in t!Je Conflitution ofthe Perfon ~fClJrifl. 23 5 .would learn the Divine Nature, from the Reprefentation ·that is made ofit, in the prefent acbqgs of the Nature ofman, wiil be gradually lead unto the Divelmflead of God.Wherefore no greater indignity could be offered unto 'Divine vJlijdom a~d Holinefs, than there \vas in this Rejection of the Image ofGocl wherein we were created 4 2. There was no way left whereby Glory might re· dound unto God, from the remainder of the Creation here be. low. For the .Nature of man alone was defigned to be the way and means of it,by vertue of ~he Image ef God implanted on it. \Vhe~efore 'manby fin did not only draw off himielf from.that Relation unto God wherein he was made, ~ut drew offthe whole Creatiou here below with himfelf, into an ufelefnefs unt<? his Glory. And upon the entrance of fin, before the ·cure ofour Apofiacy was a.Ctually a:ccomplifhed, the genera– lity of Mankind divided the creatures into two forts ; thofe ahove, or the heavenly booies, and thofe here below. Thofe ......-– of the firfi fort they wojhipedas their Gods ; and thofe of the - other fort they ahufed unto their lufis. -Wherefore God was every way difhonoured in and by them aU; nor was there any Glory given him on their account. What fome at– tGmpted to do of that nature, in a 'f!Vifdom of their own,encled jn folly, and a renewed difhonour of God, as the Apoflle de– clares, Rom. I. r8, 19,21, 22. . · a 3· Man hereby loft all Power andAhility of attaining that End for which he was made, namely, the Eternal Enjoyment of God. Upon the matter, and as much as in us lay, the ,whole end of God in the creation of all things here below, was utterly defeated. But that which was the ma:lignity and poifon ,.of this fin, was the contempt that was cafi on the Hol'inefs of God, whofeReprefentation, and all its exprefs Characters were utterly defpifed and rejefred t.herein. Herein then lay the Hh 2 con·
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