing my selfe, and delighting to do whatever he commands, Act. 5. 31.

Then I know Christ, and this is to beleeve in him. Read 1 Joh. 1. 6, 7. and cha. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4. So Mat. 28. 20. Mar. 9. from v. 43. to the end. Luke 6. 46. Joh. 15. 14.

§. 1.

Q. HOw do you know the want of Christ?

A. 1 I am far and for ever in my selfe separated from God by my sin naturall and actuall, Isa. 59. 2. Psal. 58 3. Ephe. 2. 13, 14.

2 I am foully stained and stinking with all sin in my whole nature, soule and body, Psal. 14. 3. and 51. 5. Rom. 3 from ver. 10. to 20.

3 There is no power in me to think a good thought, or to keep any one of Gods commandements once in all my life, 2 Cor. 3. 5. Rom. 3. 9, 10. James 3. 2.

4 There is no plague but is upon me, and for the sinfulnesse of my nature & sins of my life, every curse of God is on my soule and body in this life, and that which is to come, Deut. 27. 26. & 28. 16 Mat. 25. 41.

5 There is no good dwelling in my flesh, nay not onely an emptinesse of all good, but an enmity against it, Gen. 6. 5. Rom. 7. 18. & 8. 7.

6 I have no power to please God in any good I doe, Rom. 8. 8. Prov. 15. 8. Heb. 11. 6.

7 I have no hope to goe to heaven when I die, 1 Cor. 15. 50. Rev. 21. 27.

O how miserable and wretched is that man or woman that lives and dies (as many doe, Mat. 7. 13.) in this corrupt and cursed condition without Christ!

§. 2.

Q. VVHat worth do you find in Christ?

A. 1. The excellency of his person, being the onely begotten, beloved Son of God, the heire of all things, the head of his Church, Angels, Principalities and Powers, being subject unto him, Eph. 1. 21, 22. Col. 1. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Heb. 1, 2, 3, 4. 1 Pet. 3. 22.

2 The exceeding riches of his grace freely offered, and fully given unto me in the Gospel, Eph. 2. 7. & 3. 8. Isay 61. 1, &c.

3 The blessings that he brings, Acts 3. 26. Eph. 1. 3.

4 The graces that he gives, John 1. 14. 16.

O how happy is that man or woman that is made one with the Son of God!

(how few are they Christ knowes, Mat. 7. 14.) yet thrice happy is hee or shee that have him for their head and husband, who hath all power in his hands, all heavenly blessings to bestow upon them, all spirituall graces to give unto them, and an unsearchable ri∣ches of grace to endow them to eter∣nall glory.

Q. What is the grace of Christ?

A. It is an honourable, holy and happy condition that Christ hath cal∣led me unto by the Gospel; who be∣ing the second Adam, received my nature unto himselfe, restored it with himselfe into favour with God againe from whom I fell, and raised my faln nature into a higher favour and grace with God the Father then it was in the first Adam before his fall, Eph. 2. 5, 6.

1 He hath taken my nature separa∣ted from God, and hath now united it to the Godhead for ever, Joh. 1. 14. Heb. 2. 11, 14.

2 He hath sanctified my nature sin∣full in me, but perfectly holy in him,

Luke 1. 35. Joh. 17. 19. Heb. 7. 26.

3 He hath in my nature fulfilled the whole Law for me, which I could ne∣ver doe, Rom. 10. 5. & 8. 4.

4 Hee hath for my sin in my stead suffered the whole wrath of the Lord, the curse of the Law which I could ne∣ver suffer, Isa. 53. 4, 5. 2 Cor. 5. 21. Gal. 3. 13. 1 Pet. 2. 24.

5 He filled my nature in himselfe with all grace, God gave him not the Spirit by measure, but being made flesh, we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, John 1. 14. and 3. 34, 35.

6 He fulfilled all righteousnesse that was to be done or suffered in life or death by me, in my nature, in whom God was well pleased, Mat. 3. 15, 17. Mat. 12. 18.

7 He raignes in my nature glori∣fied above all in heaven, Ephes. 1. 20.

§. 3.

Q. VVHy are you so willing to receive Christ?

A. That I may be knit unto him, Gal, 3. 26. 28.

PART .II.

