^ L i 0:»53 ss.^^ca^ ^GaS(!)[L(l)Sl^(B^tL ssnatiiiiii^'^^' Case, S^^'vision Booky II No, v^^-'ir L Regula quidem fidei una omnino eft, fola immobilis, et irretormabilis, crcdendi fcilicet in unicum Deum om- nipotentem, mundi conditorem, et Fili- um ejus Jefum Chriftum, natum ex Virgine Maria, crucifixura fub Pontio Pilato, tenia dierefufcitatum a mortuis, receptutn in Caslis, fedentem nunc ad deiteram Patris, venturumjudicare vi- vos et mortuos per carnis etiam refur- redlionem. Tertullian. de Virginibus Velandis. p. 173, Ed, Rigaltii. Parisiis. DISCOURSES ON THE \ DIVINE UNITY OR, A Scriptural Proof and Demonftrttion of the One Supreme Deity of the God and Father of all; and of the fubor- dinate Chara<5ler and inferior Nature of our Lord Jcfus Chrift; with a Confutation of the Dodrine of a Co- equal and Confubftantial Trinity in Unity; and a full reply to the objcftions of Trinitarians. By WILLIAM CHRISTIE, Junior, Merchant in Montrose, M o N T R o s E: Printed by George Johnston^ M,DCC,LXXXIV. THE PREFACE. TH E Chriflian Religion as dcllrered to mankind by Chrid and his ApoflisSj aod exhlblttd in the ft' cred books of the New Ttftsmtnt, is a plain intelligible iyftcm of dodlrint?, eafy to be believed; and calculated to produce piety and holiaefs of life. But this pure aad rational inAirutioo did not long renain uncorrupted. In the very timef of the Apoftlcs, the myfteryofiai- quity began to work; and became ftill more vifible after thftir dcceafe. For the three firA centuries howeyer, the belief of od; God the Father fnpreme over all, waj in a great meafare prciervad among ChriAians. The cede- iiaftical wriiers of thofe ages_,- although they vfed lomt unfcriptnral and UBJuilifiablc exprefTioas coacer&ing Jefus Chril\ the Son of God ; did yet obferve a great and remarkable didin^ion betwixt hin, and the God and Father of all. Upon the whole, their teHlBony is not lav^arable to the modero plan of Orthodoxy ; as lome learned Trinitarian writers thenafilves have acknow- ledged. The do^rine of a coequil and confubAantial Trinity, grew up only by degrees : and it was the work of fli(«s to bring it to its preient pitch of abfardity. Th^t anvicat and voaerable creed, commonly called the A- poitiis* creed, which with no CDtUn*! ririaiioa was receiTed IT. PREFACE. received la ill the priffiitivc chirchcs, h Rr\Ci\j VhiU^ rhn. and is an uadciUble proof of whit ihe ftniiments of ChriftisQi originally wert ; conccroing Gud, Chrift, tnd th« Ho!y fpirit. In this form of fonQd words, the Father Almighsy alcnc has ibc litis of God. Jcfuf Cbrift is AyUd hii ocly Son, feut no cbaraOiTS of din- alty whatever «rc »ppli«d to him. Th« Holy fpirit is mcatioDcd together wt:h the fcrgiv«n«fs of fias, sad the rcrurrcftioQ of- ihe bcdy. &c. and there is nc'.hing ia this crcedi that implies the pcrfonaliry ot the Holy fpirit, Happy would it have been tor the Chriftiin world, if this firaplf profcffioa of faith hid bfcn ulwtjs adhered to. How much rancour, ftrifc, coatcBiiou, fthiiai, and perifcutlyo, might ha?c been prcrcnted. The fiift cotJBiil ct Nice however thought propar to make anothtr; tnd ictroduccd ftveral ibfurd and unftriptoral pbrafcs, which had n«y€r before been inipofcd upon Chriftians. Theft Nicece Fathers noiwiihAanding, either dui(\ aot, cr did ROt iaeline to depart fron* the ancient doOrioe al- together. They began their creed therefore in tht wfual icvariabJc f«rcQ, *' I believe in one God the Fa- iher, &c." for the notioa of a triune Deity was not yet Co gsDcraUy rectivtd, as to obtain a place in a creed. And even the decifioas of the iotsafel of Nice itfelf, gave cffcnca to aiyny ; and were cverthrown by the Aritns is fcv«5al fuccecdiag coiiaciU. Tina largeft general coua- Cu that ever met in the world, viz. that of AriaiiDuia, and msny others btfides, decided clearly ia favoar of Ariaailm ; and far a coafiderablc lime the fhriftiao world was divided betwixt the ffomooufian and Arian parties; aad either the one or the other prcfailcd, juft at the reign- iBg Emperor happened to bd afF«;<5l«d, At laft, the church oi R-ome 1 aving efpcufcd the caufo of the for- mer; and a (uceeiTion of Irioi^arian Emperors having followed one another J the Ar;aaF, aad every other Ipe- c'.ei of Unitarians were ttf^6iut\\y crulhtd; aad by dint of penal cdi(fls, ficti, imprilonroents, and execiitioas, the prcleut glorious fyiUm of Orthodoxy was eiiabli/h- ed. The PREFACE, vl Tht f*ith of the church however did net trnve «t ths laft'UUiroit ot perfect on all at odc« Ir was iuaprcfed and amanded in various couccii*, the C\-.uricil of Con- flaatinoplf enlarged tht cr«r«iJ of that of Nics ; tnd oihtr cleiical ilLnabiirs added A;!i turth«r CL.b«ilifhmenis f ThecpinicBsofApjilinailui, Ntitarias* ci Eutfchts, gai'e occafioa far f.-varal mere articles ; uw.il 2t l-fTi (p.obibjf iboac tht end of ih« fif ;h ctatury'i iomt nsknovi'S au'hor put All ih«s ftdiairahis ioipioTtawst*. fugether; by foig'mg a creed tcda tlie name ef Athanufiii; lahich furpalT«d every thing th8 v,'orid cvsr f.iw; 3i»d sUhough buriid ia obfcurity tor a bng tima af'.er its blrih bceaais at length the ilicdiird erf Oriho^,>xy lai iauad faith. :^ Thii creed h io compl«»?ly ablurd ani toAiTidlSiQrj j ani difpi^ys fuch a mxoifcft venuncifitioa of ik« faith cf Chrift ; that iti« acai« aad mttRphyTiCA! gcr/ifefss of ?he fchoolttfQj o» the tcoth, elsTtath, «rd iaccMding cen- tBri«$, were hardlj able to iffipr'iya v. Th«y have h^'wevcr if poiitblc darktn'*d the l»ibj«f> Aill f uther , ani made it more uiintcHigible. lo ibs mc2Vi time 4he P«pil powci iTicreifcd and bore do'^n all cppofififtn, fiee JDq'jirj wai prohibittd, the Latin became a dead ]£D^«?ge, uuderftood only by the learocd and tht Icrip- turcs were not permirted to ba traRilued ioro any of the Bcw vulgar toagiie'; the worfliip ot the Virgin Mary^ the iavocatioQ of Saiati and Angth, the u(e of ioaagsa lelics, &c. a&d eodlcfs fuperllltiocs too tedious to nanse ercry f Th« article in the Nieene creed, rtf^latite to thfi Hoy ghoft. ftood originally thus. '* I believe in the Koly- ghoft " without any thing more The council of Conftan- tinople added thefe words, **the Lord and giver of life wha proceedetfe from the Father, Sec, And the words, "and the Son,-' Mfere afterwards infert^d in it. J Vigilius Tapfenlis is fuppofed by fame to havf been the aaihor of the Athannfian creed: but whoevtr w«s the author of it. it has been clearly proved by learned men thai it was not the compofition of Athanafiusj and D[ VVatsr- 4and himlelf fairly owss it. xi. PREFACE. iTcry where prcTailcd. And that nothing might be U(t to compictB the ruin of Chrifliarjiiy ih«.y tndiU a Gad out of a piece of brt&d ; and abjcdiy worihippsd th« Baksi's work Durii g ihii long pciio:i ot Pcpifh dcla- fiuQ, and moDki(h daika«f«, eccUfi^in cal hifto.-y iafoias vs of lomc, who wuKid nof rtcii^c the eurk ot ihe btaft; but i\iA prcfcrvcd a fcule ot ilic proper Unity ot God, aud tfac purify cf the chriftian taiih. Acd pir- haps if wc hi.d more authentic records of thels tisfjes, wc might ficd the number of thcfc perfcDS greater tkse is gtncuily ioigiccd. For ih« ^verity of the cleric 1 jpower was luch, that people ot this Cjcfcrip.i..Q were driven into corners, and wcie obliged to k.'cp an twUl filtDce. Such was iht fiate of the religious world : fo corrup- ted and depraved was that cHaich which J«iu8 Chrill hinalclt eftablilhed, whsQ Luth«r in the btgirsuiDg of ih« fixtccath ceotury made his firft appearance, and cnlled for a rcformatioQ. Soma aticmi>ts had btitn mads in this good work many years before, by WicUlid acd othcri j but the times did not favoar them. It moft be owned, that the Chriftiao world is under the greatefl obligatioBi to Luther, Zuinglius, Calvin, CTaassr, Knox, and otbus^ tor rcmoTing many of the corrupti- ons of Popery, aod their memories ought €?«r to bt re- vered on that account. It is ooly tw be regretted that their reformatioQ was f.irtial aod iQcoaoplftc; th&t they did Dot go deep enough ! that they did oot probe the \¥Ound that Chriftianity had received to the bottom, and perform a radical cure. The reformers laid the fcrip- tutas opca to the world, they took away the i.jhcw of the prr-ceiiQg dlthejgh cot f« f}rof(;»uodly Witu^ii ts hii UlcIs; was y^t a ssac of cinpcieiit laaiiiUig. afld gr«ai gwou feiafc, as appe«£9 fiom his wiiilij^gj. H* pro- {iu6 lauch tiOin the papers that I aslius had bequeath- ed I'iCft, coBtaioiDg tcnaarks apd critiCid f>bf«rvaticas ca the (cii^'turti, and made vis cf thtOQ la the compofitioa ©f his woiks. Kt vva* a man of high ai.'-th, dcfc^nded fruin an atiCicQi and oobic htrMy ; which was connefted with lome cf tht naof\ eminent pfrfcns iu Italy He ca. joyti lbs fjsecdihxpof the grand Duke of Tufcioy, aod nsightharc fpect his days with dilTmiVica ecd apphufc at the csust of Florence; theo th« polittft, and moft coligfjtcngd in arts and litcrsturc, ia Europe. Yet ali thcic adTaatagcs he nobly f crificed for the caufa of God end treth, reoounccd the fcciety of the great acd learn- ed, loA his patcraal eAat«, rc(ii«d to liafii in tiwitzetlaotf, fihcrt he c^crtpicted hit I>u:!:cs j and from throce went to Irarfylrauia apd PoUnd, and foliciud an admlttaoce into thofe churches which acknowledged or^ly cot God the Father. He (peat the remaiodcr cf hit d%y« in thetc cotfotrieSy became &q ci7:inest labourer iu the h hc church q! Cod vrhich ^fiouiifhsd ihsrc, and w*s iadefatigs^blc PREFACE. iri In lii5 cadcavouri to pr'>mots the caufe of UnitaViinUfCj,- which had made a co»(idlcr»b!c prugrtffi io thcf« parti of the world, bcfars bii coming jiiere. AaUrri* L^i^ dithiuR w*5 a man of fine g^ftius, a moft ac««.>flapijfhcng i it !&u(\ b« owBed he carrisid his z;al agaiafi irtii) a^^ others to ao unjuflifiAbic l«pg'h. Thtle person* «n4[ many other* befisJ^i ia the- fi}t!*«s:h ceni«ry vi-i^'t laiTics th« brevity I a.ii obliged t^ f'b!cr?s at prsteal will nor psrmit oae to mtniioa. exerted fhtT b^ft indea- ▼our;? to r«ftorc the bsiicf of the divij;« Ur/ity, an ' ro ftkjrt ihc true u'oifliip of God Aod 3kho«*gh {iuif ar- te;npt5 wtrc iiafuce^fiful m rariow'; pitcs?, yc^ «hcir wri- tings and bbouri were of fignal uf«. and prodtJCtd a tca- vi<5tioa in the mindi of many candid aad unpujadiccd perfoof Th« Uaitariaa du^triat prcTailcd moft ic» Po- land, and Tranlylvania, where u «njr>ytd a free t'^lera- tion, aad osany churches were eftabliilisd. and peopi*- of different raaks aad rtxtiooj btcame convarts to it- The UniiarisRi ereded ichools and f<apy of them did. Th« vther fc^s cf Prateftarts juin<4 with the Romin Catholics in getting this creel and un- juH hw ciaftid ; and have iince defsrvcdiy fcaart«d vadtfff is: preface- mnict the rod of the PaplHi In their tura. The tol^ri- tiooho^ycTcr wtt continued in Tranlykfnis, an.i the Uoitaii»n churches fobfid there to this very day and alio io Proffia on the borders of PoUi^d. Thole Ui^ita- riafis who left Pwlaod ca account of th«ir religion coa- tribated to fprcad the koowlcdge of the truth in otter countries, particularly in Holland where they had rcligi* ous alTtmbiics. In England there have been per^^ns who have held Unitarian IcDiimcnts fincc the time of the reformation. But the principle made no great prnqrefi until the middle of the laft century, when Mr. Biddle appearing an advocate for it, and writing ably on the lub« jcftj brought ov8r Icveral ptrfous to the acknowledge- ment of the truth. The labours of that Itarsed and gc^cd man ha?€ not been lofl -, the Ifsd which he fowed has grown up and flourifhed, and the candle which he lif.ht- ed has never been extingailhed. The excelleiit, pubiie- fpirited, and benevolent Mr Fiimin, the dilciple of Bid- die, contributed nlfo greatly to advance the Uniiariim dc^rine in our filler kingdom : and feme of the moft cosinent Philofophers, the greateil gcnlaf**?, sod moft able feripturil critics that England hasproduetd for near this century paft, have been Unitarians, eithar of the Ariaii or Sccinian denomination. The Trinitarian caufe is daily lofiog ground amengfl fair and candid ^nqnircr^, who apply iheroltlves to the fludy of the Icriptures with ua- bladed minds ; and even many of thofc who gro4n under the fetters of lubfcripiions and arilclsf, would row be ghd lobe free of th^le IncumbraBCCs ; of which the pc- tiilon preUntfd to parliament feverel years ago, by up- wards of two hundred rcfpeflable clargyoicn of the church of England h a fufficlcnt pro«f. Thus the Uni- tarian caufe has had a l»ccifIIoii of learned and illulUi- ©us advocates, from ihc reformation down to the prcfent times : «nJ as It is ths viry original fyHem of Chrlftianity which our Lord and his ApoAies dcllvirtd to the woild, it m»ft fooner or later prevail in fpite ©fall oppofitlen. The Pfotcfrant rcforKcd rcUgi :n, as it appears in the thiity nine anicics of the church of England, and cm- fiffi.jrt PREFACE. sf.- fcfTioa of ftlth of the church of Scotland, itld io othcf £hurches, either at home or abroad, formed upoi the fame pita, is oily a miferable compofitiooj an impcrfcft msdium, betwixt Popery aod true chrifliafiity. For h« Qn'y can be called a real aad confifteDt Proteflani who adheres foUIy to the fcripturts ; and protc&\t agaiuil aU the corruptions that have been iatroduced ioto religion ; aad that ryflem only dcfettes the tiile of the ttfornc^ religion, which czhibi^t the faiih of GhriA ai it wai oucc dellvsrcd to the Saints: thoroughly purified from, aud entirely d'lrtd^d o^, all thofc additions and adulterations which have been incorporated with it, Thofe who re- ja6t fome corruptions and retain others, art only Protef* taats by halves; and the reformitioa they haTt effefled and cAabliihed, is only a defcdlive, partial, aad iiade* quite one; which muH be farther purfaed befort aoy great and Taluable end can be anfwered by it. No power OB earth has any right to make laws in matteri purely religioas, to rcftraia the progreis of free enquiry, td rnterpret the icripiures authoritatively; and to impofc its own feafe of them vpon others. Chrid's kingd are cnti- tlc*d to DoappfMbatioD fc?*a tho' they fncu'd be sccidtn- tsliyin the right. For it the pro¥id«tccoi God had fix»4 their bin h in oihrr ages, or in aiffercnt parts ot the world J thcT would hav« followed the n.ulti ude in th« fame irra?irnal manner; and uevcr called in qutOion the fcntiwieDts that generally prev^ikd. it th«y had exifted , At the tiffie thai Ghrifti«city was firft prcmulgared, they would have bteo Pagans, and have rejtdltd the d^^ru^ssaf Chrid and his Apo(lles. If they had been horn in France, Spain, or italy, they would have bten Papiftf, if in Tuikey, or Petfia, Mol amracd**cs, if in Tartary, th»y would have adored the grand Lama ; and if in Chi- ca, rhjpy would biive followed the idolatry that there prtrails* been dilcipl&s c>f Confucius, end woi (hipped the flp.tuc'S of thtir ancirtors, Sic It i? obvii^bs ibert- foie, that it U incumbent upon all perfons who would wifn to guard agaiLfl crrcr, uhe* ihty arrive at the year* ot difcrctioo to enquire aiter truth at tar as their cir- curoOancGS and oppcrtur.iti»a will permit; and if this is dene in a ieiicns n:6 impaitial CianRsr, it is y!l\ thyt cati juftly ba rcoviied of any pt-rioa. Foi no roan csn be blamed for thois n^ilakes that are nravoida'J* : wc are only tulpablc when wc indolently acqiiicfrfca in pu'Tail- ing and popular opinions, and conttraptoully rejeft light aud CYiJeDctf when it is alfofdcd us- The fcrip- tare is not WA&iiiig ia exhorutiwas lo cxcitt us tc this ifianly PREFACE. XiU, rcanly and indiipcnfnble duty of fret isqtiiry, i Thcf. ▼ 21. " Prcvf 111! things; hv>ld hit that which it good." I juhn iv. i ** Bc'otcgI, bclicv* not ercry ipirii; but uj \tit fyn'in whether thry ar^ of G^i: bc- ^&iiU jaarr *ii« prcpiut^ arr go.i* out iatj thBi ih:l« paffsgej ot hw!y Writ, it i» Jtppirent, ihxr fair udJ impa> tiil «Dqviiry is « dstf prclCiibcd by ot^- ^n:*!^ ;' >lr rfilgion. \V« oatjHl to pr.)we aii Gp:aiccs that w« have accels ^nd opportualiy to cxitniftc. «ku'-d de!ufiv« ttac. ers hnv.'L goDQforth iiif.o th* w^jr'd, iu diH«.*ai a^.-ts, aad our owa uot except- ed, we cagi».ot be ium. bu: thai lam* of thofc w^ nuft admie ai\ oobic inj^etaoas, and liberal jnind- €U oeriaas ; aad (urtly (hoMi who neglect o i.i4 ata their good example, m«y be llyUd igocbU, fame, groveling, ilhb«ral people ; titaer iguorajily and unrealoaably pra- juiiiced ugaioft opiuioo whic i .hey hate u«y«r calnay €3£- amiofdi or foleiy eGgroiTa wuh fccuUr caks aad pur- fftiig, and caieiel ly foliowing the oi«ltif*ide, witheut ^iviflU ihe(«rciv*'i the trouble lo eaqairc whither ihfeir XfiigioQs icntj be founded ia tiurh or error. Thttuthoi ofthefollo vingdirimrfcs, being born of Pref- byterian parents, was educated in the principles of the charchof Scotland; butlawrcaioa pretty early in life to call IA quiAioo iwoac ot htr do^filQii^ tod as ycsrs and knpw« Mg9 felf, PREFACE. Icdgc iflcrcifed, his objc6i:ions to fer rcrgicas creed, Jird his eoDvl^ioni of its crroneoufnefs, b««ame flill mora pumercus xud powerful. What gsvc him the^mtd nn- cafiDcfit was the dcdlrine of a Tiinity in ULity. Hi dilcoTcrtd wiih concern, that the CoctciTioD of Faith of the church of Scotland, which all her iniiiiiiett ar« obliged to ajfcnt to, held forth the notjoa ©f three etcr- pal, diftiBft, divine pcrfoas, ct intelHg? nt igent.*, equal- Ij infinite io all pfirf«6^ioDsI io fxpr«f« opposition to the liiTQ^ fcripturcs. which *fTirm that there it but cct God the Father of whom are all things, that the Fa h«r IS nboYs til, throiagh all, and in us all, and is the only true God; and that Jeftis Chrifl and all other beings, arc the fubjcfts. creatBres, and fttvanti, of this great and on!y Sovertign of the UDircrr«. Thii do^rine of a tri^Qc Oeitj, together with that of the incarnation of God, and of two natures in Jefus Chrifl, the ch«rch of Sfotland io commoo with the other Protellant eflablidi* stents, derived from that mother of abominatioBs tht (hurch of Rome ; and has affcrted theoi in Tarious pkccis of her ConfcfTioB of Faith, Larger and Shorter catechifmsp and Statu of faTing knowledgt, in teroas as cxpreis and dc- ciiive as tht Athanafian creed itfc'f. The author therefore having maturely and deliberately confidcred the fubje^, found he coold no longer with a good confcience renQaics in the communion of a cherch, where a falfe Popiflt Petty was acknowledged ; in place of the living and oaly triit God the Father } and did therefore fevcral years ago withdraw from the chnreh of Scotland, chiefly oia that accoant. H« would glttdly have joined himfelf to any other fodety, in whisb iha purity of thf ChiiHiaa faith was profclTcd ; but could Hod none fuch io the place where he lived. The Epiicopal party was as Ari^ly Trinitariaa as the Prcfbyterians : and iheir litar- gy (although containing many excellent things in other refpc^ls ] being formed on a trithciflic plan, was flili more offenfive to an Unitarian than the worfhip of the church of Scotland. The fnaaller fedls and purtiet in this part of the world, were alfo all Tiifiitana&s in one lojrca PREFACE. 2c», form or o'.her. So that the author r/2s coEflraiRti for 9 confidcrable wVi'e to live by hinalcit w'nho(!f ftjof' iog ih« benefit of public or fjci*! worHi p at «15. ^t Jaft hAving tVc g'^>r)d lOituac lo na«ct with looie puffcai who pio»tir«i.i ItciLutnts (imilar to hiiown, a imtil iuci- ety W4S form«'d abou' i\vo yaars jgo cpoa s.'i Unit«r'>:5i plaa. Tliis litilo chuch rake» th« iciipiu.'ts aions fi^r its guide, aad ackiiax!ed|^t:s no huojnu *it;cJc»or coi- fcilioai ot f:iiih whakv^r, Iti leading ti:ncr« are Jifi- Tftd trom the facred lourcs of the wf the Fa- ther, being tha tenet that the njolt diiliogui/hes ibid focic'y from aoy oikcr ii ihis pan c f the world, the difceaifcs which follow, were dtllvgreJ when ic v^as firft opsned and made public, in or^ftr fo aiske the prm- (cipl« belter known, and if pcflibla to gain the aflcor of Chridians to it. With the fame view anJ iaicoiics ihcy are now pubiifhed and given to the worlj. Whether they will be attended with any good cffc^ or not mail be left to time. ThcTa dilcourfcs arc in fubflicce the fssic as :hey wert ongioallj delivered.; bvt tha auihor ^ hs8 **.i. PREFACE, f-iss abndgec? thtm in fofii* p9its, inff learned tofJ cxcclicoi perioBJ. who havt brtn VirajfTcs for Go«i lad hi» nmh, and trod the path o' Um'niSLnHm before Imn. To their ir^luablc wiitings he ackrsow!ed|»4S himlcU much indeht- cJ, tof ona-.j gf^od «rgymt»is, and iUuAratioDS of th« |acr«d record*, lit h«» eadeavonrcd to cxprefs hinai«*f ii iiit pliiiiicft («eQaer, io «» tt* cnske his meaniag ]t?