z8 c/f 'Declaration of the Glorious MY STER r their diftributions into heaven and earth, with the things contained ref - peftively inthem, weremade and created by Chrift, it is the higheft rebel- lion againft the light and teachings of God, todisbelieve his divine exiftence and power. (a.) Again it is added, thathe is thefir ft bornof everycreature ; whichprin- cipally refpe&s the new creation, as it is declared v. s8. He is the head of the body, the church, the begining; the firff bornfrom the dead, that in all things he might have the preheminence. For in him were all the counfels of God laid, for the recovery ofall things unto himfelf; as he was to be incarnate. And the accomplilhment of thefe counfels of God by him, the apofile declares at large in the enfuingverfes. And thefethings are both conjoined and compofed in this place. As God the Father did nothing in the fief creation but by him as his eternal wifdom, John i. 3. Heb. i. 2. Prov. viii. fo he defigned. nothing in the new creation or reftoration of all things unto his glory, but in him as he was to be incarnate. Wherefore in his perfon were laid all thefoundation of the counfels of God, for the fanftification and falvation of the church. Herein he is glorified, and that in a way unfpeakably exceeding all that glory which would have accru- edunto him from the firft creation, had all things abode in their primitive conftitution. His perfon therefore is the foundation of the church, the great myfiery ofgódlinefs, or the religionwe profefs; theentire life and foul of all fpi- ritual truth; in that all the counfels of the wifdom, grace and goodnefs of God, for the redemption, vocation, fanElificationandfalvation of the church, were all laid in him; andby himwere all to be accomplifhed. lZlt-'lt?lutltl3ZlZll« ti1zz CHA.P. V. The P ER s oN of CH 1z I S T the great Reprefentative ofGon and his Will. HAT may be known ofGod, is his nature and exifiente, with the holy counfels ofhis will. A reprefentation ofthem un- to us, is the foundation of all religion, and the means of our conformity unto him, wherein our prefent duty and fu- ture bleffednefs do confift. For to know God, fo as thereby to be made like unto him, is thechief end of man. This is done perfe&ly only in the perfon ofCbrifl, all other means of it being fubordinate thereunto, and none of them of the fame nature therewithal. The endof the word it felf is to in- flruft us in the knowledge ofGod in Chrift. That therefore whichI (hall now demonftrate is, that in the perfon and mediation ofCbrifl which are infeparable in all the refpells offaith unto him, there is made unto us a bleffed reprefentation of the glorious properties of the divine nature, and of the holy counfels of the will of God. The firft of thefe I fhallfpeak unto in this chapter; the other in that which enfues, wherein we Than manifeft
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