S66 THE GLORY OF CHRIST
2. He thus comminiicates himself unto us, by the formation of a new nature, his own nature, in us; so as that the very same spiritual nature is in him and in the church. . Only, it is so with this differ- ence, that in him it is in the absolute perfection of all those glorious graces wherein it doth consist ; in the church it is in various 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 pre- cious 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 those gracious qualifications, as unto the essence and substance of them, wherewith he himself in his human nature is en- dued. This is that new man, that new creature, that divine nature, that spirit which is born of the Spirit, that transformation into the image of Christ, that putting of him on, that workmanship of God whereunto in him we are created, that the Scripture so fully testifieth unto, John iii. 6; Rom. vi. 3-8; 2 Cor. iii. 18, v. 17; Eph. iv. 20-24; 2 Peter i. 4.
And that new heavenly nature which is thus foraied 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, — in- asmuch as we are predestinated to be conformed unto his image, — and as it is wrought or produced in our souls by an emanation of power, virtue, and efficiency from him.
This is a most heavenly way of the communication of himself unto us, wherein of God " he is made unto us wisdom and sanctification." Hereon he says of his church, " This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh;" — I see myself, my own nature, in them; Avhence 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, depends all the purity, the beauty, the holiness, the inward glory of the church. Hereby is it really, substantially, internally separated from the world, and distinguished from all others, who, in the outward form 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 renovation of his image in the world; — herein the Lord Christ is, and will be, glorious unto all eternity. I only men- tion these things, which deserve to be far more largely insisted on.
3. He doth the same by that actual insition or implantation into himself which he gives us by faith, which is of his o-\vn operation. For hereon two things do ensue ; — one by the grace or power, the other
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Ly 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 hereby there is communicated unto us, and we do derive, supplies of spiritual life, sustentation, motion, strength in grace, and perseverance from him continually. This is that which himself so divinely teacheth in the parable of the vine and its branches, John xv. 1-5. Hereby is there a continual communi- cation from his all-fulness of grace unto the whole church and all the members of it, unto all the ends and duties of spiritual life. They live, nevertheless not they, but Christ liveth in them ; and the life which they lead in the flesh is by the faith of the Son of God. And the other, — by virtue of the law and constitution of the Gospel, — is, that hereon his righteousness and all the fruits of his mediation are imputed unto us ; the gloiy of which mystery the apostle unfolds, Rom. iii.-v.
I might add hereunto the mutual inbeing that is between him and believers by love ; for — the way of the communication of his love imto them being by the shedding of it abroad in their hearts 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. I might mention also the continuation of his 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 instances that have been given of the glory of Christ in this mysterious com- munication of himself unto his church may suffice to give us such a view of it as to fill our hearts with holy admiration and thanksgiving.