Transcribed from the 1826 R. Weston edition ,  Many thanks to the Bodleian Libraryfor allowing their copy to be consulted.

IS
THIS YOUR LIKENESS?

A

Scriptural Definition

OF

HYPOCRISY AND SINCERITY.

BY J. CHURCH.

WHAT SAITHTHE SCRIPTURE?

“TRUSTME I DRAW THE LIKENESS TRUE AND NOT AS FANCYPAINTS.”

LONDON:

PRINTED BYR. WESTON, QUEEN’S GARDENS, CROSBY ROW,
SOUTHWARK.

1826.

p. 3IS THISYOUR LIKENESS?

“AS WE HAVE BORNE THE IMAGE OF THE EARTHLYSO SHALL WE ALSO BEAR THE IMAGE OFTHE HEAVENLY.”

The great and excellent Mr. Topladyremarks on painting—

1.  When a portrait painter takes a likeness,there most be an original from whom to take it.  Herethe original are God and Christ.  ‘When I awake upafter thy likeness,’ &c.; and, we are“predestinated to be conformed to the image of hisSon.”

2.  The painter changes the materials on which hewill delineate his piece.  There are paintings on wood, onglass, on metals, on ivory, on canvass.  So Godchooses and selects the persons, on whom hisuncreated spirit shall, with the pencil of effectual grace,re-delineate that holy likeness which Adam lost.  Amongthese are some, whose natural capacities, and acquiredimprovements, are not of the first-rate: there the image of Godis painted on wood.  Others of God’s peoplehave not those quick sensibilities, and poignant feelings, bywhich many are distinguished: there the Holy Spirit’spainting is on marble.  Others are permitted to p. 4fall from theardour of their first love, and to deviate from theirstedfastness: there the Holy Spirit paints on glass,which, perhaps, the first stone of temptation may injure. But the celestial Artist will, in time, repair those breaches,and restore the frail brittle Christian, to his originalenjoyments, and to more than his original purity; and, what mayseem truly wonderful, divine grace restores the picture, bybreaking it over again.  It is the broken-hearted sinner towhom God will impart the comforts of salvation.

3.  The ancients painted only in water-colours;but the moderns (from about A.D. 1320) have added beauty anddurability to their pictures, by painting them inoil.  Applicable to hypocrites and truebelievers.  An hypocrite may outwardly bear somethingthat resembles the image of God; but it is only in fresco, orwater colours, which do not last; and are, at best, laidon by the hand of dissimulation.  But (if I may acco

...

BU KİTABI OKUMAK İÇİN ÜYE OLUN VEYA GİRİŞ YAPIN!

Sitemize Üyelik ÜCRETSİZDİR!