which appears, in that he was made fo far like God, that he was after his very Image, Gen. i. 26. And this was not peculiar to the Man, but common to the Man and the Woman, verf. 27. ' So 'God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him: male and female 'created he them.' The Image of God wherein Man was fo like him, confifted in Knowledge, Righteoufnefs, and Holiness, and Dominion over the Creatures: Col. iii. 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the < image of him that created him.' Eph. iv. 24. And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.' Gen. i. 26. God faid, Let us make man in our image, after " our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fifh of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.' The Parts of the Image of God impreffed on his Soul, were, Knowledge on his Mind, Righteoufnefs on his Will, and Holinefs on his Affections. His Knowledge was a fufficient Underftanding of what was neceffary to make him compleatly happy, Gen. i. 26. Col. iii. 10. His Righteoufnefs was a perfect Conformity of his Will to the Will of God: And his Holinefs was the perfect Purity of all his Affections. Eccl. vii. 29. 'God made man upright.' That Part of the Image of God impreffed on the whole Man, was Dominion over the Creatures. The Creatures he had Dominion over, were the Beafts of the Earth, the Fowls of the Air, and the Fishes of the Sea, Gen. i. 26. The Dominion he had over them, was a Right and Power foberly to use them for God's Glory and his own Comfort. His Charter

Charter for this Right to the Creatures, was the Covenant of Works, Gen. ii. 16. 17. compared with Chap. i. 28. Have dominion over the fish of the fea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the 'earth.' And in thefe Things Man bore the Image of God, as in him he faintly refembled God himfelf, who is infinitely knowing, righteous, and holy, and fupreme Lord of the Creatures. Now, Adam bore this Image as a public Perfon, to propagate it to his Pofterity: Eccl. vii. 29. God made man upright. But it was loft to himself and all Mankind, by his Fall, 1 Cor. xv. 22. ' In Adam all die ;' and that even to the forfeiting of the Dominion over the Creatures; an Evidence of which is, Beafts proving unruly, and hurtful to Man. The only Way to recover the Image of God, is to unite with Jefus Chrift by Faith: 1 Cor. xv. 22. In Chrift

fhall all be made alive.' For he is the Image of the invisible God, and to him as a fecond Adam is the Dominion over the Creatures reftored: Col. i, 15. Who is the image of the invifible God, the 'first-born of every creature. Pfal. viii. 6. 7. 8. "Thou madeft him to have dominion over the 'works of thy hands; thou haft put all things under his feet: all fheep and oxen, yea, and the beafts of the field: the fowl of the air, and the fish of < the sea, and whatsoever paffeth through the paths ' of the feas.' Compared with Heb. ii. 7. 8. 9. Thou madeft him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedft him with glory and honour, and 'didft fet him over the works of thy hands: thou haft

put all things in fubjection under his feet,er.' And he repairs this Image in all that believe on him. The Reparation of the loft Image of God in their Souls

1

is begun in their Sanctification in him, and perfected in their Glorification Col. iii. 10. And have put on • the new man, which is renewed in knowledge, after the image of him that created him. Heb. xii. 23. To the spirits of just men, made perfect.? The Reparation of the loft Dominion over the Creatures, is begun in their getting a new Right to them in their Union with him, and perfected in their being put in full Poffeffion of the Dominion at the last Day : Rom. iv. 13. For the promise that he fhould be the heir of the world, was not to Ab. raham, or to his feed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.' Rev. xxi, 7. He that overcometh, fhall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my fon.' Pfal. xlix. 14. Like fheep they are laid in the grave, death fhall feed on them; and the upright fhall have dominion over them in the morning.' Their Charter for this new Right to the Creatures, is the Covenant of Grace, Rom. iv. 13, forecited. But they that are out of Christ, have no Covenant-right to the Creatures, but only a providential Right: And that is fuch a Right, as a condemned Man hath to his Food, until his Execution. The Management that Men now have over the Beasts, is far fhort of the original Do. minion over them: Gen. ii. 19. And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beaft of the field, and every fowl of the air, and brought them unto Adam, to fee what he would call them and whatfoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.' But fuch as it is, it is owing to a new Grant made after the Fall, for the Neceffities of human Life; which new Grant is found recorded, Gen. ix, 2. And

the

the fear of you, and the dread of you, fhall be upon every beaft of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the fea; into < your hand are they delivered.' .

Queft. 11. What are God's Works of Providence?

Anf. God's Works of Providence are, his most holy, wife, and powerful preferving and governing all his Creatures, and all their Actions.

EXPLICATION.

There is a divine Providence about the Creatures. That appears, from their entire Dependence on God as their firft Caufe, and from the exact Accomplishment of Scripture-prophecies: Acts xvii. 25. God is not worshipped with mens hands, as though he needed any thing, feeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.' verf. 28. ' For ip him we live, and move, and have our being; as 'certain alfo of your own poets have faid, For we are ' also his offspring.' I. xlvi. 9. 10. Remember the

former things of old; for I am God, and there ' is none elfe; I am God, and there is none like 'me. Declaring the end from the beginning, and 'from ancient times the things that are not yet 'done, faying, My counfel fhall ftand, and I will do all my pleasure.'

The Object which Providence is employed about, is all the Creatures, and all their Actions, Pfal. ciii. 19. His kingdom ruleth over all. E

ven Devils, and wicked Men, are under the Providence of God: Matth. viii. 31. So the devilsbefought him, faying, If thou caft us out, fuffer. us to go away into the herd of fwine.' And evil Actions, as well as good, are within the Verge of it: Gen. xlv. 7. And God fent me before < you, to preferve you a pofterity in the earth, and to fave your lives by a great deliverance.' Yea, there is not any thing whatsoever, be it ever fo fmall or cafual, that falls out without the Providence of God: Matth. x. 29. 30. Are not two fparrows fold for a farthing and one of them fhall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.' The Works of Providence about the Creatures, are the preferving of them, and the governing of them and their Actions. Providence preferves the Creatures, fuftaining them in Being, and providing for their Support: Heb. i. 3. Upholding all

things by the word of his power.' Pfal. cxlv. 15. 16. The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou giveft them their meat in due feafon. Thou openeft thine hand, and fatisfieft, the defire of every living thing." No Creature whatsoever could keep itfelf in Being one Moment: But upon God's withdrawing the upholding Hand of his Providence, it would immediately return to nothing: Heb. i. 3: Providence governs the Creatures and their Actions, difpofing of them according to the divine Purpose; Prov. xxi. 1. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water; he turneth it whitherfoever he will.' Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predeftinated f according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counfel of his own will.' Pro

vidence