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 〉, (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:*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.* Verse 17. And he is the Head of the Body, the Church, &c. |
| II. The natural Body hath many Members,* 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,*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;* 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,* 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,*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:*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 Page 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,*from 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, be∣twixt 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,*and of his Bones. |
| VIII. The Body natural encrea∣ses 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 spiri∣tual 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 per∣fect State. There will be a great Additi∣on to the Church in the latter Day: The Lord shall rise upon thee,*and 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.*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,*for 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. |
Inferences.
THis clearly shews what infinite Benefit the Godly receive from Jesus Christ, and what Dependency they have upon him. What can the Body do without the Head?
2. How happy are all true Believers! how near and dear are they to the Lord Jesus! what greater Union is there, than that between the Members and the Head!* No Man ever hated his own Flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord the Church.
3. What will become of those evil and wicked Men, that seek to destroy the Church and Saints of God! Do they not herein strive to break Christ's Bones, and tear his Flesh in pieces? What will they do in the Day of Vengeance,* when he comes forth to plead the Controversy of Zion.
4. This reproves that Church, that pretends it self to be Christ's Body, and yet slights and grievously neglects his Members, nay, his most useful Members. The Church should be as careful and tender of her Ministers, as the natural Body is of its Eyes. Shall the Eye suffer, or be in danger of being put out or spoiled, and the Hand refuse to relieve and defend it, when it is in its power?
