564 THE GLORY OF CHRIST AS SOD-MAN. ledge extends at once infinitely backward and forward through both eternities,.and reaches to all possibles, as well as to what is actually past and future. How dowe know to what prodigious distances the presence, the consciousness and agency of the human soul of Christ may be extended ? We are sure this presence is not infinite ; but while we suppose it to be short of infinity, what other limits can our reason certainly set to it ? How oan we tell to what amazing lengths, and heights, and breadths, and depths, his immediate . eunsciousl.ess and immediate agency may reach ? Wheresoever scripture sets limits to a creature's power, let our enquiring thoughts stop short and lie silent : but reason hardly knows where to stop, while it enquires how powerful and knowing a creature the great Godcan make, Surelywe have good reason tobelieve that the soul of Christ is the most intelligent, the most knowing and'active creature that God ever made, and has the largest nativepowers ; and it seems divinely agreeable that it should be so, that he might be a: pro- per subject for the favour of a personal union with the godhead, and a proper medium whereby the- great God might with honour transact his affairs among the children of men, as well as that he might be a most suitable mirror to display the divine perfections in their fairest and strongest light. Surely there is no created nature which in itself comes nearer - to the perfections of God than the than Christ Jesus. No creature isa fairer image of God than the soul of Christ is, and thereby it becomes the fittest in- strument foi an indwelling God to act by, and yet it is infinitely inferior togodhead. III. But if the native powers of the soul of Christ in its first formation, or during its abode on earth ina humbled estate, were not sufficient for these purposes of government and judg.. ment, yet may theynot be sufficient in its present glorified state? The powers of a soul confined in flesh and blood may be but of a narrow extent in comparison of those extensive powers which are ascribed to the man Jesus Christ now in heaven. Who knows what " amazing enlargement may attend all the na- tural powers of man when advanced to state of glory ?" Perhaps a common Spirit released from flesh and blood, and exalted to a glorified state, may extend its powers a thousand times farther than the greatest spirit dwelling in flesh can do. And we may suppose also that when this spirit is again united to a glorified body, its own powers of activity, knowledge and influence ma)' be yet farther enlarged abundantly, rather The several dogreesof angels may probably have larger views, and some of them be endowed with capacitiesable to retain together, and constantly set before them as is onepicture all their past kilo,' ledge at once."
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