36 c..l Declaration ofthe GloriousMYSTERY pelt which we have of the image of God therein, 2 Cox. iii. r8. But with- out it, by anyother means, and not by it, we can behold nothing of this image of God. 3. Lumen preparans, elevàns, dißionens fubjeaaum. The internal light of the mind, in the faving Illumination of the holy fpirit enabling us by that means, and in the ufe ofit, fpiritually to behold and difcern the glory of God in theface ofJefus Cbr f 2 Cor. iv. 6. Through both thefe, in their feveral ways of operation there proceedeth from the real objtl1 ofour faith, Chrift as the image of God, a transform- ing power, whereby the foul is changed into thefame image, or is made con- formable unto Chrift, which is that whereunto we are predeftinated. But we may yet a little farther contemplate on thefe things, in fome .inftances wherein the glory of God and our own duty are concerned. 1. The glory ofGods wifdom is exalted, and the pride ofthe imaginations of men is proportionably debafed. And in thefe two confifts the real foun- dationof all religion in our fouls. This God defigned in the difpenfadon of himfelf and his will, x Cor. i. 29, --- 31. Thishe calls us unto, Ifa. ii, 22. Zech. ii. 13. As this frame ofheart is prevalent in us, fo do all other graces Rine and fiourifh. And it is that which influences all our duties, fo far asthey are acceptable unto God. And there is no truthmore inftruhive unto it, than that before us. It is taken for granted, and the event bath demonftratedit to befo, that fome exprefs reprefentation fhould be made of God unto us ; wherein we might contemplate the glorious excellencies of his nature, and he might draw nigh unto us, and be prefent with us. This therefore men attemptedto effect and accomplifh, and this God alone bath performed and could fo do. And theirfeveral ways for this end are herein manifeft. As theway whereby Godbath done it, is the principal exaltati- onofhis infinite wifdom and goodnefs, as lhall be immediately more fully declared, fo the way whereby inen attempted it, was the higheft inftanceof of wickednefs and folly. It is, as we have declared, in Chriff alone that God bath done it. And that therein he bath exalted and manifefted the riches, the treafures of his infinitewifdom and goodnefs, is that which the gofpel, the fpiritand the churchdo giveteftimony unto. A more glori- ous effeft of divine wifdom and goodnefs, a more illuftrious manifeftation ofthem, there never was, nor ever fhall be, than in the finding out and conftitution of this way of the reprefentation of God unto us. The ways of men for the fame end were fo far from giving a right re refentation of the perfehionsof the divine nature, that they were all ofthem below, beneath, and unworthy of our own. For in nothing did the blindnefs, darknefsand and folly of our nature in its depraved condition ever fo exert and evidence themfelves, as in the contriving ways for the reprefentation of God untous, that is in idolatry the worftand vileft ofevils. SoPfal. cxv. 4; s, 6, 7, 8. ¡fa. xliv. Rev. i. 19, 20. &c. This pride and folly of men; was that which loft all knowledge of God in the world, and all obedience unto him. The tencommandments are but a tranfcript ofthe light and law of nature. The firft of thefe required that God, the only true God, the creator and governor of all, fhould be acknowledged, worfhipped, believed in, and obeyed. And the fecond was, that we fhould not make unto our felves any image or reprefentation of bim. Whatever he would do himfelf, yet he ftriftly forbid that we fhould make any fuçh unto our felves. And here beganthe a offacy ofthe world from God. They did not abfolutely rejeâhim, and fo raft off the firft fundamental precept of the lawof nature: but they fubmittednot unto his wifdom and authority in the next, which was evidently educed from it. Theywould make images and reprefentations of him
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