of the PERSON of CHRIST. 103 natures are made moll illuftrioufly confpicuous, in becoming one entire principle of all his mediatory operations on our behalf, is propofed unto us asthe compleat objei ofóur faith and love. This is that perfon, whole loveliilefs and beauty all the angels of God, all the holy ones above do eternally admire and adore. In him arethe infinite treafuresof divine wif- dom and goodnefs continually reprefented unto them. This is he, who is thejoy, thedelight, the love, the gloryof the church below. Thou whom ourfouls do love, is the title whereby they know him and converfe With him, Cant. i. 7. chap. iii. r; - --ç. This is he who is the delire of all na- tions, the beloved of God and men. The mutual entercourfe on this ground of love between Chrift and the church, is the life and foul ofthe whole creation; for on theaccount hereof all things cone in him. There is moreglory under the eye ofGod, in the fighs, groans and mourningofpoor fouls filled with the love ofChrift, after the enjoyment of himaccording to his promifes, in their fervent prayers for his itianifeftationof liimfelf unto them, in the refrefhments and unfpeakable joys which theyhave inhis graci- ous vifits and embraces ofhis love, than in thethrones and diadems ofall the monarchson the earth. Norwill they themfelves part with the ineffable fatis- faiions which they have in thefe things, for all that this world can do for them, or unto them. Mallen, fuere cum Chriylo, quam regnare cum Cafare. Thefe risings have not only rendered prifons and dungeons more defireable unto them than the moft goodly palaces on future accounts; but have made them really places offuch refrefhment and joys, as men (hall Peek in vain to extraft out of all the comforts that this world canafford. O curva in terris anima ¢ eeelefiium inanes. Many there are who not comprehending, nor being affefted with that divine fpiritual defcription of the perfon of Chrift which is given us by the holy ghoft in the fcripture, do feign unto themfelves falle reprefenta- tions of him by images and pofures; fo to excite carnal and corrupt affefti- ons in their minds. By the help of their outward fenfes, they relied on their imaginations the fhape of an humane body, cali into poftures andcir- cumftauces'doiorous or triumphant, and fo by the working of their fancy raife a commotion of mind in themfelves, whirls they fuppofe to be love unto Chrift. But all tliefe idols are teachers of lyes. The true beauty and amiablenefs of the perfon of Chrift, which is the formal objet and caufe of divine love, is fo far from being reprefented Herein, as that the mind is thereby wholly diverted from the contemplation ofit. Forno more can be fo piftured unto us, but what may belong unto a meet man, and what is arbitrarily referred unto Chrift, not by faith, but by corrupt imagination. The beauty of the perfon of Chrift as reprefented in the fcripture, con- lifts in things invifible unto the eyes of flefh. They are fuck as no hand of man can reprefent or fhadow. It is the eye of faith alone that can fee this King in his beauty. What elfe cats contemplate on the untreated glories of his divine nature? can the hand of man reprefent the union of his natures in the fame perfon, wherein he is peculiarly amiable.? what eye can difcern the mutual communications of the properties ofhis diffe- rent natures in the lame perfon which depends thereon, whence it is that God laid downhis lifefor us, andpurchafed his church with his ownblood? In tliefe things, O vain man, cloth the lovelinefs of the perfon of Chriff unto the fouls of believers confift, and not in thofe ftrokes of art which fancy hatli guided a skilful hand and pencil unto. And what eye of fielh can
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