John 6:57

A third reason proving that feeders have life, and that life flowes from union with Christ, is taken from Christs union with his Father, and his being sent by him to do the office of a Mediatour. Wherein he declareth, that as the Father hath sent him to be a Mediator and soul-feeder to beleevers, and as the Father who sent him, liveth of himself, and he (the second person) liveth by the Father, so they who feed on him, shall live by him. Of this doctrine see, in part, on chap. 5.26. Doctrine 1. It is a truth to be much pressed, and wherein we have need to be well rooted, that life and spiritual well-being is to be had onely in Christ embraced by faith, both as purchaser and appliar; Therefore is this again inculcate, he that eateth me, shall live by me. 2. Christ is such a fountain of vertue and life, that even the dead may expect life by closing with him; for, life, or, to live by him, is promised to feeders. 3. Such is a beleevers interest in Christ, that whatever Christ hath, shall be forthcoming for him, as he needs it; for, so doth the argument run, that as he liveth, so they shall live. See John 14.19. 4. The Fathers sending of Christ into the world, to be the Redeemer and Saviour of his people, is a sure pledge that feeders on him shall live; seeing he will not frustrate the Fathers end, but will do the work he is sent about; Therefore is this used as an argument, the Father hath sent me, &c. 5. As the Father hath a fountain of life in himself, and the Son hath the same life communicate to him, with his essence, from the Father, and this dwelleth in the man Christ, by the personal union; so this life of the Father and Christ is a pledge that beleevers shall live; for, as the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so, he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. Beleevers life must be sure, for which there is such a pledge, and that fulnesse of the Godhead, and life, that dwels in the man Christ, cannot but put life, and preserve life, in all that close with him. Yea, Christs living by the Father is not onely a pledge of our life, but our life holds also some proportion or similitude to his: For as he hath life communicate by eternal generation, so by regeneration we are made partakers of the divine nature, 2 Pet. 1.4. to wit, in respect of qualities; as he subsists in his life, as man, by vertue of the personal union with the Godhead; so, do we live by vertue of the mystical inhabitation, or union with God, by his Spirit: And, as he as man had a created life here, and now lives gloriously at the Fathers right hand; so by the gracious operation of Gods Spirit, we shall be made conforme to Christ, and partake of the same life for kinde. 6. Albeit in our application of Christ, we must begin at his crosse and death; yet his whole person is forthcoming to make beleevers live; Therefore, in place of his flesh and blood, he speaks generally, he shall live by me, pointing at his whole person.