of the PERSON of CHRIST. 39 know God, but inworks theydeny him, being abominable and difobedient, and toevery good work reprobate, Titus i. 16. So is it among many that are called chriftians at this day in the world. Greatpretence there is unto the knowledge of God; yet did flagitious fins and wickednefs fcarce ever more abound among the heathens themfelves. It is the knowledge of God in Chrift alone that is effeftually powerful to work the fouls of men unto a conformity unto him. Thofe alone who behold the glory of God in the face of Jefus Chrift, are changed into the fame image from glory to glory. co;i...SSi:Qñ.is;'?7'::k' ,Wag:.` :'a,,:ï;t3:á;:,_.,_,,.,, ,.é xtix?=sT.sBs:E's:00f:;_'é00d:é3Te, CHAP. VI. The PerfonofCams T thegreat Repofitoryof Sacred Truth. Its Relation thereunto. Ivine fupernaturaltruth is called by the apoftle, the truthwhich is according to godlinefs, Titus i. s. Whereas therefore the perfon ofChrift is the great my/lery ofgodlinefs; we mutt in thenext place enquire what is the relation offpiritual fu- pernatural truth thereunto. And this I fhall do in purfuit ofWhat was propofed in the foregoing chapter, namely,that he is the great reprefentativeunto:the church of God, his holy properties, and the coun- fels of his will. All divine truth may be referred unto two heads. Firfi, That which is effentially fo, and Secondly, That which is fo declaratively. The firft is God himfelf, the other are the counsels of his will. Firfi, God himfelf is the firft and only effential truth, inwhofe being and nature Ilse fprings of all truth do lie. Whatever is truth, fo far as it is fo, derives fromhim; is an emanation from that eternal fountain of it. Be- ing, truth, and goodnefs, are the principal notions of God, and in him they are all the fame. How this is reprefented in Chrift, as he is in himfelf the effential image of the father, and as incarnate the reprefentative image of 'himunto us,'hath been declared. Secondly, The counfelo ofGod are the next fpring and caufe, as alfo the fubje& matter or fubftance of all truth, that is, fo declaratively. Divine -truth is the declaration of the counfeli of God, Ads xx. 27. Of them all, the perfon ofChrift is the facred repofitorÿ and treafury; In him are they to be learned. All their efficacy and ufe depends on their relation unto him. He is the center and circumference of all the lines of truth, that is, which is divine, fpiritual, and fupernatural, and the beauty of it, is prefented unto us only in hisface orperfon. We fee it not, we know it not but as God fhifies into our hearts to give us the knowledge of it there- in, 2 Cor. iv. 6. So he teftifieth of himfelf, I am the truth, John xiv. C. He is foeffentially as he is one with the Father, the God oftruth, Deut. xxxii. 4. He is foejh'ciently; as by him alone it is fully and efFeecually declared. For no manbath feenGod at any time, the onlybegotte.e who is in the deform: of'
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