of the PERSON .01 CHRIST. I underltanding of others might propofe. And indeed who fhall undér- take to declare what are the chief inftances of this incomprehenfibie effect of divine wifdom? What is his name, and what is his fans name if thou cant! tell? Prov. xxx. 4. See Ifs. ix. 6. It is enough for us to had in an holy admiration at the fhoe of this unfearchable ocean, and to gather up foie parcels of that divine treafure, wherewith the fcripture of truth is enriched. a. I make no pretence of fearching into the bottom or depths of any part of this great myftery ofgodlinefs, God manifest! in the fief). They are alto- gether unfearchable unto the line of the enlightened minds in this life. What we fhall farther comprehend of them in the other world, God only knows. We cannot in thefe things by our utmoft diligent fearch, findout the Almighty unto perfeflion. Theprophets could not do fo of old, nor can the angels themfelves at prefent, who deftre to look into thefe things, I Pet. i. to, as, es. Only I fhall endeavour to reprefentunto the faith Of them that do believe, fomewhat of what the fcripture dour plainly reveal, evi- dencing in what fenfe the perfau of Christl is the foiefoundation of the church. 3. I fhall not herein refpeft them umnediately by whom the divine per- fon of Christ is denied and oppofed. I have formerly treated thereof; be., yond their contradiction inway of reply. But it is their conviflionwhich I (hall refpe&herein, who under an outward confeffion of the truth, do either notionally or pra&ically, either ignorantly or defignedly, God knows, I knownot, endeavour to weaken the faith of the church in its adherence unto this foundation. Howbeit neither the one fort nor the other have any. place in my thoughts in comparifon of the initruc ion and edification of others, who love the Lord Jefus Chrift in fincerity. fia1aRE1 Tsa ti ZéZrl CHAP. III. The PERSON of CHRIST the?nit ineffable effect of divine Wifdom and Goodnefs. Thence the next cauje of all true Religion. In what fenfe it isfo. HE Perfon of Chrifl is the moll glorious and ineffable effell of divine wifdom, grace andpower, and therefore is the next foun- dation of all acceptable religion and worfhip. The`divine be= log itfelf is the firft formal reafon, foundation and object of all religion. It all depends, on taking God to be our God, which is the firft of his commands. For religion and the worlhip performed in it, is nothing but the due refpeft of rational creatures, unto the divine nature, and its infinite excellencies. It is the glorifying ofGbd as God, the way of exprefftng that refpeft, being regulated by the revelation of his will. Yet the divi,i? effence is not in it Pelf the next and immediate caufe of religious worlhipe But it is the manife/lation of this being and its ex- Ë cellenc?es
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