ON THE GLO work- of his wisdom, love, and power? Indeed in the first place, it was for the redemption of the church, by the sacrifice of himself and other acts of his mediation. But there is that which is more general and comprehen- sive, and wherein all the concerns of the glory of.God do centre; and this was that he might gather all things into one in him, that the whole creation, especially that which was to be eternally blessed, should have a new head given unto it for its sustentation, preservation, or- der, honour, and safety. All springs are in him, and all streams are unto him, and in and by him unto God. Who can express the divine beauty, order, and har- mony of all things, that are in this their recapitulation in Christ? The union and communion between angels and men, the order of the whole -family in heaven and earth, the communication of life, grace, power, mer- cy, and consolation to the church,,the rule and dispo- sal of all things unto the glory of God, do all depend hereon. This glory_O..od designed unto his Son incar- nate, and it was-thegreatest, the highest that could be communicated unto him. For as the apostle observes, all things are put in subjection unto him, he only ex- " cepted who doth so make them subject, that is, God " the Father." 1 Cor. xv.-27. There is no contemplation of the glory of Christ, that ought more to affect the hearts of them that do believe with delight and joy, than this of the recapitulation of all things in him. Oneview by faith of him in the place of God, as the supreme head of the whole creation, moving, acting, guiding, and disposing of it, will bring in spiritual refreshment unto a believing soul. And it will-do so the more, in that it gives a glorious representation of his divine nature also. For that any Mere creature should thus be an head of life, motion, and power, as also of sovereign rule and disposal of the whole new creation, with all things reduced into order thereby, is not only an impious, hurt a foolish imagina- tion. Did we live more in the contemplation of this glory: of Christ, and of the wisdom of God in this recapittifa- tion of all things in him, there is not any thing of our duty which it would not mind us of, nor any thing of privilegewhich it would not give us a sense of, as might easily be demonstrated. 3. In particular, the Lord Christ is glorious herein, in that the whole breach made on the glory of God in RY OC CHRIST. 55 the creation by the entrance of is hereby repaired and made up. The beauty and order of the whole creation consisted in its dependence on God by the obedience of the rational part of it, angels and men. Thereby were the being, the goodness, the wisdom and power of God made manifest. But the beauty of this order was defac- ed, and the manifestation of the divine perfections unto the glory of God eclipsed by the entrance of sin. But all is restored, repaired, and made up in this recapitu- lation of all things in one new heed. Christ Jesus; yea, the whole curíonsframe of the,divine creation is render- ed more beautiful then it was before. Hosco the whole of it groaneth for the interest of each part in this resto. ration of all things. Whatever there is of order, of beauty, of glory in heaven above, or in earth beneath, it all ariseth from this new relation of the creation unto the Son f God. Whatever is not gathered into one, even in him, in its place and according to its measure, is under darkness, disorder, and the curse. Hence the Jews have a saying, that in the days of the Messiah all things shall be healed but the serpent, that is, the devil, and wicked men which are as his seed. 4. He is glorious herein, in that he is appointed as the only means of exerting and expressing all the trea- sures of the infinite wisdom of God towards his crea- tures. The wisdom of God is absolutely, always, and in all things infinite. God doth not, God -cannot act with more wisdom in one thing than in another; or in the creation of man than in that ofany inanimate crea- tures. In the first creation infinite wisdomwas the in- separable companion of infinite power. How marvel- lous are thy ,works, O Lord! in wisdom hast thou made them all. But when the tffects of this divine wisdom iii their principal beauty and glory were defaced, greater treasures of wisdom were required unto their reparation. And in this re- collection of all things in Christ, slid God lay them forth unto the utmost of whatever he will do in dealing with his creatures; so the apostle ek- presseth it, Eph. iii. 10. ".To the intent that now, un- to the principalities and powers in heavenly places, " might be known by the church the manifold wisdom '.of God." By the recapitulation of all things into this one head, the manifold, various, unsearchable wisdom of God was made known unto the angels themselves. They knew not before of the design and work of God after the entrance of sin. These could not comprehend
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