of the PERSON Of CHRIST.. 113 fure that is defigned untoevery one of us. For unto every one ofus is given grace according to the meafure of the gift ofChrift ver. 7. He bath in his fovereigngracealigned different meafuresunto thofeon whom hedoth bellow it. And therefore it is called theflature, becaufe as we grow gradually unto it as men do unto their juft ftature i fo there isa variety in what we attain un- to,as there is in the ftaturesofmen, who areyet allpetted in their proportion. 3. This image ofGod in Chrift is reprefented unto us in thegofpel. Being loft from our nature, it wasutterly impofhble we fhouldhaveany jolt compre- henfion ofit. There could be no heady notion ofthe image of God, until it was renewed and exemplified in the humane natureof Chrift. And thereon, without theknowledge ofhim, thewifeft of men have taken thofe things to render men molt like unto God whichwere adverfe unto him. Such werethe molt of thofe things which the heathensadore as heroick virtues. But being perfedl y exemplified in Chrift, it is now plainly reprefented unto us in the gofpel. Therein with open face we behold as in a glafs the glory of the Lord, andare changed into the fame image, a Cor..iii. 18.. The vati being taken away from divine revelationsby the doctrine ofthe gofpel, and from our hearts by the Lord the Spirit, we behold the image ofGod in Chrift with openface, which is the principal means of ourbeing transformed into it. The gofpel is the declarationofChrift untous, and the glory of God in him, as unto many other ends, fo in efpecial, that we might in him behold andcontemplate that image ofGod we are gradually to be re- newed into. Hence we are fo therein to learn the truth ag it is in refus, as to be renewed in thefpirit ofour minds, and toput on thatnew man, which after God iscreated inrighteoufnefs and true holinefs, Ephef. iv. 20.-23, 24. that is, that is renewedafter the image ofhim whocreatedhim, Col. iii. to.. 4. It is therefore evident, that the life of God in us confifts in confor- mity unto Chrift5 nor is the holy fpirit as the principal and efficient caufe of it given untdus for any other end, but to unite us unto him, and make us like him. Wherefore the original gofpel duty which animates and edifies all others, is a defign for conformity unto Chrift in all the gra- cious principles and qualifications of his holy foul, wherein the image of God in him doth confift. As he is the prototype and exemplar in the eye ofGod for the communication ofall grace unto us; fo he ought to be the great example in the eye of our faith in all ourobedience unto God, in our compliance with all that he requireth of us. God himfelfor the divine nature in its holy perfections, is the ultimateobject and idea of our tranf- formation in the renewingofour minds. Andthereforeunder the Old Tefta- ment before the incarnation of the Son, he propofed his own holinefs im- mediately as the pattern of the church. Be ye holy, for the Lord your God is holy, Lev. xi. 44. xix. 2. xx. g. But the law made nothing perfea. For ro compleat this great injunction, there was yet wanting an exprefs example of the holinefs required, which is not given us but in him, who is thefzrfl-born, the image of the invifible God. There was a notion even among the philoföphers, that the principal endeavour of a wife man was to be like unto God. But in the improvement of it the bell of them fell into foolifh and proud imaginations. Howbeit the notion it felt, was the principal beam of our priinpgenial light, the belt relique of our natural perfections. And thofe who are not fome way under the power of a de- fign to be like unto God, are every way like unto the devil. But thofe perfons who had nothing but the abfolute elfential properties of the divine nature to contemplate on in the light of reafon, failed all of them both in the notion it felt of conformity unto God, and efpecially in the pradi- cal improvement ofit. Whatevermen may fancy to the contrary, it is the F f defign
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=