76 THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
US — that is, in idolatry, the worst and vilest of evils: so Ps. cxv. 4-8; Isa. xliv. ; Kev. ix. 19, 20, &c. This pride and folly of men was that which lost all knowledge of God in the world, and all obedience unto him. The ten commandments are but a transcript of the light and law of nature. The first of these required that God— the only true God — the Creator and Governor of all — should be acknowledged, worshipped, believed in, and obeyed. And the second was, that we should not make unto ourselves any image or representation of him. Whatever he would do himself, yet he strictly forbade that we should make any such unto ourselves. And here began the apostasy of the world from God. They did not absolutely rejeot him, and so cast off the first fundamental precept of the law of nature — but they sub- mitted not unto his wisdom and authority in the next, which was evidently educed from it. They would make images and representa- tions of him unto themselves; and by this invention of their own, they first dishonoured him, and then forsook him, giving themselves up unto the rule and service of the devil. Wherefore, as the way that God in infinite wisdom found out for the representation of him- self unto us, was the only means of recovery from the first apostasy — the way found out by men, unto the same end, was the great means of casting the generality of mankind unto the farthest degToe of a new apostasy from God whereof our nature is capal^le. And of the same kind will all our contrivances be found to be — in Avhat belongs unto his worship and glory — though, unto us, they may appear both spe- cious and necessary. This, therefore, should lead us into a continual admiration of the wisdom and grace of God, with a due sense of our own vileness and baseness by nature. For we are in nothing better or wiser than they who fell into the utmost folly and wickedness, in their designs for the highest end, or the representation of God unto us. The more we dwell on such considerations, the more fear and reverence of God, with faith, trust, and delight in him, will be increased — as also humility in ourselves, with a sense of divine grace and love. 2. There is a peculiar ground of the spiritual efficacy of this repre- sentation of God. The revelations that he hath made of himself, and of the glorious properties of his nature, in the works of creation and providence, are, in themselves, clear, plain, and manifest : Ps. xix. 1, 2; Rom. i. 19, 20. Those which are made in Christ are sublime and mysterious. Howbeit, the knowledge we have of him as he is represented unto us in Christ is far more clear, certain, steady, effec- tual, and operative, than any we can attain in and by all other ways of revelation. The reason hereof is, not only because there is a more full and extensive revelation made of God, his counsels and his will, in Christ and the Gospel, than in all the works of creation and pro- vidence; but because this revelation and representation of God is re-
SriEITUAL EFFICACY OF THE DIVINE IMAGE. 77
ceived hj faith alone, the otlier by reason only: and it is faith that is the principle of spiritual light and Hfe in us. What is received thereby is operative and effectual, unto all the ends of the life of God. For we live by faith here, as we shall by sight hereafter. Reason alone — especially as it is corrupted and depraved — can discern no glory in the representation of God by Christ; yea, all that is spoken thereof, or declared in the Gospel, is foolishness unto it. Hence many live in a profession of the faith of the letter of the Gospel, yet — hav- ing no liglit, guide, nor conduct, but that of reason — they do not, they cannot, really behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ ; nor hath the revelation of it any efficacy upon their souls. The manifestation of him in the light of nature, by the works of crea- tion and providence, is suited unto their reason, and doth affect it : for that [manifestation] which is made in Christ, they say of it, as the Israelites did of manna, that came down from heaven, "What is it?" we know not the meaning of it. For it is made unto faith alone, and all men have not faith. And where God shines into the heart, by that faith which is of divine operation — there, with " open face, we behold the glory of God, as in a glass;" or have the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. There is not the mean- est believer, but — in the real exercise of faith in Christ — hath more glorious apprehensions of God, his wisdom, goodness, and gi'ace, of all his glorious excellencies, than the most learned and wise in the world can attain imto, in the exercise of reason on the proper objects of it. So are these things opposed by the apostle, 1 Cor. i. Where- fore, faith in Christ is the only means of the true knowledge of God; and the discoveries which are made of him and his excellencies thereby are those alone whicji are effectual to conform us unto his image and likeness. And this is the reason why some men are so little affected with the Gospel — notwithstanding the continual preach- ing of it unto them, and their outward profession of it. It doth not inwardly affect them, it produceth no blessed effects in them. Some sense they have of the power of God in the works of creation and providence, m his rule and government, and in the workings of na- tural conscience. Beyond these, they have no real sense of him. The reason is, because they have not faith — whereby alone the represen- tation that is made of God in Christ, and declared in the Gospel, is made effectual unto the souls of men. Wherefore —