' Thougli most translations give the definite article, it does not exist in the Greek text. Owen seems to hit the true meaning of the phrase in the remark appended to the quotation, -when he refers it, not to the divine nature, but to one resembling or corresponding to it. — Ed.
CHAP. I.] CONSIDERATION OF THE NATURE OF GOD, 579
likeness. So is it in this matter. We may have the image of God in our hearts, and yet come short of that likeness unto him, in its de- grees and improvement, which we ought to aim at. And this happens two ways: — (1.) When our graces are lueak, withering, and un- thrifty ; for in their flourishing and fruit-bearing is our likeness unto God evidenced, and in them doth the glory of God in this world con- sist. (2.) When, by the power of our corruptions or our temptations, we contract a deformity, something that hath the likeness of the old crooked serpent. Where either of these befall us, that our gi-aces are low and thriftless, [or] that our corruptions are high and active, frequently discovering themselves, there, though the image of God may be in us, there is not much of his likeness upon us, and we come short of our duty in this great and fundamental duty of our faith and profession. So far as it is thus with us, may we not, ought we not, greatly to blame ourselves? Why are we so slow, so negligent, in the pursuit of our principal interest and happiness? Why do we suffer every thing, why do we suffer any thing, to divert our minds from, or retard our endeavours in, this design? Wherefore, that I may con- tribute something to the awakening of our diligence herein, I shall add some few motives unto it and some directions for it, that herein we may be found " perfecting holiness in the fear of God ;" which is the only way whereby we may be like unto him in this world : —
First, In our likeness unto God consists the excellency and pre- eminence of our nature above that of all other creatures in the world, and of our persons above those of other men who are not partakers of his image. . For, —
1. With reference unto other things, this is the highest excel- lency that a created nature is capable of Other things had external impressions of the greatness, power, and goodness of God upon them ; man alone, in this lower world, was capable of the image of God in him. The perfection, the glory, the pre-eminence of our nature, in the first creation, was expressed only by this, that we were made in the image and hkeness of God, Gen. i. 26, 27. This gave us a pre-eminence above all other creatures, and hence a dominion over them ensued; for although God made a distinct grant of it unto us, that we might the better understand and be thankful for our privilege, yet was it a necessary consequence of his image in us. And this is that which James respects, where he tells us that rraaa. (pvffig, " every nature," the nature of all things in their several kinds, dafj,d^srai Tjj <p{jffsi rfi avSpuThfi, " is tamed," that is, subjected to the nature of man, chap. iii. 7. He renders t^^?. Gen. i. 28, by ^a.aa^w, which the LXX. render ■/.aray.vpnvu, " subdue it." But being not contented to be like God, that is, in holiness and righteousness, we would be as God in wisdom and sovereignty; and not attaining what we aimed at, we lost what we had, chap. iii. 5, 6. Being in
580 NECESSITY OF HOLINESS FROM THE [BOOK V.
" honour we continued not, but became like the beasts that perish," Ps. xhx. 12. We were first Hke God, and then hke beasts, 2 Pet. ii. 12. By the loss of the image of God, our nature lost its pre- eminence, and we were reduced into order amongst perishing beasts ; for notwithstanding some feeble relics of this image yet abiding with us, Ave have really, with respect unto our proper end, in our lapsed condition, more of the bestial nature in us than of the divine. Where- fore, the restoration of this image in us by the grace of Jesus Christ, Eph. iv. 24, Col. iii. 10, is the recovery of that pre-eminence and pri- vilege of our nature which we had foolishly lost. Hereby there is an impression again made upon our nature of the authority of God, which gives us a pre-eminence above other creatures and a rule over them; yea, that whole dominion which mankind scrambles for with craft and violence over the residue of the creation depends on this renovation of the image of God in some of them. Not that I judge that men's right and title to their portion and interests in this world doth depend on their own personal grace or holiness ; but that if God had not designed to renew his image in our nature by Jesus Christ, and, as the foundation thereof, to take our nature into union with him- self in the person of his Son, and thereby to gather up all things unto a new head in him, and to make him the first-born of the creation, the head and heir of all, he would not have continued any thing of right or title therein. It was vipon the promise and the establish- ment of the new covenant that this right was restored unto us. So it is expressed in the renovation of the covenant with Noah and his children: Gen. ix. 1, 2, "God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, and iipon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered;" which is an exjoress renovation of the grant made unto us at our first creation, chap. i. 28, the right whereunto we had lost in our loss of the image of God. And, therefore, in that service wherein the creature is continued unto mankind, it is made " subject to vanity" and put into " bondage ;" in which state, though it groan and look out, as it were, for deliverance, it must continue until God hath accomplished the whole design of the " glorious liberty of his chil- dren," Rom. viii. 20, 21. Whatever they may pride themselves in, their parts or enjoyments, however they may sport themselves in the use or abuse of other creatures, if this image of God be not renewed in them, they have really no great pre-eminence above the things which perish under their hands, 2 Pet. ii. 12. God having exalted oar natures, by union with himself in the person of his Son, requires of us to preserve its dignity above others.