Life of God [IN] the Soul of Man

Henry Scougal's book, The Life of God in the Soul of Man has been helpful and formative as I study the Christian's union with Christ. It is available for free as a Google ebook.

Scougal expresses the essence of the gospel-centered life.

"They know that by experience that true religion is a union of the soul with God, a real participation of the divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon the soul, or, in the apostle's phrase, it is Christ formed within us. Briefly, I know not how the nature of religion can be more fully expressed, than by calling it a divine life."

The Christian life is not merely right doctrine, it is not simply passion for God, it is not only missionary service to the world, but rather it is "the life of God in the soul of man." All three of these (head, heart, hand) are "emanations of the divine life." Pastor Scotty Smith has said that the gospel leads us to cultivate informed minds, enflamed hearts and engaged hands, where neither is neglected to the seclusion of one. This flows from vital union with Christ rather than cold, metallic obedience to the law.

"The love which a pious man bears to God and goodness, is not so much by virtue of a command enjoying him so to do, as by a new nature instructing and prompting him to it; nor doth he pay his devotions as an unavoidable tribute only to appease the divine justice, or quiet his clamorous conscience; but those religious exercises are the proper emanations of the divine life, the natural employments of the new-born soul. He prays, and gives thanks, and repents, not only because these things are commanded, but rather because he is sensible of his wants and of the divine goodness and of the folly and misery of sinful life." 

How does anyone find their way into union with Christ? Faith.

"The root of divine life is faith; the chief branches are love to God, charity to men, purity, and humility... "

What exactly is faith again?

"Faith hath the same place in the divine life, which sense hath in the natural, being indeed nothing else but a kind of sense, or feeling persuasion of spiritual things; it extends itself unto all divine truths, but in our lapsed estate, it hath a peculiar relation to the declaration of God's mercy and reconcilableness to sinners through a Mediator, and therefore, receiving its denomination from that principal object, is ordinarily termed faith in Jesus Christ."

- Henry Scougal, Life of God in the Soul of Man