Is Christ then the image of the Father, simply as considered of the
same divine and eternal excellency with him? Certainly not; for an
image is doubtless inferior to that of which it is a figure.
Understand, then, that Christ is the image of the Father's glory, as
born of the Virgin Mary, yet so as being very God also: not that his
Godhead in itself was a shadow or image, but by the acts and doing
of that man, every act being infinitely perfect by virtue of his
Godhead, the Father's perfections were made manifest to flesh. An
image is to be looked upon, and by being looked upon, another thing
is seen; so by the person and doings of the Lord Jesus, they that
indeed could see him as he was, discovered the perfection and glory
of the Father. "Philip, he that hath seen me, hath seen the Father;
and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" Neither the Father
nor the Son can by us at all be seen, as they are simply and
entirely in their own essence. Therefore the person of the Father
must be seen by us through the Son, as consisting of God and man;
the Godhead, by working effectually in the manhood, showing clearly
there through the infinite perfection and glory of the Father. "The
word was made flesh, and" then "we beheld his glory, the glory of
the only begotten of his Father"--he being in his personal
excellencies, infinitely and perfectly, what is recorded of his
Father, "full of grace and truth.
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