Q. VVHat is it to bee knit unto Christ.

A. To become one with him by his Spirit, and my faith looking up and laying hold on my nature in him, that as hee tooke my flesh and made it his, so I take his flesh and make it mine, that thus I might bee one with him and he with me. I dwell in him and he in me; hee dwelleth in me by faith, and I dwell in him in my flesh; that as my nature is become his, so all his might be mine, Joh. 17.

21. and 6. 56. Ephes. 3. 17. Cant. 6. 7.

Q. How are you one with Christ Jesus?

A. 1. Not one in conceit and imagination.

2 Nor one in consent and affe∣ction.

3 Nor one in substance and trans∣fusion, as if the Godhead or manhood of Christ were mixt with any sub∣stance.

4 But one in spirit, or rather one spirit, that is more, the self-same spirit dwelling in him, dwels in me: so uni∣ting me unto him, that through his manhood from his Godhead, it con∣veyes, and I receive all spirituall life in soule and body for ever, 1 Cor. 6. 17 Rom. 8. 11. 1 Joh. 3. 23. John 6. 60.

Q. What union then is this that is betweene Christ and you?

A. The nearest that may be ima∣gined: for there is an union, first, of linage or flesh; thus many kinsmen are one.

2 Of love or friendship; thus ma∣ny men are one, Acts 4. 32. the soule

of Jonathan was knit to David, and this union of Spirits is nearer then the first of bodies.

3 Matrimoniall; thus man and wife are one, and this union is nearer then both the former, seeing married persons are not onely one in flesh, but in highest love and friendship; besides a man must forsake father, nearest flesh and friends to follow and cleave to his wife.

4 Mysticall, thus Christ and his Church are one by a nearer union then all the three; for Christ is not onely, first, partaker of flesh and blood with us, Heb. 2. 14. Secondly, We are his friends, John 15. 14. Thirdly, he is our husband also, Isay 54. 5. Fourthly, But also he is our head, and we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bone; and this union is called Mysticall, because it is more then any, unconceivable in thought, and unutte∣rable by tongue; kinsmen, friends, and married ones must die, and then their union ends. But Christ hath so taken my flesh as never to be divided

from it; such a friend as not life nor death can divide me from him, whose love passeth all knowledge and time, loving me unto the end, and after all; and not onely beloved, but I am be∣trothed and married to him for ever, and not onely betrothed, but I am of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones, nay, by faith I eate his flesh and drink his blood, what nearer union can be?

Q. What is it to eat his flesh?

A. 1. To apprehend, apply, and partake of his flesh as my owne, as the meat I eat is mine.

2 To beleeve that I am truely and really (though spiritually) united unto him, and one with him, of his bone, and of his flesh, as the meat I eat be∣comes one with my substance.

3 To expect in faith for all grace and growth in good strength in his services, quickning and comfort, and eternall life from the flesh of Christ: as the meat I eat maintaines life, gives nourishment and enables mee for all naturall actions, so doth Christ, for spirituall bread strengthens mans

heart, and wine cheares it, so, and more in mee doth Christs flesh and blood.

Q. How shall I make this know∣ledge of Christ effectuall, and the knot fast for ever?

A. 1. By a faithfull humble medi∣tating on the grace of Christ, Joh. 6. 43, 44, 45, 55, 56.

2 By an affectionate hearty thanks∣giving to God the Father who hath blessed me with all spirituall blessings in Christ, Eph. 1. 3.

3 By a fruitfull diligent growing in all the graces of the Spirit, Joh. 15. 3.

4 By fervent daily prayer to God the Father through Christ Jesus by the Spirit to enlighten and lead me to the love of God unto eternall life, Eph. 1. 17. and 3. 19. 2 Thess. 3. 5.

§. 4.

Q. HOw doe you meditate on Christ?

A. I desire to know Christ, not as one farre from mee, but as one with me, and I in him, and from him, or rather through my flesh in him, recei∣ving all things from God the Father for my salvation. This is the meaning of that, Joh. 6. 56. spoken of before, to eate the flesh of Christ (i. e.) by faith to apply and truly to partake of Christs flesh as mine owne, and being out of my self, in it to have life, and through it to have all things that concerne grace and glory.

