A26796:694
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption…
The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is showed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.The harmony of the divine attributes in the contrivance and accomplishment of man's redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ, or, Discourses wherein is shewed how the wisdom, mercy, justice, holiness, power, and truth of God are glorified in that great and blessed work / by William Bates.
London: printed by J. Darby for Nathaniel Ranew and Jonathan Robinson and Brabazon Aylmer, 1674
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.
In short, His excellent Example not only enlightens our Minds to discover our Duty, but enables and excites to perform it. As the Eye in beholding visible objects receives their Image, so by contemplating the Graces that are conspicuous in our Redeemer, we derive a similitude from them. We all, saith the Apostle, with open face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord, 1that is by viewing in the Gospel the Life of Christ, which was glorious in Holiness, We are changed into the same Image from •lory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord: that is, gradually fashioned in Grace according to his likeness.
In short, His excellent Example not only enlightens our Minds to discover our Duty, but inables and excites to perform it. As the Eye in beholding visible objects receives their Image, so by contemplating the Graces that are conspicuous in our Redeemer, we derive a similitude from them. We all, saith the Apostle, with open face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord, 1that is by viewing in the Gospel the Life of Christ, which was glorious in Holiness, We are changed into the same Image from •lory to Glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord: that is, gradually fashioned in Grace according to his likeness.
And what can more powerfully move and persuade ⟨p. 369⟩us to Holiness, than to consider the President that Christ hath set before us. For how honourable is it to be like the Son of God? By conformity to Christ, we partake of the Divine Perfections. The King of Heaven will acknowledge us for his Children, when we bear the resemblance of our elder Brother. Besides the motive of Honour, Love doth strongly incline to follow Holiness in imitation of our Redeemer. This is one difference between Knowledge and Love, the understanding draws the object to it self and transforms it into its own likeness. Thus material objects have an immaterial existence in the mind when it contemplates them. But Love goes forth to the object loved; the Soul is more where it loves than where it lives; that is, there is more of its intellectual presence, its thoughts and desires, and it always affects a resemblance to it. Thus Love humbled God, and made him like to us in Nature; and Love exalts Man, by making him like to God in Holiness; for it excites us to imitate and express in our actions the Virtues of him who hath called us to his Kingdom and Glory.