Ojl Book III. Looking unto :Jtft14. Chap. I .Seet. I decree,and Covenant with Chrifr began to come into execution. Indeed at the firft moment was no need ofChrift ; for man at firft was made in holinelfe to the image ofGod, and to beareruleover the reft of the vifible creatures; but alas ! this his ftate was but ofa little !landing ; it was; the received opinion in former ages, that our firft parent~> fell the very fame day in which they were created. .A,tgufJine amongft the refi writes that they flood b\lt fi~ houres : but though we cannot determine the certain time, very probable it is, that it was but 1h9rt: This we Iinde, that after c_Mo(rs had fet down the creation ofman, without the interpofition ofany thing elfe, he comes immediately to the fall; and tileDevil no doubt took the firfi oc«a{ion he po.ffibly could , to bring man to the fame damnation with himfelf. Well then, long it was not, but Adam by his Iinne deprived himfelf, and all his pofterity Of the image ofGod: as all mankind was in his Joynes, fo by the order and appointment ofGod all mankind partakes with him in the guilt of his finnes: Hence is the daily and continuaf cry, not onely of Adam , AbrAhllm, DRvid , Paul, but ofevery Saint , 0 wretched m11n that I am , who foal! deliver me from the body of this death?But fweet foulest fray your complaints, here's Goipel-newes.- . Jn this fad houre of temptation God ftepped in: he will not l~ave man without hope; he tels the Dive! who begun this mifchief; I wilt put enmity between thee, and the woman, and between th7 feed and herfred, it foal/ brHife t~) hefld, and thoufoalt bruife his bee/e. At the very inftant, when God was pronouncing,judgments upon the feveral delinquents in the fall; nay ,before judgment was pronounced on the perfons tempted, a Je[Hs is hinted,the Covenant ofgra<;e is proclaimed.0 the in6nite riches of the mercy ofGod in thrift ! ' Butyouwillfay,howcomesrefmin? hm* carried he onthe great work ofour falvarion in this dark rime. I anfwer, I. By ali'uming and taking upon him the forme and fuape ofman , and fo difcharging fome: fpecial offices in that refpeCl:: We read,c:>ftcn ofChrifts apparitiofl~ before ais incarna•. tion , and then efpecially when he had to do with this great negoti.ati.on of mans Eternal happine!fe. . Some think it not improbable that ChriA: a£fumed the forme ofman when he firft cre- ·~c.d.man, and. fo he: made man J 'no.t onely in his.own image -- · - · - - --- · •- · !!!!ic!Jl
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