3i8 CHR IST TI-iE txPREss IMAGE oF THE FATHER. Book II. D S P A R I T Y. 13· The Power and Condefcenrton of God is wonderful, many ways demon!l:rateci but nothing like what it is in Chri!l:, in taking our Nature into perfonal Union with hrmfelf; thot the Son of God lhould become Man ! The Ancient of Days become a Child! He that made the World, born of a Woman! 'i'fhen Satan had done his worl\ that he might dd\roy Man, Man is by the Power of God advanced to greater Glory and Happinefs• than he had before he fell. 14. Moreover, [might fpeak of the Patience, Forbearance, and Faithfulnefs of God ; all which, and many more of the glorious Attributes of the Father lhine forth moll: lively in Jefus Chri!l:. Befides, the Perfons or Subfifl:ences of the 'Bleffed Trinity are more clearly difcovered by Jefus Chri!l:, than ever before. Fir.ft; In hi3 own Perfon. Secondly ; In his Doctrine. 'J'hirdly; In his Baptifm, or when he was baptized. Fourthly ; In his Commiffion, Matt. 28. 19, 20. Fifthly; In theit di!l:inCl: Offices, Operations, and Workings. La.ftly; The Will of God, and his holy Laws and In!\itutions, are only made known by the Son. METAPHOR. IIL l t is grofs Idolatry to wor– lhip Images, or the Likenefs ofany Thing in Heaven above, or the Earth beneath. IV. Other Images are foon marred and pafs away. D IS PAR IT Y. IlL Chri!\, who is the Image of God, ought to be adored and worn1rpped by Men and Angels: And when he brings in the Fir.ft-begotten into the World, he faith , And let all the Angels of God wor– jhip him, Heb. i. 6. IV. Chrilt, the Image of God, abides for ever; Time, nay, Eternity, will not alter or change him, nor marr his Beauty. N F E R E N C E ~ 1. WE may from hence perceive the wonderful Love, Goodnefs, and Condefcenfion of God to Mankind, who feeing how unable we are to under!\and, compre– hend, conceive, or take in the Knowledge of himfelf, (who is fo infinite and inacceffi. ble in his Being, Glory, and MajefJ:y) is pleafed to l\oop fo low, as to afford us a Figure, Image, and lively Reprefentation of himfelf, that fo we might not frame falfe Ideas of God, or entertain any vain or unworthy Apprehenfions of)lim in our Minds. z, This alfo abundantly demon!\rates, how exceeding willing the bleffed God is to reveal or make known himfelf unto his Creatures. 3· This difcovers the Neceffity of coming unto God by Chri!\, and what Advantage the Chri!\ian World have above the Heathen Nations: For though he hath in the vilible Creation implanted feme Refemblances or CharaCters of his Excellencies, and left feme Foot!\eps of his bleffed and facred Properties, that by the Contemplation of them Men mi<>ht come to have feme Acquaintance with him, as Creator, which might en– coura<>e~hem to fear and love him, and make him their la!\ End ; yet all Expreffions of God, befides this of Chri!\ J efus, are partial, lhort, and infufficient to diicover all that is neceffary to be known, that we may live to him here, and enjoy him hereafter. 4· It may caution all Men, to take heed they do not imagine to come to the true Knowledae of God any other way but by the Lord Jefus: For no Man knoweth the Father bt":t the Son, and he to whom the Son will •·eveal him, Matt. xi. 27. All mifs of Happinefs, that feek it not by Jefus Chrilt. We mufJ: feek the Father in the Son, and by him; labor to believe in, or come to God by Jefus Chrift. This is for Direc– tion ro us in all religious Worlhip. 5· The Godly may from hence alfo fee, what reafon they have to love and delight themfelves in Jefus ChrifJ:. Brethren, fJ:udy the Knowledge of Chn!l:, look often upon this glorious and bleffed Image. Man¥ are taken with PiCl:ures and Reprefentanons of Things and Perfons; but how vam IS that ? Here 1s the Ima~e you lho~1ld del!ght yourfelves in; look to Jefus; much Profit, as well as Joy and Comfort, Wlll redound to you hereby. This is an Image that abides for ever, which God allows you to worlh(p and adore him by. 6. Prize
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