ofGod and his \'fill. 71 felf unto us, ·was the only means ofRecovery from the firfl: Apojlacy. The way found out by men unto the fame End, was the great means of cafiing the generality of mankind in– to the farthefl: degree of a New Apoffacy from God whereof our Nature is capable~ And of the fame kind will all .our contrivances in what belongs unto his Worfl1ip and Glory, be found to be, though unto us they may appear both fpe~ cious and necdTary. This therefore iliould lead us into a continual admiration of theWifdom and Grace of God; with a due fenfe of our own 'Vilenefi and /Jafenefs by Nature. For we are in nothing better or wifer than they, who fell into the utmofi folly and wickednefs, in their defigns for the higheil: End, or the Reprefentation of God unto J:lS. The more we dwell on fuch Confiderations, the more Fear and Reverence of God, with Faith, Trufi and Delight in himwill be encreafed; as alfo Humility in our [elves, with a fenfe of Divine Grace and Love. · 2. There is a peculiar Ground of the Spiritual Efficacy of this Reprefentation of God. The Revelation that he hath made of himfelf, and of the glorious Properties of his Na. ture in the works of Creation and Providence, are in them– felves clear,plainand manifeft, Pfal. 19. I, 1. Rom. I. 21, 22. Thofe which are made in Chrifi are juUime and m..Jflerious.· Howbeit the Knowledge we have of him as he is reprefented unto us in Chrifi, is far more dear, certain, fieady, effefrual and operative, than any we can attai..r1 in and by all other waies of Revelation. The Reafon hereof is, not only be– caufe there is a more full and extenfive Re'Ve!ation made of ·God, his Counfels and his Will, in Chriil: and the Gofpel, than in all the works of Creation and Providence ; but becaufe this, Revelation and Reprefentation of God is received by Faith alone, the other ~y Reafon only; and it is Faith that is the P~inciple ,ofSpiritual Light and Life in us. Wh~t ~s
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