«l ^to every ctpaciff. Tht awti/or has fc-^a occ*ii'Jii ia iomt ioiUnciS tort crro eu»s j tad ia otkerf ro dfpnrt ^rom the cjm- gnon rct^icg o^ th« Gritk 7 fff^ameai «lf6p»cfb«r, and «D) peffe<5l at to iVvod in need ot no amsndnacaf. But a ?«Ty hnail acqonnrzrce with the critical hiilory of th« New I clbmciii, n fufFicseat to confuti this abiurd aiTcrrioa. The tcxi ot iheGrcsk Tcilameai from which ■ wai (tiadt froii this tcKt, about the brginfting of the UH c«Qtury ; corsftqutatly, wkatcTer sniftakes had b-'t*pntQs and ♦^ zi. The csUbrjsced 'ViexandiidQ minuicripi, oqc of the u j(l i.sci- CQt ia ih« world ^vas nor ia liicir tifns ka iwa m tu. ja? ; and a^^nf M(«. m Italy, Gjrina';^, tni B g ii *, ^vcr^ not co^fjifid at a\\ ; and ev«Q (otac ot tkoU thi i»;re th«flColLt«d, app«fir frum cKc fcwnnies ^hcy Hivc fiicc uad^rgont, n»)t to have bs8Q «.2UTiined vnh a proper de^rs« i^f acGiiracy. Or Mill, who Itvcd tbiut a Ci-Qtury afcer our pf«i»Qt £n;;.;li(h b'blt was rr*r,(lttcJ, wis tn# /irft that ever prefeot d thi vjild wiih *uy v«ry c^ ilii«r- ibl« number of dif?lr«Qt rcudiogs. The nanbt.' fie h»s coIltr£, aai has giffn the warld the mod elaborate ediiioi ot the Gr?ck Tc(lAm«Dt ever publifl^ d: and the learQei Grieibich has exhibited ftill more, variations, and iaforms ui tr,at t)tie laborious ta(k of collation ii not yat failf c^mple:»d. M&oy learoed roso alfo la differsat couatriea, befidcs tfee cdlators thetnfcrlves, have been ufefully employed ia examining and afccrtaia'mg with fiagalar cart and! fkil! the atfthciiiy of Greek nnanufcriprt ; aad in paflia)| their jadgemcDt on the value trti inapartanct »f the va- rious readiag; which ha^^t b^eu prcfcnted to the pu!)iic. What the Uaroed pcrfoQS above meatianed have doae to th*i N«wT«ftac2i^nt, Dr Ktinicot has doae to the Old, aadi by himfelf and wiih the affiftaoce of others, has collat- ed upwards of fix. hundred Hebrew manuicripts, b^fides fome vary early and fcarce prlnttd editi jOs, and fro«n thele haa drawn abjut one hundred thoufand v.^riua* itidiog«, Tnc laeriis pi this great w.;rk have not yet be-n fully tried, but aajfjngft To great a nurabcr of vari- ations, fi)nQe muft undoubrediy be o? great cjnfcqacacc; and Dr Lowih ib« prilent Bilhop of Londou; a very rt:». P R E F A C Eo c«>Bf»Oftf?^t jtdgc, c«Ubr;»tei the v;ork ?cry much, iM fcv fbv a /^ancc that it afK^rded hiia in hii new ?alu\bl« t^anflaticn oi Ifaiah, bus reftcrcd ievcril words that wtr* loft ©8t of «h«i Prophet; tnd rL(51ifitd the tranflation in nan I pUc«, that had cither no (cnf* at ail before, or an erroneous (cnfe It is beyond all controverfy therefare, fkat our preffnt Engli(b trannation of the Old fcnd NcW Tcf^iBicnt it faulty in f^Ycral places, and requiris tm^n- datioi: and I might bring a cloud of wIintfTts to pio?e this, Were it rot a thing fo p<fon. Fut le hopes that they will excufe ibis defeat, and confider rather the ufefuJ and importaot matter that his performance contains, than this dilagrceablc form ia which it appears* DISCOURSES ON THE DIVINE U N I T T. DISCOURSE I. John Chap, xvii tc. j And this is life eternal, that they D/i^ht. kaow thee the oi:\y true God, ana Jtlus Chrift whom thou haft fcnt. THESE words are pirt of that excellf nt and fer* ▼cot prayer, which jcfus our amiable Saviour and heavenly inftru^or, poured forth lo his God and Father, previous to his cnteiing opoa the melaacholy fceoc of his fuffsriegs and death. Although from the accounts the Evangelifts have left us, we fiod our Lord ticqacatly engaged in the fa- Gred ind ntccflary du!y of praytr ; tnd I uke !■ particu- lar meotions that on a certain occafiori he contioued all night in prayer to God; nnd the authrr of the Epiftlc to the Hebrews takct notice, that in the days of his flcfb, he offered up lupji'ications and prayers, with ftrong crying and tcrars unto him that was able to fave him from death? f yet (oroctimcs we hav;^ no accounts at all, aed at other times very (liort and general ones, of the matter and fubftanCc of thclc pr avers. But in this prayer which ths ApcOlc John r^scoids, and of which our text forms a part, wc have a complete and entire fpccimen of the devotions of Jefis. The words of our text contain a very important fpccuUtivc truth, viz. That the knowledge ot Go4 and Chrift ; or the different charaft^rs and relations which thty lUad in to us, U ncccfrarv to the obtainiog of cter- cai lite. • I'his i? life eternal, that they roight know tt\ee the only true God, and Jcfus Ghrift whom tl.ou hiif^ ftnt.' § It is obvieus to every OEc';j caufidciatioQ v;hr> fakes t H^b V. 7. fl'hc Cambridge Ms. reads k.u hoD ap-ftVilas ]elv)uii Cr.rlftvQ eis too k.)f:n ;n t«utoa — ^aad Jcfus Chiifl "sviiusa^ thuu hail icai iQlj this world, A ( 4 ) takes tli« words of our text in their juft and natural fenfc, that the Father is here flyled, and that by out Lord himfclf the ooly true God ; and Jclus Chrift is diftinguifhed from him under the chsradter of one that hehathfeot. or as his jJcfTxDgcr, legate, or ecnbafTador. This text therefore has erer been held dclervedlj dear by tho{e who aflcrt and raaiDtain the proper uslty of Godt and that he is the Father ouly. On the other hand, thofe who oppolc this iroportaat truth, and affirtu that there arc a plurility of co equal and confubftantial perlons in the Godhead, have eodeavoiircd to weaken and explain away its Raiural and genuine meaning, an^l put a forced and arbitrary conflrii<5tion upon it. Before iherefore we attcnr»pt to ground any arg.0Q2cnt upon this text, or laifc any do<51:rinc from it, it Iccms neccflary to take feme notice of their obje^lions to our interpre- tation. Ti e firft we fhall Riention is, that the words are capa- ble of being rcodercd difFcreiitly fiom the Greek, and luflead (f this is life eternal, that they might know tfeec the Father the only true God, and Jcius Chrift whom thou haft fcnt; they may be rendered (ay they, this Is life eternal that they aiight know thee the Faiht-r, and Jefus Chriif \9hom thou haffc fent the only rruc God, i. e. that both are the only true Cod But lure, h« that is capable of reading a iicgle vcrfc of the original will delpile this tracRa-ioo; and the mere Engliili rea- der by attending to the cohcjcncc of worcs, and the natural meaning ©t the context, may be fatisfied that it is a moft forced and unnatural one. f And to lay the truth t Lc Clerc has a fenfiblc note opoB this palTage as follows. •* Hina ginofkofi le ton monon alcJh.ioon thcoa kai hon apefleilas Jefaun Chtiftoi. Vertc; utcognofcant te qui cs lolus verus Deus ; et Jeium, qui eft Chriflus queia mififti ; aut tt Jefnm 'quem rnifilli, qui eft Ghriftns. Ariiculus enim ton debet rtpeti ante Chriftum. Perindc eft ac fi iiifinifjvo rcnn expiinnas; hoc modo ; ut ccgoo- fcant lc quidcDi efTclolum vciumPeum, JduaiYero tfTe MtHiam ( 5 ) truth foais of ths more learasd Tiinitiriaos io aot infift BpoQ it, bat fairly o.vn that the Father is here ft y led the only true Goi, they atre^-Dpt however to era Jo the force ot this text by other methods. The Father they ail us has here t'ts title of the oily trueGjd, in opp^jfuion to Ido'.i, or the falfe Gods who.n the Heathens woriliippcd ; but not in cxclufion of the SoQ our Lord Jsius ChriiV, who is true God as well as the Father; aod as a proof of this ihey q;iote, lEp. of John, Ch&p T, 20. ** .nd wc ka w that the Sod ot Gal is conoc, and hath giv^K us aa underfland'Og, that W2 may kaow him thut is true, aod we are ia him that is true j evcQ io his Sm Jefu^ Ghrii}. I'his is the true God", and erer^ul life. Liaie childreo, ke^p you;fclves from Idols *' la aiifwer to this we rea- dily prant, that Idois or ialfe Gods are certaialy exclu- ded by the Father's being here ftyl^-d the only true God.^ But then, this is no hing to the purpjfe. ior the word ONLY here raidt- u!e o^, njt only eKcliiJes Idijls, buC everything thdtis nc' the Father from being the trao God. And our Lord Jeius Chrift is plainly d»Uiugui(lied Iro'Ji th^ oaiy true G^d, aad charadterifed as une that he hath lent. In rcs^rd to the above quoted paiTige from the i Epiflle ot J^nin, if we read it as it (lands ia the Greek without the word evkn, whic'\ has been ia- judici^#uQy infer ted by oar tranllaiurs in the 20th v^rfe; we fhiill had that it is the Father, and not the Sou, that is there called the true God. The pafT'^c ought to be read thus. ** And wc kaow that the Son of God is come, and hatJi given us aa uadeiftanding, that we may kuovsr him that is true, aad we are ia him that is true, in or through MtfTum quem mififli, qaafi Grece diflum efTet hori ei h» monos alethinos thco3, kai hoa apel^eil.is Jefous ho Chriftos, Jefus autsm hie ait hane cih vitam eteraam, son quod tota fides chriftiana, quanta quae a eft, intra haec duo capita ia fe fpeflata c oerccatur ; led quia hoec doo (uat vclati caeterorum omnium fundamentum, cre- dere illuia efTalolum teram Deum, qui eft pater Jefu .Chrifti, ct Jefum clTe fitfcifiaon, qucia miflurus crat. Ab- fqu« ( 6 ) sVtrou^h hi* SOQ Jefus Chrift. Tkts is the true God and ercrral life." '\ hat ii^o lay, iba^ wc ire brought to the knowledge of the true God, or havt aa underftanding gjVtD us tokoow him, by the 'mftj umcntaliiy of his Sob je- fus Chrift, who is the w.y, the truth, aod the life, with- out v/hom Docf CAD cofftc to the Father. Very pjoper- ly then does the venerable Apoftle add. Thij is the tpue God and creriiai li(e Little chi dren keep your- (fclvts from Idols This G:d, into the knowledge of wh.om ye are iii'n>ducedby | fus Chrift, is rhe true God; aod cttra.l lire \^ the reward of that knowledge. Be careful therefore little children or dcbafing fhis pcrc leligion, fo' ev: ry dtviafsoa fr cm the woffli;pof this true G.>d by his Son Jrltis ChnO, is'ldolauy This pafTagc thcr f. re is (o far from weakening the forc; of the words only true God. applied to the Fa 'her in our text, thwt it coroboiatts them, ^ad throws additional light upon them. Put we have not yet done with the Trinitarians, they teturn to the chaige in aii<..ther W3y. 'Vhe Father iay rhcy. cay be here called the t:nly true God in con- tradiiViuction to the Son; becauf;; he is the Fens Dei- tatis the fonn tain of divinity, the fid pttfon in order who is of none Beiiher begotten nor pjocetding; but this whcfl granted, will not hinder our Lord Jefus Chrifl: from being in the word^- of the Nicene Ci.eed, Dens ex Deo G«d of God, or God by communication of the fathers divinity. We reply, thai this is a very impor- tant ccncffTion, and cflabli(hes one ?ery clear prerogative of the Father above the Son, viz. That the Father is alone fque hifce non confttt Chrifiianirnus, cuju^ cetera dog- mata funt hilce loptrfhudla f atquc hiice admiffis ut Vcns, cerera eriam admiitat necifle elf, Titamque ex iis inAiluat quilq^is noh infaniet, quilquis fibi ccndare vo. let, ut facie t>mnes intclligoni hina gmolkofi &c- Thc w«*rdi. mull be rendered thus, that they may know thee who art the ooly true God, and Jefus who is the Chdft thai thg^ haft fent J tor ih« articie toi^j muft be repeutcd ( 7 ) alone, auto theos, or God cf hiir.felf, that tkc ^oa owcsevciy tning to the Fathtr, and the Father nothing to the Son ; aad il t'^is were ccrifirtcJitly adhered to, and followed out, it would gj a great way ^o reconcile parties as to the main pciut in ccutroTfrfy. Foi it vculd infallibly prove, that the Son was a being produ- ced by the power aad will of the Father ; and ccultqucat- ly, I hat he could be confi -crcd in no other riew thai as a dependent beini? ; or in o her woids a Creature But this is tar from the m? aning of the 1 rinitarlans : for they affirm, that in the FriDity none ia bcfoie or aftc» another, noie is [;reatcr or lets than another, but that the Glory is equal the Mt]cl\y co-cte-.nal ; and that there arc three per Ions in the Godhead, of the fame (ubfl^ncc, power, and eternity, God tht Father, Gcd the Son, aud God the Holy Ghoil. This picemia nee thcrcforCj that tnc Cvocfubdantisl Triniiarians afciibj to the Father, of being the f^juniain of divinity or the flrft perfoa in crdtr; is but an cmp'.y title that atounts to nothinj5 : and by no means cofccs up to the force lod emphaf.s of the words of our text. Had the words run only thus---This is li e ttcroal that th'.y might know thee the Father who art Gad, aa4 Jeiu-; Chrlft whjm thou haQ fcntt it would have been enough in a fair and candid coiftrudlion, to have oeter- mioed the Godhead loUiy to the Father; but xihca to this is added, that the Fa her is iras G.d, and only true God, the txpvcffioQ is (u ftrong aad pcrcmptcry, as to rei.der ^11 the atccaiots of iophlfiry to let it afidc or ex- plain it a.vay abl Cutely vain and truiiiefs. Leaving repeated before the word Chrift. It is as if the mean- ing was cxprtfTcd by the infi&.itivc motti in the foilowiag manner; that they may ka-)-*' thee to b: iht oniy true God, ao'j Jcius to be the McfTinh wh.>an thou haft lent, as itir hr*d been fsid inGjc.k huti ti&c- Chiift herclays that this is eternal life, not btcaufe the whiJe c!:rili:aa taith in its greateft extent, is comprt-hended under ihcfe twv^ heads wuiida"end to love his neighbour as hlmftif, is more than all •whole burtt cfferirgs ard facrifices. And when Jeius faw that he anlwcied difcreetly, he faid unto him, thou art not (ar fiOH) the Kingdom of God." Rom, iii 29 30. *♦ Is he the God of the Jews only ? Is he not alfoot the Gentiies-? Seeing It is one God which fhall juftify the citcuoQcilioa :]: In Mark xii 32. The grec tcft p^rt of the aotient Mis W3»t tie word Thcos, God. if we follow them we muft read as follows *» Of a trinh mafter, thouT haft well faid (r.ti) that be (the Lord Jthovah, mentioned ▼erfe 29) if one, and tbat there is none ether but he ** Sec MilD«, Kufter, and W:ifteia. Dr, Clark; and Mr Lindfty ullo take notic« of this. ( •« ) ^Ircaucifion by faith, aod oncircumcificB tbraogh faith." iCor. tiii. 4. *' rhercisooDeotherGod but one." i Tjid, ii. 5. ** I here ii oue God, tLf\6 cue Msdiaior bawecl God a»H McB, the Nian Ghrift jefus " Janoej ii 19, '* Thou bcljcvefi: titi there is one God ; thou daft well: the Devi is alfo believe, aod tremble " I o ihefe places may be add-o, all rnofc pafTages of fc'ipture where G'.'d fp aks hitifelf, by the fiogular per local pronouas, I, and ME, or i- addrtfTwd, or Ipok- cn of by others, with the piocenns, thou, he, him, wh ch ae alio fiagalar : as ihe folic wiog, Fxod xx ii. " i am the Lord :hy Gcd, which hare braugb.t the out of thclmd of Egypt, aad oa« ot the houlc ot bondage. Thou fnalt have oo other Godt before, or befides me/' Gen. xvii i. "The Lord appeared to Abram, aod faid onto hin:), I am the aljiighty God ; walk before me- aad be thow per(e(fb." ilaiah xliv. 6. ** f hus faith the Lord the King of jfracl, and his Redeemer the Lord ot hofts, I am the firft. aad I am the laf^, and befides me there if n» Gad J"" Ifaiah xliv. 8. •* U there a God befides cae J Yea there is no God, I know not aoy.'* Pfal. Ixv. ii. O thou that heareft prayer, a«to thee (hall all flcfh come.'* Ffal. Ixxxiii. 18. " Thoa whofe name alone is Jehovah, art the moft high over all the earth." Or as fomc ren- der this piiflagc. •* Thou who'e BtiBe is Jthovah, who alone art the i»oft high over all the eailh.'* It would be cafy to accumulate a vart number of pafTages of the like nature, but what we have already quoted are fuffi- cient for oar purpofe. Sure I am, that no body whofe underderftandiog had not been pciteried by a theological fyftem ; and the im- bibing falfe ideas from homan creeds and cojjfefTuns of faith, would ever imagine irom iht pcrofal ot thefc, and fimiitr pafTigei ia facrcd fcripturc ; that the (npremc being was auy more than one perfon. But lay our op- ponents, the word wfcd for God in the Hebrew, has a plural tcrmiiation, iltkough conflrucd with a verb ici the lingular ; and is Elohim, or Aleioa, aad from thencs they wauld liter that tkeie are Si plurality 0^ pcrloas io' 3 ih# ( 12 1 the Godhwd j tht plorai tcrminitlon denoting tkis plu- riliry of jperfoRS, aid tht Terb fiogultr ia coaftruflioa refcrriog to the •nity of efTencc. To give an i»ftaBCC of thif Whci it is faid ia Geaefii, *♦ I a the begino'ing God arcated the hcaTCDS and the earth" -io the Hebrew' it is literally, ** Godi he created the hcafeni aad the earth." We reply, that in all languigei there are words ©fa plural tcrmiBation that hate a ficpuiai ijgDificatijn ; a»d that this is an idiom or ptculianty of the Hebrew language, aad is ackaowledgcd to be fo by iomc of th« beft Trinifariaa critics thcmlclve*'. that th- iingular verb in coiftiuiflion does ngt refer to any fancital unity of different ptrions ia the fame t([tec^: but clearly provos on the coatrary, that the word Elohino or Aleim, al- though ef a plural tcrfDination, ha« a fiiigu'ar fcnfe and meaning. As a proof of thi«, in the Scptaagiut, Vallate, aad other ancicBt verfions of the Old Tcliameat ; as welt as in our own, and the other ro-jdera ooes, the word Ebhim is aiwavs tranflatcd in the fingahr; and our Lord Jefus Chrifl aod his Apofllcs whea thev quo^e paf- fages trom the Old Teftameat oblerve the v-ry fatne rule. This laft coufideratioa without adducing any Bidre arguments, appears to me abuadAoly fufficicDt to afccTiain the lingular fignlfication o^ the woid Eiohim. Maay ingcnioas conjectures are offered by learned men, to account for this irregularity in the Hebrew laagu ige ; but as they are more curious thas uietvl we ihali wave ihem at prcient. But it is farther alledged by the TriDltarians, thst God xnakes us of plaral pronoussio fpcakieg of himfelf, Gea. i. 26, " Aad God faid, let us make aan m oar image, after our likencis." Gen. iii. a2. *' Aad the Lod God faid be- hold, the naa is becoflse as one of us, to know good and evil." Gta xi 7. •* Go to, let as go down, and there coa- found their language, that they may not undcrftand oae another's fpecch." Ifaiah vii 8 ** Alfo i heard the voice of theLord, laying, whom fhall I fend and who will go for us" ]n regard to thele paflages, they are too few ia number to Gouatabailucce the many th«Qiands oa the oppofite itde. ( «3 ) fide, where cither God fpeaks himrelfor is addrefjed aad fprkcn ot bv others, with the pcrfonal pronouns, I, THOU, ME, HIM t aid it (hew. great want of cand- our and judgomeBt in the rrinitariiRs, to catch at a flia- dow that fe€«s to raakc for their party ; aad to pay no regard to a thoofand times the weight of evideocc oq the oppofitc fide. ^od this is a good penerai aafwcr, though we were capable of faying noth ng more. Sut to come to particulars, It is lo uncsmmon thing ie aoy language, ancient or modern, for finglc perfons to (peak IR the plural; b«t it was nevei yet heard of ia any age of the world, thiit more jierfoas than oae fpo|•!* oidkiajjuicot ihcfingularprooouDS, i, an i vlb, iQip v«kiog tomau} an^ by b.:ia(^ iddrcHed and fp ken oi by others, with the prooouni, thoU aad H* Wiuch are alto fi^alar. We icplied to o 'jtftiooi fouoded «po'» iht plural itr niuatioa ot the w Td feiohino or Alcim in the Hcb c\V laug ug.* jjcsod alio up-D Gjd's fpeafcing ia the pluial in * tew pitiiges oi incUid VciUrnQdi. WhaC We have liow before us, i^ ihe iecjod aoJ ihirti div.fi>QS ot oor firft propofiiion whicti a* they are clolcly coa- Decfted an i tend mutuilly to throw lijjht upon one aa(j» thtr, we (hill pu* into one. Ou Itthj ft to day there- fore i , to confiJ^if thole pall ge« ot fciipture, woicll aicribe iich i.ire that hath heard, aod htth learned ot the Father. Cometh unto me. Not that any no a hith leea th^ Father,- favc he whch is of God, he hath (een the Father," John fiii. 54 " jefos inCwercd, if I hon- our mvlflf, my honour i« nothing; it is my Father that honourtth me; of whom ye fay, that he is your God.^ J ihn X li 3. '• Jefus kuo viag that the Father had given ail things into his hands, aod that he was cons from God, and want to God '* John xiv 1.2. *' Let Bot your heart be troub'cd : yc believe in G iJ, believe alio 10 mc In my Father's houfe are many minfi ons, Sec** J >hn xvi. 26 27 28. 