Thus would he deify his own understanding against the wisdom of God, and his ⟨p. 71⟩own appetite against the Will of God: This desire of equality with God, a learned man thinks the Apostle intimates, Phil. 2.6. Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: The Sons being in the form of God,1 and thinking it no robbery to be equal with God, implies that the robbery of sacrilege committed by our first Parents, for which the Son of God humbled himself to the death of the Cross, was an attempt to be equal with God, and depend no more upon Gods directions, but his own conduct, which could be no less than an invasion of the throne of God, and endeavour to put himself into a posture to be his Mate: Other sins, Adultery and Theft, &c. could not be committed by him at that time, but he immediately puts forth his hand to usurp the power of his Maker: This Treason is the old Adam in every man. The first Adam contradicted the Will of God to set up himself: The second Adam humbled himself, and did nothing but by the Command and Will of his Father. This principle wherein the venom of the Old Adam lies, must be Crucified to make way for the Throne of the humble and obedient principle of the New Adam or quickening Spirit. Indeed sin in its owns nature is nothing else, but a willing according to self, and contrary to the Will of God: Lusts are therefore called the Wills of the flesh and of the mind.* As the precepts of God are Gods Will: So the violations of these precepts is mans Will: And thus man usurps a God-head to himself, by giving that Honour to his own Will which belongs to God; appropriating the right of rule to himself and denying it to his Creator. That Servant that acts according to his own Will, with a neglect of his Masters, refuseth the duty of a Servant, and invades the right of his Master: This Self-love and desire of Independency on God has been the root of all sin in the World: The great controversy between God and man hath been, whether he or they shall be God; whether his Reason or theirs, his Will or theirs shall be the guiding principle: As Grace is the union of the Will of God and the Will of the Creature; so sin is the opposition of the Will of self to the Will of God. Leaning to our own understanding, is opposed as a natural, evil to trusting in the Lord, *a supernatural grace.
Thus would he deifie his own understanding against the wisdom of God, and his ⟨p. 71⟩own appetite against the Will of God: This desire of equality with God, a learned man thinks the Apostle intimates, Phil. 2.6. Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: The Sons being in the form of God,1 and thinking it no robbery to be equal with God, implies that the robbery of sacriledge committed by our first Parents, for which the Son of God humbled himself to the death of the Cross, was an attempt to be equal with God, and depend no more upon Gods directions, but his own conduct, which could be no less than an invasion of the throne of God, and endeavor to put himself into a posture to be his Mate: Other sins, Adultery and Theft, &c. could not be committed by him at that time, but he immediatly puts forth his hand to usurp the power of his Maker: This Treason is the old Adam in every man. The first Adam contradicted the Will of God to set up himself: The second Adam humbled himself, and did nothing but by the Command and Will of his Father. This principle wherein the venom of the Old Adam lies, must be Crucified to make way for the Throne of the humble and obedient principle of the New Adam or quickning Spirit. Indeed sin in its owns nature is nothing else, but a willing according to self, and contrary to the Will of God: Lusts are therefore called the Wills of the flesh and of the mind.* As the precepts of God are Gods Will: So the violations of these precepts is mans Will: And thus man usurps a God-head to himself, by giving that Honour to his own Will which belongs to God; appropriating the right of rule to himself and denying it to his Creator. That Servant that acts according to his own Will, with a neglect of his Masters, refuseth the duty of a Servant, and invades the right of his Master: This Self-love and desire of Independency on God has been the root of all sin in the World: The great controversy between God and man hath been, whether he or they shall be God; whether his Reason or theirs, his Will or theirs shall be the guiding principle: As Grace is the union of the Will of God and the Will of the Creature; so sin is the opposition of the Will of self to the Will of God. Leaning to our own understanding, is opposed as a natural, evil to trusting in the Lord, *a supernatural grace.
- 1Dr. Jackson.
- *Eph. 2.3.
- *Pro. 3.5.
