'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — June 19

The clearest manifestation of God to us is revealed in Jesus Christ (John 1:18). His eternal Godhead is also manifest in the works of creation (Rom. 1:20). The knowledge of God in creation, however, is not able to restrain the vain imaginations and idolatrous conceptions of God that lie in men's hearts. Also, much of the eternal Godhead is manifested in his works of providence (Job 9:10-11). Sometimes God was working forward or before Job; sometimes backwards, or behind him; sometimes on his right hand, sometimes at his left hand. Job followed him up and down that he might understand God, and the reason and design of all his works. But he could not perceive it. We also see the eternal Godhead in his righteous and holy law; but this manifestation of God frightened those who saw it at first (Heb. 12:21). The clearest, sweetest, and most comfortable manifestation of God to us is made only in Jesus Christ, who is 'the image of the invisible God' (Col. 1:15). In Christ, God has revealed himself as no other means can. Christ is the exact copy or character of the Father's person and perfections (Heb. 1:3). When Philip desired for Christ to show him the Father, Jesus said: 'Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Believe me, I am in the Father and the Father is in me' (John 14:9, 11). In the works of creation, God is above us; in his works of providence, he is outside us; in the law, he is against us; in himself, he is invisible to us. Only in Christ is he Immanuel, God manifested in our flesh. He is God in us, God with us, and God for us. Therefore, no man ever did or ever can understand anything of God truly, that is, upon a saving account, except in and by Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 6:16).

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Thomas Mallery, Puritan Sermons 1659-1689, I:362
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