.302 TIIE POSITIVE WORK OP TILE SPIRIT holy obedience which he requireth of us. Such an ex- sins, and saved from the wrath to come. But this we ample was needful, that we might never be at a loss a- bout the will of God in his commands, having a glori- ous representation of it before our eyes; and this could begiven us no otherwise but in our own nature. The angelical nature was not suited to set us an example of bolinees and obedience, especially as to the exercise of suchgraces as we principally stand in need of in this world: for what examples could angels set unto us, in themselves, of patience in afflictions, of quietness in sufferings, seeingtheir nature is incapableof such things, Neither could we have had an example that was perfect and complete in our own nature, but only in one who was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sin- ners. To this end, therefore, among others, did God send his own Son to take our nature on him, and there- in to represent unto us the perfect idea of that holiness and obedience which he requireth of us. it is evident, therefore, that these two considerations of an instructive example, that it bath a moral aptitude to incite the mind unto imitation, and that it is instituted of God unto that purpose, are both found eminently in this of Christ. Sect. 57. But there is yet more in this matter; For, (First,) As God hath appointed the consideration of Christ as an especial ordinance unto the increase of ho- liness in us, so his holy obedience, as proposedunto us, hath a peculiar efficacy unto that purposebeyond all o- ther instituted examples: For, {1.) We are often called to behold Christ, and to look upon him; or, it is pro- mised that we shall do so, Isa. xLv. 22. Lech. xii. 10. Now, this beholding of Christ, or looking on him, is the considerationof him by faithunto the ends for which he is exhibited, proposed, and set forth of .God in the gospel, and promises thereof. This therefore isan espe- cial ordinance of God, and is by his Spirit made effec- tual. And theseends are two: 1. Justification. 2. Sal- vation, or deliverance fromsin and punishment. Look, saith he, unto me, asid be saved. This was he on the cross, and is still so in the preaching of the gospel, wherein he is euidentZy crucifiedbefore our eyes, -Gat, iii. 1. ,lifted up as.flie brazen serpent in the wilderness, John iii. 14, 15. That we looking on him by faith, asbear- ing our sins in his own body on the tree, .1 Peter i. 24. and receivingthe atonement made thereby, Itam..v. 11. may, through faith in him, be justified from all our intend not; For, 2. He is of God proposed unto us in the gospel, as the great pattern and exemplar of holi- ness; so as that, by God's appointment, our beholding and looking on him in the way mentioned, is a means of the increase and growth of it in us. So our a- postle declares, 2 Cor, iii. 18. We all with open face, beholding, as in a glass, the glory of the Lord, " are changed into the same image, from glory to glo- . ry, even by the Spirit of the Lord?' That which is proposed unto us, isuhe glory ofthe Lord; or theglory of God in theface ofJesus Christ, chap. iv. ver. 6. that is, God gloriously manifesting himself in the person of Christ. This are we said to behold with open face. The veil of types and shadows being taken off and re- moved, faith doth now clearly and distinctly view and consider Jesus Christ as he is represented unto us in the glass ofthe gospel, that is, the evidences of the presence of God in him, andwith him, in hiswork, purity, and holiness. And the effect hereof is, that we are, through the operation of the Spirit of God, changed into the same image, or made holy, and therein like unto him. Sect. 58. (Secondly,) There is peculiar force and efficacy, by the wayof motive, in the example of Christ, to incline us unto the imitation of him, that is notto be found in sny other example on any occasion whatever: Because, (i.) Whatever is proposed unto us, in what he was, or what he did, asour pattern and example, he was it, and did it, not for his own sake, but out of free and mere love unto us. That pure nature of his, which weought tobe labouring after a conformity unto, 1 John iii. 8. and which he will at length bring us unto, Phil. iii. 21. he took it upon him by an infinite condescen- sion, merely out of loxje unto us, Heb. ii. 14, 15. Phil. ii. 5, 6, 7. And all the actings of grace in him, all the duties of obedience which he performed, all that glorious compliance with the will of God in his suffer- ings which he manifested, proceed all from his loveunto us, John xvii. 19. Gal. ii. 20. These things being in themselves truly honourable and excellent, yea, being only so; the holiness and obedience which God requir- eth ofus consisting in them, being by the appointment of -God, proposed unto our imitation in the example of Jesus Christ, how must it needs influence and prevail on gracious souls to endeavour a conformity unto him there- in, to be as he was, .to do as he did, seeing hewas what . --
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