11. That he might fit him for spiritual and heavenly worship. God would have one creature near to him, one of his Privy Council, that might perform spiritual worship to him. Now unless God had created Adam in his image, he could not have performed spiritual worship to him, as it was requisite God should make some creature so to do. John 4.24. God is a spirit, and must be ⟨p. 17⟩worshipped in spirit, and in truth. None can approach to God, but in a spiritual manner. The trees grow, and the beasts serve man; they do their nature, and grovel on the ground, but reach not to God, because they are not spiritual, nor have they reasonable souls. Look as it is with great Princes, though they employ ordinary persons in ordinary affairs, as their under officers, Cooks, and Grooms, &c. yet no man must be Secretary of State, unless he have eminent and excellent abilities without which he cannot close with his Prince, nor is fitted for him: So, it is true, that the God of heaven hath all things at command, and he will work sometimes ⟨p. 18⟩wonders by them: The heavens hear the earth, the earth hears the corn, and the corn hears Israel: but none of these can worship God in prayer or the like, but only Adam, who hath the image of God upon him. Adam is Gods counsellor; He reveals his secrets to the righteous. An holy man can close with an holy God; they have union one with another. No other creature can come to God, but only man. All creatures serve man, that he may serve God. The heavens hear the earth, and the earth hears the corn, and the corn hears man, that man may serve the Lord. The text sayeth, God seeing that in the frame of heaven and earth, there was ⟨p. 19⟩not a fit companion for man, did therefore make woman, such another as himself, to be with man: So neither had God one for his turn, when Sun, & Moon, and Stars, and all things else were made, therefore Father, Son, and holy-Ghost consult to make one that might be acquainted with the businesses of Heaven.
11. That he might fit him for spirituall and heavenly worship. God would have one creature neere to him, one of his Privie Councell, that might performe spiritual worship to him. Now unlesse God had created Adam in his image, he could not have performed spirituall worship to him, as it was requisite God should make some creature so to doe. John 4.24. God is a spirit, and must bee ⟨p. 17⟩worshiped in spirit, and in truth. None can approach to God, but in a spirituall manner. The trees grow, and the beasts serve man; they do their nature, and grovell on the ground, but reach not to God, because they are not spirituall, nor have they reasonable soules. Looke as it is with great Princes, though they imploy ordinary persons in ordinary affaires, as their under officers, Cookes, and Groomes, &c. yet no man must be Secretary of State, unlesse he have eminent and excellent abilities without which he cannot close with his Prince, nor is fitted for him: So, it is true, that the God of heaven hath all things at command, and hee will worke sometimes ⟨p. 18⟩wonders by them: The heavens heare the earth, the earth heares the corne, and the corne heares Israel: but none of these can worship God in prayer or the like, but onely Adam, who hath the image of God upon him. Adam is Gods councellour; He reveales his secrets to the righteous. An holy man can close with an holy God; they have union one with another. No other creature can come to God, but only man. All creatures serve man, that he may serve God. The heavens heare the earth, and the earth heares the corne, and the corne heares man, that man may serve the Lord. The text sayeth, God seeing that in the frame of heaven and earth, there was ⟨p. 19⟩not a fit companion for man, did therefore make woman, such another as himselfe, to be with man: So neither had God one for his turne, when Sun, & Moone, and Stars, and all things else were made, therefore Father, Sonne, and holy-Ghost consult to make one that might be acquainted with the businesses of Heaven.
- 1Reasons why God made man after his image.
