1 3 l An humble Enqui;y into the 1nfinite T¥ifdom ofGoa · it of his Power and Rule. The former was the fubfl:ance of it, the latter a neceffary confequent thereof. This Repre– -:- femation, I fay of God, in Power and Rule, was not that - Image of God wherei~ man was created, but a confequent · ·of it. So the vvords and their order declare. Let us make · man in our Image, and after our likenifs, and let them have dominion over the fijh oFthe Sea, &c, Becaufe he was made in the Image of God, this Dominion ancl Rule were granted unto him. So tond is their. Imagination who would have .· ·~ ~ the Im:tge of God to confiil folely in thefe things. Wherefor~ the lofs of the lr!Jage of God was not originally the lofs of PO\ver and Dommion, or a Right thereunto. But <'!" .man was clepri7Jed of that Right, on the lofs of that Image ~<which it was granted unto. Wherein it did confifr. See Ec- . c)ej: 7· 29. Epbe/ 4- 24- . · d Three·things God defigned in this ·communication of his bn.1g,~ urito our Nature, which were his principal ends in the creation of all things here below. And therefore was Divine \Vifdom more eminently exerted therein, than in all the other works of this interiour Creation . P.f 4 r . . The firfl was, that he might therein make a RepreJentation of his Holinejs and Rig,hteoufnefs among his crea– tures. This \Vas not done in any other of them. Cha– raCters they had on them of his Goodnefs, Wifdom and Power. In thefe things the Heavens declare ~he Glory ofGod, and the Firmament jheweth his hand)·work. His eter11al Power and Godheadare manifefl: in the things that are made. But none of them, not the whole fabrick of H~aven and Earth, with all their glorious ornaments and endowments, were Either fit or able to receive any impreilions of his Ho– linefs and Righteoufnefs, of any of the moral Perfections, or univerfal Rechtude of his Nature. Yet in the demonfl:ra– tion and reprefentation of thefe things cloth the Glory of.Go~ pnnc1-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=