A03603:35
The pattern of perfection exhibited in Gods image on AdamThe paterne of perfection exhibited in Gods image on Adam
The pattern of perfection exhibited in Gods image on Adam: and Gods covenant made with him. Whereunto is added an exhortation, to redeem the time for recovering our losses in the premisses. And also some miscellanies, viz. I. The prayer of faith. II. A preparative to the Lords Supper. III. The character of a sound Christian, in 17. marks. By T.H.The paterne of perfection exhibited in Gods image on Adam: and Gods covenant made with him. Whereunto is added an exhortation, to redeem the time for recovering our losses in the premisses. And also some miscellanies, viz. I. The prayer of faith. II. A preparative to the Lords Supper. III. The character of a sound Christian, in 17. markes. By T.H.
London: printed by R. Young for R. Young, 1640
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
For the opening of it, observe three questions:
Q. 1. What is this Image?
1Ans. In the general, it is that spiritual ability put into Adam, whereby he was able to work as God wrought, after the manner and measure of a creature. We do all things according to our scantling: God hath a power infinite, Adam had it proportionably. Adam was not to equal, but to imitate God. Luk. 6.34. Be merciful as your father is merciful. Adam was holy as God, and ordered his conversation ⟨p. 9⟩as God would. We say, That the child hath the image of his father, not in bigness, but in likeness, either in carriage, countenance, or behaviour: Or, as it is with an apprentice, that hath learned the skill of his Master, we say, He is his Master right; not because he is a man, but because he is a work-man, and imitates him exactly, and carries the print of his skill upon him. So the image of God in Adam is not so much in regard of the being of Adam, as in this, that he was able to work as God, he was partaker of the spiritual virtue of God; he was able to know what was needful, and to will what ever he knew agreeable to Gods will. Had ⟨p. 10⟩God taken flesh upon him (as indeed Christ took flesh upon him) he would have so behaved himself, and so approved of good courses, (being made after Gods Image) as did Christ (taking our flesh upon him) in whom there was no guile.
1Ans. In the generall, it is that spirituall ability put into Adam, whereby hee was able to worke as God wrought, after the manner and measure of a creature. We doe all things according to our scantling: God hath a power infinite, Adam had it proportionably. Adam was not to equall, but to imitate God.