The lJ]'.fterie of the Low of God mzd otJr Jelrves, opened. 2 5· All Created Good is therefore Dc:rivative, Dependant, Contingent, Finite, Se,ondary, From God. By God, and To God, receiving its Form and Meafure from its refped' to Him. 2 6. Yet as it may be fuhordinately Ftomman, as the Prjnciple of his own ACl::ions, and Byma•as a fubord inate RHle~ of himit:lf or. or~ers, andTo. m11n as a fubordinateEnd; fo there is accordingly a[ubordinatt fort ol Goodmji, wh1ch IS fo denommated from thefe rcfpeCh unto the Creature, that is bimfclf Good, fubordinJrdy ; · 27· But all this {ttburdiuate Goodnrfs ( Bonum a nobil, tl(»tum Jer nor, Bonum nobH) is but Analo. gi~.:,dly fo; and dcpendamly on the torrner fort of Goodnefi, and is fomcthing in dqe fuhordination to it and againjf it, notbing, that ~s, not properly Good. 28. The bllt and cxcdlentefl. Creatures, in the forefaid Goodmfs~relaud to God, arc moll to be Io. ved ; and all according to the Degree of their Goodncfs more than as Good in rebtion to our [elves. , ,, 29· But feeing their Goodnefs is f"maVy their Relation unto God it followeth that they are Loved primarily only for his f•ke, and confequently Gods Image or Glory in them is firll Loved; and fo the true Love of any Creature is but a fecondary fort of the Love of God. 30. The bell being no<t to God is the u~iv,erfe, or whole Creation, and therefore next him moll to be loved by us. 3 r • The next in Amiablene!S is the whole cale{lial fociety, Chri£1, Angels and Saints. 3 2· The next, wbcn we come to difiinguifh them is Chriits own Created Gloritied Nature in the Pe~fon of the Mediator. Becaufe Gods Glory, or Image is mo£1 upon him. 33· The next in Amiablenefs is the whole Angelica! li:x:icty, or the orders of Intellectual Spirits aboveman. - 34• The next is the fpirits of the ]u{l made perfect, or the Triumphant Church of Saints in Heaven. 35· The next is all this lower world. 36. The next is the Church in the world, or militant on earth. 37· The next are the particular Kingdoms and Societies of the world, (and fa the Churches) ac– cording to their various degrees. 38. The next under focietics and multitudes, are thofe individual pC<fons who are Bell in the three fore-mentioned refpccts: WhC!her our fdves or orhm ; And thus by the objects, {hould our Love that is Ri.tional, be diverfified in D~gt Lt:, ·and that be Loved befi that is bc:fl. 39• The Amiable Image of God in man is ( as bath oft been faid): 1. Our Natural Image of God, or the Image of hi~ three Effcndal properties as fuch, that is, Our Vital .tfllive Power, our lnteYclJ, and ourn-ill. 2 . Our }.1/orat Image., or the Image of his faid properties in their perfc:Cl:ions: viz. Our~ Holinefs, that is, Our Holy Life or fpiritual vivacity and Active Power, Our Holy Light, or Wif– dom, our Hofy Wills or Love. 3· Our Kel:ltive Image of God, or the Image of his Supereminencie,Do– minio;J or Majefly; which is, 1. Common to Man, in refped to the Inferiour Creatures, that we are theit Owner.r, Governtrs and End (and Benif:~[iors) 2· Eminently in Rulers of Mm, PartHIJ and Princes, who are Analogically fub.awners, fub-rulers, and fub-bentfadors (o their inferiors, in vari.. ous degrees. By which it is diCcernablc what it is that we are to Love in· man, and with what va– ~iety of j,jnd. and degrees of Love, as the Kinds and degrees of amiablenefs in the obje6ts differ. 40 • Even the Sun, and Moon and frame of N.uure, the Inanirnates and Bruits, rnufi be Loved in that Degree Compared to Man and to one another, as their Goodnefs before defcribed, that is, t!x Imprtffions of the Divine perfections do more or lefs Glorioufly appeor in them; and as they are adapted to him the ultimate end. +'· As God is in this life; feen but darkjy and as in a Glafs, fa alfo proportionably to be Loved; For·our Love cannot exceed our Knowledge. 4z, Yet it followeth not that we mull Love.him onfy a< he •ppeartth in hiJJ•orkJ, (which dernon– llrate him as effects do their caufc;) for both by rhe laid works improved by Reafon, and by his word, we know that he is before his wm~s, and above them, and fo difl.inct from them as to tran.. fcend, and comprehend, and caufe them all, by a continual caufality : And therefore he mull accordingly be Loved. • 4 3. Ir greatly hindereth our Love to God, when we overlook all the intermediate excellencies be– tween Him and us, which are much better, and therefore more amiable than our felves: fuch as are before recited. 44 • The Love'of the univerfe as bearing the liveliell Image or impre!S of their Caufe, is an emi– nent fecondary Love of God, and a great help to our Primary or Immediate Love of him. Could we comprehend the Glorious excellency qf the univerfa1 Creation, in its matter, form, parts, order and ufes, we 1hould fee fo Glorious an Image of God, as would unfpcakably promote the work of Love. 45, Whether the G L 0 RY of God in HE AV EN which will for ever beatific the beholders and polfclfors, be the Divine Effence ( which is every where ) or a Created Glory purpofely there placed ,for the felicity of holy !Pirits, and what that Glory is, are qucllions fi1rell for the be· holders and po!Tclfors to refolve. 46. But if it .be no more than·the Univerfai exifient frame of Nature, Containing all the Crea· tures of God, beheld UJto intuitu in the Nature, order and Jfe of all the parts , it would be an un.. conceivable felicity to the beholder5, as beini; an unconceivabl_e Glerious Demonllation of the Deity. +7· It /
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