The whole body of Christian religion, by Hieron. Zanchius. Translated out of Latine by D. Ralph Winterton.

DOCT. XV. The confirmation of both: To wit, that this union is essentiall; and that it is made by the holy Ghost onely and by our faith.

BOth these, to wit, that this our union is essentiall, and that it is made by the holy Ghost onely, and by our faith; the holy Scripture doth fully and clearly shew unto us. The Apostle writing to thea 1.1 Ephe∣sians, 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 regene∣rated 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 with∣out just cause are we all called, One new man. And again in the samea 1.2 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 ordina∣rie 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 sameb 1.3 Apostle com∣pareth Christ unto a soundation; and all the faithfull unto stones (but living stones, as it likewise the soun∣dation, that they may grow up, and receive increase from him) built up∣on the foundation:c 1.4 In whom all the

building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lordd 1.5 through the Spirit. Which also, before the A∣postle,e 1.6 Christ himself did more then once, making himself the founda∣tion; and his Church, the building: which resteth really upon the foun∣dation, and is unseparably joyned unto it. Hither also pertaineth that place, where Christ calleth himselff 1.7 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 ang 1.8 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 theh 1.9 fel∣lowship of the Spirit; and in the Epistle to the Ephesiansi 1.10 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.a 1.11 They two shall be one flesh, said God: But the Apostle saith,b 1.12 This is a great My∣sterie: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. And this we often meet with all which Iohn writeth concer∣ning this union, and the Spirit where∣by it is made, and known.c 1.13 Hereby (saith he) know we that we dwell in him and he in us: because he hath given us of his Spirit. Therefore he dwel∣leth 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,d 1.14 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.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Eph. ••.14, 15, 16.
• a 1.2

  Ephes. 4.15.16.
• b 1.3

  Ephes. 2.20. &c.
• c 1.4

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• d 1.5

  22.
• e 1.6

  Matt. 16.18.
• f 1.7

  Iohn. 15.1, &c.
• g 1.8

  Rom. 11.17.
• h 1.9

  Phil. 2.1.
• i 1.10

  Eph. 3.17.
• a 1.11

  Gen. 2.24
• b 1.12

  Eph. 5.32.
• c 1.13

  1 Iohn 4.17.
• d 1.14

  Rom. 2.9.