lesh, and a fleshly man
made spirit, then they are near the day of espousals; and this indwelling
of the Spirit is the last link of the chain that fastens us to Christ, and
maketh our flesh in some measure like his holy flesh. By taking on our
flesh, Christ became bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; but the
union becometh mutual when we receive the Spirit, we become bone of his
bone, and flesh of his flesh, as it is expressed, Eph. v. 30, in allusion
to the creation of Eve, and her marriage to Adam. The ground of the
marriage is that near bond of union,--"Because she was taken out of man,"
and, therefore, because of his flesh and bone, she was made one flesh with
him. Even so the sinner must be partaker of the Spirit of Christ, as
Christ is partaker of the flesh of sinners, and these two concurring,
these two knots interchanging and woven through other, we become one flesh
with him. And this is a great mystery, indeed, to bring two who were so
far asunder, so near other. Yea, it is nearer than that too, for we are
said not only to be one flesh with Christ, but one spirit, 1 Cor. vi. 17.
"He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit," because he is animated
and quickened by one spirit,--that same spirit of Christ. And, indeed,
spirits are more capable of union, and more fit to embosom one with
another than bodies, therefore, the nearest union conceivable is the union
of spirits by affections, this maketh two souls one, for it transports
their spirit out of the body where it lives, and settleth it there where
it loveth.

Now, my beloved, you see what way this great marriage, that heaven and
earth are in a longing expectation after shall be brought about. Christ
did forsake his Fathers house when he left that holy habitation, his
Fathers bosom,--a place of marvellous delight, (Prov. viii. 30) and
descended into the lower parts of the earth (Eph. iv. 9) and, he came out
from the Father into the world, John xvi. 28. This was a great journey to
meet with poor sinners. But that there may be a full and entire meeting
you must leave and forsake your fathers house too, and forget your own
people, Psalm xlv. 10. You must give an entire renounce to all former
lovers if you would be his. All former bonds and engagements must be
broken, that this may be tied the faster. And, to hold to the subject in
hand, you must forsake and forget the flesh, and be possessed of his Holy
Spirit. As he came down to our flesh, you must rise up