Othe PERS. ©N of CI-IRIST. 155 any divifion ofthem by feparate fubfltence; dwae.f,rmç without mixture or confafion ; withoutfeparationordiftance. And ,,,blîrfirbflantially, becaufeit was oftwo fubftances oreffences in the fame perfon, in oppofition unto all accidental union, as thefulnefs ofthe Godhead dwelt in him boAly. Thefe exprellions were found out and ufed by the antient church, to prevent the fraud of thofe who corrupted the doftrine of the perfon of Chrift, and (as all of that fort ever did, and yet continue fo to do) ob- scured their pernicious fentiments under ambiguous expreflions. And they alto made ufe of fundry terms which they judged fignificant of this great myftery, or the incarnationof the Son ofGod. Such are irrd.fraaK,incarna- tion, ivous dzuais imhodying, iszvlpnwmç inhumanation fi aoarvruui öa1J 0si''n, r+y nar nix oleo mfa tothe fame purpofe, fi há ouonóç 3vania, bis converfationin or by the flea, ñ he rivip 7rbrerTt, pn pours, his manifeflation by humanity, dherm<, the advent, ñxfwvois, the exinanition, or humiliation, ñs X s na ip'- inn, the apperance or manifeflation ofChrift, i ounresrh&enç,the condefeenfion. Moll ofthefe expreffions are taken from the fcripture, and are ufed therein with refpeft unto this myftery, or fomeconcermnents of it. Wherefore as our faith is not confined unto any one of thefe words or terms, fo as that we fhould be obliged to believe not only the things intended, but alfo the manner of its exprefilon in them, fo, fo far as they explain the thing in- tended accordingunto the mind of the Holy Ghoft in the fcripture, and obviate the fenfes of men of corrupt minds, they are tobe embracedand defended as ufeful helps in teaching the truth. That whereby it is moll: ufeally declared in the writings ofthe antients; is .1cvse évwotwe, gratia unionis, the grace of union; which formof words force manifefting themfelves ¡hangers unto, do declare how little con. verfant they are in their writings. Now it is not any habitual inherent grace refining fubjeftively in the perfon or humane nature ofChrift that is intended, but things of another nature. (i. The taufe of this union is expreffed in it. This is the free grace and favour ofGod towards the man Chrift Jefus, predeftinating, defigning, and taking him into actual union with theperfon ofthe Son, without refpeft unto or forefight of any precedent dignity or merit in him, a Pet. i. as Hence is that ofAuflin, Ea gratia fit ab initiofidei fun homo quàcunque shri/rianus, qua gratia homo i/le ab initio fafius eft Chriflus. De pradefi. San£i. cap. t5. For whereas all the inherent grace of the humane na- ture of Chrift, and all the holy obedience which proceeds from it, was confequent in order of nature unto this union, and an effeft of it, they could in no fenfe be the meritorious or procuring- eaufes of it; it was of grace. (z. It is ufed alto by many and defgned to exprefs the peculiar dig- nity of the humane nature of Chrift. This is that wherein no creature is participant, nor ever (hall be unto eternity. This is the fundamental privilege of the humane nature of Chrift, which allothers, even unto his eternal glory, proceed from, and are refolved into. (3. The glorious rneetnefs and ability of the perfon of Chrift, for and unto ail the acts and duties of his mediatory office. For they are all refol- ved into theunion of his natures in the fame perfon, without which not one of them could be performed unto the benefit of the church. And this is that grace of our Lord Jefus Chrifl, which renders him fo glorious and amiable unto believers. Unto them that believe he is precious. The common prevalent expreflion of it at prevent in the church is the hypoftatical union; that is, the union of the divine and humane nature in the perfon ofthe Son of God, the humane nature having no perfo- nality
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