came fully consciousof their treasurein Christ, the union itself existed (even subjectively)
from the moment of their first cry of faith.
This leads to the fifthand laststage, viz., death. Rejoicing in Him with joy unspeakable
and full of glory, altho not seeing Him, much more remains to be desired. Hence our union
337with Him does not attain its fullest unfolding until every lack be supplied and we see Him
as He is; and in that blissful vision we shall be like Him, for then He will give us all that He
has. Therefore faith makes us partakers first of Himself and then of all His gifts, as the
Heidelberg Catechism clearly teaches.
3d. The third point to which we call attention is the nature of this union with Immanuel.
It has a nature peculiar to itself; it may be compared to other unions, but it can never be
fullyexplained by them. Wonderful is the bond between body and soul; more wonderful
still the sacramental bond of holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; equally wonderful the
vital union between mother and child in her blood, like that of the vine and its growing
branches; wonderful the bond of wedlock; and much more wonderful the union with the
Holy Spirit, established by His indwelling. But the union with Immanuel is distinct from
all these.
It is a union invisible and intangible; the ear fails to perceive it, and it eludes all invest-
igation; yet it is very real union and communion, by which the life of the Lord Jesus directly
affects and controls us. As the unborn babe lives on the mother-blood, which has its heart-
beat outsideof him, so we also live on the Christ-life, which has its heart-beat notin our
soul, but outsideof us, in heaven above, in Christ Jesus.
4th. In the fourth place, altho the union with Christ coincides with our covenant-relation
to Him as the Head, yet it is not identical with it. Our relations of fellowship to Christ are
many. There is a fellowship of feeling and inclination, of love and attachment; we are disciples
of the Prophet; we are His blood—bought possession; the subjects of the King; and members
of the Covenant of Grace of which He is the Head. But instead of absorbing the “unio mys-
tica,” they are all based upon it. Without this real bond all the others are only imaginary.
Hence, while we know, feel, and confess that it is glorious to be safely hid in our Covenant-
Head, it is sweeter, more precious and delightful to live in the mystical fellowship of Love.
XXVI. The Mystical Union with Immanuel