This Expofition is free from thofe Obfcurities which attend the mutual in-being and in-dwelling of the Father and the Son confidered purely in their. Divine Natures, which the Learned have called impignois and Circum-inceffion. We can hardly fuppofe our Saviour intended that Notion in John 14. 7, &c. becaufe 'tis a Notion fo myfterious and fublime beyond all the Ideas that Philip and Thomas could frame at that Seafon: And therefore we cannot imagine that Chrift would go to amufe them with these Unfearchables, when they defired fome Inftruction from him in the Knowledge of God the Father.

This Account of things plainly, intelligibly, and effectually fecures true, proper, and eternal Deity to God the Father, and to our blessed Saviour, and that in two diftinct Perfons, without introducing any other Godhead befides the Godhead of the Father. Thus God the Father is the only true God origi nally, and yet Jefus the Son of God, by Union to, and Communion in the Godhead of the Father, is also the true God and the eternal Life, 1 John 5. 20. And this is eternal Life to know the Father the only true God, and Jefus Chrift whom he hath fent. John 17. 3.

C

QUESTION

153

QUESTION VI.

Is Chrift the exprefs Image of God. the Father in the Human Nature, or in the Divine?

ANSW. In the Human Nature.

I

N feveral Places of Scripture our Saviour is represented as the Image of God: 2 Cor. 4. 4. Chrift, who is the Image of God. Col. 1. 15. The Image of the invifible God, the first-born of every Creature. Heb. 1. 3. The Brightness of his Father's Glory, and the exprefs Image of his Perfon, whom he hath appointed Heir of all things. Now 'tis an important Enquiry what is the Scripture Sense in which Jefus Chrift is the Image of God the Father.

It has been the Cuftom of many theological Writers to fuppofe Chrift in his pure divine Nature to be this Image of the Father to which the Scripture refers: but there are fome Reasons which feem to oppose this Opinion, and incline me to withhold my Affent from it at present.

I.

1. That our Proteftant Divines have almost univerfally fuppofed the Godhead or divine Nature of Chrift to be the felf-fame, entire, numerical Godhead, Nature or Effence which the Father has, and differing only) in his Perfonality or Manner of Subfiftence, that is, Filiation; whereas the Father's Manner of Subfiftence is Paternity. Now, according to this Doctrine, the divine Nature of Chrift can neither be the Image of the Father in his Ef fence, nor in his Perfonality and Subfiftence.

The divine Nature of Chrift cannot be the Image of the Father's Effence, because it is numerically the very fame Effence, and nothing is faid to be the Image of itself.

Neither can the peculiar Subfiftence or Perfonality of Chrift as God, be the Image of the Father's Perfonality or Subfiftence; for Son fhip or Filiation is by no means an Image of Paternity or Fatherhood, but is rather the very reverse, or contrary to it. A derived: Manner of Subfiftence can never be the exprefs Image of an underived Manner of Subfiftence.

If therefore the Perfon of Chrift confideredas God, be the fame numerical Godhead with the Father, together with a diftinct Perfonality, that is Filiation, and if he is neither the Image of the Father's Godhead nor his Perfonality; then Chrift, confidered merely in his divine Nature, cannot be the exprefs Image of the Father.

2. Another Reason why Chrift as God, is not the Image of God the Father, iş because he is called the Image of the invifible God. Now the Godhead of Chrift is as much in visible as the Father's Godhead is; and therefore when he is called the Image of the invifible God, it muft fignify, he is that Image whereby God becomes visible, or is made known to Men; and for this Reafon this Title of Chrift must include fuch a Nature in Chrift whereby the invisible God is made known to Mankind, that is, it must include fomething of his inferior or human Nature, and perhaps has a prime Reference thereto.

3. When Chrift is called the Image of God in: fome Scriptures, it would naturally lead us to conceive him diftinct from, and in fome Senfe inferior to that God whofe Image he is; and therefore it doth as naturally lead one to con- ' ceive Chrift's Godhead is not denoted in thofe Scriptures; for the Godhead of Chrifti and the Father is one, whereas the Image is fomething inferior to the Original.

Let it be noted alfo, that every Man is called the Image of God, 1 Cor. 11. 7. And therefore this feems to be too low a Character of Chrift, confidered in his pure Godhead,

But there are three Senfes in which Chrift is the most noble Image of God.

1. This Title most admirably agrees to Chrift confidered as Man: His human Soul is the first, the greatest, the wifeft, the holiest,

2

and

and the best of all created Spirits: The Man Jefus is the wifeft, holieft, and best of Men, formed after the Image of God in the greatest Perfections and probably his human Soul in his pre-existent State was the first-born of every Creature, and the beginning or chief of the Creation of God, and who hath more of Refemblance to God in all natural and in all moral Perfections than any Man ever had, or than the whole Creation befides.

2. And if it be further confidered that this glorious Man Jefus Chrift even in his pre-exiftent, as well as in his incarnate State, is intimately united to his divine Nature, i. e. to the fame Godhead that belongs to the Father, or to the eternal Word or Wisdom of God; then the very Perfections of God himself fhine through the human Nature of Christ, in a most refplendent Manner: Chrift as God-man is indeed the Brightness of his Father's Glery, and the most exprefs Image of his Perfon: and in this Senfe it may be granted that Chrift is fuch an Image of God as to be alfo God himself, God manifeft in the Flesh, God over all bleffed for ever.

Thus far we have feen in what Senfe Chrift may be called the Image of God the Father, in the very Conftitution of his Perfon: Let us alfo now confider him,

3. In his Character of Mediator; and fo he becomes the Image of the invifible God in yet a farther Sente. He is the Father's Ambaffador