being but of one undivided nature and essence in the next verfe he faith, GOD created man in HIS own image, in the image of God created HE him. I HAVE been the more large and particular in confidering this important article of our chriftian faith, because it is that foundation whereon the glorious fabric of our redemption and falvation by JESUS CHRIST is built could that be removed this must neceffarily be fubverted, and fall to the ground; therefore let every true chriftian obftinately defend, and hold faft this eternal foundation against all the violence, and fubtlety of Arian and Sabellian herefy, 3.THE name of our Creator in the text is not only. plural, but imports likewife that the facred Trinity who bear witness in Heaven, were sworn togethers This name of GOD doth not express the being of DEITY; nor (as I humbly conceive) of any attribute effential to the divine nature; but of a plurality under the obligation of an oath; which by fome is rendered the SWORN ONES, by others ▾ more exactly, THE INTERPOSERS BY DENOUNCING A CURSE; for by this name the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoft are reprefented as interpofing on the behalf of CHRIST and his elect; execrating or denouncing a curse on every creature, whether men or angels; that do not acknowledge CHRIST to be the only LORD and SAVIOUR. SAVIOUR. Thus JEHOVAH fwore to his CHRIST, and will not repent, thou art a king and a prieft for ever *; and to fhew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counfel, HE interpofed bimfelf by an oath+. WHEN the decree went forth amidst the heavenly hofts, faying, let all the angels of GOD worship. kim; the elect among them obeyed, and rebelled not likewife God's chofen among men, after that CHRIST is preached unto them, believe on his name and confefs him to be LORD of all; but on them that are contentious, disobedient and gainfaying, whether men or angels, the curfe and wrath of GOD abideth forever.-Hence he faith, though we, or an angel from beaven preach any other gofpel unto you than that we have preached, let him be accurfed: and if any man love not the LORD JESUS CHRIST let him be anathema maranatba. on the contrary he affirms, that the grace of GOD is upon all them that obey the gofpel, and love our LORD JESUS CHRIST in fincerity §. THE facred Three who were thus fworn together before all Time, are the same who now bear witness in heaven; teftifying that JESUS of Nazareth is the Son of GOD, that GOD hath given to us eternal life, and that this life is in his Son: be that believeth Pfalm ii. 6, 7. and cx. 4. + Heb. vi. 17. believeth not bath made GoD a lyar*, because he believeth not the record which God gave his Son. GOD therefore hath purposed and fworn to establish CHRIST upon his throne in the heavens, and that he should give eternal life to as many as God had given him, in confequence of his tafting Death for every one of them; and that he fhould rule in the midft of his Enemies untill he had made his foes his footstool: and hence we conceive the facred Three in the Effence did take to themselves that glorious name in the text, which name is most proper to convey ftrong confolation and confidence to the hearts of all believers in CHRIST, as the LORD their righteousness; for the oath of JËHOVAH, which cannot lie, fecures their everlasting peace and fafety: whilft on the other hand it is moft fit to ftrike terror into the heart of the King's enemiest, who cannot efcape out of the hand of the omniscient and omnipotent God, whofe everlafting curfe is upon all them that love not our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and honor the Son even as they bonor the Father, Therefore tremble thou earth; but let the Saints rejoice and triumph; because of THAT GLORIOUS AND FEARFULL NAME JEHOVAH ALEIM, THE LORD THY GODS. As therefore GOD had eternally purposed and fworn by his Great Name that his only begotten Son fhould affume the human na * 1 John v. 10. † Pfa. xlv. 5. ‡ John v. 23. § Deut. xxviii. 58. ture and be a king and a prieft upon his throne in the heavens: he began to make way for his appearing in flesh, when, as faith the text, he created man in his own image, which leads me, Secondly; to fhew that God created man in his own image after bis likeness. The image of GoD in the foul of man doth eminently confist in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness.. 1 1. MAN was created in knowledge: he knew the Author of his Being who made him for his own glory: To worship an unknown Gop, or ferve him ignorantly, is no rational, no acceptable fervice. He was therefore created in the know. ledge of GOD that he might love and ferve his great Creator, and fing him praifes with understanding. He had not only a clear and comprehenfive knowledge of natural things, as appears by his giving proper names to every beast of the field and every fowl of the air; but he knew that God was glorious in wifdom, juftice, goodnefs and power; on whom all his creatures had a natural and neceffary dependence; in whofe light he beheld the true light, which fhewed unto him the path of life in the way of obedience to his Creator's law. He was the offspring of GOD; therefore he hid not the light of his countenance from him; in whom he beheld his own image and likeness with un undoubted tokens of his continual prefence and favour; the righteous LORD loveth righteousness, bis countenance doth behold the upright*: Moreover the law which God gave unto man was no arbitrary unreasonable impofition grievous to be borne, but quite the reverfe; he knew that it was infinitely right to obey, and evil to tranfgrefs his commandment-that the law of GOD was tranfcendently holy, juft and good, and fhewed unto him the moft honourable and fure way to life and happiness: that all his ways were juft and right, and the contrary unequal and pernicious. Thus walking in the light, as GoD is in the light, he could not fail to run the ways of his commandments with the moft rational approbation and delight. As his understanding was a lamp to his foul, fo he erred not in Judgment. He well knew on all occafions what judgment to make and how to act according to the law of his Maker with clearnefs and certainty.By this internal light, he beheld as in a glafs the paths of righteousness, perceiving the difference and clearly diftinguishing between truth and error, good and evil. Thus was the firft man created in I knowledge because it is a part of the Divine Image. The LORD is a GOD of knowledge, by him actions, are weighed 1. 2. Ha was created in righteoufness, which in the foul is no other than a difpofition to give to every * Pf. xi. 7. 1 Sam. ii. 3. |