29 30. *• At that day ye ihdU aik in rn> name; and 1 lay not unto yo.i, that I wdl pray thr Father for yon. For the Father hiwlel" lev ttl you, beciulc ve have loved me. and have believed that 1 casae one tiom Crgd» 1 came ionh t&oiB the F,m the Lard Jcfii 5 Chrift. I thank my God always oh \our behalf, for the grace of God which is gifcn you by Jdus Chrift:'* i Cor, i. I. 2. 3 4- ** Paul ai \poftle or Jefui Chrifl by the will of God, aid Timothy omi brother, unto tht church of God which is it Carinrh with al! the lainrs which are in all .^chaia. Grace be to you, and peact from God our Father, ani from tke Lord J Ua Chrift, Bkfledbe G(.d cvtn the Father of our Lord Jcfus Chrift, the FAther of mercies, and the God ot all comfort; who comforteth as in all our tribulatioa, that wc may be able to comfort tht m which are in a«y trouble, by th« comfort wherewith wc ourlelves are comforted of God." Gal. i I. 2. 3. A, 5. ** Haul an Afoftle (not of men, nei- ther by man, but by Jcfns Chrift and God the Father nha failed him from the dead) and all the brethren which are with ne, unto the churches of Galatia. Grace be unt you, jtnd peace from God the Father, and frooi our Lord Jefus Chrift: who gavt himlelf lor our fins that he might deliver us from this pit ient evil world, according to the will of God iQd our Fath«r, to MrhoM bt glory for ever tod ever. f *l ) Amco." Fph, i i 2. 3. *• P^ul an Apo(\lc of Jcf«i CKrift, by the will ot God, to the (alnts which arc at Ephdus, a«(j to tl c faithful io C.hiiil Jcfui. Grace be 10 yi u, aud peace ^loai God our Fiiher, and from the Lord Jefa Chrift. BicfTrd be the God and Father of o«r Loid Jefus Chrift, v hj ha h biefled us with ail Ipiritual bl rou, and p cc b« CBttltiplifd, Belled be the Goi aod Fatk r (.; our Lord Jelus^hiift, which according to his abaadnt mercy, h-tth bcgoticQ «s agaia unto a lively hope, by the rcturrcdtion ot Jcfii* Chiift from tht dead, &c.'* In like manocr one may perufc all the introdurtorf iddrfiTes io the other Epift'es, where the ft>lc will bs always found uoilorna aod fia.ii%r to this; or at Ua(\ Dot cOQiradli^tory to it 7 be moil iuperficiai reader can- Dot but oblfTc a ftriking difFetence, betwixt the ftylc of the iofpircd writers aid that oi modern TriBitaiiaas • God the Father, G')d the Soa, and God the Holy Ghoft is their language : but God the Father, and the Lord jefus Chr ft, is the laoguipc of the venerable Apoflles, Tbera ij nor fucfi an exprcffion. as God the S©n, or God ths Holy Ghoft, to be tound in all the New Tcf- tament. Had the infpired Apofliss known that our Lord Jcfas Chnft was God equal with the Father, thcf would undoubtedly have cii>ed him Io: aod i' the Holy Ghoft had been a diftin^l p rfon equal with God th« Father, a very difF-rnt language wojid have be n held concerning him alfo But thele are impr-'vcmcnts io in divinity for which w arc ind* b ed to ihe ngtnuify of later times. Shoold it be a(ksd, if J' !u« C hrift i? not G >d cqaal with the Father, why is he joined with hina io the kcginaiug of the Epiftles ; atd grace mcrcv. afld peacet Wiihcd iiu« him as well at tht fi4ih#r? Tiic aafwer is ihor5 ( 22 ) fhort ind p!»io. J( fus Chri{l afif r hh rcfurre^ion front the dead wai ojtde Lord aud Chiift by the Fi.ilu. as Ve are ififor/iied in the Adls of the Apofllcs* and wat CocOituicd head overall thirgs to hi.s c) urth ; and as Mediator between God and Mjo he is ihc great ice- iJiuai by which all Gofpd blclFjng* dc'Cfna to u , aod U therefore pr pcrly cuupicd with the Piihcr. in ail ihe tpcftolical b< oediftii ni aud falu«at;on?. 1 he pufTiges V^e have aircad* quoted, to whfch a prt^t nnmbir tr/itiht \>e added, arc iuHhticntly plaio and clc^r to prove our point: bur wc ihi»ll ptoitcc others ftill more txprefi and dtcifivc, Luke x. 2i. * Id t at hour Jvlo> Kjoy- CcJ ID ipirit; and ao iai.h |]oto him, fir, 1 perctive that thuu art a prophet Our Fathers worshipped io this moontaio ; and )e iay, that in Jerufalem is the place where men ought to wor(hip« Jeius faith unro her, Woman, hclicvc me, the hour (ometh when ye fball neither in this inountaio, nor yet ^t JeriiijasiQ wojcihip the f athcf. X^ v^9i 0. 0»r Saviour decides the controTcify clcaily ia lavour of his countrvmcn the | ws; and tella the wo- 0>aa that the Samaritans Wi'rihipped they knew not what. But at the lame t-me lets her know for her eom- furt, thai thifc adtantage which the Jtws pofLflcd oTcr the Sama.itans, was not at that period of time a matter of gieit coi.tcquence : for i»ys he • the hour couicth, and BOW is. wtitn the true Wi ifh pp^rs Hiaii worlhjp the Father, in Ipirit and ia truth : for the Faiher fcck- eth fuch to wo.rti p him God is a fpirit and they that «vot(hip him, ibuH wo fhip him ia fpirit and in truth. '* From this place of (ciip urc a very confi crable argu- Bient may be formed in favour of the U^i{a:iaBS. For It proves 'hat the Father, and the Father only (as belort trkcB notice of ) was the o j (51 ot wo (hip under the Jewifh diipeniation ; and that he i Aili thecbjedl whoCB the true worfhippers (hall \\or(h:p, tinder the aew or Gofp.l diipenfatioD^ Had there been a Son or Holy Spirit, equal with the Fatheir. and entitled to «qu4 honuar and gl>>ry with him, undoubtedly cor Lord wooU not hare failed to have camnunicated, this Important piece of informaiion to the woman of Samaria^ |>ut ic is i%io finnde tht ch«j:a<^eriilic of the true wor« ihippcrs. ( 24 ) IKippttrf, that they worfliip th« Father in fpirit zni \m Ciuih. What kicd of worOiippcrs muft we ihsa (wpfofc thole to b«, who iet up two other objects of lupica* wofihip befidci the Father? That the Father is the great object of religious wor- fliip and adoration, and conftqaeody alone podtfTed of fuprcme Godhead, is fatther den clhtted, trom ihe pifcfticc ofChiiA: who tlw»ys puytd to ih« father whea o« eaith, and commanded his difcipks to do io Ukcwife. Wc oercr r«ad ot our Lord J«lus prayiig to the Holy Ghort j or afcribiug glory to him. But he tells iii expiCi fly, Math fi 6 *♦ But thoa whcQiloaprtyeft, enter Uito ihy clofer, aod when thco haft (hut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in fircrct; and thy Father which fccih in Iccret fl^all reward the optaly/' And «gaiD Yerf« IJt. •• Artcr this maoQer pray ye : Our Father who art is heaT£B ' &c It is true, our Lord afterwards was picaltd lo give »« farther dired^ions concerning prayer ; ^y comuuBdiog os to rtay ia UU fiai&t;aDd tl^e ApoAle Paul dcfires us, ttat *' whatever We do, to do ill io the flame of out Lord Jefus thrift giviag thanks utto God and the Father by hiro". Hwt praying ia the name of Chrift, is very different from piajieg to Chrift as God, cq al with the Father*, a method of wojfliip which th« chnfliaB retigioEi, if we take our ideas of it trom the fcriptares, knows aoihicg of. But we proceed Eph. iii. 14. and 2i . "For this caufc I bow mv koecs unto the Father of our Lo'd Jcius Chrift, ot whom rhe whole family ia heaven aod earth is fiaODcd, that he would graot you. according to the riches of his glory, to be ffresthened with might, by his fpirit ia the ioier fiaac ^ that Chrift may dwell in your ketrts by faith; that ye beiug rooted aad grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all laiots, what is iht breadth, and length, atid depth, aod height i aud to know the love ot Chrift which pallcth knowledge, that ye mighi be filled with ail the tulnefs of God. Novif aaio him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that wa aik 9r think, accoidiag to the power thct woiketb ( M ) trorfcetfa la OS, neto him ^e glory ift the e^rtirch Ijf Chrifl Jcfos, ihrough:)at all ages, wurld wiihoBt end; Amca *' Thi* lublim-: p-lTag dilcovcrs to us the itf. comparable power iad cxccllfBcc, ot th« God tfifl Father ot alt: to whom the Ap< ft c bowi his knee in profound adoiaiioa; and of whom h« dedtrei the whote family ia heaven and earth is named. He rrprelenti hiitt •s one, hit is abla to do ciceediog abundaatly for«t, above all that vr? can aik •r »hink. and tbcrefoje aforibei gloiy to him io the chwrch by Chrift lefoi, worW with* outend. Anaeo. iCjt viii 4 5 .6 '• Thereis uoncoihet God but on« For thongh ih«rc bs, that arc culled Godt, whither in heaven or ia »arth( (;is there be Gods man/, ^nd Lords mmy,) but tJ ms ther« is but ooe God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him ; and one Lord J«tu3 C uid, by whom are all thiogi a»J we bv hm." rnis pa(n^e is altogether dcciG/c, pcretnptoryt, and exprefs, io favour of the Uaitariaa doftrtne. The Apo(\lcs» Boeactng is exprefTed with all ».hc f )rce aod clcaroefs of a propofitioQ : and is fo gasrded as to leave no room for lubicrfugC: and evi^ri>Q. ift S^. Paal affirjig that there i« no other God but oao. Then he adds next to make his mcauing fiiil more evident; *' For thoagh there be, jhatare called Gods, whither in heaven or in earth, (a» there be G jJi many aad Lords many.)" Thii clauie a Icaioed author who wrote upwards o^ a ceo* lory ago, cocftders as relating to tkc ftateof the heathen worl i, his words are as follows. «» Thotigh tharc bt ** Gods raaoy, (that is many ccleftial and fovereiga ** deities and Lords raaay, (that is many Baalims, ** Lords agents aid prcfideors of earthly ihinj^s ) yet to *' us chrilfians there is but one fovercigi God, the Father, " of whoB are ail things, and wc eh aaton as it is ia •* the Greek, to him, (that is, to whom as fupremc wc *• are to direft all our fcr vices;) and bat one Lord Jefuf •• Chrift, one Lord agcat (inflead of their many Baa- •* lims and Daenon mediators) by whom are all thiagi ** which come from the Father to ns, and through whom I* alo&e we find accels vatohim* TbeallBOoa msthiaks is •* pafling f 1« ) # paiRiig ctegaBt, tod fuch as f think caanot bf veil as- •* dcfftood withoui this difHofti >n of fuperior and in- •* fcrior dc ties in 'he diTDtty of the Genfiltrs; thef •« having a plurality in bo h f >rts, aoJ >ve bni on. in ** Cich as our ApoOlc affirmch*' So far thi. ii gtoit us writer, f i'e'h;ipf al»o, «he Apoftle may «Huie t> all th ife h 't a*c ca led Gods in fcriptmc in the io^ciior ftDle; }i»ch uS Argtls. K rg>, and M^jgiftiarcs &c. But to pr» cec-d. I hv Ap ftit h viog unc tiopcd, ihtfp Godf trauy and Lnrc1» n);^ny, in heifcn and i > earth, ani (ct th « a'l .jiidc conie> dow to iufornn u-^ wh > th i hiprcna* and fftvcre f^n God is, uhom as chrifti ns we arc bound to worfhip 2nd adore, ** Fo u^ (fays he) there i? but ©DC God, THE Fathfr, ct uhom nreall h ngs, and we Id h.m ; aii'< one Loid Jeluj. Chrift by or h ough whani aie all ihiogs and we by h 'H. " H're, the oNt God, and the one Lord are i(y clearly and accur tely diOm* g«i(htd from, abd conuartvd wi h, one anoiher, tiHt it 11 iiupobblc to cun^oBod them uithoat the groHtft abufe, and pcrvci ft o cl language. Here alfo it is ob- Vioui- to rciDark again, h )W different the language of the Apoftlc Faul i , Irom ihat of certain articles, und coa- fefiions ct faith •• In the unity of he G ^diead, (faitli the firfV article of a certain chuch) there be thj cc perfoof, of one fubitarx'', piwcr, and ctcr; iiy, the Fah r, the Son, and ^he ^qI) Gh >'.••' And he (ixib aol .ver of a ceitMJ Ca'ethl m util knowo in this cotintty affi -nt tha', " I here are th(«e pe»fon^ in t c Go jhcsid the Father, the ^Jcn, und i ]c'a9 CiKiiL ** Wfacrtloit, ((ays he) oo chc ^ctoHit of his iiumbiiug ( 57 ) Ihumbllng hitnfclf, and becoming obeclicnt unfo death,' even the death or the crols ; ) God hith alfo highly tx- sited him, and giveo him a name that is above every name ; ih;.t at the oaiae ot Jdus every kiiCe (hculd bow, ct rhiogs in heaven, and things on tarth, and thiogs under the earth.* aid that every ti ngue fhould confefa that Jems Chi 'ft U Lord, to the glory ot God the Fa- ther." Ob(ervc attentively, that when we acknowledge Jcfus Chiift as Lord, we are to do it to the glory of God the K thtr : who txal ed him to this ftare ot domioion and digniiy. For, he that honourcih not the Son, ho- noureth not the Fatter who hath fent him: and vice veria orcoatraiy-wT , it may b iarrmd that he that ho- Doureih the Son, hoi oureth the Father who h^th fent h m. For, the honour given to an tmbifTtdor, or Vicegerent, reflets back upon, aad is kindly received by the Mvjnarch who imploy> h m ; and in whofe na ne kc adts. But in order to alceitaiu ftili more c'eaily the reaf ?ns for which the title ot L( rd, or the one Lord, is given to Jefus Chrift ; we (hall recite i.t large that palFage ot the Afl^ot the A 'ottles, towhic^ we before reterred ; and wHch will be und abundantlv iatisfac- tory tor the purpofe, \(\s W 22. 'o 36 in^.lufive. ** Ve n;eri ot Ifrael, hear thcle words! Jcfas of Nazareth a man approved ot God among you, by miriclcs, and wonders, aad figns, which God did by him in the midft ot you, as ye yourlelvcs alfo know. Him, being delivered by the determinate coualci and toreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands hevt crucifi d and flain: whom God hath railed up. having loofed the pains of death ; bccauic it was not poffible that he (hould be holdtft of it. For David fpeaketh ooncerning hira, 1 torelaw the Lord always before my face, tor he is on my right- hand, thit I (hould not be moved. Therefore did my heait rejoice, and my tongue was glad : moreovtr alio my fl^fh (hall reft in hope. Becaufe thou wilt not leave niy foul in hell, neither wilt thou (uffer thine holy one to fee corrnptioQ Thou h^ft made kao vb to me the ways of lifs ; thou (halt make mc iuU of joy wit*^ iby D couQteDa&ce ( 28 > cnttfitcsaoce. Men and brethren, let me freely fpeik »oto yoo of the patriarch Davtd. that he is boih dead and burtt4. aod his icpolchrc is with u; umo his day Thcre- fcre being a piophet, and knowing that God had iwom Vith a.i oath to him, that at the fruit of bis loins, ac- cording to the Hctb, he would raile lap Chriil, to (it oa his thione; he, leeiDg this before, fpake of the relur* rrftioi of Chrift, that his ioul was mA left in hell, nei- ther his flcfh did fee corruption. This Jdus hath God raifitd up, whereof we are a'l w taeflcs. ThcrcJore being by the right hand of Gt>d tx.jlic.d, aad having received of the Father the prpmiic ot the Holy Ghoft, he hah Ihed forth this, which ye cow fee and hear Far David is not afccnded unto the heavens : but he (imh himfcl/, the Lord faid unto my Loid, fit ihou on my right hmd, until 1 make thy foes thy ^oo-ftoo!. Thtrcfore, let aU the houfe of Kracf know aiTurcdly, that God hath mads thai fanae Jrfas whom ye have crucified, buth Loiii> and Christ ** From this quotation it evidently appears, that Jcfut Chrift pofTtiTes the title of Lord only ia confcqueocs of the Father's donation ; and as a reward for his dif- tinguiibed oserii and obedience. It is by the right hacd of God that he is cxalttd ; and it is froco the Father that he recti 7CS the protnlfe of the Holy Gbofl ft is by the Fathers p wer. fnd o^;t his own, that he reigcs^ and (hali stign unti) he hath put all his ececaies ondtT bis feet. Howt.vnic obfcrvauoiis oa the caiu.al aud ob^r;us meauog o^ the w^rds ; aa 1 rcplyia j [o 1. veral ot^jei^ionii to our iBtcrpretatioQ ot th.-ra, we pr pae*.! ra Qiake ihcm the gruuod "^Oik or b-fis ot oui learujin:^ ; aid by ao ap- peal to the Ic ipture* at b'ge, to endeavour fo euforce lod eUibiifh ihe foilv)*ic^ prop fii -ns, v'z Firft, that there is one p^rfoo, or iatclligeot agent, who alouc is G )d, fiiprcmc, a'm'ghfy, and eternal : and that ihii one pcrloa is the Fattier, or as he is lometimes called ill (cipture, iha God and FathcT of our Lord Jcfue Chrift. Thii is jitc etciaal, that they uaigtit kaow thcc the only true God. Secondly, that Jefus Chrlft is not the moft high God; bat a being inferior to nini, dcpeadcnt upou hifi, and afting by his coounaud and authority: or ia other words hi3 Son, SciTant, and MsfLnficr ; and by the Fathei^i appointnaent, the MciTuh. or oq y Mci ' ttor bctwceu God Sod Man. That thej might knovr J&fus Chrilt whoiS tboBhaA feut. And Thirdly, aad Laft'y, to confi Jcr and anfwer the objc<5lioo», that the Trioitarimj make to our h^poihcfij, and urge ia lupport of their own, founded oa varioac pUces bQik Ql the Qii aad Hew Teflaneat. ' fer ( 30 ) For the ftk« oF greater crdfr ard c'iflir^nefs, wc propoltd to arrange the paffngcs of fcriprurc by uhich our fiitt piopolii,oQ is luppuried, imo three cUlIcs, ¥iz. Firft, thole which affrt the unity of God, or God's bt-iog one perT n, without IrmiiiDg this unity to any particihjr fubj;f(5t: bccondly, thole wh'ch abfolutely rePrlion with obc an< thcr, we propo(«d in our Second diicouric, ro puf thcao into one in the toUowing manner, viz. To confider thole pafTagcs of ftripture, which alcribf fuch high titles and lublime epithets to the Paihtr; or (o abiolutcly rcf^ndl, and appropriate, this unity, or one oodhead to him, as reader it iropoffiblc to iuppolc that any being in heaven or ia earth, Cun be e- qual to him, or compared with him. in proof of this propafition, "wc quoted in our fecond difcouife a geat many p flages of the New Tcftament, fill of them diu(5l and appofite to our purpofe. We infilted more p rticulariy : upon the apoQolical bene- diifti >n$ and iaiutati jus '. upon our Lord's calling his Father Lord of heaven and earth, and acquielcicg with entire iubmiffion in his providtn-iai diipeniations ; upoQ the diicourfc of oor Lord wit,i the woman of Samaria, and his in'ormiog her that the true woriliippers (hould the worlhip the Father, io (pirir and in Iruin ; and that the Father fjught fuch to wojfliip hinii : upon the prac- tice of Chnft who always played to the Father himfelf, and comiBanded his followers to do io alfo ; upon that celebrated pallage in, i Cor. viii. 4. 5. 6j !t I here is noac ( 31 ) ncne other God but one. For though (ben be that arc ca ed Godv, whcher m heavtn, or in tarth (a» there be Go s many, and Lords ro.iny ) But to us ihcrc is bur unc God, the Father, of whom are ail thiags, to4 wc ID him : and one Lord J-fus Chriftr by whom «rc all things, and we by hia.»' Thcfc pa'agcs wc confi.icrei at large, aud p inred uut their genuine force and efficacy; and how ttroDgly couclofive ihcy were iu lavour of our d.vQ the whole he adds, one God, and Father of all who is al)ove all, and through all, and ia you ail. Or la ether words, that there is one fupreme intelligent at-cnr, or per Too, called the Father, who is abfolutely uaqualled in pcjwer. dignity, and glory, and who fopports, pc(vadi*s, and fill?, the whole l^ilc-m of uoircifil na'ure. A dele ip'ioi of God, equally dcTout, rational, and phihfl^phicil: bu» at the lame time diamet- rically oppofite t ) the nation, of three pcrfoas, or intel- ligent agents, formiatr one fupreme Godhead. For if tkat iyflcm had a ly foundation in the aature of things, «r IB diriiAe [^wttUtloa, the ApaUles defaiption of the ( a y 0^ God wouli bt very lame tn4 defe^ite, by Icartag oat tw« pcrfuii to whom the Godhead belonged as wdl 9t the Father Neither could ii be jui^ly affirmed th«t the Father was above all if there wcrt ^wo perfoas of th« fans fubAaaee, power, aad etcraity with hioi. Is this caic, the /ipoi^ls ought to have made ufe of fery differeBC Uagtiage aod uodoubxdiy woald baTc doQc (o, if there had been any truth ia ihi? opiaion I apprchcad he would hav« exprellcd hijcfelf in this nnascr, ok iimihr to it. There is one fpirit, one Lord, and one father, and tht=fe three are one God. and arc above all, through all> aad io yoa all No Uaitaiiao, were h« to exprefs hii cs^-a belief, could choice better tcr«« tba« oor ApoAU has ddae to. his baud, acd already fuppHiei him with ; aad on the othsr hand, there is no Trioitaria« were be to ' gifc a definitioo of hit faith ; but would Hie terms and exprcifions quite d.ff^reat from thofe of the Apcftle. This clearly dilcovers, that the opiniaas of the foriacr, viz the Unitarians, are pcrfe.flly tiirowjaioas with, aad corrcfpondcnt to thofe of tbis enaiaeat teacher of pure and uadefiifid r-Jigioa; and that the aotioas ol'che latter, Tizthc Iriaitiriani, are altogether iacjnfil\ent with his »caning, and ideas. For nary part, I b^k upon this (hort fommary of chriftian dodlriae which St Pad has here ex* hibitcted, to be one of the beft creeds, and coBfrdi.j<]t of faith, that I ever perafcd iQ my life, and far (up-rior to oatny of thofe, which huaiaa foiiy and prttfarapttoQ has fubhituied in its room, la vain do the Frinitdnaos at- tempt by lophiftical arts, to explaia away the natural aad obvious fenie at this place ot facred fcripture ; and t© inoald and ftiapc the ipoitics wjrdi iotD a coiful^ucy, with their owa abfurd aad mctaphyfjcal fclumes. Thf ApoAle by £fft mentiooiag the one fpirit, aud the one Lord, and inleniog other things between, has abfolatlf pr veatcd thii pervcrfiiia of his maiiag. Ai well aty they affi'^m ifaat the one body, one hope one faith, and oas baptifa, are pcrioas io the Godhead, (aad then we ihall hiVc fcveo perlons inftead ot three) zi affi m, ih^it tkc one Ipirit, or un« Lord, arc 1». Xhc one Ipirit, and oat ( 34 ) cueLor^, are clearly diftinguiHicd and dlfcrim'natfd front the one God and Father o\ ail. who is sbosc all and thei«foreas bc'orc obltrvcd» can have no equal or aUo- ciate in ihe goveinment of the world. There arc a vaft number of piTaagcs of fcripture, iQ which though the word God occurs without »he paternal chara^cr being anutxed lo ir; yet it is abfoiutely otc fltry to underftaod thtm ot God the Faihei, luch as the fol- lowing, Hem. xvi 27. * To God only wife be glory through Chrift Jelus &c '^ i Tim ii 5 ** For there it one God, and olc Mediator btt ween God aud Men, the N^an Chrift Jtfus-" Luke i. 32. ** 1 he Lord Cod (hall give unto him (viz Chiift) the throne, oi hit Faihcr D^vid " Luke, ii. 52. ** And Jtlus iocrcaff'd ]D uiMom and Hature, and in favour with G(;d and Man." John iii. 16 *' God fo loved the Wotld, that he gave his cnly bcgotton ion &c." John lii, 34. " He whoiO God bath fent, fpcakerh the words ot Godr for God givcth not the ipiiit by mealurc unto him." A6ts iv 24 to 30 .