AS THE EEPEESENTATIVE OF GOD. 2^9
of Philip's request, "Lord, show us the Father?" because having seen him, we have seen the Father also, John xiv. 9.
This is our first saving view of Christ, the first instance of our be- holding his glory by faith. So to see him as to see God in him, is to behold his glory; for herein he is eternally glorious. And this is that glory whose view we ought to long for and labour after. And if we see it not, we are yet in darkness ; yea, though we say we see, we are blind like others. So David longed and prayed for it, when yet he could behold it only in types and shadows, Ps. Ixiii. 1, 2, "0 God, thou art my God ; early will I seek thee : my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee ; — to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary." For there was in the sanctuary an obscure representation of the glory of God in Christ. How much more should we prize that view of it which we may have with open face, though yet " as in a glass \" 2 Cor. iii. 18.
Moses, when he had seen the works of God, which were great and marvellous, yet found not himself satisfied therewith ; wherefore, after all, he prays that God " would show him his glory," Exod. xxxiii. 1 8. He knew that the ultimate rest, blessedness, and satisfaction of the soul, is not in seeing the works of God, but the glory of God himself. Therefore did he desire some immediate dawnings of it upon him in this world : " I beseech thee, show me thy glory." And if we have right apprehensions of the future state of blessedness, we cannot but have the same desire of seeing more of his glory in this life. But the question is, How we may attain it ? If we are left unto ourselves in this inquiry, if we have no other way for it but the immediate fixing of our thoughts on the immensity of the divine nature, we must come every one to the conclusion that Agur makes on the like considera- tion, " Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or de- scended ? who hath gathered the wind in his fists ? who hath bound the waters in a gannent ? who hath established all the ends of the earth ? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell ?" Prov. XXX. 2-4
It is in Christ alone that we may have a clear, distinct view of the glory of God and his excellencies. For him, and him alone, hath he appointed the representative of himself unto us; and we shall take an account hereof in one or two especial instances. See John i. 18, xiv. 7-10; 2 Cor. iv. 6; Col. i. 15; Eph. iii. 4-10; Heb. i. 3.
1. Infinite wisdom is one of the most glorious properties of the divine nature ; it is that which is directive of all the external works of God, wherein the glory of all the other excellencies of God is mani- fested : wherefore the manifestation of the whole glory of God pro-
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ceeds originally from infinite wisdom. But, as Job speaks, " Where shall [this] wisdom be found ; and what is the place of understand- ing? chaji. xxviii. 12. " Can we by searching find out God ? can we find out the Almighty unto perfection V chap. xi. 7. As it is in itself an essential, eternal property of the divine nature, we can have no comprehension of it, — we can but adore it in that infinite distance wherein we stand from God ; but in its operations and effects it may be discerned, for they are designed of God for its manifestation. Among these, the most excellent is the contrivance of the gi'eat work of the salvation of the church. So it is celebrated by the apostle, Eph. iii. 9, 10, " To make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now, unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God."
If we have any interest in God, if we have any hopes of blessedness in beholding of his glory unto eternity, we cannot but desire a view (such as is attainable) of this infinite, manifold wisdom of God in this life. But it is in Christ alone that we can discern anything of it; for him hath the Father chosen and sealed to represent it unto us. All the treasures of this wisdom are hid, laid up, and laid out in him; — herein lies the essence and form of faith. Believers by it do see the wisdom of God in Christ, in his person and office, — Christ the wisdom of God. Unbelievers see it not, as the apostle argues, 1 Cor. i. 22-24.