Our Nature which was infinitely distant from, and below the Deity, now makes one Person with the Son of God. What Man sinfully aspired to, God hath graciously granted, and more: Man aspired to a likeness in knowledge, and God hath granted him an affinity in union. It had been astonishing Goodness to Angelize our Natures, but in Redemption Divine Goodness hath acted higher, in a sort to Deify our Natures. In Creation our Nature was exalted above other Creatures on Earth; in our Redemption our Nature is exalted above all the Host of Heaven: We were higher than the Beasts as Creatures, but lower than the Angels; *But by the Incarnation of the Son of God, our Nature is elevated many steps above them. After it had sunk it self by Corruption below the Bestial Nature, and as low as the Diabolical, the fullness of the Godhead dwells in our Nature Bodily, †but never in the Angels, Angelically. The Son of God descended to dignify our Nature, by assuming it, and ascended with our Nature to have it crowned above those standing Monuments of Divine Power, and Goodness.* That Person that descended in our Nature into the Grave, and in the same Nature was raised up again, is in that same Nature set at the right hand of God in Heaven, far above all Principality and Power, and Might, and Dominion, and every Name that is named. Our Refined Clay by an indissoluble union with this Divine Person, is honoured to sit for ever upon a Throne above all the Tribes of Seraphims and Cherubins; and the Person that wears it, is the head of the good Angels, and the conqueror of the bad; The one are put under his Feet, and the other commanded to adore him, that purged our Sins in our Nature†: That Divine Person in our Nature receives Adoration from the Angels; but the Nature of Man is not ordered to pay any Homage and Adorations to the Angels. How could Divine Goodness to Man more magnify it self? As we could not have a lower descent than we had by Sin, How could we have a higher ascent, than by a substantial participation of a Divine Life in our ⟨p. 629⟩Nature in the unity of a Divine Person? Our Earthly Nature is joined to a Heavenly Person; our undone Nature united to one equal with God*. It may truly be said, that Man is God, which is infinitely more glorious for us, than if it could be said, Man is an Angel.
Our Nature which was infinitely distant from, and below the Deity, now makes one Person with the Son of God. What Man sinfully aspired to, God hath graciously granted, and more: Man aspired to a likeness in knowledge, and God hath granted him an affinity in union. It had been astonishing Goodness to Angelize our Natures, but in Redemption Divine Goodness hath acted higher, in a sort to Deifie our Natures. In Creation our Nature was exalted above other Creatures on Earth; in our Redemption our Nature is exalted above all the Host of Heaven: We were higher than the Beasts as Creatures, but lower than the Angels; *But by the Incarnation of the Son of God, our Nature is elevated many steps above them. After it had sunk it self by Corruption below the Bestial Nature, and as low as the Diabolical, the fulness of the Godhead dwells in our Nature Bodily, †but never in the Angels, Angelically. The Son of God descended to dignifie our Nature, by assuming it, and ascended with our Nature to have it crown'd above those standing Monuments of Divine Power, and Goodness.* That Person that descended in our Nature into the Grave, and in the same Nature was raised up again, is in that same Nature set at the right hand of God in Heaven, far above all Principality and Power, and Might, and Dominion, and every Name that is named. Our Refined Clay by an indissoluble union with this Divine Person, is honoured to sit for ever upon a Throne above all the Tribes of Seraphims and Cherubins; and the Person th•t wears it, is the head of the good Angels, and the conqueror of the bad; The one are put under his Feet, and the other commanded to adore him, that purged our Sins in our Nature†: That Divine Person in our Nature receives Adoration from the Angels; but the Nature of Man is not order'd to pay any Homage and Adorations to the Angels. How could Divine Goodness to Man more magnifie it self? As we could not have a lower descent than we had by Sin, How could we have a higher ascent, than by a substantial participation of a Divine Life in our ⟨p. 629⟩Nature in the unity of a Divine Person? Our Earthly Nature is joyned to a Heavenly Person; our undone Nature united to one equal with God*. It may truly be said, that Man is God, which is infinitely more glorious for us, than if it could be said, Man is an Angel.
- *Psal. 8.5.
- †Colos. 2.9.
- *1 Ephes 20.21.
- †Heb. 1.3, 6.
- *Phil. 2.6.
