BAXTER'S DYING THOUGHTS. 65 fore the resurrection ; and that to be with Christ is to have, such communion with him, and not only tobe present where he is. 2. And the chiefpart of this communion will be that in which we are receptive ; even Christ's communications to the soul. And as the infinite, incomprehensible Deity is the root, or first cause; of all communication; natural, gracious, and glorious, to being, motion, life, rule, reason, holiness, and .happiness ; and the whole creationis more dependent on God, than the fruit on the tree, or the plants on the earth, or the members on thebody; (though yet they are not parts of.the Deity, nor deified, because yhe communication is creative ;) so God useth second causes in .his communication to in- ferior natures. And it is more thanprobable, that the human soul of Christ, primarily, and his body, secondarily, are the chief second cause of influence and communication both of grace and glory, both to min in the body, and to the separated soul. And as the sun is first an efficient, communicative, second cause of seeing to the eye, and then is also the object of our sight, so Christ is to the soul.* 'For as God, so the Lamb is the light'and glory of the heavenly Jerusalem, and inhis light we shall have light. Though he give up the kingdom to theFather, so far as that God shall be all in all, and, his creaturebe fully restored to his favor, and there shall be need of a healinggovernment no more, for the recovering of lapsed souls to God ; yet sure he will not cease to be our Mediator, and to be the church's head, and to be the conveying cause of ever- lasting life, and light, and love, to all his members. As now we live because he liveth, even as the branches in the vine, and the Spirit that quickeneth, enlighteneth, :and sanctifieth its, is first the Spirit of Christ before it is ours, and is communicated from. God, by him, to us ;, so will it be in the state ofglory ; for we shall have our union 'and communion with him perfected, and not de- stroyed or diminished. Andunless I could be so proud as to think that I am, or shall be, the most excellent of all the creatures of God, and therefore nearest him, and above all others, how could I think that I am under the influence of no second cause, but have either grace or glory fromGod alone ? Sb far am I from such arrogancy, as to think I shall be so near to God, as to be above the need and use of Christ and his com- munications, as that I dare not say- that I shall be above the need and help of other subordinate causes as I am now lower than angels, and need their help; and as I am under the government of * This one truth will give gleat' light into the controversies about God's gracious operations on the soul ; for when he useth secpnd causes, we see he operateth according to their limited aptitude ; and Christ's human nature, and all othersecond causes, are limited, and operate variously and resistibly, accord- ing to the recipient's capacity. VOL. II. 9
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