Not to insist on particular testimonies, it is evident unto all whose eyes are opened to discern these things, that there is no property of the divine nature which is peculiarly amiable — such as are goodness, grace, love, and bounty, with infinite power and holiness — but it is represented and proposed unto us in the person of the Son of God, to this end, that we should love him above all, and cleave unto him. There is nothing in the human nature, in that fulness of grace and truth which dwelt therein, in that inhabitation of the Spirit which was in him without measure, in any thing of those " all things " wherein he hath the pre-eminence — nothing in his love, condescen- sion, grace, and mercy — nothing in the work that he fulfilled, what he did and suffered therein — nothing in the benefits we receive thereby — nothing in the power and gloiy that he is exalted unto at the right hand of God — but it is set forth in the Scripture and pro- posed unto us, that, believing in him, we may love him with all our hearts and souls. And, besides all this, that singular, that infinite effect of divine wisdom, whereunto there is nothing like in all the works of God, and wherewith none of them may be compared — namely, the constitution of his person by the union of his natures therein, whereby he becomes unto us the image of the invisible God, and wherein all the blessed excellencies of his distinct natures are made most illustriously conspicuous in becoming one entire principle of all his mediatory operations on our l^ehalf — is proposed unto us as
THE FOUNDATION OF OUR LOVE TO CHRIST. 159
the complete object of our faith and love. This is that person whose loveliness and beauty all the angels of God, all the holy ones above, do eternally admire and adore. In him are the infinite treasures of divine wisdom and goodness continually represented unto them. This is he who is the joy, the delight, the love, the glory of the church below. " Thou whom our souls do love," is the title whereby they know him and converse with him. Cant. i. 7, iii. 1, 4. This is he who is the Desire of all nations — the Beloved of God and men.
The nmtual intercourse on this ground of love between Christ and the church, is the life and soul of the whole creation; for on the account hereof all things consist in him.
There is more glory under the eye of God, in the sighs, groans, and mournings of poor souls filled with the love of Christ, after the enjoyment of him according to his promises — in theu" fervent prayers for his manifestation of himself unto them — in the refreshments and unspeakable joys which they have in his gracious visits and embraces of his love — than in the thrones and diadems of all the monarchs on the earth. Nor will they themselves part with the ineffable satisfac- tions which they have in these things, for all that this world can do for them or unto them. " Mallem mere cum Christo, quam regnare cum Csesare." These things have not only rendered prisons and dun- geons more desirable unto them than the most goodly palaces, on future accounts, but have made them really places of such refresh- ment and joys as men shall seek in vain to extract out of all the comforts that this world can afford.
0 curva3 in terras animae et coelestium inaues !
Many there are who, not comprehending, not being affected with, that divine, spiritual description of the person of Christ which is given us by the Holy Ghost in the Scripture, do feign unto themselves false representations of him by images and pictures, so as to excite carnal and corrupt affections in their minds. By the help of their outward senses, they reflect on their imaginations the shape of a human body, cast into postures and circumstances dolorous or triumphant ; and so, by the working of their fancy, raise a commotion of mind in them- selves, which they suppose to be love unto Christ. But all these idols are teachers of hes. The true beauty and amiableness of the person of Christ, Avhich is the fonnal object and cause of divine love, is so far from being represented herein, as that the mind is thereby wholly diverted from the contemplation of it. For no more can be so pic- tured unto us but what may belong unto a mere man, and what is arbitrarily referred unto Christ, not by faith, but by corrupt imagi- nation.
The heauty of the person of Christ, as represented in the Scripture,
160 THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
consists in things invisible unto the eyes of flesh. They are such as no hand of man can represent or shadow. It is the eye of faith alone that can see this King in his beauty. What else can contemplate on the uncreated glories of his divine nature ? Can the hand of man represent the union of his natures in the same person, wherein he is peculiarly amiable ? What eye can discern the mutual communica- tions of the properties of his different natures in the same person, which depends thereon, whence it is that God laid down his life for us, and purchased his church with his own blood ? In these things, O vain man ! doth the loveliness of the person of Christ unto the souls of believers consist, and not in those strokes of art which fancy hath guided a skilful hand and pencil unto. And what eye of flesh can discern the inhabitation of the Spirit in all fulness in the human nature ? Can his condescension, his love, his grace, his power, his compassion, his offices, his fitness and ability to save sinners, be deci- phered on a tablet, or engraven on wood or stone ? However such pictures may be adorned, however beautified and enriched, they are not that Christ which the soul of the spouse doth love ; — they are not any means of representing his love unto us, or of conveying our love unto him ; — they only divert the minds of superstitious persons from the Son of God, unto the embraces of a cloud, composed of fancy and imagination.