*• And when they heard* that, thty lift up their voice frith cne accord, and laid. Lord, thou ait God, wh ch baft made he iven, and esrth, and the fea, aisd all that in them is', &c *' Ada x, 38. *♦ God gnoin ej Jcfus ot Na* zerelh with the hwly gb( i\ and with p wtr i who wtnt about doing good, and healing all that were oppicffed of the devil ; for God was wirh him." fi£ti xvii. 30. 31. •* God huih appoinrcd a day iii which he will judge ihc vorld imighteouineis, by that man whom he hath urdaia- fd* whereof he had ti^ai' fies mjrc perloas than oae. From thii coRfilcration it is apparent And obvioas. that the doi^iae ot a c » equal and conlubAautial ! riaity ia unity, has ao touu 'a* tioQ in the New reftameot. If the in'pirei writer* hai iaiendc'l to have inculcated (uch a d^ftriae up )Q us, they would have made ufe ot clear and poiMve exprcf- lioas, fuffi/icnt to tia?c afcertained t;ieir meauing to the lowed capacity. Bat fo tir are the ETaugelifti aid ^poHles from teach- ing iuth a doftiiae, thar ne;iner the wjrds riioity ia unity, nor any tcrai cquiTalent to ihcm, occur in the nrholc co'iip?.fs of their writings : but oa t^c contrary, they have by many pain and decifive exprtffi )nf, con- fined the one Gohead 1 )leiy to t le perfoa of the F*irher ,• ind thereby excluded cfcy other being w laicver from baing partaker ot it. A very fcnfibie writer who has diftiogaifhed himfelf iu thi« controv rfy; and fupported the Unitarian caule with great ability, obicrves.^- * That •* upon a ftrift eaqairy it appears, that the wr.rd, God, «* occurs in the facred books of the New feflicneflr, *• twelve hundred and eighty eight times ; that there •* are feveral hundred texts, wherein the Faihcr is ftylei ** God abfolately, by way of euiacaca it being impof. *' fiblc by the couftruiftioa itfelf, that it fh )ald have ** any other fenk. It is realojable to tindtrftand the <* word, God, ia thj fame (enlt ia all the o;her t^xts, *• excepting thoic few, wherein ths ward is applied to ** Chrift, and o her bcioyis, in an inferior fenie, cxprcf- ** fly warranted by the iacrcd writers, Tnere is not ** one text, wherein the word God. D«ccflari!y fignifie? ** more perfois than one. There is not one text, ** whertia f The author of the sppcal to tbs commoa ieufc o^ all chiiitiaa people, £ ( 36 ) «« wbertio tre are obliged to underftaod it of three per» •* loufe, the facred writers lure not afforded uf the lead •* plaufiblc pietence, or colour, for aay luch ieale/' So far this writer. I have now my chrifliaB brclhreo, id this, asd the two preceding difcoBrfcs, produced ai] the pafTdgcs of fcrip- ture ihat I intend to alledgc in proof of my firft prop®- fiiion, -which was : Thti iht're is one perlon, or ifiieili- £ent agent, who aloDc is God, fupreme, almighty, and ciernal, and that this one perfon is the Father, or as he is fomctimes called in fcripture, the God and Father o£ our Lord Jelus Chrifl. *' i hii is life eternaU that they Plight koow the^ the only true God." 1 have kk^icd the moft pcrtiiicni and d cifive ttxts ; and could cafify have iucrcaied their nutnber had it been or-xelTary Some padages 1 have pupoicly omitted, b^^canie they coma more Baiurally tu be confidert.d nud t the iecond pro- pcfiticn, than the firft i Ihall crr.pl.>y the rcmaincicr of thi* ciicout(e, in purhnrg nriore fu ly (ht hint* 1 flar- tcd m the fifft, concerning the repugnascy ot this doc, liiue of a Trioity is unity to the light of D-'.tnral rca- foD We have direidy fecn that it is contr3c!i<5led by di- vine revdaiion ; the great ftandard of our bciici iq icli- gious m.ntt'rs. kealoD points out to us the neceffity of bclieviag, ia a firft cauie, or ori^-ina! of tU things. We arc fure that We cid cot make ourfdvesr cor th« world wheicia we live We aie lute, thit neither the world ncr ourlelvcs were made by chance, which prorerl? fpcnitiog is noth- ing but a nanac, that eonvt^s no idea to the miad* Wc aifo may be very certain th;it the world wherein wa live and its inhabitaats, are^not etero. 1 ; becauie. expejieD.c« »ftd the hiitory of mankind confutes this ablnrti fuppo- fiiion ; and the (acred volume allure* U9, ih .t in the beginuirg God created the he avtns and the earth. Wc find ourklves ohligcd to luppofe a hrA caule, a cai^fe uncauled by ar.y tcreign or external cruie, who cxifli by abioiuie Btccfiity of nature, who has been isom eftr- city ( 37 ) Bity ; iod who gave Ufa and cxidcLCz to all other belags what«Tcr. But although one may be conpelltd by irrffiftibla cvldcoce to 'ckaowle gw oot firft caule: y«t no gol!o v au«j main* «« taio that every p^rfoQ is ciif\inguifhcd ^rom the otncr «* fwv) by his own pcctili.r pr^'peity; oihcrwilc they •* woul.j not be diftiuct or d ff.reDt prrlons, bit on« ** iifd the famr p rfon Accordiugly they tr ll b$, that ** that ereiy perton in thf divint nature or efl-rice, is an ** intelii,q«Bt iubfticce, lobfirtiog by itftit, ywd really dif- ** tint^uilhcd troiD tite other two, by its own ioconjoaoni- ** C'bit proprtty. And i fo, t! en i> foll.ws. that etery *' perlon ia the Gi^dhtad, or diviae cllcr.ce; has iome " pr ^perly wH'ch the o'hcr two have aot. For iav '* fhnce, the imcommuuicab^e and diOinguifning pro- * pery of the Father i» GrNNFsiA, or his bciog un- *' bt gotten ; which property belongs ucithcr to the Soa, ** Dor the fpiiit but fo the Fj h^r al ne ; aod being ia- •* communicibic can bclr^^ to nunc but him. The •• ir.coHiWun cable and diftin^uiibinv; prop rty of the ** ^on is GLNNKSii, orbtin>^ be- ottcn, >R'hich proper* *• ty belongs neither to the Father nor the Tpiiit, but •* to 'he Son alooe ; asd being iocoiiiaiunicabJc Cdu b«- *• lor)(7 to none but him. The ir-comtnunxablc and •* d'dirigBifhinR porpe?ty of the (pirir ii Ekporeusis, •* or his prt^cctding from the Father and ths Son; which *• piop.-rty belongs neither to the Father, nor ih« Sod, *♦ bat tu the Ipirit alone; and being incomiSUQicable cia ** btlong to oodc but him. Now, feeing tvcry one of *• thofe perfons is iuppofcd to be, or fubiiil ia the divine •* efTcncc it follows, that every one of thefe properties, «* which bel) g3 to thefe perfons, muCt alio be ia the •* divine tffeccc. And certain y every propcity in the •' divioe na-ure or cfTiiiC!?, muft b;: a pcrtedfioo. Fur «• in a nature infioitcly perfcfl, no property caa poffibly ** be a dct£rurd, «ttd iDConfiiteat with the all-pcr- *, fc6t nature or God, Nsy, fuaher, it will foDow, •* t »t the cdf-nct of the ooe tr«c God, rouil ** admit of coB»ra dift, thit there is one pcrfon, or iDielliRfnt agent, who alone is God, faprcme, a'mighty, aud cteir;al . aud tlut this one perfoa U tne ha' her, or as he is fome- times called in foipture, the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift T hii is life cieroal, that ihey might know thee the on^y true God. Secondly, that Jefus Chrift is not the m«ft high God ; but a being inferior to hioB, dependent upon him a'id aOiog by his command and authority : or in other wor^^s his Son. Servant and MtflT.ngr; and by the Fathi»r's t point mens the MefTiah, or only Medator btl^veca God and Man. That they mi^ht kno^^ Jclus Chrilt wham thou hift fenf, AnJ Thirdly and Laftly, to confider and anfwef tha objeftions, that the Trinitarians make to uur h\p );he(is, and wrge in lupport of their own, founded on variout places both of the Old and New feftament. I he ficft of ihefe propofitioos we dilcufTed pretty fuU ly and copiouHy; in our three precedii;g di courfes oa this (ubj;;^ I and proved its truth and ccttaiaiy, by £ th« ( 43 ) the exprcfs tf fllmony of msny paHagcs of fcrlpture ; and by many condufive arguments and confide ratjoni fapgef- ted by the nature ot ihingj ; and the geniimc diiftates o^ right reafoa Wc tnrcr t:> day upoQ the confidera- fion of the r:cond p'-opofiricn, viz. T hat ]<^fiis Chrift is Dot the mort high God ; but a beinfx in-erior to hi-fi, de- pendent upon him, and a<5hpg by bi^^ €on)m«nd and au- thority * or in other wor is h's Sod, Serraor, and Mcifca- ger; and by the Father's appoiRtaici.t, the Mcfliah, or ocly Mediator between God and M«n, Thai they might know Jc^ius ( hiift whom thon hift font. The knowledge of Jcfas Chrill ts made necffTary to JIfe eteroal ; as well as the knov^Iedgc of the only true God th< Father who Tent him. Btcanfe, Jefus is the grciit m<:(IcngGr and en.biiyaclor of the Father, the great medium of the dlviue co3>monica ions with icankiod; the wiy, the truth and \he life, by whom wc have ac- cefs to the God and Fiither of all. It is ccctflary to know the $int, as well as the sender; th^ cmbaf- fador. aaJ he who appmats and authorizes him to a<5l r bat we mvi{\ ttke care at the Izmc tisae, cot to cjnUjnd the diffl;rcot and diftio^ chai2<5lers of each. We roaft honour the Son, btcaafc he 15 fent, and b-caulc ht:-bcar$ the Father's cotnffiiflioc, and aOs ia hi^narae, and by his authority. But W€ muft honour the Fuhcr, en ac- count ot bU own iDdep^ndc'fiC and ondcrivcd auLhori^y and excellence ; which reader him lupaior to all other beings whatever. ¥nr be it from me to wi1i, to depreciate the char.Aiflcr of Jefus, ihe Sou, Servant, rod M ffnger, of the moft high God : to naakc hina kh great, Icfs Vcnerahlc, lefi an^iable, than he really i$. Sath an intention would be highly culpabe in itklf; aad a very ungrattfol return, for that bf n^vjlencc, tender regard, nd deep cotiCcrQ, u^hich that cxctlltnt perfun ciicoycred for the befl and m i\ valuable jotcrefts of mankind If we would fpeaic of oui Lord J riuv Chi lit juifly, aod tf wlv, wc mull fpeak ot him A^ he (eoke of liiUilelf ? **nJ agreeably 10 the language oi uivifi« (cveiatic^Q. If wc do this we caa BSTcr C 44 ) arvef err; baf we may err. and that capitally, by W- 5owiDg human ftaadards and fofras ot fpcaking c ncern- iDg hi«n Diviic rfveUtioo b in^ then the only cer- tain ClitcrioQ to c?ire<^ us, we ooghc to try all oar opini- ons by this infallible rule: aB-'i be ready to renounce even 'he moH: t.iY urie n tioni, when a'^ter due ex -^ni- nati in aaJ rnquTv, thrv aa Umid to be in.onGitcnt with rhc iitn itie lenfe of facrei fcnpture Ctn any per- lua tHiok to pieif* the nirelc and humble jcfas, by b"- flowing il les api»n, and ^tc ib'ag honours tohicn svhicb he never cijiaacdj 3y r.iifi g him co a proper cqo.luy vrith that 'Joi ani Pathe:'>f sM, to wnoTi he always pro- fefTe.i the mofl implicit r>hj ftion ; and the jbo^ «orc« fcrred obedi nee li cm D n) dilpar.4t?em£nt"to any char^a<5ic.r, (h wcver excellent and merirorio'i) to for- bear afcribing to if, uhat doc? not ps oper v beioo.? fo it. It is uo detra^iofl frona the digury of the highefi Peer of rhe realm^ to lay thar he h not the Klti'^i of Great Briiaia. Pcrloas of jaft dlfc^.rBia-nt aod good fenfe a- moegil onankiBd, dlifdiin to receive (itles thi^.t do not be- lorig tot'^em. Far ns t' may we fuppife uur Lord Je aud ptci'liii adoration which n due to the Father slot t: hr-nourcih liOi the Sjd, who came to declare aad Command it. • bu b.mg pretrlfcd, we proceed wiihout further pre- amblt, or apology, to the dirf 61 proof ot our ftcond pro- p (it'(;D. rtPil Fi ft. Jtlus ChiiU is cot nor cannot ra lonally be foppo'ed lo be t^c uoH h'gh Go.^; or God in thf pi. p.r mid fuohme fcofe of th.t word, becaule ^c U in fcripfure piainly difVn •n'flipd trom God. Now diU r6tt n alw^y<. fup>iorcs diveili y N> being c»n bs cJifHof uifhed tr ro ititlf. Ami jcius Chnft being diOin- pinthtd hum, jti.d oppcfed to G d. in a vaft nncrbti of places of (cfiptuie; tveiy one of ih angels that thou obfem ihtlc things 8re.** hctt we fee G.d, t^e lord Jelus Chiift, and the eltft aigtlii, mentioned ton iher in a lolenm adjur^itito : and jti plainly diOingu (bed fronn one arothtr, and fj^ck'a ot, ai> d ffcrent and diftin^t beings a& hiy re.^ly ate I lo that their can be no pretence for blending i.nd confoui.d- ing them, which will not aiguc as flrcngly in lavou) of the e <.6t . ngels, as our Lord Jelns ( hiift. Heb xii. 22. *' But ye a»e ccmc unto mount Zion, aud unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerulialem an i to an la- Dumerablfc company of angc's, to the general a^'emblf and church ot the fiift born which arc written in heavco, to God thr judge of all, and to the fpirit« ot jult ODea made peifift, and to Jelus the toediatot of the ncw co« teiieni &c " How clearly h Jelus the mediator of the Dew covenant, diftinguifhtd in this paflagc, from G^d the judge of all; who is before ilyltd the living God; 1 he innumerable company of angels and the fpiiits of juft men roaeie perftft, may jull as well be iuppolcd to be bciogs of the Time fpecie^;, a» God| and Jdus. i lim. ) 46 ) Tim H. S' There is one God ; anr^ one Mediator be- tweto G jd an i Mm the M n Chrlii Jtfas. Here, che O'Jtf G h!, and the oue MtOiator are cn^raftv-d in luch a n.anner, a caiuoi tlcape the oblc T"tion ot acy per* ptilon. who thinks or icafons at all upoQ what Ft r«.ads: and if crLft be atf-ndcd with the grtatcft ab- furdity f'od corifufjon, to (uppole the Mcdiafor bttwcea God and M n, to be in any ulp 61 thai God with whoai tt mtdiatts in bch ilr ot nitn : tor then he muft mediate ui'h himlelf. Again, the woids of our text coDiaia as ill kinp an oppofi ion, bctwixr God and our Lord Jelus Chi.il as can well be imagined ** I his is life cietnal, th .t tb y miL^ht ksow shte the only true God, and Jelui C^nll whom ?hou haft lent " b< that wc may lave our- {ewes the trouble oJ qu«;iing auy more itxti, ia prov^f of "what 1* lo clear and cvide t ^ ot God, are two •liftinct and diffcrtni things. 3u wh.it ditf eat lenies the fcriptures ca'l Jelus the S^n ot <-»od, wr ih.'.il (hew iaamfd a'ely. Id funeral we maf cotfidet Jtlur a bring ch led «he Son ot God, btcaule he is inc oLJ'.ft ot the F ither's peculiar complacency and re<^ara'. woo ca the accoint ot I. is hwvi.tg eminently lovc<1 rieheouirefs and hatvd iniquity, is ano nicd with tt V. uil ut tfladutls above* his 'eilows. Hut to come to the Iciius in v.vnich this title of Sod ot GoJ, is Cvjnteirtd up- on Jcius I ft. Our LorU Jtlus Chiift is called the Son of G' d upon account ot his tr.iraculous conception in the Vi'g'n's womb, without the inftiumtntality ot any hu- iTc^n piegcniior. We have this hiliory of our Lord'a V' nacital conception and binh, very particularly record- ed by bt, Matthew, and St. Lukt. Mat. i. iB to 23. • biovf the bifih ot Jelus Chrift was on t i^ wiic: whca as his mother ^ialy was etp- ulcd o Jc Uph, before thty came together, the was tound with child ot the holy gholt^ 1 hen Jt-teph her hulband biiog a juft roan (or as? fotre rtudtr it. a meicitul, 01 compafliouaic man' and not wil- ling 10 make titt a pubiic i&a»ple, lyas minded to put her ( 47 ) |\?r away prHIy- But while he tficaght on thcfe thicgt, behold, the Afigcl of the Lord appeared wuto him ia a dream, faying, Joteph, thou Son of Da?id, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wlfer for that which is con- ceited in her, is of the Holy Ghoft r.nd fhe ftiall bring forth a Sea, and thou t^alt call his name Jefus i for he (hall fa?c his people froa their fin?. Now a!l this was done, that it might be fulfilled which wai fpcken of the Lord by the Prophet, ikying, beho'd, a Virgin (hall b« with child, acd fhall bring forth a Son. aad they fliall call his name Ecitnaauel, (which beiog inrerprefed, i$, God with us. f ) " St. Luke is flill more precifeio relating the circoxiUsices of this tranfaflioo. Luke, i 26 to 35, ** Acd in the fixth moDih, the ADgelGabtiel was lent from God, unto a City of Galilee named NiiZareth, to a Virgin efpoafcd to a »an whole name was Jokph, of the houfe of Diivid ; and the Virgio*$ name was Mary And the Acgel came in nnto her, and faid, hail, ihou that art highly favoured, th^ Lord is with thee: bleffeJ art tt.on amorg wom€n. And when flie faw him. (he was troub- led at his faying, and caft in her oii^d what rr.snner of jfalutation this fiioald be. And the Angd faid unto her, far B >t, Mary, for thou hafl fosod fav. ur with God. ^nd behold, thou fbalt conceive id thy W(>OQb, and bring forth a Son, and Ault call his nsoae Jcfus. He fhail be great, and fhall be called the Son of the higheft; and the Loid God fhall give unto him the throne of his Father D.it i i. And he fliall rtiga evtr the hoeic of Jacob for ever; acd of his kingdom there (liail be no end. f The expre0icn Emmanuel, Cod with ms. does not denote as fomc have abfurdly fuppofed, that jefus was God ; or that God was incarnate in him, which i$ im- pcffible : but only that God fhould manifcft him*c|j' by Jcfus to his people, and fiioald be with him in a fingu- lar and extraordinaty Uianner, agreeably to what StJ' Peter tht world " Mat. xxvi, 63 *• And the high pritftb laid oot j hiaa, I adjure thee by the living God, that «ho»j ^ell us whe- ther thou be the Chriit, theS)n of Go J, A6lt Tni 37. •* And he anlwcred aad faid (ihe Eunuch) I believe tnat Jefus Chrifl is the Son cf God, John. xx. 31 * Theic (things) arc written, that ye might believe that Jef'j« is the Chrifl the Son o^ God, and that bel.evJDg ^e mipht have life through his aatne." I hele q-iota'ions mak« i( abimdanily cvideot that the firft fol o vtrs of our Lo.d COufidfred ihe Soi.fhip of Jeius, and his being the Chfiil cr anointed of Godi as one and che lame thini» : and thcf fccm ^o h.ne laid a greater ftrtfs on this, than on any of the o'her fenies, in which Jeius is called the Son otGod. Becauie this len'e included in it, a belief of the divine Dr.iiliou of Jeius ; and of his aotVoriry as a leather lent from God ; and of that lulni fs of the fpirii which dwelt in htm, and whereby he pertormed a 1 his miraculouf works, John, i. 32. 33, 39. ** And John bare record, faying, 1 Uw the fpirit dclcendiog from heavei like a dove, and it abode upon tim. And 1 knew him not ; but he that leiit me to baptize with water, the lame faid unto ne. upon whom thou fhalt fee the ipirit delcendiog and remaining on him, the lame is he which baptZtih with the Holy Ghoft, And 1 faw a d bare record that thi« is the Son ol God *' 3d. Jrfus Chrift is called the Sin of God, on account of his refurrtdtjon Irom the dead, bv the power ot Gjd. Kom. i. 3 . 