This is that S. Paul determined to know, onely Jesus Christ, and him crucified, 1 Cor. 2. 2. Gal. 2. 20. for this excellent knowledge S. Paul counted all things but dung, that he might win Christ; what is that? That I might bee found in him not having mine owne righteousnesse but his, not my selfe, but him, Phil. 3. 8, 9, 10.

Q. What doe you meditate of in Christ?

A. 1. I finde my nature, soule and body united to God in him, and therefore feele my self reconciled, and

at one with God the Father; his Fa∣ther, my Father, his God my God, Joh. 14. 20. 21, 23. & 20. 17.

2 I see my nature sanctified perfect∣ly in his person, from which I seek a power to sanctifie mine more and more in my person, Heb. 2. 11. John 17. 10.

3 As hee hath fulfilled the law for me, so

1 In him God accounts me righte∣ous, Rom. 3. 22. 2 Cor. 5. 21.

2 In me God accepts of my upright purpose to please him in all things for perfect righteousnesse, Psal. 119. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

3 From him I receive a power to perform the whole law in every point, though not perfectly in the highest pitch and purity that the Law re∣quires, yet (seeking and striving to perfection) pleasingly as God accepts in Christ Jesus; who fulfilling the Law for me in my flesh, which he took, writes the Law in me by his Spirit, which he gives, making me to delight ••n the Law of God in the inward man,

to be ready to doe his will, to have re∣spect to all his Commandements, to refrain my feet from every evill way, to purge my self from all filthinesse of flesh and Spirit, perfecting holinesse in his fear, Jer. 31. 33. & 32. 40. Heb. 8. 10. Rom. 7. 22. Psal. 40. 8. & 119. 6. 101. 2. 2 Cor. 7. 1 Phil. 3. 12, 13, 14, 15.

4 He hath satisfied Gods justice in suffering in my stead, being made a curse for me, and in his own self bea∣ring my sins in his own body upon the tree; so I look for

1 Peace in my self from above, be∣ing crucified with Christ, Gal. 2. 20

2 Power over sin within, being cru∣cified with Christ in my corrupt nature, Rom. 6. 6.

Christ stood on the Crosse as my surety in my stead.

1 As a sinner; for he was made sin for me, 2 Cor. 5. 2.

2 As accursed, for hee was made a curse for me, Gal. 3. 13.

So being one with him.

1 As hee in my nature is full o•• grace, so out of his fulnesse I looke to

receive grace for grace, Joh. 1. 16. Col. 1. 9. & 2. 3, 9, 10.

2 My best duties are in me damna∣ble, but in Christ Jesus, God and Man, my Mediator and Master, my person is accepted, and all my actions plea∣sing, Eph. 1. 6.

3 I see my self shut out of Paradise, I have no hope of heaven in my selfe, a dead dog, a damned creature, an heir of hell; but God which is rich in mer∣cy, for his great love wherewith hee hath loved me when I was dead in sin, hath quickned me together with Christ, and raised mee up with him, and made me sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. So then in Christ I rose, and in Christ now I raign in heaven being now on earth, (i. e.) I see by faith my own nature in Christ sitting at the right hand of God, who is my good and great high Priest,

In

• 1 Presenting my person to the Fa∣ther and making mee pleasing unto him, Heb. 4. 14.
• 2 Perfuming my prayers, and praying for mee to his Father,

• ... Heb. 7. 25. Revel. 8. 3, 4.
• 3 Preparing a place for me, and me for that place by his Spirit, John 14. 2, 16. Col. 1. 12.

§. 5.

Q. VVHat are the blessings that Christ Jesus brings?

A. First, Eternall election to life in his Fathers love, Eph. 1. 4.

2 Adoption to become the son of God with himselfe, Eph. 1. 5.

3 Acceptation of my person, and all my actions in him, Eph. 1. 6.

4 Redemption of my soule and bo∣dy by his blood; and justification, whereby I am fully cleared from Gods judgement, freed from Gods wrath, my sins forgiven, and I freely accoun∣ted as just, Eph. 1. 7.

