336 FORGIVENESS OF SIN. and holiness is granted upon that prayer and interces- sion of Christ which is peculiar to them, with an exclu- sion of all others : " I pray. for them, I pray not for the world." Now, the common grace of unregenerate per- sons, whatever it be, has not this special relation to the oblation and intercession of Christ. Again, the truly regenerate have a real relation to Christ, as he is the livingquickeninghead ofthe church ; the fountain of spiritual life, and of all vital acts what- ever. Christ is our life, and our life is hid with him in God. Col. 3 : 2, 3. That eternal life which consists in the knowledge of the Father and the Son, John, 17 : 3, is in him as the cause, head, spring and fountain. In him it is in its fullness, and from thence it is derived unto all that believe, who receive from his fulness grace for grace. John, 1 : 16. All true, saving, sanctify- ing grace, all spiritual life, is derived directly from Christ, as the living Head of his church and the foun- tain of all spiritual life. This the apostle expresses, " Speaking the truth in love, grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ ; from whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, unto the edifying of itself in love." Eph. 4 : 15, 16. See also Col. 2 : 19. All grace in the whole body comes from the Head, Christ Jesus ; and there is no growth or furtherance of it but by his effectual work- ing in every part. Nothing then, no, not the least of this grace, can be obtained but by virtue of our union with Christ as our Head, because it consists in a vital effectual influence from him and his fulness. And this
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=