4. ** Concerning his Son Jeius Chtift. our Lord, which was made o\ the Teed ot David, according to the fl Ih ; and declared to be the Son of God wiiti power, according to the fpirit oi hoiiBcls, by tnc rclur- Cc^ioD (rQQ) the 4cahi;:g8 faith the AfflcD, the fiithUl 2nd true wit- ucfs, thcbiginoTng oi the cttanon of God^') as rtUmg to the fir ft ciexiioo, it iBsy be cffirmcd that Jcios Cluid is the Sod of Cofi, bceaufc he w&s ihe fir ft bjing whom Cod prodiiocd or crt?ated : bot fevs^ral leamrd coffioncn- tRtors Rre of cpiaioa, that thefc pa.Tages relate to the new creatio«. or moral rcrj<;viiticn tf the world ; tod it U ccrta'm that Jelof Chrift is ccvtr expresflj faid to be ihc Son o? God io this icnfe by fjny inlpirtd W5irtr. Thcfe arc all the itnki that I ess dilcover )a facrtd fcripture, iu vrhich Je(u:$ is cxprcsfly caUtd the Son of God ; or from which ihst tirlc leay be fait ly inffrred* But the Trinitajiann, wl o chule, to be wile beyonal U'ha* U v/ritun have feigned or imagined another lenlt, in whith they fay Jefus is fh« Son of God : and opiia vfeich they !af far anojc ftiefs than opoa aty of the fcrip- tural fenfcs, in which he ii io called. I hey reprelcnt the Son cf God, as a divine pert Ion equal with the Fa- ther in cfcjy rcfj5^:^, bcgott.jn hy him iu an iocooipre- henP.bie t3RanDtT ; a; d of the Uttic cffttce ar.d fubftawcc \tirh the Father. Hut ii ig enoogh lolay in reply ; ihac this is a Sou o' God o^ their own invention and conHU vitice, of w^ofiQ the fcnpifirei iiy tJot a word. Although the Triwitaiiavis have been rcp^a edly cballergid, they could never produce a fir.gie ^'afT'-gc from tl:c facieJ re- cord!, affi.ra'Dg, thar Jiisjs iithc Son of God btcaufeheis cotft-bftantial with ;hc Father ; or begotten from all tter- iiitv out i:f his c fit nee or rubfliicc*. 'the Uoitatjans caa fhew c'c*.r and diftin6l left. monies, for the different fences in vvhich they jffijm Jtlas to be the Son of God : but their of porents have not yst b.cn *b!« to produce any, lor the luppoled CGnfubftanrlal SoDfiiip of J«riu$. And csn we fuppoie that tre Evaiigeliftj and -ipoflleJ, would have been ttgligent in rt:cordip{^ a dc, neccllary to abide by the d-fioiu^as which the facfci pes mcQ have givea of it. Froitt thcfc confi;^cra»ions, it appcan, how usjjftly the Uait»te-n, aod i» trantter- rcd to. j»ndiibft{tv in the Sob, mder a dff, rent Hy- poltfii, or ptrlonaiiry Pot this aflertion of iheir« is ablurd and contradiflory in iilel' ; or rather i« a mafs of coLtraiii^ioDJ and sblurdi'let. F r fiift it toilowi, that the Fathci pa»icd irh all his tflencc to the Son ; aid \et rctaits it ill ar the iaroe time. .Secondly, that the bot\ \f his owa Father, and his own Son. For at upon thii fchcttjf he pofTi fTc« »ll the dirine ererce, or fill (xi cnt lubOaice, tv n the very io'^ividual cflence of the KatVer, he miift b<. confidcrcd a^ the Father in dne nu{\ have betii a rime whcr he did not tx'ft. if to avoid in it, which is amiable to all beholden* Jt i» al- together ridiculous to fappofc OBC divine isdividuttl tfTcDce, ( J4 ) tffeoce, to fibfift tinder d'lffetent pcrf<^n*lltic8, ltd thofi ^ho cio lo, talk Without Id^«. or sn^ ^(per conception o^ their own meaaiog ; and are obliged always to ht?e recowrle to the ttrm Myftcry, ineffable Myitert, to (belter thcmfcl-es Trom ihe torcc of ars?umc»ti, to w .ich they are unable to gifc any adcqu-it-r reply. But ii Jhou!d be rcraenabcrcd, that thcic i;: a Myftcry of ia- iq-iirv, as well as a MylUry of Godlineia, We hare q« authoiity to tavent abfurdiiici of our o'/n, or to rcccife thuic o others upuQ irud ; aad C£li thetn hy the nanit of chriftuQ m^Aciict. Befidcs the word nyftcry ia Sciipturc nc?er fignfi-s, a ihiai^ iBCom^-vcheBfible and unmtclh^ibe !■ iit owb DitU'e ; which no penetrttioi or lagiciiy wnatrvcr caa uafold or < ipiata. This is a talk aod erroneous Idea aanex.d to th.- Tford by naodera writers. The word in itf propci accvptati ^n, figuifiss only a thing hidden or c juccaled, which could aot haYC been know/) without being revcsled. But after it has becQ rtvraled, it cealcs to be a asvf\c ▼ or fccret thing any IcDgei.and becomes open tad iK«Bitcft to all perionf. Iio'A' sBuch his the lulUe of our moft holy Rcligioa been ditikcncd ; ^nd t^^c plain fcnfc of the Scriptures ob- icu'cd, by the talk notions and chiaactical idfts of foaie of itsmillakco pr fFcfF^rs. Let ui take care my Brethren, thtf no maa fedacc as from the purity of tnt Taith ; and form us afrcr the ruditnents of the V/orld, and not after Cbfift L<^t OS convcrfe frequently with iht facrcd or- acick, and endeavour to enter intJ ^hcir true Spirit aad getiiiint: meaning; and that will be the bef^ and moft effectual prelC'Taiive, tgaiaft error aad dtlafion of every kind, 1 o the one living and true God, ti^e Father of lifi^hts, wi'h whom there is Tariablebefs neither fha- dow of turning ; and from whom proceedeth every good and pcrftdl girt, bf glory by Chrift Jcfuf^ for avcr^ Disco uKSEScN the divine unity. DISCOURSE V. Jobi Chip. ITU. Tcr. 3. Aed thii is life eternal, that tbey might k»ow thc« the oaljr true God, and Jcfuj Ckrifl whom thu« htft Icat. WH E N we cctcrcd upon the grfat and ifliporUnl d-^iioc of the divine Unity, wc propofed to acake thcfe wofdk the ground-work «nd bafis of our leaioning; •wd by «o #ipp«al to the Sciipturesat lar^e, to endeavour to «!y tiuc G»J, Secondly. That Jcftts Chui} is »or ihemoP high G«^?d, hut a, bti? g infciiur t© him, dcpenoenf Bpon biao aod ;!6t!:.g by tiis comauitd atid btuhoiity : or in other words h\'^ Soa, itrvact, and Mclf ngcr; and by iht Father's appoint oicnt the Miffi^h, or only Mediator btmeen God aud M-ia. That ifcey &jght kfidw J«fo8 Chiifl whoia thcH haft icnt. And Thirdly and LaHly. To conOder and aofwer tht obj<€lioos, that the Tiini»ariani make to our hypothefis; and wri-e is (wpport of their own, founded Ofl fariooJ placet both of the Old and New TeftamcBt. The firft of theft propefitions has beeo already fillf cocfidcred, and in our fourth difcourfc we cfitcted apoa ebf prog* of ihc fccoad, Tiz. Tfeai Jclos Chrift is not t)ic moti high GoA : bnt t being iofcrior to Mm, W pendent «poa bim, and acViog by his comna«nd tnd ao* thority : or in oihr.r wards hi» Soi, Strranr, and McflTe©. ger ; and by the Fdthci'tf Si^pointacot the MtfliHh, or only IdciiitQT bctwccD God and Mao. That they might know Jelus Chrift whom tho« haft ftnt. W« (hewed fit ft, that Jefus Chiirt is diftingui.Vd from God in Jcripr^irc, aad therefore cannot be th?.i God fiom whom he it dihing- BJflied ; fend to whoiu he is oppolcd. V/e ft^c'wred ia the fecond pUct, thiit J^fuf Chrift cacnot b« Gc^, be- caufe he is the So« of God, Foi to be Gcd, and the Son of God [00. is impofl'ible ; and irDplici a coctradic* tioQ. Thii woild be to luakc Jefui Chriil, bij^ owa Fa- ther, and his owa Soq ; or would b« cqaivaicnt to fay- ing, that he was begottea aod r;nbegorteB at the laipe tiasc. We p«itttcd out the diffcjieot lea/ej, ia which the (criptuies dccUre Jcf»s to be the Sob of God, viz» Ob account oi his miracuiouf concepiioo by the po^et of God, o[ a Virgin moti er : on acfcoait of liis cocfecra. tioa to the Meiiiahlliip, or his bcirg inoiated wnh the holy fpirit without atcaftue: on account of hia rcfurrec- ik)Q from the dead, by the mighty working of the Fa- thei*« power : oa account of hii afcenlsoa into heavrea^ and hii cxiiltation to a iUtt of dignity, djoQiaion, and glory, at the right hand of God i asd according to the language of the author of the Eplftle to the Hebrews, biing m.ide a high pricif for ever altar the order of Mel- chiledec. We took Botice of ail thefe diff^^rent (esfcs, in which Jsfo^j is called the SoQ of God : and coaf^rmcdl then* by cxpref. teftioaenics from holy writ. But at the fame time we obfrrved, that ihefcriptorci afford us CO fuundaticn, fnr afcfibiGg a coniubftantial Scnfhip to Jefus : or an eternal fiiiiition from the Farher*s cfTeict. We mentioaad fcveral groh conirsdi^fioof reiahiag froia the bciief of this opifiion i aad could hav« enlarged mucti faihtfr on this fubje. But as the Icripturei are filcni conctraiog it, there is co occafioB for rcaloniBg farthef about a uouentiiy • or a thin^ which is not recorded. Ihlrdiy, bill loproctedia our iirf»uiatBt; ihitjclua Chrift U ( ii y %: tot the mod high Go6, or God in tfie proper and Ca* blime Unit of that word, i% cviJfnt, bccuufc, he always proCflcdtohtve oo will of his own; bat to be ever eatirc- ly guided aad govrrned, by the will of his hiaTenly Fa»her John vi, 38. Kor 1 came down trom hea?en, (fay« o»r Lord) not to do any own will, but the will of him that feat me. And during hh agony in th« Garden, he thMS fXprtflcs himlrlf Math. xx?i 39 «* Father, i^ it be poiIi)le let tbis c«p pafs Uom m« ; Dcrferthelcfs not as I will, but as thou wilt." Thcfc are cxp^f ffions, deno- ting a Aate of abfoiute dependeoce and lubjeftion; and utterly inconfifteiit with proper deitly. if our Lord Jcf»$ Chiift had been God. he muft hivc been regulafed lolely by his own will; and never could have been di- refled fo implicicy by the will of another. Fourthly Jelui Chrift Cdnaoi be the oiofl high God. be- caufe, he is Taid not only in the words of our text ; bat in nj^ny other ptfTagea ot fcriptare, to be ient oi God, Now fo be lent by Gold, or to be God's rndX^n^Qr ; and to be God hioafclt, ar^- quite oppofitc and Cv&tr^M ideas. John xii 44 " He that bclieveth 00 mc, bciieveth not on mt but oa hi^ that lent me. Mat x 40. *' He that receiveth mc, reccirerh him that fcnt me.** In thefe places^ Jcfus repreicots himfelf as an embuiT dv^r frooa Almighty God. But it is ijipuffible to beluve that a pcrlbn equal in dignitv with the Almighty, could be tti ambafTidor from hirn Befidei, the Idea of being fcnt, is q^ite incoofiftcnt with that faaicnefs of cffence, which the Triftitirians aff ribe to the Father and the Son. The Son (upon their fcheme) poTcfied the fame individual clTence wtth the Father ; »od therefo e, could not leave >h« Father, could not be Itparated from him, or a(^ as hii meflloger. But it is the cxpt cfs doc- trine o^the $tNT m £ " Vef ; ftQci from this coafidttari-m, it incviu- bi? follow*, that he was a btiaj? of a difFcreot u;*tare au4 clTeiicc Uosx the father; and iaftrior ii digaity to hi n. In the fifth flace, Jefui Chrift is not the mod high God, or the aU pet ftiTt and omaipinent being. Hec^u.c, he denies himfelf (as do alio his "ipoftlcs) to be the pro- per author of bij mir jealous work^; and refers ill thefc opera ioas to the Father ; or tht HJy Gh-.-il, whic:= la ttjoft (if not in all) pla*g ( f hiiuidf. bft whit he (eeth the the Father dc : for whtt ihmgs foever be doeih, thefe alio do?.th fhe Son Ukcwifc, For the Father lovctfa the Son; and Ihcweth him nil ihirgf tht himfcif dotth ; aad he will fhew bii» greater works ihac ihdc, that ye may r.ar- ▼el Far as the Father railch up tne ocad and q\iick- cticth ihtm ; even fo the S.h unto lilte. V;;rily, vtriiy, 1 lay unto you •, the hoar is comiitg, asd now is, wh:n the Cf-iid fhall hear the voce ot the Sosi ot dd ; asd they that h^ai fhall I've. F*>r as the Fat cr h th life ia bi'sjielf, io hath he given the Sod to have bf: ia jjaiieif ; and hath g'.vtn hiaa authority lotxeciste jui'g' rre^t aHo, becaule he is rhc Son of Man. Maivcl cot at ^hs ; tor the boar is c )f»ing, in wj/ich ail ihit arc in the graves ibali hear his vo;ce, and fhail Ci me forth : ihty t'^at have dooc good onto the reiurrcdlion ot life; acd they that have do«e evil untO the rclurrt(ft;oa o(- t amtfarloa. i can ot »(&• own Iclf do ROthing: as I hear, I j 'd^>e, »nd my j«dg«- mtm k bIK bccauic i Icck boi nri'.nc •. wd will, bur th« m'ili Ot the Faibcf which b;ith lent m«. It I bear wit- fids uf mykit, my wiUtcfi is not trae. Ihere is abo- ihcr % ( 6o ) Iher that beareth Witnefs of mc tnd T know that th< \vitaefi which h:: wiiatfTcih of me u truc.»' Htse, oat Lord jiofitivtly zflTsrts, that he caa do ncihia.j of hia- fslf, bttt Ah^t he fccth thf Father do ; cr that ihe Fa- thcr*j. .ill povrcrtal ag^tncy !a»i\ coacor vvih htoi ia the operation of crcry tmracle ; that ni*ving thU a(/,cacy, he U enabled to psrtcraa incf« woavicnal works: but with- out ir, is alfcgcthcr iajvotcDt ; aad loc'-pable of perf irna- isg thc2i. He rcprcttat* KiaftU' \t the Father's Scho- lar j or ia'iicttcs thtt the F*t^€r iticwch htn 4U ihi.,g» that hixiblf djcth f. an 1 dcch' cs that tht Fither will fftcw hiai or enab'i hi* to ptrtorai, ftill grsiatcr works, thaa the cvriag thi$ inapotcni iwmj to the ucfcr aftoa- i^smeat jf the JeWi ; nad t.> the cooiofioiiof (heir ia. re Ju- lity Ke intoria? th««r>, that thi father hath c^JMcnitcd aH jndgiturct tx) hici, iri-"< th»? thcreiV.re mea Giould gi?sh ta Rii thjt hoaou" tod rcfp'-ft 'hkh h due ?o cue to whosi fo high acd iBsporuBt ia cfH e ii dcitpatsd ; io I'^ke ^T>Aa- «cr, (for the p,«i lic'e Ai iy f«r fiona d notieg as cq t*! de- gree of hanour) i*s thvjy hov.:m the Father, the origiaal iourceoK all lathority «».! power, Aod th u if thty tail in doing thit, they dilioaour the Ferh^r Hi/ho leoi the Sor»5 •ad who is bv>au^ to i d ca^e the honour ot htf cot* baffidor. He dcciarei rr.r\ 16 th^r as ^e FiTticr hith life; or th« powm- of ra'^ug th« dtad la hinidf, la h« harh «OQfrrf<^d this glorio si povpcr u|io» the Soq alfoj and that in coaiequence of it, he will be ccab cd toj raifc the dead at ine l&ft day; and to rcwtrd or paa- ifti thesa tcordin? to their worki. To prcTctit aay p.^i^ £bility oi mifenderCl^ading bii ia?ani')g; and to deprive every pcrfon of a handl«. for afcribiaj; his prcfeat mif adct : or the fiitvre reittre^ft on *yt the dead, to his qwi| power or agency, he jigain n»!raiRly declares ; sed more dearly and caapHatically thaa before ver 30 * I can oi mine own felf d(^ noihiag : as I hear, I j?»dge : and nf jodgcmeikt is juft; beciuie I. feck aot mio.* owa will, bot the will of the Father which hath frnl me.** He adds farther Ver. 31* 32. That his own tcfliaway co&cerniBg himrcif^ wwald have bum iicotspetent aadi iaa4c<^uatc; ( 6i ) •* fnarfrqaatet but that the tcftlmony of another; or the cvi. cDCc ot thulc iDiraclcf, iB^hich the Faiher ct abied him ti; ^/CitoifVi c uld alofic aictrtaia thi validity ot his div nt mi' od T hi« thought is txprel H in other Woids, in Ver 36. of this chapter. ** But I have gr^-at- cr v^iiDci* man that cf John : for the works which the Fa her haih given roc to fiDi^, the fame Wi rks that I do b.ar witoci's of tnt that the Father hath fent me." Could a being that was God ; or equal wiit^ the God of heaven and canh. ever exprcif himiclf in thi« maoner ? The idea IS imp» fliblt aad cannot bs admitfcd | John 14.9 10 • J ios fa^h ^nfo h m (unto Phinp,) bavt I bv en fo long tijuc with you, and y«.t haft thou not known me, Philip? He that hatti leen me, h«:h ffen th« Fafhtr ; and how faytft thou then, (hrw ¥s the Father? Bdievtft rlou not that I am in the Father, and the Fa- ther in »e? The wordi that I fpeak un^o you, i Ipcalc Dot of myfelf; but tl c Father ihit dwcllcth io we, he docrh the works. The ixprcffivns, '* He that hatk (ern me, hath (een the Father, and beliercft thou not th vt 1 jm in the Fathtr, and the Father in me" have beea lometimcs weakly irged by the I rioitatiao!:, to prove feme kind of msrual inexiftence ; or myftcrious unir^n, betwixt iwo CO equal intelligent agents or ptrfons, lucK as they iuppofc the Father and the Sob be. But an at- tentive ronficieratioD of the pafTage, will utterly dtftioy fh'i notion For, when our Lerd dtclare*. that ttc Father d>elt in him and performed his miraculous works, thiscieaily explains his meaning: asd alfo (hews, that there was uo agency of his own in the cale ; aed conic- qucntiy that he wai 00 foch divioe perfoa equal with the Father; as the Triaitarians reprt(ent him to be. Asd as to Jefus being ia the Father, aad the Father in him; this is explained in the 20 vrrle of this chapitr, where the fame thicg is afHrmed of Jclas aad his dieiples, ** At that day vc (ball know, that 1 am ia my Father, and ye id me, aorf I io you." From thia paffage then we have a clear demon flrat ion; that neither the words, nor works of Jefut^ were to be coiiidcred n hi« (>^n > tb4t ( 6x ) that the former were the fuggcftiois of the FitherV wif- dom ; and the Utter the optraiiooi of hi« ifrffiftiblc power Luke iv. i6. to 19. ** Aud he (jcfav) came to N-zertth, where he had bceo brought op. and a hit caftom wa«, he w at into the lyaagjga? 00 th^ Ubb^ith- di*y, and llood ap for to read. Ani there was deliftred to him rhc book of iKt pr'>phr;t Etaias ; ani when he had opcQtd the book, he found the p ace whcie it wai W'itifft, *he ipirit of the Lord w wpon me, bcAufe he h^th »o{)iDted me to preach the Gofpcl*to rht poor ; ha hath frnt me to he-al the br kea hearted, to pre .ch dc- I'Vcrsucc to tht. captives, and rccofering of fight to the blind, i'^ (er «t lihcty thena that atc bruited ; to preach the accepfabic year or the Lord." Here we had, that it '*f7ii' the un6f !oii of the holy f irii; ; or the divioe ia- floncfs *nd ommunicanoas ot the Father, which q ! iuricd our L >rd for cntcrieg upoa, and dilcharging every parr o' his g»e»r xnd itaporiant Office. The pro- pne^ liaiaHM.h»p n Vdr. 1 2 3 pifci a like dcfcrip- ti i*\ of the Mdfiih J and of hU qoaliftcatioii. ** And tnere ftii '. c :)me orrri a ral out of the ftem of Je^c, and ft bra-^'Ch fh ili grow out of his rooti. Aod the Ipirit of thr L<^rd fhiU reft upon him, the fpirit of wifdom aad undtrffABdJng, the fpint ot counfcl and nifoht, the Ipirit ot knowledge aiid of the fear of the Lord; aad ihill make him ot quick under taisditig ia the feir of the Lord, &c.** Ma^h. 12 27, * But if I cii\ out defiisby the Ipirit of God, theo the kiftgdo«i ot Gad is coae onto yoa " What in Mathews G«>«pcl, is called rhc tpirit of God ; i« by Luke tcrcaed the fioger of God. Lake/ ii. 20. " But if I with the fiaj^cr af God caft oat da- vils, 00 doabt the kingdom of God If come upon you." A(5>i ii. 22. •' Ye men of IfracI, hear thcf* words : Jelui of Nazareth a HnaoapproTcd aisons; you, by miraclesf and voadcrs. aad figrjs, which God by him in the mldft of yon as ?e yourlclves alfo kno'*/' Afls, x. 38. Goi aa- oiLted Jtfui of Nazareth, with th* holy Ghoft, and with f(jX9 tr; who went about doing good, and healing all th4i wcr« oppifilcd ot the dcvUj ior God W4S with him^" ( 63 ) Vrom tfce plaia and obTioTjs «faning, cf ill tbefe paf- f?.gc5 of fcriptufc taken togc?h«r, it ij evident, that the Irbttan/ias hare no rctfoa io '.iifcr the divi jity of Jcfui Chrift; or hi? j^qnalky with th- Father ; kota hi^ raifing tht dcsd. gif Jng fight to ihz Wind, mAkls^ the dumb to fpeak, the Irkc to walk caricr^ tjbli^iD^ite »b j inyctfiratc dif.alcs, callinji^ c^t ^crilf, ^ecd'^g tn\i!ti adts w^th a fcw loaT«» and ^ii^hcs j or from any othtr grc«t a ;d ^ooderfttl «^}«n that be pcrfor>,Ti!"d. How o^»cd r^o ?he Tiiaicsria^!