5 Vocation, whereby I am the cal∣led of Christ Jesus, Rom. 1. 6. in the Gospel, wherein he hath abounded to

me in all wisdome and prudence, ha∣ving made knowne unto mee the my∣stery of his will, Eph. 1. 8, 9.

6 Eternall salvation, and an im∣mortall inheritance in heaven with all Angels and Saints that ever were or shall be, Eph. 1. 10, 11.

And all this to the praise of the glo∣ry of his grace, Eph. 1. 6, 12.

§. 6.

Q. VVHat are the graces that Christ Jesus gives?

A. 1. Knowledge, Col. 2. 3. to un∣derstand,

1 The Word of God and meaning of the Scriptures, Luke 24. 45.

2 The will of God, Iohn 15. 15. and the minde of Christ, 1 Cor. 2. 16.

3 The mysteries, of the kingdome of heaven, Mat. 13. 11.

4 The misery, wretchednesse, blind∣nesse, poverty, nakednesse of my naughty nature, Rev. 3. 17, 18. Rom. 7. 18.

5 The graces of the Spirit in me, and the good things which are freely given unto mee of God through Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 2. 12.

2 Faith, with the beginning and in∣crease thereof, Mark 9. 24. Luke 17. 5. Eph. 2. 8.

3 Repentance with a mourning melting spirit, Acts 5. 31. for every sin in my self and others by Christs look on me, Luke 22. 61, 62. and mine on Christ, Zech. 12. 10.

4 Love to God and men, good and bad, Deut. 30. 6. Rom. 5. 5. 1 Thes. 4. 9. Mat. 5. 44.

5 The feare of the Lord God, Ier. 32. 40. This covenant is made in Christ, Heb. 8. 8. therefore he gives it, working it in mee by his Spirit, and warning me of it by his Word, Luke 12. 5.

6 Hope of my inheritance in hea∣ven, Rom. 15. 13. 2 Thess. 2. 16.

7 In a word all other graces spring∣ing from the Father, the fountaine of grace, conveied in Christ, through his flesh by his Spirit into my heart,

shed abroad and streaming on to ever∣lasting life, Iohn 4. 14. & 7. 37, 38. Gal. 5. 22, 23, 24.

§. 7.

Q. VVHat must you doe on your part to continue your communion with God the Father in Christ Jesus by the Spirit?

A. 1. Generally.

1 Fly for my life every sin open or secret, and every appearance of evill that may separate betweene God and me, or make mee faile of his grace in Christ, or grieve his holy Spirit, Esay 59. 2. Heb. 12. 15. Eph. 4. 30.

2 Follow after holinesse, and in all holy occasions, company and courses, commanded by God and commended by good men, continue and increase in all goodnesse & all good duties, clean∣sing my selfe continually from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit, perfecting holinesse in his feare, 2 Cor. 7. 1.

2 Particularly.

1 I give all diligence alwayes to make my calling and election sure, 2 Pet. 1. 10.

2 Walke humbly with my God hourely, with a reverend awfull re∣spect of his presence, fearing to offend his Majesty in any thing, Mich. 6. 8 Psal. 139. 2, 3.

3 Renew my repentance daily for my hourely offences or frailty, confes∣sing them in particular, and craving pardon, and purging, 1 Joh. 1. 9.

4 I humble my selfe weekly in fa∣sting for some speciall sins and daily slips in his service, or my calling; put aside some houres, if I cannot a whole day, Mat. 5. 20. and 6. 17.

5 Remember to covenant monthly with my Lord in the Sacrament of the Body and Bloud of Christ Jesus, or as oft as it is administred, 1 Cor. 11. 26.

6 Once in the yeare cast up all my accounts, see how my Communion is increased, and my corruptions lesse∣ned, and how far I am gone and grown in grace, and in the knowledge of

Christ, Lev. 16. 34. Once a yeare Mer∣chants cast up their whole accounts, and Husbandmen know their increase of corne and cattell; So they who are wise Merchants and working Christi∣ans, may observe in themselves a change or increase in a yeares space, what cannot be so sensibly perceived in a short time.

7 The Christian Sabbaths and Saints must be my delight, holy and hono∣rable, when, and with whom I have more opportunity and time to have communion with thy God, Isa. 58. 13. Psal. 16. 3.

