rf the PERSON of CHRIST. 37 him unto themfelves. And by this invention of their own, they firft di- 'honoured him, and then forfook him, giving themfelves up unto the rule and fervice of the devil. Wherefore as the way that God in infinite wif- dom found out for the reprefentation of himfelf unto us, was the only means of recovery from the fait apoflafy. The way found out by men un- to the fameend, was the great means of calling the generality of mankind into the fartheft degree, of a new apofiafy from God whereof our nature is capable. And of the fame kind will all our contrivances in what belongs unto his worship and glory, be found to be, though unto us they may- ap- pear both fpecious and neceffary. This therefore fhotrld lead us into a con- tinual admiration of the wifdom and grace of God ; with a due fenfeof our own vilenefs and bafenefs by nature. For we are innothing better or wi- fer than they, who fell into the útmoft folly and wickednefs, in their de- figns for the higheft end, or the reprefentation of God unto us. The more we dwell on fach confiderations, themore fear and reverence of God, with faith, truft and delight in him will be encreafed; as alfo humility in our felves, with a fenfe ofdivine grace and love. 2. There is a peculiar Ground of the fpiritual efficacy ofthis reprefentati- on of God. The revelation that he bathmadeofhimfelf, and ofthe glori- ous properties ofhis nature in the works of creation and providence, are in themfelves clear, plain and manifefl, Pfal. xix. a, 2. Rom. i. 20, 22. Thofe which are made in Chrift are fublime and myflerious. Howbeit the know- ledge we have of him as he is reprefented unto us in Chrift, is far. more clear, certain, Heady, effeCtual and operative,than any we canattain in and by allother ways of revelation. The reafonhereof is, not only becaufe there is a morefull and extenfive revelation made of God, his counfels and his will, in Chrift and the gofpel, than in all the works of creation and provi- dence; but becaufe this revelation and reprefentation of God is receivedby faith alone, the other by reafon only ; and it is faith that is the principle offpiritual light and life in us. What is received thereby is operative and and effettuai unto all the ends of the life of God. For we live by faith here, as we !hall byfight hereafter. Reafon alone efpecially as it is cor- rupted and depraved, can difcern no glory in the reprefentation ofGod by Chrift. Yeaall that is fpoken thereof or declared in the gofpel,. is foolifh- nefs unto it. Hence many live in a profeffion of the faith of the letter of the gofpel, yet having no light, guide nor conduet, butthat of reafon, they do not, they cannot really behold the glory ofGod in the faceof yefus Chrifl ; nor bath the revelationof it any efficacy upon their fouls. The manifefta- tion of him in the light ofnature by theworks of creation and providence, is fuited unto their reafon, and Both affe& it: For that which is made in Chrift, they fay of it, as the Ifraelites did ofManna that came down from heaven, What is it? We know not the meaning of it. For it is madeunto faith alone, and all men have not faith. And where God fbines into the heart, by that faith which is of divine operation, there, with openface we behold the glory ofGod as in astars, or have the knowledge of theglo- ry ofGod in the face of Jefus Chrifl. There is not the meaneft believer, but in the real exercife offaith in Chrift, bath more glorious apprehenfions of God, his wifdom, goodnefs and grace, of all his glorious excellencies, than the molt learnedand wife in the world can attain unto, in the exer- cife of reafon, on the proper objects of it, So are there things oppofed by the apoftle, i Cor. i. Wherefore faith in Chriil is the only means of the true knowledge of God ; and the difcoveries which are made ofhim and his excellencies thereby, arethofe alone which areeffeétual to conform us unto bis image and likenefs. And this is the reafon why Tome men are feCtttle
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