Goodwin - BX9315 G6 v2

Of the fV!o'ilJledg of {jod the Father, ~ If the Que(\ion be, Which of thefe two is principally and more direCHy inBo ° KIll. tended in thefe words? I aniwer, the latter, and that for two Reaions. ~ 1. Becaufe he is not Gm1·ly termed tbe Image of God, but with this addition, of the !11vi(lble God; which does neceffari\y imply, his being fuch an Image, as relates unto us; that is, that he is ft1ch an Image as makes the Godhead, which is in it [elf inviGblc" or incomprchenGble, to be manifeO: and vilible : For that is the end of an Image, namely, to hold forth a thing to make it apparent to the ''itw 1 which otherwife is not feen. Then 2. The Godhead and Perfon of Chrill:, conlidered limply as Second Pcrlon \ s in himfclf as invilible as the Godhead, or Perlon of the Father. The meani;g ther:cof is this, That in ChriO:, JS Man, united to the Second Perfon, there is a r-.dultancc, an edition of the Godhead, m all the Perfections of it; which I may call fo many Divwe AttributeJ of Chrill:, as God-man, (even as we uiually call the other the Divine Attributes of God) which do make up an Image of the Godhead ; which in Heb. 1. 3· is called, not only the Image of God~ but ( with a difference from all Creatures) the exprefl Image, or engra– ven Image, that is fuch as no Creatures arc. The Image of God's Attributes in Angels and Men, are but fuch as the Light of Tapers in refpect of the Sun, of which that is but a dull and faint R.eftmblance. But Chri(\ is the Shine, the bright– nef of hn Father's Glory. Even as the Beams of the Sun are to the Body of the Suo; as, Lumm eft !rJUtgo lucis, fo is Chrifl: God's Image. And this Gmilitude the Apo(\\e there uleth, and applies it to him as he was Man, namely, as he was appointed Heir of all. Which Phrale," as he is meerly Second Perfoo, might not be ufcd of him, for fo he is H£res Nat11s, not COffflitutus, not appointed Heir, but begotten. Now as the Rays or Beams of the Sun, are but the Emiffions and Effects of the Sun it felf; and fo far inferior to the fubUantial glorious ·Body of it: So this Image, or Shine of the Godhead's Glory in the Manhood of Chrill:, is but the R.elutlancc, the Effect, and lo inferior to thot Effential Glory, which as Second Perion he partakes of in common with his Father. Thus Beza, Ca1/:Cro,, and others, have underll:ood it. H. For the Thing it felf, and to explain \\hat this Image of the Divine Attri– butes in Chrill: as God-Man is. It is not that bare Communication of Proper– ties, fo as only that which is laid of the Godhead, is predicated of the Man– hood : Or that the Manhood inUrumemally uleth the Attnbutes of the God– head, and fo is omnifcient with the Omnifcitncy of the Divine Nature, and om– nipotent.'-"ith his Omnipotency, (as the Lutberans fondly do dream). But it is · fttch a Syll:em, or Fulnefs of Perfections really inherent and appertaining unto the Manhood, by virtue of that its Union with the Divine Nature; as although ' infinitely coming fhort of the Attributes that are effential to the Godhead, .yet is the compleate(\ Image of them, and luch as no meer Creature is capable of; and lo is as truly incommunicable unto a creature, ( whetht·r it be Man or An– gel ) as thole Attributes of the Godhead are to thi> Humanity of Chri(\ it [elf, though lo united. This in general may be made om of that Parenthells, in Jof.n I. I+ (And rr:e beleld h;, Glory, the Glory a<the only begotten Son of God)– By Glory, the Evangeli(\ means elpecially thole glorious Perfections that dwell in his Perlon, as Holinefs, Wildom, &c. for it follows, f•ll of Grace and Tmth; though withal including thole Signs of his Power, as Sparkles of his Divinity, that dwelt in that Flelb, and allo referring to that Glory they law in him at his transfiguration. The Effential Glory of his Godhead, it could not be, for they opwly j<iwd; (as the word Ggnifies) and therefore it is not meant of the Glory of the Godhtad it lelf, which is here f.1id to be invilible; and there it is alfo faid of it too, that that is luch r.hich 110 Man h.tth Jeen, verf. 18. Now the Glory of thele his Perfections fhinir.g in that Humane Nature, was fuch as was peculiar to him, and tranlccndemly above what could be in any meer Creature, and fuch as carried its own Evidence and TcUimonial with it, that they were fuch Perfecti– ons as were proper and peculiar to the only begotten of God ; therefore it is added, the Glory, aJ of the o11ly begotten of God; that is, fuch as could be in none but him that was God, and the natural Son of God. That as the Shine of the Sur. carries its own."Evidcnce with-it, and it is the Glory, as of the Sun when it appears;

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