8 The Word of God must abide & dwell in me richly, wherein I may ac∣quaint my selfe with my Masters will, my Fathers love, and communicate both to my fellow servants and bre∣thren, Col. 3. 16.

9 Take heed of omitting any occasi∣on of doing good, or receiving good in conference or company with men, or my good duty in publicke or private before God, Mal. 3. 16.

10 Beware of carelesse and custo∣mary

performance of any holy duty, but do it in love of Communion with my God, that by every prayer I make, every word I heare, &c. I may come neerer to him in Christ Jesus, Jer. 48. 10. Psal. 73. 28.

11 Weane my selfe from the world, use the world as not using it, entangle not my self in other mens matters nor mine own, draw heavenly thoughts from earthly things, deny my selfe not only in indifferent, but in lawfull, yea necessary things, 1 Cor. 7. 31. & 6. 12.

12 Watch my heart with all dili∣gence, the rising of my lust, the checks of my conscience, the motions of the Spirit, &c▪ Pro. 4. 23.

13 Worke out my salvation with feare and trembling, striving harder▪ running faster, and pressing on to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, Phil. 2. 12. and 3. 14.

14 Observe still my present estate▪ the tempter of my soule, my spirituall decayes, deadnesse, dulnesse, hardnesse of heart, security, strangenesse from God, I suffer not these to stay long up∣on

me, but stir up my selfe by repen∣tance and prayer, and strengthen the things which remaine and are ready to die, Rev. 3. 2, 17. and 2. 4, 5.

15 Goe forward in good duties, fruitfull in good works, fervent in spi∣rit, zealous in Gods cause, sensible of the least sinne, and above all things beward of barrennesse and back-sli∣ding, and an evill heart of unbeliefe in departing from the living God, 1 Cor. 15. 58. Col. 1. 10. Rom. 12. 11. 1 Thes. 5. 22. Heb. 10.

16 Stir up my faith continually, seek to the Lord, strengthen it, study the promises, apply them perfectly, and in them Christ to thy selfe, sticke very fast unto the Lord, cleave unto him, cling about him, depart not from him, depend upon him, delight in him, and be thankfull to him, beleeve and live in the light of his countenance, and of his Commandements, Isa. 64. 7. 2 Tim. 1. 6. 1 Pet. 1. 13. Act. 11. 23.

17 In my nearest approaches, and dearest imbraces by him, I am not too bold, but in my strongest feelings,

sweetest refreshments, spirituall con∣solations in Christ, comforts of the spirit, joy in Gods face and favour, I feare and tremble before him, Psal. 2 11. 1 Pet. 1. 17.

18 Feare the Lord my God all my dayes, a feare not of distrust but of di∣ligence to work, & jealousie to watch my selfe, a feare not servile only of his justice, but sonnelike of his goodnesse, a feare not to drive me from God, but to draw mee to him; wee cannot be∣leeve or love the Lord too much, but yet God doth not cocker his children, therefore when thou most beleeves•• that thou liest in the arms of his love, feare the more, lest then thou fall a∣sleep, secure and sweetly sin: Satan seeks but this, to find thee thus, hee cares not then, but rocks, sits by, and sings, and keeps thee fast asleep, with the sweet sound of faith and assurance Pro. 28. 14.

Oh the slights of Satan, the methods, mysteries, and depths of the Devill, in our neerest communion with God to cast us farthest from him!

19 Continue constant in prayer, watching thereunto with all perseve∣rance, present my selfe oft before the Lord upon my knees, in my Closet, or some corner, if it bee but a word or two, 'twill increase my acquaintance and my communion with him; have my heart ever upward, heavenly and humble, sending up sometimes strong groanes, sudden sighs, short ejaculati∣ons, petitions or prayses in the midst of worldly affairs, callings and company, &c. when they think not of it, steale a secret thought to the throne of grace, and my Father which seeth in secret, &c. Luk. 18. 1. Eph. 6. 18. Col. 4. 2. 1 Pet. 4. 7. Neh. 2. 4.

§. 8.

