of the PERSON of CHRIST. 139 ;Ma tir+,i8? -^a x"úx.'X'aKENN'i -re%:`r $;.z r `fli ti.É TF Yb,::rT3;frt: CHAP. XVII. Other Evidences of DivineGifdom in the contrivance of the work of Redemption in and by the Perfon ofC H R 1ST, in Ef fis evidencing a condecency thereunto. g'.x'H A T which remains of our prefent enquiry, is concerning {y n thofe evidences ofdivine condecency or fuitablenefs unto infinite RX wifdom and goodnefs, which we may gather from the nature 9à1 of this work, and its effe&s, as exprelfed in divine revelation. Some few inffances hereof I shall chufe out from amongft many that might be infifted on. t. Man was made to ferve God in all things. In his perfon, in his foul and body, in all his faculties, powers and fenfes, in all that was given unto him or entrufted with him, he was not his own, but every way a fer- vant, in all that he was, in all that he had, in all that he did or was to do. Thishe wasmade for, this hate and conditionwas necelfary unto himas a crea- ture. It could be no otherwife with any that was fo, it was fo with the angels who were greater in dignity and power than man. The very name of crea- ture includes the condition of univerfal fubje&ion and fervice unto the creator. This condition in and by his fin, Adam defigned to defert, and to free himfelf from. He would exalt himfelf out of the hate of fervice, and obedience, abfolute and univerfal, into a condition of felf fuiS- ciency, of domination and rule. He would be as God, like unto God, that is, fubje& no inure to him, be in no more dependance on him, but advance his own will above the will of God. And there is fomewhat of this in every fin i the finner would advance his own will in oppofi- tion unto, and above the will ofGod. But what was the event hereof? Man by endeavouring to free himfelf from abfolute fubje&ionand univer- fal fervice; to invade abfolute dominion, fell into abfolute and eternal ruine. For our recovery out of this hate and condition, confidering how we caft our felves into it, the way infifted on was found out by divine wifdom, 'namely, the incarnationof the Son ofGod. For he was Lord of all, had abfolute dominion over all, owed no fervice, no obedience for himfelf, be- ing in the form ofGod, and equal unto him. From this hate of abfolute dominion, he defcended into a condition of abfolute fervice. As Adam finned and fell by leaving that flare of abfolute fervice whichwas due unto him, proper unto his nature, infeparable from it, to attempt a hate of ab- folute dominion, which was not his own, not due unto him, not confiflent with his nature ; fo the Son of Godbeing made the fecond Adam, relieved us by defcending from a hate of abfolute dominion, which was his own. .due unto his nature, to take on him a hate of abfolute fervice, which was not his own, nor due unto hita. And this being inconfiltent with his own
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