594 ME GLORY OF CIIRIST AS .GOD-]1A$. 'equality inproportion, but of likeness ; his privileges weresuch by the union with the second person, that he had a true kind of partnership with God the Father in his privileges, and such as did arise to a likeness, though not to an essential equality." And chapter vii. page 110. headds, " The first ingredient into the satisfaction of Christ lies in the laying aside the glory due to the second person, when he should dwell in a human nature, and instead thereof taking on him the form of a servant-- - God will have him emptied, the Messiah shall have nothing left, not a grain or mite of the riches of his glory. ". And in volume II. " Of the knowledge of God," hook iii. page 201. he adds, " IIe that had all fulness had nothing left, no comfort in God or in any creature : IIe Might say as Naomi saith, "The Lord hath dealt bitterly with me, I' came from heaven full, but lie brought me to earth empty, and emptied of all." Thus, far that eminent and pious writer. But after 411, if any humble christians should be afraid to admit my exposition of this text, which is so plain and natural, lest they should seem to weakeh one supposed proof of the divi- nity of Christ, yet the next scripture is as plain for my purpose, and will lead into no such danger. And that is, 2 Cor. viii. 9. Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, thatyou through his poverty might be shade rich. I know not how this can be well interpreted any other way than by supposing our Lord Jesus Christ as man, or his human soul to pre-exist in a former state, wherein he was rich indeed, and endowed with many real glories and privileges ; and yet he divested himself of them, and became poor for our sakes, when he became incar- nate, a helpless infant whet lay in a manger, and was theson of a carpenter. It cannot he said of God, or the divine nature, that he became poor, who is infinitely self sufficient, and who is neces- sarily and eternally rich in perfections and glories, and in the indefeasable possession of all things : Nor can it be said of Christ as man, that he ever was rich, if he were never in a richer state before than while he was here on earth ; for during that time he was always extremely poor, the Son of man had not where to lay his head : And he could not be in a richer state as man before, if nothing of this manhood existed before his in- carnation. But if to evade this, any one will say, that he was rich as Cod, and became poor as man ; BishopFowler answers, that this is " such a strain and force upon the words of scripture, that it looks like laying hold upon any thing to help at a dead lift." It appears then that our Lord Jesus Christ really emptied him- self of some peculiar glories that belonged to him, and whichhe
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