^ liil! Bot «dfcii (a$ they ifcifik) fuch plair* acd uo'.quivocti prtwti of true GoUbcad. Bist it is evident, from ttjc p'ala and c^c^tc;* ttftinncav of Chrift and his A^-^nit?, that }tht acv«r pc to» itS' d i fiagle iD^rtclc bj Moy cajo*«l iohrrffar, or indtpcftd nt power ©rhis cxtn, Hmo^p iip« which BtTcr utfcrtd vtfiy thiag bur whut tt^* fhi^iy ag^ctaible to tmth, have repeatedly dcciaied, ?hatcl hiaiiclj bi- co«id do aothiu^ • that the Father v-hich dwelt in him did the >ivo'ks> arid that he cnfl oat devils by the Ipint oi God An^ b » lOkmcdiaK.' fo'iu^trs, who cACiiOt De itippoled to hav# hmi any intcasi'U lu Iti en the digo'ty of tricir honoarcjj Iteiifjcr. «ir^rc us cf the reij lame thing. Vain and tutile th«r«'£o'c. fire all the t'^.ifion?, ::nd hi(c cocclu/ions cf fh« Tiioitsriacs It k qai'* isilc acd :rilling, to have recwurfe to the pretcecJcd difth;^* oa of Estarcs, to get rtd of ihi« peipitxiBg difJicuity. H Jcfus really had tht eternal Wofd or Son, hypoPvfificii^y ijaittd to his hvLsnai fcttl : v^hy e& he ROt ;«ppeai to thii jJiviac principU, «» the sat»ral ajid f zt>pi.r »!uhcr rf hii miracslou* w«rks^ V'hat oceafioa had he fjt tht sfn^accs of the firrt, aitj thill* peri<»tii, < v the fcppoJed Tiiajiy, whs wa» already in periooxl ui/ioa with the tcccDd which upoo this ichcn.e i* eqnai iu digBSty wiih the othsr two. Upoa tht Unitariao Kypathtfii, ir is abfalutely iKctllaiy, that God (hovld ancibt Jclsa* of N^.zarcth viijj the Holy Ghofl: and %itb power, that the Ipjfit floolo be icapartcd t:dieDGc to thsf* iooiiiands j-^hn x. i8. " No nan lakcth my lU^ from fse, but i lay it down ftf Biyfclf; I Hit* power to lay it down, atd I hav* pc^rr ta tike it agAJa. This comnaaodmeni hav-: I receind of my Father - " John , xii. 49 50. " For I hivt io? fpokcn of oiyfcff * bat ihc Fathif which frni ae, h# gave tne a coiamaad- DQCDf. what I fhould fay, ttid v^hat 1 fliould fpcak : aad ] koow that his comtaasdsicnt is iife tverUAiBg • whait- locvcr i fpcak therefore, eten as ihn Father laid unto itoe, {o 1 Ipeak," Joho, xiv. 31 "A? ifec Father gaTt ifae commaBdajeni, evcD fo I 60." J^oha, xv 10, *• if y^ kf cp mv cojnmandmcns, ye fiial! abi^dc in ay love - evea as I have kept mj Father's conanoaadnjisnif , md abide is hi* lo?c " l9 this the language ot lupremc deity, to receive coDQOiaads from another, a-ad to yield a ready obedicace to tie a. Whoever rcceiTcs comtr.aods froaa another acknowledges that other pcrloc, as his (apetipr - and as haviog a natural titlt: to his ob«die»cc. Oar Lord Jelus Chrift prv ffefTiS, not in a fmglc inft oce oaly • but hi all hii words and aOioo?, to be guided by a iacrc'd re- gard to the Father's cctLmandmcftti; and t© cuaiinue in his love on this acccuBt : and is cvrn willir.g to lay 4own his life, in wbeoieiice to the Will cf the Lord of heaycQ and earth. What can mere fuily pr.,jvc the iovereign authority of the Father; and the iiUcrriotitf and dependence of onr Lord, than ihcf«; coiifUcruriocs. ( m^n Ictiers^ Laving uever learned Jefus anfwercd them, aod f ti t, any do6):riot is oot mine, but his that feot me U any Xiao will do hit will, he (hall koow of the dod. For in that cafe his own ififiuitc wildoa Bi«(V, and would have fuggef\ed to him every p^rt ot his do^rinej and he would have had bo occafion to hav« been taught of the Father^ to have karoed of the father; or ( 66 ) or fD hare h«rd of the Father; at he expresfly dcdarci he did. Nor wiil ,t arail the Trinitirlafis auy thiog. to have recourfc to hii pretended divias natorc here ' for Jefiis does act appral to aoy divioe oAiurc of his owa but ta the Father, as the author «f hii wirdoin and ksowudgc. U ihe eight place, JtUs ChriA is not the moft higk Ood ; bar a lubordicirc dependent beiug, bccaufe he prays to the Father. Now prayer always itDpHet a ftat. ot great fttbjeaion imd itrc:Iorijy. I'o talk of God praying to himlaif j or of one God praying lo aoother Ood, wcdd &f equally extravagant aad abfcrd. Who- ever prays to an^rh^r, ackoowlcdges ihii being to whom he prays as his Japerior; aid as haviog fomething in his powder to confer or bOow, which he doea not •ofi;:^ ^vh« prays for it. Luke. vi. 12. "And it came to pals m thofc diyt. that he wcat out into a mouciaia to pray aad coiiiaued all night ia prayer to G/.d." Lwif^^ " t^c was aloae prayioff hii dicipica were with feim. &c." Ver. 28. '» 4ud it caaetopafs about an eight days after thcfe fayiagg, he took Petsr, and John, a«d James, and went ap iLo a mouotam to pray " Lake, xxii 41 to 4.4. - And he jvas withdrawn from them about a ftont's caO, aad kneeled down, and prayed, faying, Father, if thoa ba wi mg, remove thi« cip from me : Devcrthclcfs not my ^ill, bat thine be done. And there appeared an Aagcl from Hc-aven, ftreagihrnisg him. And beiag in an a- goay, he prayed more carocaiy t and his fwcat was as It were grcst drops of blood falliag to the ground " Secalfo Mat rxvi. 3^. 39. aad Mark. xlv. 3. to 26. ;iBd Lake, xxiii. 34. " Then faii Jcfui, Father for- give thctn, tor they kuow not what they do " Ver 26-^ •; And whea Jefas had cried with a load voict, he* (aid father, into thy hands I coasKcad my fpirit." This chapcer ain. of which oar textforms a p.rt, is a prayer of cofifiderable ieagih, addrtfT.d by j«f«s v/ah gre^t hu«i- l>ty. to toe God and Father of ail. When ibefe pa/Tages arc IcriouHy and attentively confi Jcrcd, liow clearly mani- ( 67 ) fell does !t uppor, that Jcfui ChnR i^as <^eft*tutc of proper deify. If Chiift had pofTcirtd « dmnc na'ur« equal with the Fa'hcr, he would hive bccR luffidcot for himieHj acd ahwRdaotly able lo have iupplisd ail his own want! His diYinity would .either have prciervcd hiflft from t' de diftrefsh^l circuaftances; or would have de- livered him horn ihtm^ with««t the ieterpofinoc of any o?hsr power. Bu; we find it Wi'.i quite ot^erwi'c with Jcfcj. We 1:8 d hita piryifig with fervuur, earntftaeif, «»i f^biT;rfnoD; and St. Luke iuforms es, that 29 Aogd Iromhe^iiea ^ai kot to confole aad Arcogthea him, ia tbf hcV;hu of Kr« ag^sy. An 1 caa w* isQig'as, that a pcrH>» hynon-sticaliy tibited t^ the fsf rc»e deity, could Rccd the .iTiftAKce of an A8|jtl j Oi be rhei'gthcctd asd aflid'd bv oni' of hii owq crfaturesi 1 kuuw the Tri- njta i«o» will tell us tha? Chrift jiiaycd, to give os an ex- »n)}>lc of piayer; and jb order to be a pattern of dcvQ- ticn «o hii fuMcwert. And lo he ctf^aio'y wai, asd a n>ofl c^oblc and cxallcGt p.tt^rrj no tut ^hcn, aur Lord night have rccoi^aDcnded pracr ilictigly to hif f<;)lowe4-$, with -qi coar)siii;ly W45 for liioa to pray, if he wa^ God equal with the Fatler /^cd thi» abfuidity will appear fil'\\ the gseattr, it we cetlidcr the roo*iiBi.r in which ChriO prayt*% hii rctifinsg to csocata'ns sod folitudei, the ifEg'h and fervency oi his d«Vv.i!un; 8iid above all h'n agopy in the gardea. To this the auihcr of the Epiftlc to the Hcb:c.vs (ccms to havi? aluded^ uh-u he tc Is tts, licb v. 7, ** That in the d«y$ of bis flc/h, when be had cfTcrcd «p pravers aid fepj^^Iicariooi, wltk ffrbug cryifig aad ttass, unto him 'hat was ab.e to fate him trom de^th ; aad was hca;d, in h:u he tcarcd j or CD accc'uut of hi« piety " firre, our Lord is dckribed, as prayiDj^ wi'h ilic grcateft ardour a»d icteDtcncif?j and ffiii'glJag ftr'>Rg cy'ng aisd tears with hii (uppllca- tions, lik- *j^.r t'etp'ly inrcrdfcd in rhe itscc:fs of his pray- ers; and ici fib'e of hi-; own iali.fFic"tncy, aad the utcd he bad of the silifiaiic ot a bcinj^ tar more powerful than himklf. Au^ we ar( told tnAt on iccouot of his filial ( 63 ) filial pitfj, t*"- h^'R-ylc refijjni'ion, he wii Waral, or met vrith a t^ToariLVls aniwcr to hi* prayoi. tio-n a. oorid^ratioa then ot the caaflnsr ^ttd circuiBftnacei '1 wMch our D:srd prayed, we bare the h'ph.c(t rtuija t^i conclude, that he ^^8 a pcrfon iafi.rior in nECjrc aq4 ch^ira^cr to al«ighty God. In the okth p'.rcc, J. a* Chrift is cot the moft hii^h God; but a d:ffc tot aai diftiof^ bcin^j frani him, bc- ca«l-, hf it rt3led In fcrip iir< the »»Bage ot G^d. 2 C r. if. 4. IhftApofl'c obfcrvcs fpea';iag of bid iaaa evidently -difcoTers to «$, that C-.r.A cinnoi be of the fame uuurc or effeoce with God, hvc-nU ia this cafe, hi would be the image ot hiinrLls which is a contiad ftioa. A Jaoai u declared ro hav* befo natdc . flor he i«»jtg« of God; aid all GDjioklad arc CM to be mad< afrcr the hme image, in lamts ii» 9, where fpe -.kitg of the loa^^uc he faff, " Thcrexrith bl Is we God cvea the Faiher ; Aod thertfwitli curfa we mea wha arc made after the fimilitttde or image of G:id. Chnft is (aid to be the «xp.* efs ima-;e of Go J, bccaafc he is the fjreat retrcal- cr of hit will, the caoft iiluiliiou?. aud dis^mfied ot hia crcMares ;. aod bccaufe ia him the p* rfe6li0*| of the Father (hlne forrh more esn'ncatly, than 10 any other beisg. But there ia ati exprefs di(lia<5lioR made be- twixi hi(n and thf loviiibie God, vihoff iacnge he 4s faid to be. Ia the teath place* Jcfaj Chrifl is not the moft high God * or the eieraal and fcii exifleat rfeity, be- caafc^ h: U ftyled, Col. i. 15. * The fii it born of cfcry creature.*' and Rct. iii. 14, he ftylcs hitalclf, * The (faithfol and true witnefs the begmiag of the creatioQ of God." t The Greek wardf IPO tes eulabeus, may bf feadercd oa accotwi of hit pietj^ or (fvcreQce oi G'H, ( 69 ) Cod.'* la the fir ft of thcfc pnfraf;cs it is sffirmed of Chrift, that he was born cr product^, which natorally implies, that there was a time when hs did Bot cxift; and alfo that he dcrircd his bciap: or cxiftcncs from an- other. For Do bciog can produce iiftlfj aad no feif- cxiftcQt eternal being can ever be affirmed to be boin at aU. Chrift is alfo here, ranked or coDQprcbtndcd a- niongft the number oi creatcre*, by being (lylcd the firft bora of every creature. Nor is there aey way to avoid this coi:clH[jon ; but by doing tioleacc to th« words of fcripture, and perverting ihcir plain and obvi©u« meaning. Some Trisitatiaa* have marfc aitimpis of this kind, by iufifting thut the words ought to b« ren- dered, *' the fi. ft briDgcr forth of c^vcry creature*. *' hut a learned cotnmcot-tor hrs well fiiewB, the impM-piiety of this tracflarion. f^is words arc as follows- ♦' This pal- ' fage is fairly rendered by our Tracflators, asd iedced * the word is never ofed la any other leufe in the N>w « Teftameut. It is true, that Frototckos is fornd « Jomttioes ufed by profaie aithors in an a^tv* fcole, ' as whci applied to a Dam the firft titnc ftic brings * forth; and accordingly foffl* wruld render th« expicf- * fion hare, ** the firft bringcr forth of every creatutc ; * but it Hjay be queftioncd whether ever tit word is * thus ufed with a geniiirc cafe after it, and cfpcci^^lly ' vith fueh an adjcftivc as all joined with that geai- * tire cafe. Who can fied fueh an cxprtflioi any where » a? tlnti, •* a Dam that is the firft britfger forth of ali * her offspring? '' If the word were h«e to be titkttt * in this feafe, St, Paul'i meaniig muft be exprcfTt^ by « foHie fueh periphrafls as this : •* Chrift is one, who < the firft tiiee he brosght forth any thing, brought « forth every creature; *• which I fgppofe, will hardily < fatisfy any man." f The feccnd pafTajc, in which Chrift ft j Its himfelf, * the beginning of the creation of God,*' confirms the nterpreiation we have give* of the firft! and proves, (hat it is no violation of the hooovr and digaityofovr greait t Mr. Pierce of Exatcr in IocO| ( 70 ) great aaJ excellent maOcr to call him a crestoft; fiica he takes that tiilc to himlelf ; aod freely dcclerei to hit Apoftlc, and beloved and faTOuritc difciplc Johi; that he is a part of the gc«?ral creation of Gud, 1» the clcvcmth place Jrf\i« Chiift is lotthemofl^ fcigh GoUj but a depcnis^t iafnior being brcoofc he U iiii ia Icnptnrc to hare bcca ismptcl of the Di?il.— . Kow the Apoft'e Jaaact ioforms us, ** that God cannot be lempted of cril " The pcrfc^ and infioitc Mature of GoJ, (ct him aboTc all poUibiliiy of icmptaiioii : aod i£ the ioul of Jcfus had been iu pergonal ucion wkli a diriiie agt.Bt, cquii] ;o God the Father, it would be altogether tbfurd to ftippole him to be tempted But we are told by three Evaugtlilli ; thai Jcfiis wai led by the fpirit into the n^id^rncls; that he alight be terapted oi the I>fvil. Sec Mvit. if. i. Matk, i. 12. ar.d Luke, ir. i, •• Bill this temptation canaot be iHppcrcd to hare hap- «' pcacd, if Jelus had been the mofc high God. For, ** fir ft what is tnorc enworthy ot God, thca to cxpofc ** hia^^clf to thif bafe and impious enccay; whu« for *' the contempt of his m.^icfty he had expelled from his •• prcfeice; to peroiit thi» fpirit to lollicil hlao to wor- •* (hip hi.Tj ; and thus to offer himfclf of hij own ac- " cord, 13 be mocked aid inlultid by the D-vil. Again, " (upon the Trioitarian fc'^emc) it may be aiVed. for ** vrhut purpofc fhculd Chrlfl perait an attcaapt of thit " kirjd ? Was it that it might appear, th*t the mod *• high Goi «fa8 able to cadarc and ovcrcoiae the temp- •' tatioas of the Devil ? Was there any oae that could •** eetcrtiin the Icaft doubt of ihli ; fo aj ihit it (hoald •* be ncctflary to make a tryal ot it? Farther, how cast '* wc iMppofe the Devil to uidertikc lo ardious an ca« •* terprizc as this; or to have the Uift hopr of iucccfs •* in it" t There arc fotnc iigeuiotss aLd iearaed per- fons, who foppofe all tbis tryal aid tcmptatioa of Jefas to have been a myderiovi trance or vifioa, and that no ctil belog was concerned in it : aid that the inteirion of this vifiw^D, was to prepare aod itreigthca ths mind of Jcfis t CrclUus dc QAo dco patrf. ( 7' ) J«f8i for the trials and trouble* he wa« to u'a(!f rg/> la the coorfe of his miniOfy, Hut chis eonjef^are o^kei equally agtiiiA the frininnaos : for what occafioQ could HE htve for tciali a«d preparatory cxsrcHcs of aay kiod ; vho wai really aod tioly GcnH, aa : fo complete in ail perfc(f>]cBS tod cxc«l/fidc«, aod abayc the p j/Iibiliry of tatfiptatioQ of asy Klad. But in the twelfth place. Jefus Chrlft i« not the inoft kigh God ; bccir.ft, he if kid in fciiptuic to hz a i*ricfV, and foxnetimcs a high Prieft, Ffah ex 4. ** Tkc Lord liath fworn, aai will cor repeat, ih«u art a Pricft for c»cr tftir the order of Mclchilrdec.^' Hcb. ill. J. 2. ♦* CoaQdcr the Apoftlc and high Priei\ of our pre/itdiot. Chrift Jcfus, wha waj faichiel to hi® ihat app:r placet, Chril^ h«!*- t-^is tit?* gitcn kisa, A grjcat writer fcmarki, ** That the fpUi": of G^d iccmt ** to have iatifsdrd by this appcUiitio*, to pr acy ** one from thinkipig th ^or th« [* forgiveftcfs ( 72 ) '' fargtveirfi of lis : but ha miiiAers tci coftt. kc ofTfrfi >• so none, he iii(cr<:<^fdi tor note, he S)itbcri: for if CfcriH befidcf " the hdinao n&ture, had aHo a divide «^e, k would b« ** neCfJary, that he bo lefe iksn the Father^ fliosld htvc *' ao higk-PiisA aad thii FrieO be hifiiieif; fincc S;9 <' reaio* cai be Hi gat d : that ihe Faiher fh&tildbawfi *' a Pfieft at»d Chrift hafe »ofic, if he be God ts w«ll V as the Father, yea, the (atrc God ifi Dumber Yfith •* him ! But where is there the leafl hint ifi hboly ** fcriftnre, from whcBCC it can be iaferrcd* thH Ckri^ ** hartb an high Pricft as well as the Father, It k evident ** that it is Tcry abford to iasagint, thit the perfoo •f •' Chrift cflR^rs to himfclf. Whtretdre the Piiefthodd of ** Chrifl is cucrly ificonfifkit with the divint B*nif« «» which it luppo^lcd to refjde in hisB.'' f 1 his argtj. MBtivt I? pertfdly cocci uiivc. and dd«rvc« to be ftttcftii«e- ly coefiderecl. For if Chrift had btea God, he cottld Dc»4:t hA?« i«<^^d the pattofLcc, Jcfus ChriA ig not the »oift bi^h CoJi becfluie, he exclaiiLcd duriag hia rufieFicgt upoa t Crcllius dc uio Deo patrc. ( 73 ) Upon the croff, as Milhtw informs ni xxtIi. 46, •* My Gad, my God, why haft tho« forlikcn me>*' Upon the Trinitarian fchcmc, it is abfolutcly impoflible to 'up- pofc Jefus to hare uttered as exeUmaion of this kiod. How covid God Ica?c er forlake Jcfos, when tic was ^s they tell at fo clofcly united to him, as to form oac per- foB with him. Wai the hypoftaiical union difTolvcd at this period ; or was it quiefccut when it had the gresteft rcafoD to exert iticlh Was this exclamation addrcffcd to the fuppolcd diritc taturc of Jefus; or was it ad- drcffcd o the Father. U the former U afTcrtcdjit will prere that Je(us was two perfo'is and not one pcrfon; aid that there was no proper union betwixt the twdfta* tirei at all. If the latter is admitted, it will tollcw, that Jefi» had 10 divine nature of hii own, bccaufe that auft hare fiipponcd him without the afiiihncc of the Fa- ther. There is ao difficulty ia accounting for this upoi Uiitariai principle*. For, although the FathejV fulncfs dwelt in Jeiui; yet that tulncf* tormfcd bo nec^f- iary part of hisbciag; and he might for a ume, and during the agonia of dilTolyiag nature, be deprived of the fenfible experience of ii. U the fourteenth place, Jcfus Chrift is not ths moft high God ; but a dependent inferior being, bscaufe, ke declares that he had cot the difpofal of the higheft pUces in bis own mediatioriai kingdom. Mat. xx- 23. •* I o fit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but (it {h< to aad is lubjc£t K 19 ( 75 ) to God; yfhcn Yt is faid to be God'« whieh coocIiJes the grafcd and wignificcBt cliejax cf the Apoftle. Ad4 «poD ibis the hcpe sad kcurity of chriftiaoj is foDcdcdi la coiiitqucnce ot bticg ChriH'» they belong to God, and sre i2ndt.r ihc protc^Hoa aaa guardiaslhip ot hisonoipo- tec irm, in rhcfiX/CfDlb pice Jd»9. Chrift is fitot the moft high God; b«t a bc'ng iorcjior it* him, a»d deprfideot upon him, b? * i'lic it is llroDi_'ly, rcpcflUdiy, ar d aott cm? ph^tJcaliy uffiina*-!! in krip^»rc, that God (h^^ Father raif- «d him from the dtd4. -a^U, \\, 34. *• Wh^ai OfaO God ha'h rai(td np, havifig looM the pains of death." Aits, ii. 32, ** Th:s Jcfuij hith Gvid raiffe^ up «fb€r€o£ we ail are wi:ncfi«Ji." A<5ts iii. 26. ** Unro yoa firft, God havii-'g railed tjp his Sen Jcfus, f««t hioa to hkis you, in tMTBiEg away every oac ot y*>o froi» feis ifijquiiies*^ Afts, xiii. 32 33 34. '* Afid wc c'eclaic «Bto yoQ glad tidiftgf, how that the promilc which was made unto the Father?, God harh fulfilled thclame uctoas their chi)d- reii, iy th*t he bath taifcd up JfiBS rgaia; as it i« alfo written ia rh« kcond 1 ia!», thoa art eay Son this day. have I begottca thee, Aod as cOnteiBiBg thst he raif- ed him upjrtjjn the dead, r^ w do raore to returc tQ corrtopiion, he f^id ou this wiJc, 1 wjll gre jon \\ie ittre »tfd«s or Di'Tid/' Ver 37. ** But, he whom God raifed op sgaisi faw do ctrruj tio3," Gal i i. *' Paul IQ Apolile (not ot mea, D«i?her by man, b»t by J«ias Chfii^ aind God ihc Father, who ui.td hioa from tht detd:"*'; &c. t.p">. i. iS 19. 20, Thaj ye way knjv/ what is the exctvding gtta ncTi of fci» p« v,£r ,v;z the power oi God the taihti oj whf>HB thc.^poftle had b-ea IpeakiDg bc;oie> to »s wa-^d who b;ii*.ve, accorc'lDg to lh«w.;ikiiig of hi« »:ghty p^vrtt ; wi ich he wro»|^ht in Cluifl wheB.hei^ilevI hJTra t om the dead, and t faid in isripiu'C to h^vc bceo q lickeutd by thz fp'rit; b«t t^at oaiy deletes t^c vDi,.'h'y .*• ik-n^ 4)f th€ Father's pow«r, which wis empioyefl io effl*5>ia2 hl» refurrc^lioB. Wc h vc b«rr a giett collr^^io?) ot «cm- mcaics fro3i iafpired wiit^r?, all wi'h cue voice dtci*riu«jf, th.t God, or ii?c Father, rtiici^ Chrift ^roja rhe dc^J« The a«:iiors of fcripr \rr, h4?€ cafofCcd ihii ioiaor- tsDt truth, with all the vijiciy aad tn^gy of exprcifioa, aod have declared, that if wc coefeis svith o'tr laout^g the Lord J f«s, and b.lieft thik ffiadancotal articU Conc^rQiBjg; him, wc (hall be UVed. They hivc declare J, thit he was raifed iroa th-* dead by ikc glorious power of the Farhcr; aad that God the Father gafe niffl glory, that oar faith and hope might be ia God. The icl«r- r«6biatt of Chrift is reprcrcctsd by thear- rcdlio/j by hit o-va power, j >ha, ii. 19-21. ** '^trtr >y this temple, and ia three days I will laifc it up. He Ip^ke of the temp'c of his body,'* John, x 18. * Nj muA taketh (nay life) trim me, b'lt I lay it down of tfiy- h\i : I haT« power to lay it d wa, aoi I hav« po^rsi to tak« it aga'o. This co omaid neat ha?? \ receive '• ot «»y F-ifhT. Thit liii ci'rati >o ex laias iT if, ana th« p'^;- isding, Cbrift j^ccfifcd fwa ihc f a^^hir, ticoar^-u fflWts { 77 ) »cnt, a promife, a certain afiur-'nce, that he fhculd be railed fiom the dead, by the exertion of the Father's glorious and irrefiftiblc power. On this account his hca'i rejoices, his topgue is glad, and his flafti rcfts IQ hope He knew that Gad wuali dqi iafFcr him lo re- naaiB ia the ftate of the dead; nor peraait his holy one to fee corropilon, and therefore ia his ceafcreaccs with the Jf w». he Ipeaks ot his rcfurrtOion, as a thing altoga'her IB his owu power, becaufe, he knew it mu'A iatvitably came to pafs. Previctts to our Lord's relurrcftioo, ao Aa- f el is diiparchcd from heaven to roll away th« ftooe from hi? It'po'chre, and as it were to iflicr our g*eat maft^r into ihc woild as«inj and to coB2?a»»late him tpoi his reHorstiou to life Aod thli conridfratiott would tcB«l gicatly to coRfirm the notion, that ottr Lord was qtsitc paffivc in hi« own refsrrcflioa, it t ta(5t «bat is (o ottcn «Dd {o plainly tfTc I ted ia fcripture, flood ia aecd of any cotfiriDatlon And did our Lord Jcfos Chrift die, aoi ttras he raiit-d from the dead, by the mighty workieg of the Father's power? If that was the cafe, then, it fol- lows piaicly and uodeniably, that he was aot God ; cor equal with that God, with whom there is do VAriabliCDefs, neither fhadow of turaiag, whcfe eternal and unchangea- ble satcrf caaoot btfubj^^ to paiOi difeafc or dcatkj It is a raia and fallaciotis eradun to talk of the fuppoled divine nature o^ Chrift is this caic. For why is not hlf refurred^ioQ attriboted to thi« diricc aaturf in fcripture ? "Why is it act faid that God the Son railed Chrift from the dead, a$ well as God the Father ? If fach a divint catttre had really exifted, and had b<«n hypoftatically waited to jefus, that aatsrc oaly, was the proper ageat to have raifad him from the dead, and tjierc woold have been no neceility for the workiag of the i^ath«r't mighty power, whereby he wrooght in Chrift, aad cffe owb msdia'orul kiB^dom: frea his ha?