Owen - Houston-Packer Collection BT300 .O9 1679

they were in him, we fpeak in vain of any defign for Conformity unto him. · And this we have not, y~leis Go~jhine into our hearts to give us the Knowledge o±. h1s Glory m, the face ofJefus Chrift. It is, I fay, a fooh1h t~mg to talk o± the Imitation of Chrifl, whilil: really through the darknefs of our minds we difcern not that there is an Excellency in the things wherein we ought to be like unto him. 2. Love unto them jo difcovered inabeam of heavenly Light, is·required unto the fame end. No foul can have 'a defign ofConformit;' unto Chrifl:, but his, who fo likes and loves t11e Graces that were in him, as to eficem a participation of them in their Power, to be the greateP: advantage, to be the moft . invaluable priviledge that can in this world be attained. It is the favour of his good Ointments for which the Virgins love 1. 1 im, cleave unto him, and endeavour to be like him. In that whereof we now difcourfe, namely, of Conformity unto him, he is the Reprefentative of the Image ofGod unto us. And if we do not love and prize above all things thofe gracious qualifications and difpofitions of mind wherein it doth confifl:, whatever we may pretend of the Imitation of Chrifl in any outward ACts orDutie~ofObedience, we have no defign ofConformity unto him. He who fees and admires the Glory of Chrifi as filled with thefe Graces, as he was fairer than the children of men, becaufe Grace was poured into his lips, unto whom nothing is fo defirable, as to have the fame mind, the fame heart, the fame fpirit that was in Chri!l: Jefus, he is prepared to prefs after Conformity unto him. And unto fuch a foul the Reprefentation of all thefe Excellencies in the Perfon of Chrifr, is th,e great incentive, motive and guide, in and unto all internal Obedience unto God. Lafily,That wherein we are to labour for this Conformity may be reduced unto two Heads. F f 2 " 1. An

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