ON Tttti Geo graces wherein it Bothconsist; in the church it is in vari- ous measures and degrees, according as he is pleased to communicate it. But the same divine nature it is, that is in him and us; for through the precious promises of the gospel, we are made partakers of his divine nature. It is not enough for us, that he hath taken our nature to be his, unless he gives us also his nature to be ours; that is, implants in our souls, all thosegracious qualifi- cations as unto the essence and substance ofthem, where- with he himself in his human nature is endued. This is that newman, that new creature, that divine nature, that spirit which is born of the Spirit, that transfor- mation into the image of Christ, that putting of him on, that workmanship of God, whereunto inhim we are created, that the scripture so fully testifieth unto, John iii. s. Rom. vi. 3-8. 2 Cor. iii. 18. chap. v. 17. Ephes. iv. 20, 24. 2 Yet. i. 4. And that new heavenly nature which is thus formed in believers, as the first vital act of that union which is between Christ and them by the inhabitation of the same Spirit, is peculiarly his nature. For both is it so as it is in him the idea and the exemplar of it in us, inasmuch as we are predestinated to be conformed unto his image; and as it is wroughtor produced in our souls j by an emanation of power, virtue, and efficiency from him. This is a most heavenly way of the communication of 'himselfunto us, wherein of God hé is made unto us wisdom and sanctification. Hereon he says of his church, this note is bone of any bone, and flesh of my flesh; I see myself; my own nature in them, whence they are comely and desirable. Hereby he makes way to present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without blemish. On this communication of Christ unto us, by the forming of his own nature in us, de- pends all the purity, the beauty, the holiness, the in- ward glory of the church. Hereby is it rcallÿ, sub- stantially internally separated from the world, and dis- tinguished from all others, who in the outward forms of things, in the profession and duties of religion seem to be the same with them. Hereby it becomes the first fruits of the creation unto God, bearing forth the reno- 12Y of ctttttsr. 51 cation of his image in the world: herein the Lord Christ is, and will be glorious unto all eternity. ' Í only men - tion these things, which deserve to be far more largely insisted on. 3. Ile cloth the some by that actual insition or im- plantation into himself; which he gives ns by faith; which is of his own operation. For hereon two things do ensue: one by the grace or power, the other by the law or constitution of the gospel, which have a `great influence into this mystical communication of Christ unto the church. And the first of these is, that thereby there is com- municated unto us, and we do derive supplies of spirit- ual life, sustentation, motion, strength in grace, and per- severance from him continually. This is that which him- self so divinely teacheth in the parable of the vine and its branches, John xv. 1-5. Hereby is there a con- tinual communication from his all fulness of grace Unto the whole citareis, and all the members of it, unto all the ends and duties of spiritual life. They live, never- theless not they, but Christ liveth in them; and the li e which they lead in the flesh, is by the faith of the So of God. And the other, by virtue of the law and con- stitution of the gospel, is, that hereon his righteous- ness, qnd all the fruits of his mediation, are imputed unto us; the glory of which mystery the apostle unfolds, Rom. iv. 4, 5. 1 might add here' reunto the mutual inbeing that is be- tween him and believers by love; for the way of the communication of his love. unto them, being by the shedding of it abroad in theirhearts by the Holy Ghost, and their returns of love unto him being wrought in them by an almighty efficiency of the same Spirit, there is that which is deeply mysterious and glorious in it. 1 might mention, also, the continuationof the discharge of all his offices towards us, whereon all our receptions from him, or all the benefits of his mediation, whereof we are made partakers, do depend. But the few in- stances that have been given of the glory of Christ in this mysterious communication of himself unto his church, may suffice to give us such a view of it, as to till our hearts with Holy admiration and thanksgiving.
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