« iu^ a God, a heid, ct fopcrior; and troiti hii being de- clared to ba. the pcfLfljon or properiy or God- and hit 'A fill^ fr-iia iti OHiiig fo repc4t«'.1Iy j»ad eojphaucall^ arti.med in (criptwrs, tnat he was raiftd frocn th« deid bv God o» the Fufhtr. We hav* Oill lotne cog'*Dt »q4 Hciking argumtBts to advascc on ibis pa«t of our Ub< jcf\. But before wo pri4Qce the«B, it othorti os to coofidcr more puitieiiUrly the fu^tpoiei diitinfflon of ButUKf^ ( 81 ) ittturtt, «rhich t>!e Triiitirians iffirm to have been la Jtlts Chrift; «nd v^hcrewirh they tndcttour to inva- lidaifc the force of cur prooff j and evade the iJrength cf our argumcDts, Mrhicb oiherwife would be irrefifti- ble. ]t is true, this Botioo ii abiurd and cootradidbory Id itltU : and in ocr lafV dlicourfc wc faid enough to dil- credit it. ia the judgement of any ienfible and eoefider- att perfoD. Bvt as our oppcMcnts have recjorfe to it, CO ail occafiois* a^ their laA refuge, it icems neccfTary to cokfidei it more d:ftiL6lly, and to (hew that it his no Dioie tonDdatioQ iB (cripturt than iu the nature and rea- {on cf things : btst is n^crcty an aflumed arbitrary hypo/ tbciife; a groundlelf aid uowarrantable difliii(flioo, invea- tcu to fvpport an oihcrwife iidcfeufible caufe; aid vrhich itantiiely UBauthoiizcd by the original records of cur religii^Q. Msny of the ancieBts, in the Qrd and Uo od ceblUiics of the cl rldiaB church, had a diffeteat n^ethod of cysfidering the lature of Bsan ; from wSaaC Vie have at prcfeat. They fuppoled hi}n)ftfi nature to be diviiJed into three parts, viz, IhePNEUMA or Kous; the fpif ! or rational and divine part; the Fsuchej the loul or (enfiiive prrt; and the Soma or Sarx, the body, or flcfhly part. JnftiB Martyr naakes exprefs menrioB ot ihcfe three part&, as does Iici.ifus, Tatian, and Atbcnaeoras alii),aBd ^ielito wrote a bock concerning the loul, body and fpirit which is now loll. Ihetc is even a plain allofioB to this ancient divificn of man, in the word ot Cad itfeU i Thef, T. 13. ** And the very God of peace laB6lify you vhoily; and 1 pray God your whole fpirit, and foul, and body, be prclerved blaojelefs nato the canaicg ot our Lord Jeius Chiift.^' The modern divifioa of man is difiPercut froni this. We do Bot uinaUy diHiiiguiib be- twixt the (onl snd the fpirit, as the ancients did ; bat conGder then as one and the feme. Human nature according to the modern ideas of it (which moft general- ly prevail) ccnfifts oaly ot a Dsatsrial bo n or 'huught : and ths ctber parts at iocapable ot it. Sj thar this d.fRuDce betwixt the aocitDts and modeiDS in regard to the natu.eof mao, is more a dilTerecce in woi'^s than io the realty vf the thitg. The I ri;r.tiri:!us Lffir.n, that our Lord J(.|us Chjiit had ihe compltat liutrao nature, a bc.dy Inch as curs compotcd ot fi Ih arid b.o .d, and a rational foul like ours alfo: and that btli^'es ihcle he had tte lecond pef/D of the I risity, who fiy they ij> God the Son equal with hn Ta her, hypoflaticaHy or perfooally unit- ed to tlie hum.in foui r and cun'tqueinly incarnste ia iht hun3;5n bo 'y as well as the f u ; aod that ihcle two natures m ke one peif-o in Chuil 1 his is the very net on which the Ath^nafun c»eed ioculcalesj and which ha'^ been ad pied as to the (ubfhncc ot it. by all Triaitarians in general. 1 fhail therelore q lOte the words cf that ceed; as giving a juft accornt oi- the opinion 1 inccad to oppofe. •* t ur hermo e, ir is nccef- ** Tsry to everlading falvatlon : that he alio bt'i.Vi ri^^lit- *• ly the infarnation of car Lord Jefus Chrifl. Kor the *• right faith is, that we believe audconfefs, rhjt our L^'^rd *• Jcfus Chrilt, the Son of God, is God and iVIaa : Goi of *» the fubnanct: of the Father, begotten btfcre the workUj ** and Man of the fubGancc of his Mother, bcrn iu the *• world ; perfeft Gcd, and p^rfeff Man, of a rtali»'>able «* foul, and human fleh fubfifting ; equal to the F thcr, **as touching his Godhead ; and inferior to the Father, ** as touching his Manhood. Who all^^ongh he be Cod " and and Man : yet he is not two, but one v hrift ; one ; •' net by conveifion of the Godhead into fl fli : bu: by *' taking of the Manhood into God j gae altogether, not •• by coLifufion of lubftancs ; but by unity of perfji. *• For as the reafonablc foul and fl:;fh is one man ; Io G )d ** find Man Is one Chriil." bo tar the creed cooimon'y iho' erroneoufly afcribtd to Athanafjus. The rcalani -^ of this ciecd mny perhaps b2 aimircd by thole, who L learn ( 83 ) leiro their reVtgion by rote; and never think at all opoa the coniequeoces of what they affirm. But it requires vr ry liitle natural iogic, to perceive a firing of coorradifl^ons and inconfiflencies f illosviiig orc aco'hcr in this qnota- lion ; and rcndcriog it incap-^ble ot bcii^^ *' 1 he .ight *' iaith is (l-^ys this unkpoHn writer) ibst we beUcvc aod " contels that our LoiU J- lus Chri!!, th^ Son of Gcd, is «• God and Man; God of tht iubPianccot the Father, begot- *' ten b-iorcthc wcrkU,, aod Mto of the fubftaucc of his *< Mother, born in the world, &c.'* We have already fuf- ficiearly cunfuted the r»oilutj o[ jcfos Chtift beiag be- gotten ot the Father's tinfoce or lubl^aBcc ; and bting called the Sod of God od that account. We (hall now fliew, that ahhoagh luth ^.Q tteroal and cooiubf^aatial Son of God equal with the Father really cxiiied j yet, it IS utterly impofTible, that acy hypoOatical or pcrlocal union, could take plnce betwixt bin and a Man. For CO cocfifteat Trinitarian can deny, that the fccond per* Ton cf iheir luppofed Irioity, it a real perfon, cr agent, difiiaft from the Father and the Huly Ghi)ft. Nor can it be fairly denied, that a man confifliug cf a body, and a foul or iatelligcot thinklDg pricclple. is alio a real perfon or a^eot Froaa this flaie of the cafs which is a clear and juft one, it certainly follow?, that our Lord jefas Chrift h two per Ions, which is the very opinioa of Ncllorius coodeinaed by the Trinitarians ihemfeUcs i but u'.jofliy. for it is the natural confcq acnes of their p.inciples. Nor cka they dcapc this difHculty, unkls they wiil afhrm wiih Eutychcs, that the human sature was ablorbed or {"wallowed up in the divine; fa as to be no kcger difVin- gaifhable. But the Trinitarians haTc all3 condemned this opinion as hcfeiical: and t.ll us cxprcsily, that v-«ur Lord Jclus Chrifl is both God and Man, in two diflinft natures, and ooe pcrloa for ever. They muft thcrstors have rccourle in this, as well as in other perplexing difficulties, to their eveibfticg friend Mystery; and covered with this impenetrable ihlcld, they ioaagiae ihetn- fclvcs fccurc fiom every attack, liut by Eaaiutaicicg this { 84 ) this abfurd opinicn vrhich ihcy are enable to dcfcoi, they coafound ail the natures aaJ diilliK^bns of things, jind inrrodyce ^ total coaialioa iaio our Ideas j aod in parfaiDg this argument, wc caa reduce th^m to the nc- ccility of affi naiap, that the haaiao fc ul a.id body of our Lord Jefus Chrift did nOc coDlli'.cti a ptrfoa ia him, althongh it dotS fo in c^e y iad viJ ul Maa and Woman, that U b^ro into the world befides. But to rcrura to the creed wc hire qaoicd T! c author pro- ceeds to afH m Jp^akiDg of Ch. iV '* Wh* alinongh he •* ba God aod Man ". yet he is not tw'O, but on? Chnll; •' One; not by conveTion of the Gcdhctdiato fl (h '. but *' by taking f the M .uhood into God; One altogether; ** Dot by c ;nftdion of lobllAOCc' but by unity oF pcjfon. *• For as the rcaf.nable ion! ind fl ili is ons rcan : (o Gcd *' and Man h o .e Cf.rift " The author here Attenapts to »cc not for the fuppo'e ! union '.)f the divine and hamaa natures io Joiu> Chrilt; b/ Cusipa in^ it to the unioi of the fuui an 1 b'jdjf. Bat ih.s is cot a ]ii(k and fair cofloparilon. Fr the uaioa of a foul wrh a body, ac- co'diag to he c 'mm :n th oty of huDSn nituc) is only an tir.ioa berwix' two fMiie things; (Tcry difFcrcQt and oppofi^c iadrad b')t (liii fioite) >^hich niajr be fuppofed C3 tatce place by the p 'Wer oi God; and to be prcfcrved and coatinaed by rd perpetual agency. Bat a pcrfona! union bctwixi Goi and man u aa union o'- conj inii g *,[ne his div.oc attribute? and heavenly £lori s, he c nv(£\eiJ hiLnftl' in^o a Vi,p,iu'3 woiBb, and vfas be rn oi biuu^jht fjth as other infants asc'. that Mary was the motner ot Cod: thai the luprenr^c bticg was once a w.ak tender and heptl^ child, ftjck'ed ^t \hc brtart, d.nd!ed on the kntcs noni .{hcd fed a« d brctght up by the taie; and CKfntd stout in the a ms ot a WLUu.n : thut ihe it'piCtie \crg intu^fe.^ Jo wiif^om ar.d ft:aure ; Slid in la-our with God acd Maa : that he applied hlai- felt U' a carpf nttr s T radc, unccr the dir((fli'-n ot his fu|p( led Father until he Was thirty years of apc^ thai tl tn be was anrjnt. d uith the bpiril wiihout n:c:^rnrc, entered upon his Min ftry» ^nd per^orooed iiicnv oira- c!ts. acfl de!'vried rraay c^> Onu^^ to M.^rkitd: that he me w ih n:Lch tnublc^ jiffl<51ioD, aisd opp fnion in the uoitci; and at laft ended hh d ys ob ihecjilsj that t^t God of catorc died, and was buried, and was railed a^ain tiom the dead nd highly lev/aic'cd and <-xalt-d ia heaveii, by ano her God cr divine p rloc equal to him- fcif, V\hat HiCckin^ Idfai are ihclt ! Does nut eveiy ci>n- fi'.Utate pej(on tee! his nr/ind jccoil at tfc pernlal ri thtiii? "ict there h nothing tcrctd cr ix^ggeraitd in this pic- ture It IS the natural conieq'ier.ces oi a real and prop r JncamsticD ol the Deity And it the 1 riuiiariani. deay this to be a juft repfcftntation of their cpiuion ; aod pietend that notv^ ithOanding the pcrfonal uni. n, their licond divine pcrfoa dill letaiecd the proper aiiiibulcs of Deity ; and ihat God is laid to be man sr>d nr.an to be (-od only by a comoQUnic^iioQ ot loicms; thai is figurafivciy and impro|.eily, then, the wiu>le bnfTiQels of iht Iccar- n^tioii will van fli into a figuie ot fpetch; and Jttus Chrirt will not be God ejpon their icheiTie, any Oiorc than he is io upon the Lritirian. He will oj»ly be a creature, gtJided, dirtfted, ii.fl»;enced and if fpirtd, by God the Sv^n, iq the fame manner as the Unit.uiaDs lup- pofe him to be, by God the Fa: her. And thus Hie Trinitarians wj.l be fonnd to have broken the fiift com- maadmcnt, aad lo have caadc more Gcdi; ihaa oce, wjth- out ( 86 ) out even gaining thtir favonritc po'mt of niakinff J<;fus Chdtt to be oud. Hut uga.ii the AthaDafian co»iparjlao of fhc unioii ot the two natures lo Jefas Chnft, to that of the iool anJ b> d\ in msc wi i be to nd tobc de' (Slivcin an- othti Fv-ip. <5t For a^ an Uaitaiiin writer juftly obiervcs, *' ibt Union of the IjuI and bo'y m.iy be properly " peri( i.al, to it is, may couftiiuic or make one pcr- ** ion; b cau'.c i n noi the: union ot two peifons, but *' only ' f one prion (the f-ul) to a thing othcrwils «* without lite, lealoa, mctBi-ry or trtc will. The «• bjdy i^ but as it Wtrc th« garmcut of the foul, anj ** IS vihol y aifted b> it. ani oci.cDdiog on it. But ia *• the pittiuded uiiioo ot Goj wi h Mjb, there arc two *♦ dift u6t and v:ry ditfcrcni lives, rcalons, ctcmoiies, •* aid free Willi; : wrich uttdlv dtO oy a ptrhnal Ufti« «• oa ; { i thailupp'Ivs but one Ite, oat reaion, one *• iiiemorv, oocfrec-wiii ; for if thcic th ngs which con- ** Oitutc a p:rfon ; arc toanj m 'tc than once, thciC is •• u , longer nne pc^fo'i, bu' two, ana conleq3cn;ly ro ** pcrion.:! uni n m the fen e of which \*a arc lpeakii;{{," ^ 7 he e is another ablurdicy, which it may b proper hc;e to t .ke ! o;ice of, that atunds? the btl ef of God the Son the fcc »nd pcrlOQ oJ the Tjinity being 'ncarnate, faccord- ing li the tyittm ot our opp«)ncars> aad that it derived ffvyui ihcir vc y boIjoq ot the riinity iifclt. The Fa- ther § ^n errioeni prelate, whofe excellent moral fermoas I adifiirej but whole Ipfculaiivc priLciplcs I can-jot a- dor't, has enUcavoared to elucidate the luppofed exiil- crkcc of the two natures in Jcius Cliriil, by cuajparing it to ih^- bnioa of the body and (oul, in like manner as the A h.n.iian ciecd cioes But the coafidcrations and ar- ganicnrs* iuggcilei above arc lyfficicni to refute what he haj. advanced. How un\*'oithy is it oflopre.t a mao, tu btiakc hioifcU to the ilalc device of myftcry oa ths ftiij 61 uf the mcaroaiion : a re.isgc which he will not all w lO the Rutiiaa Catho ics ; b-Jt whicn they have aa cquil rit^ht t' claim, on the fubj:.<5t cf rranlubOaDiiatioa, be. ibp. liiioiioa^i Icraaoas oa the Xrinity and incar- D^iiic". ( S7 ) ther. Son, and Holy Ghoft, are Cay ibry^ three perfin!?, all exidiag t jgjther in one individual or nu^nncrical cf. fence ; which is iocipible o*^ divifua or fcparation Aod yet Qoiwithftaa iiag rhey a(fi':-a \r\\h atnuzi g inconrifl- tacy, that one of thcfe p:.rloas, v'z. the lecond wis ia- Ciroitc, whib the firft aad third wire cot. No'-v no- thiQg can be plainer or R:;ore ccrrjio, t! aa that if the Father, Soa» aa 1 Holy c;hoiV h:\vz the ra?ae rumeriCi:! cfTiajc; that ei;h.r a'l ihe three mud have been incar- nate or none of thsm po bly coald be lo. This is ai aryunent that lit* open to every oae's capicity. who wiil but open his eyes sud acktiowlcdgy the force cf trarh snd B it laff.r himfi'lf to be dsludcd, aad eftr inured fro;n thi finrjplicity of the faith, by gi^iog a bind and implicit afTenl to chimerical fchcmes of religion. The force of thi? argument wa» fo great, as to drive one ^'riuitaiija to the nctffiiy of ifB-minr^, that the wiiole Trinicy vv.s incarnate in jcfus ChriQj aad has obliged others wha were indin.d ta a^opt ihc modal or labelllaa fyftem, ti be inc nfir^cnt with thcmf Ivcs, and to tura FritUciftj in fpcakiug of the incarnation. la regard to fcriptare evidence for the exiftcnce of two fvarures in Jefus Chrift the Trinitarians can pro- duce nothing that is at a'l to the parpofc. Oat Lord fpeaks ot hi nfelf, and the icriptuffis uniformly defcribe hiia, as one fingic mind cr agtnt, afting in pcr'e;rdic2 tohumia nature; but according toc-sroal d-fcent. Tnc Jews were St Paul's kialmea ac- cording to caraal defceat, but they were aoc his fpirirual religious kinioica. In like manner Jtfos Ch.jfl was of the Jcv/s, and delcecded freca David in regard to the flsfh he tcolc o* the V.rgln ; bui with rr;rpc(fl (o bi» origtoa- tion by ilic power oi God, and his co:iJl-crattv>a to the Mcfiiihih-p by the tffwfioi of the fpitit, he is tobs C03- fiJcrcd as the Son of God, and of a hcavenlf cxtraftioa and oiigiaal ; aad was more fully conftit'Jied ia thiv of- fice, and acquire da new title to it by his rcfurrcftioa from the dcud. This p-ifT/'gc of iheiponic J3hn i. 14. *• The Word wag made Pie(h itiad dwelt aaioDg us *' is a lo focuc* li;iics ufc*d as an argujucai, lo prove the cxifteacc of tw» D tuics iQ Chrid But the .-Spofllt's words convey nt iuch Idea. For if the Logos cr wo:d here mtntionei mtzn% / ( 89 ) ineinf aperfoo, they only denote that thit pcrfon '/Timed flcfh or a body, and bfcame himfelf the ioul lA t ; aoJ it it dots not rorao a pcrlen bnt an attribute cr p optrty, they figcifie that the Reafcn or vifdomofthe Father dv»*clt in Jcfus Chiift. Both iheie intcrprctafioni «»« equally hoOilc to tt-c fchcirc of two naturts ; ad cue of them muft be the fcnfc rf the pafTagc. We fhali nov/ Join tip all wc hivc (aid conceruiog this erroneous (yi- tcm, is the einphatical words of an cmiii nt a<*vocate for the caufc ot truth. ** It is a thing in itlclf utterly iaa- •• poi^ ble, that a being fhonld be G^-^d and Mao ; creator •* and creature; felt cx'ftent, eternal, iDdepeadcn% and «* limited, dependent, anr h.Ying beginning of txiftencc, **at the fame time; omuiicieat andomnip; ttn% and yet •* ignorant and wc k. 1 hde things are not compatible ; ** we fhooid be (hocked at their ab urdity, if they were •* not inftilled in'o is before we begin to make nle of ** our reafon, and if maRy were not afterwards afraid "to make ufe cf it about them; fufTeiing thcta- **fe]vesto bediizzlcdby great nnmes isnd authorities, *♦ and impofcd upon by high antiquity, ^hich can give no " prelcripticn tov-hat is unjnttlligible and iaapofliblc. la "(hort, this dodlnne rf Chiift beiag pofTeflcd of two na- *' tures, is the fiiTfion of ingenious men, dctsrmined at all ** eventi to btlieve Chtift tc be a fifFercnt bting from •what he rraily was, aad uniforcily declared himfelf to •* be ; by which they ioive fuch difficulties cf fcripture as *' they caoDOt oihetwife j^ct over, and endeavour to prove ** him to he the n-cfl 1 srh c od, in fpite of his own moft «*exprefs and conflant diclainiccs to the contrary. And «< as ih(?re is no rcafoning, with fuch pctfons, they are to ** be C'jnfidercd ind pitied, as btiug under a dtbi'ity of •• ir.icd in this relptft, however (ecfibk ai}d ratioual ia •' all otheis." f Fnt 10 return from this long dlgrcfTun concerning thcfe fuppoled two natures. Jciui Chrift is cot the moft h'gh God ; or God in the prcper and fub!in)c Itole of that word, bccaufe, he wants iht pcrft-ffiou of fupreme and t MrLind/ey's Catecl ift^ page 27 ( 90 ) acJ abfolufff goadnefs which is efTcntial to the Deity^ Mat. XIX, 1 6. 17. ** And behold, out cams and faid uotj hiaa good maft-r, wh .t good thing ihall 1 do th .t 1 m^y hit'eetCTnAl ii:e. And he f^id untj hl.TH, why call, rt thou ni« g'jo] ? There is n nc good but one ih t is G0.1." Ht-re we find our Saviour, aithou. h a pe^fon of tne tnofl anaiabL Rni ipoiiefs chaiacler, retufing tJic title of good niAftcr. jt taty (ccoi Orange it fiiik, that our Lord fli >uld lejcct an app:.lUiion uf this kind. The pcifon who gave it, probabiy intended nothing more by it, but a frien-Jly faiumion, in tcftimony of his rtYerencc and refp.cfl for our baviour's perfjQ aod eEQiQenl woith. Bat Jefui who (oii^^ht cot his owu glory, but the glory of hiai th t ffat bim declares, that there is none good but ODe, tha: is God. He was fenfibic that pur« noroixed goodocfj m the high'.. ft pcrfcdioQ; could oaly refide ia the fopreoQs btiag. who a'oBc is fovcreignly aod com- pletely {j; and therefore afcribts the glory of thij at- tribute to him only, ia its full ex cnt. This ftrongly iadicates to u?, that Jcl'us is B®t to b« confidered as God, or eqisl With that God, who U good unto all. and whofc tenicr msrcici arc over all his works. Fur in that cafe, why ftjould he rtfufc a title that juftly beloeg- cd to him ia the highcft fenlc ? Some Trinirarians h/ive cndewourcd to give a ftraagc turn to thcf« words of Chriit ; a^ if he intcided by ihem to afk the perfoa wno a-idreiFed hia, •• lecinjf5 you do not take: tne for God as I leally aoa, aad pofTcffiog goodncfs in the higheft de- gree, why do yott call me good mafttr at all." bat t^era is noihiag ia the context to warrant fuch a conj (fture. For our Lord declares, that their is none good but (h^js as it is in the Greek) one parfoo, that is God ; which ovie perfoB ean be no o'hcr thaa the Father, wh« nlonc is »he oae God of ChrilHans. But if Chrid is God, it would BOt be true that one perfoa alone is (upremt^ly geod ; fince two ©r Bore pcrf^as would have an equal claina to this attribute. Many attempts have bsen made by oui opponents, by forced and unnatural criticihas, to explaifl away the obvious meaning of our Lord's words ( 9« ) an thl« palfagc ; as if they might be rcndertd frqti the original thus. Tkcrc is Bone go /d but God of>ly, or iher« is DOBS good EI ME HE1SH3 Theos but i he one God. Bttt althoiii»h this tr^nihtioa would do do h«it to car anic ; and coald nor fervc that oi our oppoacnrs in i)t9 leaft : (for the occ God is :he Tather as we h«vc felly proved ;) yft it is ncD fiary r© obftrve that it is not a- greeab'C to th« gsnius of tfce Greek langiagc to trnnf- jsofe tfce wordii as Jhey are above; and to f..lacc the arti- cle between the adjcdtivti and th« iubfiantift; and fo this tranflarioB cafi»r>t be adiDitied.. Upon the wb»>l«; it is abcndactly ck ar, that this glvidotss attribute vf boand- Icfs and unliiRited gooducfs docs not bel-JBg to our Lo>d lefufi Chrift ; and that therefore he rou^i be cflea- tiaiiy d.fF«;icnt Uom that ncoft high Gcd, iq whofe na- ture it refiJea, and who in coafequcnsc ofir imparts joy and happiuiis to the v/hule cr«a{ion 1q tt-je eighteenth place, Jefus Chrift is not the moft bjgh God J or the fspicicc, ort)Qiporcnt bciog, btcaofe, he declares la expjcis and p.