1n t/;e Conflitution ofthe Per[on of Chrifl. 2 6 5 Divine Excellencies in their operations, that he fhould be brought into a better and more honourable condition than that which he had loft. But before the .Fall man was not fub– ject nor obedient unto any but tMfo God alone. Somewhat le[S he was in Dignity than the Angels, howbeit he owed them no Obedience, they were his ±ellow-fervants. And as for all other things here below, they were made fubjefl u;tto him, and put under his feet, he himfelf being in fubjetl:ion · unto God alone. But ifhe were redeemed and refiored by – one who was a meer creature, he could not be refiored unto this fiate and dignity. For on all grounds of Right and Equity, he mufl: owe all Ser-vice and Obedience unto him by whom he was redeemed, refiored and recovered, as the Au– thor of the fl:ate wherein he is. For when we are bought with a price, we are not our own, as the Apofl:le affirms, I Cor. 6. I 9, 20. 'Ve are therefore his who bath bought u.r, and him are we bound to ferve in our fouls and bodies which are his. Accordingly in the purchafe of us, the Lord Chrifl: became our abjolute Lor/,untowhom we owe all Relig~ous fubjefrion of foul and corifcience, Rom. I4· 7, 8, 9· It would follow therefore that if we were redeemed and recovered by the Interpofition of a m_eer creature, if fuch an one were our Redeemer, Saviour and Deliverer, into thefervice of a meer creature, that is Religious Seryice and Obedience, we ilmuld be recovered. And io they believe who affirm the Lord Chrifl: to be a man and no more. But on this fuppofition we are fo far from an Advancement in fiate and dignity by our Refl:auration, that we do not recover what we were firfl: en– fiated in. For it belonged thereunto, that we fhould owe Religious Service and Obedience unto him alone who was God by Nature over all bleifed for ever. And they bring all confufion into Chri11:ian Religion, who make a meer crea– ture the object of our Faith, Love, Adoration, Invocation, " Mm and
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