DIVINE COUNSELS IN CHRIST AS THE IMAGE OF GOD. 63
and salvation of the cliurch lies in election, tlie decree whereof com- priseth the counsels of God concerning them. Herein, God from the beg-innincf "chooseth us unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit \" (2 Thess. ii. 13 ;) the one being the end he designeth, the other the means and way thereof. But this he did in Christ ; " he chooseth us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love ;" that is, " unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit." In him we were not actually, nor by faith, before the foundation of the world ; yet were we then chosen in him, as the only foundation of the execution of all the counsels of God concerning our sanctification and salvation.
Thus as all things were originally made and created by him, as he was the essential wisdom of God — so all things are renewed and recovered by him, as he is the 'provisional wisdom of God, in and by his incarnation. Therefore are these things put together and com- pared unto his glory. He " is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature : for by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible ; .... all things were created by him and for him : and he is before all things, and by him all things consist : and he is the head of the body, the church ; who is the beginning, the first-bom from the dead ; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence :" Col. i. 15-18.
Two things, as the foundation of what is ascribed unto the Lord Christ in the ensuing discourse, are asserted: verse 15. — (1.) That he is " the image of the invisible God." (2.) That he is " the first- born of every creature;" things seeming very distant in themselves, but gloriously united and centring in his person.
(1.) He is " the image of the invisible God;" or, as it is elsewhere expressed, he is " in the form of God" — his essential forai, for other form there is none in the divine nature — the " brightness of the glory, and the express image of the Father's person." And he is called here the " invisible God," not absolutely with respect unto his essence, though it be most true— the divine essence being absolutely invisible, and that equally, whether considered as in the Father or in the Son — but he is called so with respect unto his counsels, his will, his love, and his grace. For so none hath seen him at any time ; but the only-begotten, which is in the bosom of the Father, he declares him: John i. 18. As he is thus the essential, the eter- nal image of the invisible God, his wisdom and power — the efficiency of the fii'st creation, and its consistence being created, is ascribed imto him: " By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible;" Col. i. 17. And because of the great notions and apprehensions that were then in the world — especially among the Jews, unto whom the apostle had respect in
64 THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
this epistle — of the greatness and glory of the invisible part of the creation in heaven above, he mentions them in particular, under the most glorious titles that any could, or then did, ascribe unto them — " Whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principahties, or powers ; all things were created by him, and for him; " — the same expression that is used of God absolutely: E.om. xi. .86; Rev. iv. 11. Add hereunto those other places to this purpose, John i. 1-3; Heb. i 1-3; and those that are not under the efficacy of spiritual infatua- tions, cannot but admire at the power of unbelief, the blind- ness of the minds of men, and the craft of Satan, in them who deny the divine nature of Jesus Christ. For whereas the apostle plainly affirms, that the works of the creation do demonstrate the eternal poAver and Godhead of him by whom they were created; (Rom. i. 19, 20;) and not only so, but it is uncontrollably evident in the light of nature : it being so directly, expressly, frequently affirmed, that aU things whatever, absolutely, and in their distri- butions mto heaven and earth, with the things contained respec- tively in them, were made and created by Christ — it is the highest rebellion agamst the light and teachings of God, to disbelieve his divine existence and power.
(2.) Again it is added, that he is " the first-bom of every creature;" which principally respects the new creation, as it is declared : (verse 18 :) " He is the head of the body, the church; who is the begin- ning, the first-bom from the dead ; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence." For in him were all the counsels of God laid for the recovery of all things unto himself — as he was to be incar- nate. And the accomplishment of these counsels of God by him the apostle declares at large in the ensuing verses. And these things are both conjoined and composed in this place. As God the Father did nothing in the first creation but by him — as his eternal wisdom ; (John i. 3; Heb. i. 2; Prov. viii. ;) so he designed nothing in the new creation, or restoration of all things unto his glory, but in him — as he was to be incarnate. Wherefore in his person were laid all the foundation of the counsels of God for the sanctification and salvation of the church. Herein he is glorified, and that in a way unspeakably exceeding all that glory which would have accrued unto him from the first creation, had all things abode in their primitive constitution.