And not holding the Head: here the apostle suggests, that those things he had before taxed did proceed from hence, that they let go the Lord Christ himself, Colossians 2:8,9, from whom all truths are to be derived, and consequently he is all truth itself, 1 Thessalonians 14:6; not to adhere to him is the spring of all apostacies, lie being the Head: see Ephesians 4:15,16. From which all the body; whence is communicated and distributed such influence to the body, the church, as is necessary to all the sensations and motions thereof. By joints and bands having nourishment ministered; being in all its members fitly framed together by the Spirit, Ephesians 2:21,22, and united by faith, Ephesians 3:17, hath a continual subsidy of life and vigour. And knit together; and fastened together in a spiritual union, which joineth all believers to their Head, and each of them to the other in him, 1 Corinthians 10:17, 1 Corinthians 12:12,20,25,27. Increaseth with the increase of God; whereupon, to mutual edification in love, it groweth with a Divine growth and spiritual increase, arising from the efficacy of God, and tending to his glory; being filled with the influences of his grace, 1 Corinthians 3:6, it is established and strengthened by little and little, in light and purity, and all graces, till it attain to the measure of its perfect stature in Christ Jesus our Lord; whereas an increase in the traditions of men, and the inventions of flesh, do only blow it up with wens and imposthumes, to the disfiguring, deforming, and destroying of it.

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