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The Church compared to a natural Body.
1 Cor. 12.13. — All baptized into one Body.
Eph. 2.16. — Both unto God in one Body.
Eph. 4.12. — For the edifying of the Body of Christ.
Col. 1.18. He is the Head of the Body, the Church, &c.
Verse 24. For his Body sake, which is the Church, &c.
THe Body, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (Soma) is frequently put for the Church or Peo∣ple of God, the Explication of which Trope is concisely opened in the following Parallel.
Metaphor. | Parallel. |
EVery natural Body hath a Head. | SO the Church of God hath a Head, viz. the Lord Jesus Christ:* 1.1 He (God the Father) 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 Ful∣ness of him that filleth all in all. And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.* 1.2 Verse 17. And he is the Head of the Body, the Church, &c. |
II. The natural Body hath many Members,* 1.3 and tho many Members, yet all make but one and the same Body. | II. The Chureh of Christ consists of di∣vers Saints, called the Members of his Body: Now ye are the Body of Christ,* 1.4 and Members in particular; and tho many, yet all make but one and the same mystical Body. |
III. In the natural Body are Mem∣bers different in Strength, Useful∣ness, and Honour, as Arms, Legs, Eyes, Feet, Hands, Fingers, &c. But the weakest, and those that seem least honourable, are very useful, and the Body cannot be without them. | III. So in the Church, the mystical Body of Christ, are different Members, both with respect to Honour and Use∣fulness; as Apostles, Prophets, Teachers;* 1.5 or, as the Apostle John hath it, Fathers, young Men, and Children. All are not Apostles, all are not Prophets, all are not Teachers, &c. But yet the weakest and most feeble Saints or Members are useful to the Church. As in the Body natural,* 1.6 tho the Eye is of greater use than some other Members, yet the Eyes (or Ministers, who are as useful as Eyes to the Body) cannot say to the Hand, (or such to whom God hath given the Riches of this World to distribute unto others,) We have no need of thee; nor can the Head say to the Feet, I have no need of you. Nay, and those Members of the Body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary. |
IV. In the natural Body, if one Member suffer, all suffer with it. | IV. So in Christ's mystical Body, when one Saint suffereth, all do sympathize and suffer with him. If one suffer,* 1.7 all suffer; and if one Member be honoured, all the Members of the Body rejoyce with him. |
V. All the Members of the Body natural, take care of, and seek the Good of the whole Body, and of each Member in particular. | V. So in the Church of God, every particular Saint doth, and ought always to seek the Welfare of the whole mysti∣cal Body of Christ:* 1.8 That there should be no Schism in the Body, but that the Members should have the same care one of another. |
VI. All the Members of the na∣tural Body have their Nourishment from the Head. | VI. So all the Members of the mysti∣cal Body receive Nourishment from Christ, who is the only Head thereof; and from hence the Apostle condemneth those false |