Works (Vol 7) - Goodwin - V - Book II continued (Of the Creatures)

Required reading
The Works (Vol 7) by Thomas Goodwin (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Book II by reading Chapters 8 and 9.

My summary
Goodwin now compares the state of Adam and the state of Christ.

In Chapter Eight he shows from Romans 5 that Adam was a type of Christ, meaning 'A type of a thing to come is a prophetical resemblance, wherein some-thing more imperfect going before is intended by God to signify some other thing more noble and perfect to follow after. In the proper signification of the word, it signifies a print, stamp, or impression, bearing the resemblance of that which made it.'

Then Chapter Nine turns to 1 Corinthians 15 to also prove that Adam was a type of Christ.  Goodwin himself explains the structure of the chapter:
'Now, in handling this scripture, I shall observe this method :
1. I will shew the coherence, scope, and connection of these words, and open those phrases in them which most conduce to the understanding of them.
2. Secondly, When they are explained, I will raise arguments from them, to confirm that assertion already laid down, namely, that Adam was before his fall a prophetic type of Christ to come.
3. And thirdly, I will open those particulars which this scripture holds forth, wherein he was ordained Christ's type as then.'

What grabbed me
Goodwin gave us a beautiful description of God's wisdom in creating this world and then another world in Christ: 'And as a skilful and curious artist will stand looking upon the exquisite workmanship of some one part (suppose upon an eye or hand in a picture) many hours together with much delight, so did the angels greedily view every part of this world, admiring and praising God's artifice in it (which likewise God himself did, as delighting to see how good all was that he had made) ; and whilst they were doing so they might behold God, as if he had been displeased at the coarseness of this his work which he had drawn, suffer all to be dashed by one unwary stroke of the pencil, suffering his image in man to be razed, and this whole frame subjected to vanity, confusion, and disorder ; which made them wonder, in that they surely thought that this was all the works of wonder that ever God meant to make, especially when they saw him at first rest from all his works, and sit down as delighted in them, and to appoint a day for the memorial of them. They could not choose but wonder to see that God should throw so costly a piece away, being such a world as they could never imagine how a better could ever be framed ; and how great a God must they needs think him to be, that regarded not the loss and spoiling of such a world ! But, alas ! God had a further plot and platform of another Adam and another world in his head, whereof all this, though so perfect, was but the type and shadow, and of all which they knew not one tittle, nor had the least inkling ; therefore, Eph. iii. 9, it is called a ' mystery hid in God.' God had not spoken one word of it to them (as not of his temple to David). In comparison of which, this world was but a stage to act a part upon a while, and man, the lord of it, but as a king in a play, a mere type and resemblance of another king, the King of glory, who, when he should be brought into the world, these angels must all down upon their knees and worship. Themselves are but the stars, as Job calls them, and David too, in Ps. viii. 3, where he speaks (as was said) of Christ's world, and the creatures thereof, the angels, who become subjects of it, are but the stars, and the church the moon ; but there is no sun mentioned, for Christ himself is the sun, and the light thereof, before whom these stars were to lose their light, with which at best they do but twinkle. And when Christ and his world shall appear, then this ' moon shall be confounded, and this sun ashamed, when he shall reign in mount Sion, and before his ancients gloriously,' Isa. xxiv. 23. And how must this needs shew forth the manifold wisdom of God, that he hath plots beyond plots, though he begins with a ruder show at first, as in the making of the world, in which the wisdom that lies in it, taken simply by itself, how glorious is it! It is called ' the wisdom of God,' 1 Cor. i. 21.'

A lengthy quote, but well worth reading to encourage a marvelling at the wisdom of God.

Next week's reading
Continue Book II by reading Chapter 10.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.