238~----~--T. __ he__ El_a_r_m~~-~-o~f_t_m __ V_i_vt_·n_e_A_t~tr_ib_u_te_s~~----~ ~ Chap. 20. ~ The Divine Power i.f admirably glorified iil rbe Creaiioit of ihe World~ in re~ fpeCi of the greatnefs- of the effeCi, and ihe manner of itJ- produCiion. 'Tis a1 evident in 011i' Redemption. The principal EjfeCiJ of it are . conjidered. The Incarnation of the Son ofGotl iJ a Worb..[uUy refponjible,to Ommpottnce. Our KedtemerJ fupernatural Conception by the Holy Ghoft. The Divine Power was eminently declared in the M#acles Jefus Chrift wrought in the courfe of his Miniftry. HiJ Miracles- were the Evidence of his Celeftial Calling ; they were llecefJary for the ConviClion of the World : their Nature con" jidered. The Divine Power was glorified in Ntak.jng the Deatb of Chr'fi viCloriOJU over aU our fpiritnal Enemies. The KefHrreCiioJZ of Chrift the ejfeCi of glorious Power. The Keafons of it from the quality · of hiJ Perfon, and the natnre of his Office, that be might difpenfe the Blejfings he bad purcbafed f or Believers. His- KefurreCiion ii the Foundation of Faith. It batb a three{9ld refertnce, to his Perfon as the Son of God, to his Death as an .411-fufficient Sacrifice, to his l'romife of taijing Believers at the la.ft-day. T. HE Divine Power is admirabl y glorified i n the Creation of the World, not only in regard of the greatnefs of the Effefr, that comprehends the Heavens and Earth, and all things in them ; but in regard of the mar vellous way of its Produmon·: for He made.the great Univerfe, without the concurrence of any material caufe, from nothing. For this reafon the raifing this glorious Fabrick is produc'd as the d iftinctive Character of the Deity from the Troop of falfe Gods. T he Pfalmift declares, Pfal. 96. 4, 5· The Lord i< to he f e.red above all God1, for all the God1 of the Nation1 are Idols, h•t the Lord made the Heavens. And as he began the Creation by proceeding from nothing to real Exiftence, [o in forming the other Parts, he drew them from infirm and indifpofed matter, as from afecond nothi ng; that all his Creatures might bear the real Tefiimonies of Infinite Power. Thus be commanded Light to arife out of Darknefs, and fenfible Creatures from an infenfible Element. He created Man, the AccompliChment of all his Works, from the loweft and groffeft Element, the Earth. Now although at the firft view we might conceive that the vilible World is the greateft Miracle that ever God performed ; yet upon Cerious RefleCtion we Chall di fcove r, that the Works of Grace are as wonderful as the Works of Nature, and that the Power of God is as evidently expreft in our Redemption as in the Creation. For the fu ller underftanding of this, I will confider Come of the principal Effefrs of the Divine Power in order to our bleffed Recovery. t. The Incarnation of the Son of God, in accompliChing whereof [uch Power was exercis'd, as no limited Underftanding isablero comprehend. TheWord W<1 1Jiade Flefh. This fignifies the real Union between the Humane Nature, and the Divine in our Redeemer, J oh. ~ · 14. Be fore his Incarnation he appeart!d in an hunume Form to the Patriarchs, and in the flaming BuCh to Mo[e1; b~t 'tis never [aid with refpefr to thofe Apparitions, that the Word was made Flame, or Man. But "hen he came into the World to Cave us, he affum'd the compl eat Nature of Man into an Hypojiatical Union with himfelf. That admirable Per[on poffeffes the Titl es, Q 1alities and Natures of God and Man. In that ineffable Union, each of the Natures preferves its proper Form with all the nece[- fa ry Confequems proceeding from it. The Humane Nature is joyn'd to the Eternal Word , but not chang'd into its Divinity ; 'tis not infinite and impaffible. T he Deuy is united to FleCb, but noc transformed into its Nature, "ris not finite and paffible. Tho" there is a difiinC\ion, yet no Ceparation: there are two Natures, but one folf ]eji11. In the CameSubfiftence the Creator and the Creature are miracu loufly allied. Now this is • Work fully refponfibl e to Omnipotence, and expreffes whatever isfignified by that T itle. The Apoftle mentions it with an Attribute of Excellency, 1 Tim. 3· 1 6 . Without conlrov<>jj great is the Mjjler1 •f Godlinefs, God manifejl in the FlrfiJ. 'Tis as Cublime, as holy. In this the Divine Power appears in its Magnificence, and in Come refpefr mo~e glon·
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