fiTalt.3. Epi.fitletothe Haszcliwt. Obferv. 2. The whole Manifeffation ofthe NatureofGod onto us, and all communica- tion! ofgrace, are immediately by and through the Perfon ofthe Son. He reprefents him unto us, and throughhim, is every thing that is communicated untous from the Miners of the Deity conveyed. There aie fundry fignal inftanceswherein God reveals himfelf, and communicates from his own infinitefulnefi unto his creatures ; and in all ofthem he doth it imme- diately by the Son. I. Inthe Creationofall things. 2.In their Providentialrule anddir pofal. 3. In the revelation ofhis Will, and inftitution of Ordinances. 4.In the com- munication of his Spirit and Grace. In none of which is the Perfon ofthe Father any otherwife immediately reprefented unto ús, than in and by the Perfonof the Son. I. In the Creation ofall things, God both gave them their Being, and imparted untd them ofhis Goodnefs, and manifeffed his Nature unto thole that were capable of an holy Apprehentìon ofit. Nowall this God did immediately by the Son ; not as a fubordinate Instrument, but astheprincipal Efficient, being his ownPower andWifdom: This we have manifeffed in ourExplication ofthe laft word§ of the Veyfeforegoing. Inexprefs teftimony hereunto, fee yob. a. 3. Col. a. 16. t Cor. 8.6. The Son, asthe Power andWifdom of the Father, made all things ; fo that in that work, the glory of theFather (hides forth in him, and nootherwife : By him was there a communica- tionof Being, Goodnefs and Exillence unto the Creation. 2. In the providential Rule and difpofäl ofall things created, God farther manifefts himfelfuntohis creatures, and farther communicatesof his goodnefs unto them. That this allo is done in and by the Sun, we Mall farther evidence in the explication of the next words of this verfe. 3. The matter is yet more plain, as to the Revelation ofhis Will, and the inllita- tion of Ordinances from fist( to laft. It is granted, that after the entrance of fin, God dothnot gracioufy reveal, nor communicate himfelf unto any of his creatures but byhis Sons This might fully. be manifeffed by aconfideration of the firftpromife, the foundation of future Revelations and Intlitutions, withanindzdiion ofall enfuing in- fiances. But whereas all Revelationsand Inftitutions fpringing from the firft prom*, are compleated and finifhed in the Got-pet, it may fuffice to thew, that what we affert is true, withpeculiar reference thereunto. The teftimonies given unto it are mnu- merable. Thisis thefubjtanceand end ofthe Gofpel,to reveal thefather by and in the Son untous, to declarethat through him alone we can be made partakers of his grace and goodnefs ; and that no other way wecan have eithhr acquaintance or communion with him, fee yob. a: 18. The whole end of the Got-pet is togive us the knowledge ofthe glory ofGod in the face ofJeJits Chrift, 2 Cor. 4. 6. that is, the glory of the inni- fible God, whom nonebathPeen atany time, a Tim. 6. t6. a Soh. 4.12. that is, to be communicated untous. But how is this to bedone, abfolutely and immediately as it is theglory ofthe Father ? no, but as itfbiner forth in theface of3efus Chriilt ; or as it is in his Perfon manifeftedand reprefented unto us : for he is, as the fame Apoltle in the fame place, n. 4. the image of God. And herein alto, as to the communication of Graceand the Spirit, the Scripture is exprefs, andbelievers are daily inftruc lied in it. SeeCo!. r. t7.3oh. a. 16. efpecially a Joh, 5. a a, i4. Now the grounds òf this Order ofthings lies, a.In the Effential Inbeingof the Father and the Son. This our Saviour expreffeth, 3áh. 10 . 3 8. The Father it in me, and I inhim ; the fame Effential Properties and Na- turebeing in each ofthe perfons, by vertue thereof their, Perfono alto are Paid to be in each other. The Perlon ofthe Son is in the Perfonof the Father ; not as fucb, not inof liy its ownperfonality, butby unionof its Natureand Effential Properties, which are not alike, as thePerlons are, but thefame in theone and the other. And this Inbeing ofthe father in the Son, and of the Son in him, our Saviour affirms tobe manifeffed by the works that he wrought, being wrought by the power ofthe Father, yet as in him, and not as in the Father immediately. Seetothe fame purpofe chap. l4. to, t a: and chap. 17.2t. 2. The Father being thus in the Son, and the Son in the Father, whereby all the glorious Propertiesof the one do thine forth in the other; the order and Oeconomy of the bleifed Trinity in Subfiflence and Operation, requires that the manifellation and corn- municationof the Father unto us, be through andby theSon. For as the Father is the Original and Fountain of the whole Trinity as to fubliftence, fo as to Operation he works not but by the Son , who having the DivineNature communicated unto hint by EternalGenrlation, is to communicate the Effeéls of the Divine Power, Wifdom and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=