In this condition — lost, poor, base, yea, cursed — the Lord Christ, the Son of God, found our nature. And hereon, in infinite condescension and compassion, sancti- fying a portion of it unto himself, he took it to be his own, in a holy, ineffable sub- sistence, in his own person. And herein again the same nature, so depVessed into the utmost misery, is exalted above the whole creation of God. For in that very nature, God hath '' set him at his own riglit hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." This is that which is so celebrated by tlie Psalmist, with the highest admiration, Ps. viii. 3-8. This is the greatest privilege we have among all our fellow-creatures, — this we may glory in, and value ourselves upon. Those who engage this nature in the service of sensual lusts and pleasures, — who think that its felicity and utmost capacities con- sist in their satisfaction, with the accomplishment of other earthly, temporary desires, — are satisfied with it in its state of apostasy from God; but those who have received the light of faith and grace, so as rightly to understand the being and end of that nature whereof they are partakers, cannot but rejoice in its deliverance from the utmost debasement, into that glorious exaltation which it hath received in the per- son of Christ. And this must needs make thoughts of him full of refreshment unto their souls. Let us take care of our persons, — the glory of our nature is safe in him. For, —
II. In him the relation of our nature unto Ood is eternally secured. We were created in a covenant relation unto God. Our nature was related unto him in a way of friendship, of likeness, and complacency. But the bond of this relation and union was quickly broken, by our apostasy from him. Hereon our whole nature became to be at the utmost moral distance from God, and enmity against him ; which is the depth of misery. But God, in infinite Asdsdom and grace, did design once more to recover it, and take it again near unto himself. And he would do it in such a way as should render it utterly impossible that there should ever be a separation between him and it any more. Heaven and earth may pass away, but there shall never be a dissolution of the union between God and our nature any more. He did it, therefore, by assuming it into a substantial union with himself.
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in the person of the Son. Hereby the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in it bodily, or substantially, and eternally. Hereby is its relation unto God eternally secured. And among all the mysterious excellencies which relate hereunto, there are two which continually present themselves unto our consideration.
1. That this nature of ours is capable of this glorious exaltation and subsistence in God. No creature could conceive how omnipotent wisdom, power, and good- ness, could actuate themselves unto the production of this effect. The mystery hereof is the object of the admiration of angels, and will be so of the whole church, unto all eternity. What is revealed concerning the glory, way, and manner of it, in the Scripture, I have declared in my treatise concerning the Mystery of Godli- ness, or the Person of Christ. What mind can conceive, what tongue can express, who can sufficiently admire, the wisdom, goodness, and condescension of G(jd herein? And whei'eas he hath proposed unto us this glorious object of our fiiith and meditation, how vile and foolish are we, if we spend our thoughts about other things in a neglect of it !
2. This is also an ineffable pledge of the love of God unto our natiu-e. For although he will not take it in any other instance, save that of the man Christ Jesus, into this relation with himself, by virtue of personal union, yet therein he hath given a glorious pledge of his love unto, and valuation of, that nature. For " verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham." And this kindness extends unto our persons, as participant of that nature. For he designed this glory unto the man Christ Jesus, that he might be the first-born of the new creation, that we might he made conformable unto him according to our measure ; and as the members of that body, whereof he is the head, we are participant in this glory.
in. It is he in whom our natui-e hath been carried successfully and victo- riously through all the oppositions that it is liable unto, and even death itself. But the glory hereof I shall speak unto distinctly in its proper place, which follows, and therefore shall here pass it by.
IV. He it is who in himself hath given us a pledge of the capacity of our nature to inhabit those blessed regions of light, which are far above these aspectable hea- vens. Here we dwell in tabernacles of clay, that are " crushed before the moth," — such as cannot be raised, so as to abide one foot-breadth above the earth we tread upon. The heavenly luminaries which we can behold appear too great and glo- rious for our cohabitation. We are as grasshoppers in our own eyes, in comparison of those gigantic beings ; and they seem to dwell in places which would immedi- ately swallow up and extinguish our natures. How, then, shall we entertain an apprehension of being carried and exalted above them all ? to have an everlasting subsistence in places incomprehensibly more glorious than the orbs wherein they reside ? What capacity is there in our nature of such a habitation ? But hereof the Lord Christ hath given us a pledge in himself. Our nature in him is passed through these aspectable heavens, and is exalted far above them. Its eternal ha- bitation is in the blessed regions of light and glory ; and he hath promised that where he is, there we shall be, and that for ever.