THE FORETASTE OF HEAVE'S. 543 sus :" But this man is personally united to the blessed Cod, he is " God manifest in the flesh :" He is a man " in whom dwells all the fulness of the godhead; bodily," to constitute one all - sufficient Saviour of miserable and Fallen mankind : What art amazing stoop or condescen- iion is this for the eternal godhead thus tojoin itself to a reature, and what a surprizing exaltation is this of the creature for the man Christ Jesus thus to be assumed nto so near a relation to the blessed God ? All the glo- ries that result from this divine contrivance and transac- .:ion are not to be renumerated in paper, nor by the best capacity of writers here on earth : The heavenly inha- bitants are much better acquaintedwith them. Again, here is an example of the harmony and co- operation of unsearchable wisdom and all-commanding power in the person of the blessed Jesus ; and what a happydesign is hereby executed, namely, the reconcilia- tion of sinful man and the holy and glorious God : and who could do this but one who was possessed of such wisdom and such power ? When there was no creature in heaven or earth sufficient for this work, God was pleased toappoint such an union between a creature and the Creator, between God and man, as might answer all the inconceivable purposes concealed in his thought. If there be wanting a person fit to execute any ofhis infinite designs, he will not he frustrated for want of an agent, he appoint God and man to be so nearly united as to become one agent to execute this design. e. In the manner of our salvation, via. by an atone- ment for sin. The great God did not think it proper, nor agreeable to his sublime holiness, to receive sinful man into his favour without an atonement for sin, and a satisfaction made to the governor of the world for the ahuse and violation of his holy law here on earth ; and therefore he appointed such a sacrifice of atonement as might be sufficient to do complete honour to the law- giver, as well as to save and deliver the offender from death Therefore Jesus was made a man capable of suf- fering and dying, that he might honour the majesty and the justice of the broken law of God,' and that he might do it cötnpletely by theunion of godhead to this man and Mediator; the dignity of whose divinity diffuses itself over all that he did, àrrdall that he suffered, so as to make
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