of the PERSON Of CHRIST. r 5I nefs, and foare babes in a weak condition, as the apotlle fpeaks, Heb. v. 13. This is the way offpiritual peace. When the foul ofa believer is able to take a view of the glory ofthe wifdomof God, exalting all the other holy proper- tiesof his nature in this great myftery unto our falvation,it will obviate all fears,remove allobjections, and be a means ofbringing in of affured peace into the mind ; which the withoutadue comprehenfionofit;will'neverbe attained; 2.)The a&ingof faith hereon, is that which is accompanied With itsgreag power to change and transform the foul into the image and likenefs of Chritt. So it is expreffed by the apoftle, 2 Cor. iìi. 18. We all with open face beholding as in ra glafs the glory of the Lord; are changed into the fame image from glory to glory, even as by the fpirit of the Lord. We all beholding Ky-rc-r1p45i.ecor, not taking a tranfient glance of thefe things, but diligently infpe&ing them, as thofe do who through a glafs de- fign a fteady view of things at a diffance. That which we ate this tpbehold by the continued a&ings offaith in holy contemplation, is the glory. of the Lord in the face of 'fefuo Chrifl, as it is expreffed, chap. iv. v. 6. which is nothing but that myflery of gorllinefr, in whofe explanation we have been engaged. And what is the effe& of the ffeadv contemplation of this my ftery by faith? Mezraceepdcoda., we are changed, made quite other creatures, than we were, caft into the form, figure, and image of Jefus Chrif5t, thin great deign of all believers in this world. Would we then be like. unto Chrilt? would we bear the image of the heavenly, as we have born the': image of the earthly ? Is nothing fo deteltable unto us as the deformed image of the old man, in all the lulls of the mind and of the flefh? Is nothing fo amiable and definable as the image of Chriff and the reprefen- rationof God in him? This is the way, this is the means of attaining the end which we aim at. 3.) Abounding in this duty is the moll effe&ual means of freeinguslit particular from the Game and bane of _profeflion in 'earthly mindednefs. There is nothing founbecoming a chriftian, as tohave his mind always ex- ercifed about, always filled with thoughtsof earthly things. And accord= ing as mens thoughts are exercifed about them, their affe &cons are encreafed and enflamed towards them. T'hefe things mutually promote one another, and there is a kind of circulation in them. Multiplied thoughts enfiatne affe&ions, and enflamed affections encreafe the number of thoughtsconcern- ing them. Nothing is more repugnant unto the whole life of fath, no- thing more obffru&ive unto the exercife of all grace, than a prevalency ofthis frame ofmind. And at this feafon in an efpecial manner it is via,- lypreying on the vitals ofreligion. Ta abound in the contemplationof this myftery, and in the exercife offaith about it, as it is diametrically,oppofed unto this frame, fo it will gradually call it out of the foul. And without tisis we Gall labour in the fire for deliverance from tisis pernicious evil. 4.) And hereby are we prepared for the enjoyment of gloryabove. No fmall part of that glory confrfts in the eternal contemplation and adoration of the wifdom, goodnefs, love and power of God, in this myftery and the effects of it, as Gall faterwards he declared. And how can we better at otherwife be prepared for it, but by the implantinga fenfe of it on our minds by fedulous contemplation whilft we are in this world. God will not take us into heaven, into the viSon and poffef ion of heavenly glory, with our heads and hearts reaking with the thoughts and affe&ions of earth- ly things. He hath appointed means, to make us meet för the inheritance afthefaints in light, before he will bring us unto. the enjoyment ofit. And this is the principal way. whereby he Moth it. For .hereby it is that we are changed into the image of Chrifffrom glory to glory; and make the neared approaches unto the eternal fulnefs of it. G H A P.
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