Q. VVHat should you especi∣ally pray for?

A. 1 That the God of our Lord ••esus Christ, the Father of glory may give unto me the spirit of wisdom and

revelation in the knowledge of him; The eye of my understanding being enlightened, that I may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints: And what is the excee∣ding greatnesse of his power to us∣ward, who beleeves according to the working of his mighty power.

In

• 1 pardoning all my sinnes against him, Num. 14. 17.
• 2 Subduing the power of every sin in me, Mich. 7. 19.
• 3 Sanctifying me more and more in spirit, soule, and body blame∣lesse, 1 Thes. 5. 23.
• 4 Strengthening mee in all hi•• services, Isa. 40. 29.
• 5 Supporting me in all my suffe∣rings, faintings, feares, Isa. 41. 1••
• 6 Supplying all my wants excee∣ding abundantly above all tha•• I can aske or think, Eph. 3. 20.
• 7 Saving me to the uttermo•••• from all evill, Heb. 7. 25.
• 8 Preserving me to salvation, tha•• I fall not from good, 1 Pet. 1. 5▪
• ...

• 9 Presenting me faultlesse before his glorious presence with joy, Jude 24.
• 10 Raising me at the last day, and changing my vile body that it may be like unto his glorious Body, according to his mighty working, &c. Phil. 3. 21.

Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church; which is his Body, the fulnesse of him that fil∣leth all in all, Eph. 1. 17, 18, &c.

2 That God would grant me accor∣ding to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in my heart by faith, that being rooted and grounded in love, I may be able to comprehend with all Saints

what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height: And to know the love of Christ which passeth know∣ledge, that I may be filled with all the fulnesse of God, Eph. 3. 16, 17, 18.

1 The fulnesse of the knowledge of his Will, Col. 1. 9.

2 The full assurance of his favour, Col. 2. 2.

3 The fulnesse of all grace in Christ Jesus.

4 The fulnesse of all joy in the holy Ghost, unspeakeable and glorious, not only in the feelings of faith, but of af∣flictions, 1 Pet. 1. 6, 8. Rom. 5. 3.

5 The fulnesse of glory in his hae∣venly kingdome at his right hand, when he sits to intercede for mee and his whole mysticall body, to raigne in us his members, and over his and our enemies, till the last day, when he shall deliver up the kingdome to God the Father, 1 Cor. 15. 28. Then God shall be all in all, when wee shall bee filled with the fulnesse of God, and see him face to face. Now we see God the Fa∣ther mediately in the face of Christ,

then we shal see him immediately face to face with Christ: yet without a Me∣diator; now we are filled with the ful∣nesse of Christ only, then we shall be filled with the fulnesse of God alone.

1 We are the fulnesse of Christ who being his members, he accounts him∣selfe but maimed without us, Eph. 1. 23 1 Cor. 12. 12.

2 We have the fulnesse of God, in Christ, who being our head, supplies by his Spirit all things unto us, that can be had in God the Father, or from him, what ever can make us:

• 1 Holy in him here,
• 2 Happy with him hereafter.

Ephe. 3. 19. 1 John 1. 3.

Now unto him who is able to do ex∣ceeding abundantly above all that we aske or thinke, according to the power that worketh in us: unto him be glo∣ry in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end, Amen, Eph. 3. 20, 21.

In him (that is Christ) we actually are by our actuall incorporation into that society which hath him for their

head, and doth make together with him one body (he and they in that re∣spect having one name, 1 Cor. 12. 12.) for which cause by vertue of this my∣sticall conjunction, we are of him and in him, even as though our flesh and bones should be made continuate with his. Hooker pag. 123.

Ergo gratulemur & agamus gratias, non solumnos Christianos factos esse, sed etiam Christum. Intelligitis, fratres, grati∣am Dei super nos; capitis, admiramini, gaudete. Christus facti sumus; Si enim ille caput est, & nos membra, totus ille ho∣mo & nos. August. in Iohan. tract. 31. Let us rejoyce and give thankes, that we are not onely made Christian men, but also made Christs Brethren; yee understand the grace of God, that is upon us; ye understand it, ye wonder at it. Rejoyce ye, we are made Christ. For if he be the head and we the mem∣bers, both he and we are one whole man.