Owen - BS2775 O8 1668

Prom f dofold. his thoughts, as unto the Relation that was between God and Ishii; and what only he now looked for from him, I heard thy voice, and war afraid: Neither would any Re- velation thatGod had then made of himfelf, either by the Works of his Power and Wifdom, or by any inbred impreflions on the foulsof men corureated with them; give encouragement unto them that had finned againfihim to expect Relief. BefrdesHe had dealt thus with Angels. Upon their firft Sin, he pared them not, but atonce with- out hope of Recovery call them under the Chains of Darkneff to he unto the final Judgement of the lagday. This our Apoffle difcourfeth unto the Hebrews ; chap. 2. Now Goddealt not unfuitably unto any of the Excellencies of his Nature, when he left theApoftatizing Angels to perifhwithout Remedy unto Eternity. .Had he dealt fo alto with Apoltatizing Mankind, who were drawn into a confpiracy agfainfi him by the Head of the Defeeiion, his wayes had been Holy and Righteous. Yet doth hot this great Inflanceof Gods dealing with Angels abfolutely conclude his leaving of mankind remedilefs in his mifery alto. He might juffly do fo, but thence itdoth norfollow that neceffarily he mull fo do. And although the chief, and indeed only Reafon of his extending Grace and Mercy unto Men, and not unto Angels, was his ownSoveraign Will and Pleature, concerning which whocan fay unto him; !That doefl thou ? yet There was Each a difference between thefe two forts ofOriginal Tranf- grelfors, as may tnanifeff a Condecencyor fuitablenefs unto his Righteonfhefs andGood- nets in.hisvarious proceeding with them; For there are fundry things that put an Aggravation on theRebellion ofAngels above that ofman ; andTome that render their ruine lets_deftruftiveunto theGlory of the Univerfe, than that of mankind would have been. For, Firff,The Angels were created in an effate and condition, much feperiour unto, and more excellent than that of Man ; and fo likewife were their prefent or aéfual enjoy menus far above his, though they alto were admirable and bleffed. The 'place of their firff Habitationwhich they left, jade6. was theHigheft Heavens, themoll glorious recep= tacle of createdBeings ; in oppoíìtion whereunto theyare faid tò be call into the lowelt Hell, 2 Pet. z. 4. Whereas Man was placed in the Earth, which although then beautifull and excellently fuited tohis condition ; yet was every way inferiour unto theglory and luftreof the other,which God fo had Garnifhedby his Spirit, "Job 26. 13. andwhich for its curious Excellency is.called the Work of bio Fingers., Pfalm 8. 3. And in thefe difE_rent places of their Habitation, - Secondly, Their feveral Employments alto did greatly differ; Thework ofAngels was immediately to attend the Throne ofGod, to minifterbefore-him, and to giveglory untohim, and to execute the Commandsofhis Providence in the Government ofthe worksof his hands ; Pfal. 68.0. t7. Dan. 7. v. to. Ezek r. 5, 6, 7.. Heb. r. 14.; Revel. g. le. {lac higheft,pitch of Honour that a meer creature can be exaltedunto. Man duringhis natural lifewas to be employed in tilling and dreffing ofthe Ground, Gen. 2. r6 a labour that wouldhave beeneafte, ufefull, and fuitable unto his condition; but yet in honour , advantage, and fatisfaótion, unfpeakably beneath the Duty of the Others. Thirdly, Their Enjoyments alto greatly differed. For the Angels enjoyed the imme- diate gloriousPretence ofGod, without any external-created refemblances ofit when manwas kept at a greater Diftance, and not admitted unto fuch immediate commu- nion with God, or enjoyment Of his Glorious Pretence. Now all thefe , and the like Confiderations, although on the one fide they do not inthe lei/t extenuare or excufè the fin and crime of Man an his Apoftafie, yet they greatly aggravate the Wickednefs, lugra. titude andPride of the Angels. Moreover, they differed iii their Intelletïual Perfections, whereby they were enabled to difcern the Excellencies; and to know themind ofGod. For although manhadall that Light, KnowledgeandWifdom eoncreatedwith him; and fo natural! unto him, which were any way needfull to enable himMato a right and due performance of the Obedi- ence requiredof him, in theObfeervauce whereof he lhould have been brought unto the Enjoyment of God ; yet it came far fhórt of that Excellenny ofundertanding,and that piercing Wifdom which was in thole Spiritual.Beings, which they were endowed withallto ht them for that near contemplation ache glory of God whereunto they wereadmitted, and that ready Apprehenlion of his mind which they were to obferve; And as Mete were in themfelves, andought tohave been improved by themfelves, as blefed means of preferving them in their Obedience,fo being defpifed and neglected . they were a great Aggravation of theWickednefs of theirApoflafy; There 77 Ç. 14.

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