The book describes the 'Inner man':
- "it is not a spirit"
- "is exactly like the outer man; having parallel members: eyes, ears, hands, legs, and so on."
- "It begins in the form of a seed, in our spirit."
- If stunted in growth, "it can be seen as a face without eyes, a face and neck without hands, a face and neck without an abdomen, or missing any of the parts or members."
- If it had "fully grown" can be seen "with the same contour" of the person, "shining and the glory of Christ filling this inner man."
- "the 'inner man' is 'Christ in me'"
Is there any reference in the Bible or the 'early fathers' to deformed 'inner man' or 'Christ in me'?
What are the references for the 'anatomical' parallelism with physical body? And the proper process of growth?
St. Augustine mentioned in his commentary on Psalm 4″The light of Your countenance, says he, is stamped on us, O Lord. This light is the whole and true good of man, which is seen not with the eye, but with the mind. But he says, stamped on us, as a penny is stamped with the king’s image. For man was made after the image and likeness of God, Genesis 1:26 which he defaced by sin: therefore it is his true and eternal good, if by a new birth he be stamped. And I believe this to be the bearing of that which some understand skilfully; I mean, what the Lord said on seeing Cæsar’s tribute money, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s; and to God the things that are God’s. Matthew 22:21 As if He had said, In like manner as Cæsar exacts from you the impression of his image, so also does God: that as the tribute money is rendered to him, so should the soul to God, illumined and stamped with the light of His countenance. Psalm 4:7 You have put gladness into my heart. Gladness then is not to be sought without by them, who, being still heavy in heart, love vanity, and seek a lie; but within, where the light of God’s countenance is stamped. For Christ dwells in the inner man, Ephesians 3:16-17 as the Apostle says; for to Him does it appertain to see truth, since He has said, I am the truth. John 14:6 And again, when He spoke in the Apostle, saying, Would you receive a proof of Christ, who speaks in me? 2 Corinthians 13:3 He spoke not of course from without to him, but in his very heart, that is, in that chamber where we are to pray.” also in his commentary on Psalm 1 “4. The ungodly are not so, they are not so, but are like the dust which the wind casts forth from the face of the earth Psalm 1:4. The earth is here to be taken as that steadfastness in God, with a view to which it is said, The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, yea, I have a goodly heritage. With a view to this it is said, Wait on the Lord and keep His ways, and He shall exalt you to inherit the earth. With a view to this it is said, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
A comparison too is derived hence, for as this visible earth supports
and contains the outer man, so that earth invisible the inner man. From the face of which earth the wind casts forth the ungodly, that is, pride, in that it puffs him up. On his guard against which he, who was inebriated by the richness of the house of the Lord, and drunken of the torrent stream of its pleasures, says, Let not the foot of pride come against me. From this earth pride cast forth him who said, I will place my seat in the north, and I will be like the Most High. Isaiah 14:13-14 From the face of the earth it cast forth him also who, after that he had consented and tasted of the forbidden tree that he might be as God, hid himself from the Face of God. Genesis 3:8 That his earth has reference to the inner man, and that man is cast forth thence by pride, may be particularly seen in that which is written, Why is earth and ashes proud? Because, in his life, he cast forth his bowels. Sirach 10:9 For, whence he has been cast forth, he is not unreasonably said to have cast forth himself.”