1An. No Creatures beside Men, and Angels. It is true, that in all the frame of the creatures, there is a stamp of the holiness and power of God left passively; there are footsteps of Gods goodness left in the creature▪ but no creature is able actively to imitate God, to have an ⟨p. 11⟩holy will, and to walk answerably. There is a great difference between a mans footsteps in the sand, and his picture. If his footsteps be in the sand, we say, A man hath been there; but what his stature and proportion is, no man can tell: Draw a picture of the same man, such parts, and such limbs, this discovers what proportion he is of; The other concludes the man was there, but doth not discover his stature. If a man should see that mans son▪ just of his stature, he would then say, There is the lively picture of his father: So it is here in the creation of the World; God leaves a foot-step of his attributes, that every man may say, Wisdom, Goodness, and ⟨p. 12⟩power hath been here. Psal. 19.1. The Heavens declare the glory of God. They, as it were, speak it, and offer it to our consideration. Rom. 1.19. That which may be known of God, is in them: that is, the foot-steps of God may be observed in the creatures. But the image of God in Adam was like a picture; not a lifeless, but a lively picture. As the child that does like his father, doth discover him somewhat: So did Adam, God; he was able to express the virtues of God, that had created him. 1 Cor. 15.49. As we have borne the image of the Earthly: So we shall bear the image of the Heavenly. All the sons of Adam had the image of Adam: he was stubborn, ⟨p. 13⟩so were they. Now as we have this image from Adam, so the saints have the image of Christ; holy, as he his holy. Joh. 1.16. Of his fullness we have received, grace for grace. What ever grace is in Christ, he puts upon the hearts of his children. There is never a letter on the seal, but is on the wax: So every grace that is in Christ is imprinted upon his Saints proportionably.
1An. No Creatures beside Men, and Angels. It is true, that in all the frame of the creatures, there is a stampe of the holinesse and power of God left passively; there are footsteps of Gods goodnesse left in the creature▪ but no creature is able actively to imitate God, to have an ⟨p. 11⟩holy wil, and to walk answerably. There is a great difference betweene a mans footsteps in the sand, and his picture. If his footsteps be in the sand, we say, A man hath been there; but what his stature and proportion is, no man can tell: Draw a picture of the same man, such parts, and such lims, this discovers what proportion he is of; The other concludes the man was there, but doth not discover his stature. If a man should see that mans sonne▪ just of his stature, hee would then say, There is the lively picture of his father: So it is here in the creation of the World; God leaves a foot-step of his attributes, that every man may say, Wisedome, Goodnesse, and ⟨p. 12⟩power hath beene heere. Psal. 19.1. The Heavens declare the glory of God. They, as it were, speak it, and offer it to our consideration. Rom. 1.19. That which may bee knowne of God, is in them: that is, the foot-steps of God may bee observed in the creatures. But the image of God in Adam was like a picture; not a livelesse, but a lively picture. As the child that does like his father, doth discover him somewhat: So did Adam, God; he was able to expresse the vertues of God, that had created him. 1 Cor. 15.49. As wee have borne the image of the Earthly: So we shall beare the image of the Heavenly. All the sons of Adam had the image of Adam: hee was stubborne, ⟨p. 13⟩so were they. Now as we have this image from Adam, so the saints have the image of Christ; holy, as he his holy. Joh. 1.16. Of his fulnesse wee have received, grace for grace. What ever grace is in Christ, he puts upon the hearts of his children. There is never a letter on the seale, but is on the wax: So every grace that is in Christ is imprinted upon his Saints proportionably.
- 1Only men and angels made after Gods image.
