2. He hath given us the example of Christ, or God in our nature, •who came for this end and purpose, that we, who cannot fathom the unsearchable depth of the godhead, might see the divine perfections shining forth in the human nature of Christ, who was the character and express image of his divine glory : Heb. i. 3, Christ was ' lioly, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,' Pleb. vii. 26. And Christ came to represent the goodness of God, for he ' went about doing good,' Acts X. 38. They that cannot directly look on the sun may see the motion of it in a basin of water. To express an image, there must be similitude or likeness, and a means of deduction or conveying the like- ness to us. Christ appeared in our nature to represent the amiableness of God, and to teach us a life of holiness.
3. He hath given us his Spirit to change us into the likeness of Christ : 2 Cor. iii. 18, ' But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.' For an objective cause will not work inns without some internal powerful cause to make it effectual, and that is the Spirit. None else is able to renew us to the image of God, there being such an averseness in man's heart, which cannot be cured by our bare thoughts.
III. I prove the point by these reasons —
1. This image of God was our primitive glory and excellency : Gen. i. 26, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.' This was the ornament and crown of glory which God would put upon a crea- ture, which was his masterpiece, and the most excellent of all his works. This made us amiable in the sight of God. In other creatures there was a vestigium, a footprint, or a track of his wisdom, power, and goodness ; but in man there was an image or resemblance of his face. Now this was lost by sin ; but to have it restored and recovered is the true glory of man, and the greatest excellency that we are capable of,
2. This is the effect of our new creation and regeneration ; for it is
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said, 2 Peter i. 4, that to ' us are given exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might he partakers of the divine nature;' that is, have the image of God stamped upon us ; and so christians might again begin to look hke God himself, and in some measure resemble him in wisdom, goodness, and holiness. Nothing so like him a.s the new creature.
3. This is that which we hope shall be completed in heaven, and therefore it must be endeavoui-ed here : 1 John iii. 2, ' We shall be like him ; for we shall see him as he is ; ' and Ps. xvii. 15, ' AVhen I awake, I shall be satisfied Avith thy likeness ; ' that is, when I awake out of the sleep of death. The heaven that we look for is such a vision as maketh way for assimilation, and such an assimilation to God as maketh way for complete satisfaction and blessedness in him. All sight of God is transforming. That sight that we have of him in the gospel mortifieth sin ; but that sight that we have of him in heaven nullifieth sin, and causeth a more perfect resemblance of him and likeness to him. And this must needs breed satisfaction, for beyond God there is nothing to be sought after ; and if we be as God, so far as creatures are capable, we must needs be completely happy. Well, then, since we hope for this in heaven, the resemblance must be begun here ; for God carrieth on his work by degrees, and doth dispose and fit us for that estate which he will translate us into. If we expect it hereafter, we must endeavour it now, and grow more like God every day ; and the more we are so, the nearer we approach to our final per- fection ; as rivers widen themselves by degrees, till with a full mouth they run into the ocean.
4. We must not omit the argument of the text, ' as dear children ; ' wherein two things are considerable — (1.) The relation ; (2.) The love that accompanieth it.
[1.] The relation. Ye are children. Children usually resemble their parents, either by nature, in the lineaments of their face, or by institu- tion and education, in the quality of their minds. It may fail there, but it always holdeth good here ; for none are God's children but those that are like him. It may fail there through many intervening acci- dents ; they may neither be like their parents in the compass of their face, or in their nature and feature, nor in their manners and virtues. Many a worthy father may have a base degenerate child ; and it is often observed that where there is an extraordinary excellency, there is as great a defect in the next descendant ; as Solomon, who had so great a measure of wisdom and understanding, had a weak-hearted Kehoboam to his son. But it cannot fail here : if we be children of God, there is a resemblance between him and ns ; we will imitate our Father ; for either the resemblance constituteth the relation, or else is the necessary effect of it. It constituteth it as we have a new being and an holy nature from him b}'' regeneration, before we have i^ovaiav, the right, power, and dignity of his children: John i. 12, 13, 'But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name ; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.' And it is the effect of it, as we resemble him in our lives and actions : 1 Peter i. 14-16, 'As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves