88 GENERAL DISPENSATI arise, and no otherwise. (S.) This, therefore, was to be done in this great work, and it was done accordingly. Hence is the Lord Christ, in his work of mediation, said to be the image of the invisible God, Col, i. 15. oc The brightness of his glory, and the express image « of his person," Heb. i. S. ,< In whose face the9enow- « ledge of the glory of God shineth forth unto us," 2 Cor. iv. 6. Because in and by him, in his work of the stew creation, all the glorious properties of the nature of God are manifested and displayed incomparably a- bove what they were in the creation of all things in the beginning. I say, therefore, in the contrivance, pro- jection, production, carrying on, disposal, and accom- plishment of this great work, God bath made the most eminent and glorious discovery of himself unto angels and men, Ephes. iii. 8, 9, 10. 1 Pet. i. 10, 11, 12. That we may know, love, trust, honour, and obey him in all things, as God, and according to his will. (4.) In particular, in this new creation, he hath revealed himself in an especial manner as three in one. There was no one more glorious mystery brought to light in and by Jesus Christ than that of the Holy Trinity, or the subsistence of the three persons in the unity of the same divine nature. And this was done not no much in express propositions, or verbal testimonies unto that purpose, which yet is done also, as by the declaration of the mutual divine internal acts of the persons to- wards one another, and the distinct immediate divine external actings of each person in the work which they did and do perform. For God revealed] not himself unto us merely doctrinally and dogmatically, but by the declaration of what he doth for us, in us, towards us, in the accomplishment of the counsel of his will; see Ephes. i. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, II, 12. And this revela- tion is made unto us, not that our minds might be pos- sessed with the notions of it, but that we may know a- right how to place our trust in him, how to obey him, and live unto him, how to obtain and exercise communion with him, until we come to the enjoyment of him. Sect. 9. We may make application of these things unto, and exemplify them yet farther in the work un- der consideration. Three things in general are in it proposed unto our faith. (1.) The supreme purpose, ON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, design, contrivance, and disposal of it. (2.) The pur- chasing and procuring cause and means of the effects of that design; with its accomplishment in itself, and with respect unto God. (S.) The application of the supreme design and actual accomplishment of it to make iteffec- tual unto us. The first of these is absolutely in the scripture assigned unto the Father, and that uniformly, and every where. His will, his counsel, his love, his grace, his authority, his purpose, his design, are con- stantly proposed as the foundation of the whole work, as those which were to be pursued, effected, accom- plished; see Isa. xlii.-1, 2, 3. Psal. xl. 6, 7, 8. John iii. 16. Isa. lüi. 10, 11, 12. Ephes. i. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. and other places innumerable. And on this account, because the Son undertook to effect whatever the Fa- ther had so designed and purposed, there were many acts of the will of the Father towards the Son in send- ing, giving, appointing of him, in preparing him a bo- dy, in comforting and supporting him, in rewarding and giving a people unto him, which belong unto the Fattier on the account of the authority, love and wis- dom that were in them, their actual operation belong- ing particularly unto another person. And in these things as the person of the Father, in the divine being, proposed unto us to be known and adored. Secondly, the Son condescended], consenteth, and engageth to do, and accomplish, in his own person, the whole work, which, in the authority, counsel, and wisdom of the Father was appointed for him, Phil. ii. 5, 6, 7, 8. And, in these divine operations as the person of the Son revealed unto us, to be honoured even as we ho- sieur the Father. 'Thirdly, the Holy Ghost doth im- mediately work and effect whatever was to be done in reference unto the person of the Son, or the Sons of men, for the perfecting and accomplishment of the Fa- ther'scounsel; and the Son's work, in an especial ap- plication of both unto their especial effects and ends. Hereby is he made known unto us, and herebyour faith concerning him, and in him, is directed. And thus, in this great work of the new creation by Jesus Christ, doth God cause all his glory to pass before us, that we may both know him, and worship him in adue manner. And what is the peculiar work of the Holy Ghost hereinwe shall now declare.
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