The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

7. 'Tis a likeness to God in respect of those §7moral excellencies or perfections, that is especially, considerable by us, in reference to our present purpose; as more immediately relating to the souls blessedness in God. By the former it hath a potentiality, by the latter an habitude in reference thereunto. Or (to use terms, more liable to common apprehension) by the former it hath a remoter capacity, by the latter a present fitness; or, as the Apostle expresses it, is made meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in Light (i. e. considering this likeness, as begun in the soul.)

7. 'Tis a likenesse to God in respect of those §7moral excellencies or perfections, that is especially, considerable by us, in reference to our present purpose; as more immediately relating to the souls blessednesse in God. By the former it hath a potentiality, by the latter an habitude in reference thereunto. Or (to use termes, more liable to common apprehension) by the former it hath a remoter capacity, by the latter a present fitnesse; or, as the Apostle expresses it, is made meet to be partaker of the inheritance of the Saints in Light (i. e. considering this likenesse, as begun in the soul.)

8. Besides what is thus (in the sense before §8expressed) communicable between God and man, there are some things so peculiarly appropriate to God, as that, in respect of them, there can be no formal likeness in the creature: and it would be impious boldness to aspire thereto. Many things of this kind might be mentioned; I shall only instance in two, wherein there is a manifest ⟨p. 58⟩competition of the Apostate world with him; and which are therefore more relative to practice. His Sovereign authority, and his Independency. In these while men affect to imitate they wickedly •ffront him. And here is the great controversy between the glorious God, and the degenerous Children of Men. Every man would catch at a God-head, and either assume it to himself, or cast it, many times upon other creatures, viler and more ignoble than himself. Snatch the reins of Government out of Gods hand; and exalt their own wills into an absoluteness as liable to control from none; place and settle their dependence on their own wit, power, fortitude, industry; or, if that be a more hopeless course (for they often find an entire Godhead too much for one creature, and are therefore constrained to parcel it out among many) place their confidences, and expectations in something else without them: do, often, that ridiculous thing, so worthy to be hooted at, make the congested dirt of the earth their trust (the righteous shall laugh at him, and say,