A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

This participation then must be only qualitative: by nature we understand not substance, but quality: by grace in this world, and by glory in the world to come. This communication of the Divine nature to us, is by reparation of the divine image in us. This is cleared by the analogy of other respondent places, Hebr. 12.10. That we might be partakers of his holiness: so that to partake of the divine nature, is to be holy as God is holy, Eph. 4.24. Put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and the holiness of truth. To be created after God, is to partake of Gods nature; and this consists in justice and holiness, Rom. 8.29. God did predestinate us to to be conformed to the Image of his Son: the conformity to Gods image, is the participating Gods nature. This was not wholly unseen to Plato, who said it was mans chiefest good, Deo fieri penitùs conformem, to be made like to God. The sweetness of this benefit, and the multiplicity of comforts arising from it, I defer a little further: and here proceed to exemplify the relations, which may in some measure shadow out to us this partaking of the Divine nature. For it is in no-wise to be understood really, but by renovation. I propounded in the distribution seven respects, to exemplify the benefit of this participation.

This participation then must be onely qualitative: by nature we understand not substance, but quality: by grace in this world, and by glory in the world to come. This communication of the Divine nature to us, is by reparation of the divine image in us. This is cleared by the analogie of other respondent places, Hebr. 12.10. That we might be partakers of his holinesse: so that to partake of the divine nature, is to be holy as God is holy, Eph. 4.24. Put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and the holinesse of truth. To be created after God, is to partake of Gods nature; and this consists in justice and holinesse, Rom. 8.29. God did predestinate us to to be conformed to the Image of his Son: the conformitie to Gods image, is the participating Gods nature. This was not wholly unseene to Plato, who said it was mans chiefest good, Deo fieri penitùs conformem, to be made like to God. The sweetnesse of this benefit, and the multiplicity of comforts arising from it, I deferre a little further: and here proceed to exemplifie the relations, which may in some measure shadow out to us this partaking of the Divine nature. For it is in no-wise to be understood really, but by renovation. I propounded in the distribution seven respects, to exemplifie the benefit of this participation.