An Expofition ofti.e C tt AP. I. whofe ruine God intends in.the Erectionof the Kingdom ofChrift. And this they hate ground for. t. Becaufe, in that Warkconfifted theprincipal manifeftation of the Wifdom Power and GoodnefsofGod. The whole Creation is concerned in the Gloryof theCrea- tor. In his Exaltation doth their honour intereft and bleffednefs con(i(l. For this Endwere theymade, that God might beglorified. The more that is done by any means, themore is their Endattained. Hence the very inanimateparts of it are introduced by a agoaraaoaeía, . rejoycing, ex- ultingPouting and clapping their hands, when the Glory of God is manifelted ; in all which, their fuitablenefsand propenfity to their proper End is declared ; as .alto by their beingburdened andgroaning under fuch an Ellate and Condition of things, as doth any way eclipfe the Glory of their Maker. Now in this work of bringing forth the firß-born is the Gloryof God principally and eminently exalted. For the Lord Chrift isthe Brightnefof hisGlory, and in him all the TreafuresofWifdomGrace and Goodnefs, are laid up and hid. What ever God had any other wayes beforeparcelled out, of and concerninghis Glory by the works of his hands; is all, and altogether, and with an unfpeakable AdditionofBeauty and Excellency; repeated in Chrift. 2. Thewhole Creation receiveth a real Advancement and honour in the Sons being made the firß-born of every creature, that is the efpccial Heir and Lord of them all. Their beingbrought into anew dependance onthe Lord Chrift, is their Honour, and they are exaltedby becominghis Poffeffion. For after that they had loft their firft Original Dependanceon God, and their refpeflunto, him grounded on his pronoun- cing of them exceeding good, that is fuch as became his Wifdom andPower tohave made, they fell under the power of the Devil, who became Prince of this world by fin. Herein confined thevanity and debafement of the Creature, which it was never wil1ingly, or of its own accord Cubje4l unto. But God fetting up the Kingdomof Chrift, and making him thefir/I-born, thewhole Creation bath a right unto a new glorious Lord and Mailer. And however any part of it be violentlyfor a feafonde- tained under its old bondage, yet it hath grounds ofanearnell ExpeElation of a full and total Deliverance into Liberty , by vertu of this Primogeniture of Chrift Jefus. 3. Angels andMen the Inhabitants of Heaven andEarth, the principal parts of the Creation, onwhomGod bath in an efpecial manner . eftamped his own likenefs and Image, are hereby made partakers of filch ineftimable Benefits, as indifpenfably call for rejoycing in a wayof Thankfulnefs and Gratitude. This the whole Gofpel de- clares, and thereforeit needsnot our particular improvementin this place. And if thisbe the duty of the whole Creation, it is.eafie to difcern in what a fpe- oìal manner it is incumbent on them that believe, wholeBenefit Advantage and Glo- ry was principallyintendedin this whole work ofGod. Should theybefound wanting in this Duty, God might as of old call Heaven and Earth to witnefs againfl them. Yea, Thankfulnefs to God, for the bringing forth of the firß-born into the world, is the fumm and fubftance of all that Obedience which God requires at the hands of believers. IV. The CommandofGod is theground andReafon of all Religious Worfbip. The An- gels areto worfhip the Lord Chrift the Mediator, and the ground of their fo doing is Gods command : he faith, Worlbi,s him all ye Angels. Now the commandof God is twofold : (t.) Formal and vocal; when God gives out a Law or Precept untoany creature fuperadded to the Law of its Creation Such was theCommand given unto our firil Parents in the Garrden, concerning the Tree of the knowledge ofGood andEvil ; and flitch wereall the Laws, Precepts, and In- ftitutions, which he afterwards gave untohis Church, with thofe which to this day continue asthe. Rule and Reafon of theirObedience. (í.) Real and interpretative; confifting in an impreffion of the Mind and Will ofGod upon the nature of his crea- tures, with refpeíl unto that Obedience which their Rate condition and dependance oh him requireth. The very nature of an intellebival Creature made for the Glory'of God, andplaced in a moral dependance upon him, and fubjeElion unto him, hath to it the force of aCommand, as to the Worfhip and Service that God requirethat their hands. But this Law in man, beingblotted, weakned, impaired through fin, God bath in mercy unto us collet`led, drawn foith, and difpofed all the Directions and Commands of it in vocal formal Precepts recorded in hisWord ; whereunto hebath fuperadded
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=