>fi;lT£ icnr.J, that there is cae greater than hiffifelf. Joha xiv, 28 *' Ysi have hc2ii how i h\.i uQ\o yon, 1 go away, scd Gcm? sgaia jinto yoa. If ye loved rae. ye would rejoice, becficfc I bli, I go issto the Father : for my Father is greater lha» 1." Now wc are pcrfe lay, that Jefai Chrill ipc^ks here ac« c«)ikiing u> his hutBda aatsie: bH^ ih^i- hs was Bot- wltriftan :io^ equal to th« Faihcr itt his divine nxrurc. We hart before ih-wa, that i «rc is no evidence for tht fx Avocc ot ihciii iwa fuppol'd i>at«rcs io Chrift; aai th«r«forc there i« no room for a fubtcrfagt ot thii kind. But even liipp ill g or a mo nejit, that two tuch natiirc:$ had txilUd : vet as they arc iai i to farm one perloa ia Chrift, the P^on inn I iacluies ihem bath; aid proves that Cnrilt wai ia ri »' m b /th Q.;tar«s to the Father* For it is iatoUra'vic p f-varicatiia ia our adrerfaries to jifHrra that Chrift ip« ks foin^^oses according to his (uppofcd aa cature; biit yet i know aod *' can do all Ma^^ffirted, and aaa tha chief g- od in my ** divine nat«r«, which alTa is nioit propTly mykif, •* Ihs vaoify o^ whc*^ iub erfuge, I initnd novr to *• lay cp«B, by (btwing h^w abfardly this diflindiGft •* «f the two natures is pr4teaif:d, to take off the ** force cf luch expicili os troro ChriiVt own Oiouih^ ^* whic^i IB thcU uuttsal and uadilguif^d «* prociaira his inferiority to Govl, cvj-a rh^ Faife«r. Aq4 *' I (hail dwdl the more upon this, bec^ufe it is the molt ** popoi r Md c >in can potat as to^ in «♦ any oJ thtfe difccaries of Chnft. Why lliould tnci ** dcv'ik or icoavTiae for hina fech a llraage, aad lee.niag- ** ly dccfittsl way of ipe -king from D'> grouad, nor ** ncctffi y, othci ihm ;hat oJ ttpholdiiig tii«lr owo pre- •* carious opiaioii ? Bet i have itveral rcmaiks to tcake «* upuo ihi. eoaoflnoR snlwtr ** I rhat vvh^ch \a the f\r(i pU€« I ha^e to obje£fe " agaiaft it it, thitowr bltlled Lord JvJa^ Chrilt, it hini- ^' U\i was the (a^itiste Gcd in Any nature of his ova, couli acnt, without koowing the prccife day and horn when that event fhould h^pptn. An i tho' all things are laid be delivered to Chrift of the F&liicr ; yet ihelc general cxprefiions, admif of- exc^pr;on« : for chridiasj arc faid to have an tiafiloa troaa the holy cse, tud to koow all things; a»d the Knowledge of the day o^ judgcaieat ii particularly excepted by oar Loid hiinfelt. The par- able where our Lord is rpprcicntei, as conaiag in an hjur whca the iervans lookrth not for him, aod is oot aware «f, is not to the parpolc. Oar Lord might koow that he (hottld come untxpcftcdly upon many ; although he m u^i 1(119 w th« prccife ticas oi his co£oieig. I( ( 96 ) *» c^nU tot haVf fa'M fach things, X! I coaceWt, lO ity •* coiififttocy with trujh and llacer'ny, (which he alway» •* maiatai' eU fl>i6llyj ht could Boi Uj hiojleir could not «' *]o, or ditil n-^t know tht thing, which all this while '* hiail..li couli do, and did know ?«fy wtll, at to be ** fure if he was the fus^rcEis God, he coold aaddid; ** for this wsrc to raaks ha fjsy whai is moft faife, aad •« to €qaiv..ca!c ia trie aj ft dcctitfu! ajaiiaer : for tko' " we fhoti'i Tu'ppufc he coufiltcd ttt two iafiaitely dif- *« tsnt nita.ci, a^id lo had t^ro capadrits of koowlcdgc, ** &c. Yfit fincc nijiIeU indu::cs them boih, it fallows^ •* that the dc: yiac^ a thing ot hiajielf ia -*bfi>lat« lerins, •* without aor iioiiiarioa in the Words or other obnoas *• circuoi?!. ncec, dots plainly imp'y a denial of its b«- loagiag t:) aay part oi hii pcrJati, ©r any nature m it. For tha' -j?* laay afSrra a thiag of a pcrf^a which *' btlongB OBly to a part of hi n; as i may propctly Uj ** a mau is ^ca'id&d or hurt; tho* k b« only ia OQcmim- •* ber, loppo^c aa arm T yet f cKioot fay a mao is not *' wottodsd, bccatife tho' ona ajM be ihot or wjanded^ «' yet the o»h^r is whjle.'* *• For iciftaace, I hare two orginf of fight, two cyeJ» •* Naw fappofc I eoarerie with a mao with oae eye *• iliat and th« other opca ; if bs;ing aflced whether I *« faw him, I (ixouli ds»rc to i-ij I iaw him not C^ith- *« ost *uy liraitafion) ffics^ning to jMylclf, that I faW *< hiiB Eot with the eye which v/m fiu^t, tho' ftill I faw *♦ hina WfiU CDough with ths eye which waj opcDj " 1 fear I (hoHld bear the rcproacli of a liar aad di- • caivcr, noiwitht\iQdi8g lach a racatal refcrration at •* io ac wottld tttrlbate 10 tht holy jefus. Fur kaow- *' )tdg« li the eye of the p«r(on ; Jtfas Chrift is fup- *'• p >1 stU ta have two of thefe kuowing capacities i the ** one w«iik, the other firoag acd pisrciag. that dif- *• cerns all things. New as fach ao oae, the tfifciples *' repair to him ani a(k h.na, whca tJie end of the world *' and ti»e of his comicg (hall be. He aafwcrs thetn, •• by giving thea fonoe general account of the matrcr, *J but lays that the part\ca!ar day »ad h3':r he kicw " not ( 97 ) « not, «or did any know hot the Father, meanicg (fay *» my oppoicrs) thit he knew it not with his huinaa «» ktowlcdge, iho' he kaew it well enough with his divia*^ •* at the fame time that he faid the Son knows it fit, ** ablolutclv aud iadcfinitely. And yet it Jefus Ch^ift " ha-l a dirinc knowledge and Dature, no dottbi his «• difciplet (who if any body, mufl be luppoied to btli' ve •« it) (Jircftcd the queflioo to that, raiher than to the «* imperffedl huraaa capacity; and yet in anfwer ro it '« he layi, he knew not the day, which would not b« <« counted fiicerity or tra?h in mca, much lefs wa* Jefus «< Chrift ID danger of it, in his mouth bo gailc was ; «« let us not impute it- to him. That you may fee this «* is fair rcalbniig hear how fome of the other file own •« it, when out of the heat of this controverfy. Sec i-r <« Stiliiagdeet's fermon on Math x 16 fpeaking of the «« cquivocatioDS of popifli priefts, whofc coiitB.>a an- f fwcr, when examiaed about what they have known by <« confcifiott, is, that they know it cot, which they thiok •I to vindicate from the charge of lying by faying that ** in confcilon, the PricfV knows matters as God, not << as man, isd therefore he denies ro koow them, meaa- (( ing it as man. But fays the Do61or, this is abfurd ; «( becaufe to lay he docs not know, is as msch as to fay «« he doth not any way know. Now if this hz a good «• anfwer againft the papifli, as no doiibt it h^ then lure •« it is lo in the pr«fcnt cafe. Therefore when Chrift « fays he knows not the day of Judgemear, it is as muck « as to fay he does not any way know it, and conitqacot- •< ly, it is a vain (hiU to fay, it v/as as caan oaly ' we «« miift beware leaif we bring the holy Jefss under fuclx *« a reproach ior equivocation, as the ilomifh Prisfts lie «« under; «nd make the Jelui^s themlelves think they «» have a good title to that name, by imitating feerein « his cxaBBple, which in this very inftancc they alledge •« with (o graat adraatagc, accordicg to this ioier- *« prctation." *" 2. As a farther cvideucc, that Jefai Chrift iofended ** nofuch dilli&ftioacf two natures, as is pretended; it ( 98 ) ** is fo be obfervcd, that he puts not the dlflm6^Ion, or *" oppofirioa bitrds ( 99 ) I ** Jsf5is Chtift could ia bikf b»Ti d<»nici VtiOifclf to b« ** God DJoft high, more piaic and fall tkio thcic in whick " he fayi, he kccw noi all ihiogs as the t aihcr did, ncr ** cttuld do ail thicgs, 5cc. So 1 would f^b Karc them •« ihcTT ice, nhat words cf that azture he could have *' !iif«d, vhich ihc iRinr w«y or intcrpTctatios, a?^ they *• hcr« K(e, viil not tv»dc and iDake isfi^c fic:'.Et. For ** had he fiiid, cr (wora iii pUin woi-di ih«s, rz^ I t«U »♦ yott i »Si not ihc {uptenr.c God, p.?>,i Rune fciit my Fa^ <' iher h?i3 that glorj ; tkcy wo«ld upon ihf famg rea- <* foe ft ill have iaid, this was to b« tiRdtrPcod of kirn ss *• maa cnly. So that no words prc-teilEg hissklf sot «« to be God, co2ld be a prcof it, if ihi« wpj gf iiitcr- «• pretaticn be allo'wcd. I Esy thcrffora fifcW fay thas •« ranch, that the blcfTcd Jcfaj has dccLucd hlK^fclf coB ♦• to be the fiiprcse God. or cqsal to she Fa;her, as <« plaisly s» word^ could fpesk, or in briti cxfrtf?; aad •« that this (JcGlarititti rtisde by hiia *lreat'y, is Dot lo be «* evaded aay o?h«r way, tbao wh£t will ir>feke itimpof- •« fibic h'li mind iliyuld b« usdsrfiood by auy worss h© «^ coald have dclij^atdly uffd in ih« nsatter. Let any ** one t;y if ihi« do aot hukl true : scd (urc it mufi be ** 8n abfurd V ay q\ iutsrprc^ntioa. ^.hich Icavcv a maa •* DO opportunity or pov.'cr of Iptikiag his mmd pUialy, ** io as to be U!3dcrftood. *' 4. Again, this way of ifitcrpretation, uhich tkc ad- ** vocfttei of the opinion I cppolc are h Ejuch litcffjcst- '* cd te far cpholdiiig their cau'e, docs |»uinly ovcihroW *• itaga'n, JCd «»ay beiaroci agaiafl ih«.'are:yc5: i^rif t b« •* joftand tiufi todcayof Chrift abl'/iutcly uhar bt-oags " to him in oae Eirarc, bfcaids iher* is another eaviire *' IB which it bfelcngs not to \V\m\ th«», finec to be the *' chief G'Xl bslciags to hifii (accordiog to our advcrfa. " ries) oaly io odc caiHie, a»d noi m jcipcfl ef the o- '* ther, or haoi^R DAfar^j, it Mows thiit it jda\j ss j'>f^iy ** be fiii Jifus Chrili ij, Bot Gud, Ror to be ^.voifhipped *• cr truDt'^d as fooh; oay, tkat he wis not btforc tha •* Virgin M*ry, according to th.-m. a»d the hks ; acd ** this without addiog aay iimitaiioa cr rcfui^ion any moic ( 100 ) <* »ore than owr Lord docs ia ihe place msntloacd. «* v\ bat wjuid they lar tj una who Hio-ald ip«ak or «* prrach \o, that J=ias is aat Go 1, ihjit he ciiiLiot dd «• all thing!, nor is cq».il to ihe Father &c ? Woall *' thty tKT'l coB.,iiiac he was a dcaicr oF the Dilty of «* Citil, cKc he P'"v b=iag «* f'jp;c:i:c Gcd; cl e, if it be a juft way ot (peak- ** i«g in nini, it csaaot be mjad: in a-^ to iraitatc hiaa, •' by deuying hia iuifrfinitcly to be, what h« ia any oaa ** aaiujc ig nor, i. e. th^t hi h f.'-'t G ■•d, wlf'aout addirig ** m /f c. Nay, aft«r this -way of fj.akin.^ which th«f *• tUrJhute to C'>n{}, a iraa m,y bs taaght to fay His *' creed backwarr?, aud T«t mikc a 'rqe pro^cihoQ of h!s " fiiith. by dcGvin;^ ot jtfu* Ch.iil ia abioiute ixprcr- <* Tua*, wh^te^ T noay bj dc '.icd o* jo? ot his 3a»arc8. ** 1 ha» fiiC' th-: Apo11«'i craed r*kc« aoticc of nothing *■ to br believed C9Nc:rni-»g Jh'ift, but what belong! to ** his e»a«tio)J (which it ftr*bgc, if ihtrc were any *' articles rcl.*ting io hi« fjpftaxe [>city, which muil b* *' raoll inQjiorraat) o le m*j vc^Qturc to deny thena all, *' with this fccrct uaexpuird refcrv«r, viz. meauingic *' ol the diTiac aata.e (to a'K ch thfcy bcloi;;; not.) So ** that o,i« aaiy lay, ' bcliavj that Jifus ChrifV was qoi ** caaccived oi ihe Hoi/ Ghift, or bjra of the Vi.'g^n «* Mary; I b:liev<* that he a^vtr wa> crucified uader ** Poatius PiUtc, aor wis dead or biriedj that he ae- *' Ter rofe aor afccadei, n^r wlU rctara vifibly agaia! *' for his diviae aa ure (whi:h it is preTfrQiied he had) " was nir capable of thcic thia^s. Aad fiace thsy f.^y, " the pcrfonihty ia diviiiJf, h«rt f.vTqa? mora warraat to ** be boldar iu dcnyiag iadcfiaitely of the psrfja what ** be'oogi aot to the difiaa aatare, whole the perfonalitf ** is, ihaa ia fo dtaying of the perfon w lat oaly belongs «* aot to the harnaa Qiturc; at this iatarprctiiioa makes " Cilrift lodo." '/ -. Fiially^ ( with energy and propriety. Is maciy pla- ces of Scripture we U:; to^d^ thar Ch ift owes ail his power, (Jorninion. and dignity, to th; free and voluntiry gift of God the rai^ef, it vra- the Father that raifed bica from tht dead, an J fet hi ii at his own rigttband in tht heavenly places. It was thft F ther that gave biai glofy that our faith and hope might hi: in Gud, It w^is the Fat'^er that gave him a Baac that is abava every name, that at the nam- of jefas every knee (hould bow, of (hiags ia heaven, of thingi in earrh. and of things under the t^arth ; 2Qd that every tongue Ihould confcfs that Jefus Chrift is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. It w^i the F<4;her to whom it pltaled, tkat in hija all fulnefs fnould dwell. It is the fame great and gloriouybeng th.it is here dc- Icribed, as having put al! things under him ; and who is himfclf excepted from ths comber; bfciuie it is im- pofTiblc that hi- can fee fubje^fed to aiy power whatever ; whj ib the original (ou.fce of tU authority. Jefus ChVift rei^at over this delegated kingdom, that is afligned him h} the Father He rtigas but innperfe6l!y at prcfent. His kiag«lom co:«prizcs but a part of the Globe. Hi* Donainil and profF (Idd fubjefts nre Hot a naajority ot niankuid ; and his real and fiacere folluwcrs are ftJl few- er. 15 lit he ihali reign more tuHy and coropUtfi^y ( 1=3 ) Sn ch« fequel. A\dci xed afT.drd by the po7/er of Goi, liis kiat'd'jaa of U«fh aad r'iphfcnnfncU lliatl prcTailj snd break iri piece* likt & p>rtcr*j; v if:! erery oppofiog rorca. The kia^GOiRS of this wojld niijii becorae the kisgdomi of our Czod. end cf bis ChfiA ; snd si! his eiicmids Ihall be {ubducd uodisr his fed Dtsth itlflf which hag rsi^a- ed ffoci ».diSQ to MjIcj, asd from Msijg throngbt^at every period ct iiB*c ; ler! frortj trhofs iw»y Cktin h/im- felf wa» noi exc:c??pred, {hah er bft be dcihoyjd; aai joy tfiid im nortal ly Tnall tike plice of piia and mii'cry. i%Bd thta, whco \ht f reiv pu'p.ii^s fur which tbls me- diatorial kingd >m tv.<* e[s<51-cd ih^ll havt bisa accompliih- f d ; Chilli ftia i icfif.a all his d«leg«ttd powsr iata ih« haRd of tkat great betRg fro.'is wh-iin he received it; rbI fiiall bccioie the ^iiiiag ri:bj-<^ of hii pAther and hi» God. As a Gtnera! rcfigos his co:Rwi;fi:jn to hit Jotcr- cign, '^arhen thp cads f«r which it ^va* gtani^a are obtiia- €d ; or as a Vioioy vrhen recalled tcafes to grverB aRj loBgcr ; in like Qa.\Rn€r Chiift (halt df liver up the kiag- dom ta Got^, evcn i hh Father ; that God Bsay be ail in all. \ hen ihe Lord Go.l omnipctrat fliail reign ; aod tliefuprcme btitg (hall appear ssoire opccly ana confpicii- Ottdy ia the govtrncjsnt oi: the moral world, thau he does at pjeleiat. fo a candid -iui «aprcj'jdic;d loind, tSBpc; verted by aay attach -cot to a thaolog-cal fjiUoBj 1 fhould ihink, this p llig* woai.j fcfford the fall«li coa- Ti<^ioa WhcQ Chift is de{crib*d, as having all thiugs put under him and iebducd iiotj \:\a\ by «noihcr, whfa we are iaforaied, t at, all this p3V7:r acd asrhjrity ihail be rftnroed bxk ^j,'in tc the crigioal Dotfiar, even t* the Father ; and that th« Son biiiiftU fhall be mbjeftcd to him. What farther fvidsnci can we cxpt.fi: or dneflrc • fc*r he truth and certainty of the UnitaiiaQda^ftrinc. Is not this fully fuffiyunt to afccrtaia the Father's fole asd fopreme Godhesd. Docs not this fully prove that our L.ird Jcfns (.hsift is abfolutely deptsndcat upon him, and is only to b« c Bfidticj,. as oae of the laoft illuflriooj and dignified of th jfe beiggs that he has produced. He wkj uceivcs pjAsr and aathority Uom aaothii for a ccitaia ( 104 ) certain ptriod ; tad muft m tbc end rerarn sll tli«t pow- er and a«thority b-ick ag'^in, c:n uef^r be coiic«;ivetl to be God, or cqoal with ihai God j whole dooiiaioQ u eternal, who gWck 10 :vll, bai c^a r«ctive frcjm boq^ ; aod wtio pofTalUi all p^>*'«r, na:\iral'j, iahsrcnily. aQvi is^depcQ- dcntiy m hvnklf, Oj; advcsfaiici ho*«iVtr, \who niL^kt «fc ct atl expci'icnu to [u)B|o.: th«If li*;ten:02 l5nc ibc dc^rixl* of ihi» ?ery paiTage, Thiy tell uv that it i^ tU« 4ivin« uMara of Chrift, \hxi fubducs a!l things aato hioj ; arid ;hsi ^kcn i.c rcfigDS the Kinodoni, he only t» it were pu!» v;fF nif luediarcnal chv>rax51er ,• a:jd dcliT^rj up h\p pf>^«r to his cwa dlviwt eaturc, in c%>nju.')'5iivH wl^h the Fdih^r and the iloly Ghjft; oi* ia at wr w>;d» Jo th-^ whd!« Triaiiy. But this is one of ihe wiltitli aid aooft «q- werraatable peiveifijcG of the plaip rncantfig of the word of God, ll:2t Can be iinafju««i ; an.! is cvrn irco^fiftcnt v.ih tba rfiD-.tariau fyftrm itfclf. f o- ahho'.igh Ghrift isf.id, Phil ii 21. *' f'o chnn^t car vlr b.idy that it nay be i- fliioaed like uota his ^l,:ri-ius body, 2cct)r(?. ir.g to the WGik-ing whereby he ii able crea »j fuDdtc sll ihiugs watd himlclf:" yet we arc afl jr. d thiit he r«- ccivcd thi< p«wer fjoci the Father For in Jah«*> Gof- ptJ, V, 26. Chrifl i*Ils us thsi, "as the Father hath life in hlaifeU, fo haih he gi^cn to the Soa to have life ia MnQffcK." This u'orkieg vhcn, is aot caufsd by toy diviae paiui-e ol big i^vya; bat by the p*)W«r of the Father coinncaalc^icd to hisn, atid H*ll:!ft;:» by him. And it is D'^' {f.id or the >.:!h-r is all la ai!, T he Father then wi;i appear dircftly to his crctiturcs.ia his Bitural, iOTercJg3,aadiadtp«rt!denC chsjafi:jrj aad rU ini-rior aaihoriry, a^lc^aied power, and ( i05 ) atd medUtlon fhall c««fe. Bot farther the Triiitatrita cXpHcatJOB, or rather pcrTcifion of thii pafTagc, \* ia- coiafillcBt with their own icheme ia twa rcfpe6i-s. For at they iffirm, that ihe two natures make one perfoQ in Chrift; and that this pcrfonal inlon (lull continue for ever, it is iropoffi5]e ro conceive, how the httman nature of Cferift can rcfign rhe Kingdom to the divine. While this union continues, whutevcr belongs to the diviie oaturt mud atfo belong to the hu- lean 1 for a ptrloo caDCot be feparatifd and divided iato partr ; Bor poflcis a thing and be deprived of it at the lame time. Agaic, upon their kheme it wooid not b« true, that Chrift would become more fubjccled is coa- fequence of his deliveriag up his aaediatorial king- dcm. For they fuppofs that hli bccorxiiBg aaediater, wss a departure from hit original dignity ; aad con ft. quently it is cfideat, that if he (hould lay zfide this af- famed charafter, and appear in the full lufVre of his foppofcd Deity, he would be the Father's equal iaftcad of being fubje e purpofcs for which he wss appoiotsd to it are anlwertd ; and when his contioaaDce in it is na longer DccefTiry ; althowgh we muft always fuppofe, that he will ror ever pofTcfs a reward, laitabla to his diftingaifli- ed merit aed obedieice. We have bow my brethren produced all the proofs and evidences that we think it neccflAry to a Hedge, ia fjapport of oar rccond propofiiion ; and I may venture to lay, that we havt- eow fuUy proved, •' that Jcfas Chrift is not the moft high God j hvjt a being inferior to him, depend.'nt upon him, snd a<51ing by lis ccmtnind and authority • or i& other words hh Son, Suvaiit, and Mef- fengcr ; ( io6 ) ftagsr ; and by th« Faiktr** ippolataMat tfce MefTiali, or ooly Msdiator btiween God tnd Mai." A bciag who it ixpresfly diftiigaiftiid fro« God ; who it his Son ia the Scriptural lealss oF tkc word ; who has no will of hie own; who is (cnt by God the Fa;hcrj who can do no- thing ot himlslf ; who rcceirci cjmmauds from the Fa^ thcr aod gives obidicnca to them; who prays to the Fa- ther ; who is the imag* of the invifible God ; who is tha fiift bora of evary crsntBre; who is a Prieft; who ex- claimed dai'iQg his iufferiBgs ihtc God had forlakem hia; who has not the difpofal of the Iiighefc places ia his owa kingdorn ; who acknowledges a God, a head, or fuparior, and is .he property oF God; who disd and was rai(cd frooa the 6eid by the Father; who declares that he was not the htk and grcitcft ot beiagi, bat that there was one greater, and better thjta himlelf ; who was igaorant of the day of Judgement; aad who Tnill at Uft deliver HP the Kingdom to the Father, tad become fabjs(fl to him ^t is evideat I fay, that fach a bsiag taunot be the mofl high God; nor eqaal to tke Lord o! heafen aad earth, to whoai th«fe things are utterly iaapplicabic : but mart oaly be csafrlered as a depeadeat being; and a fabjeft ot the great Sorerci^a of the Uaiverfc, Now to the one GoJ aad Father »f)f all ; the fov^reign, iadepeud- eat, aad unchangf^able D*fity, be afcribed all glory, aad praifc, by Chrift }dvi% (or ever. Amen, O DISCOURSES on THE DIVINE UNITY. DISCOURSE vir. Johtt Chap. xvli. tcr. 3. And ihii is life ctcrnsl, that they might know ihce the oalj true God, and Jtfus ChriA whom iho\i hall Icat. W'HEN w« took thcfc words nndcr our coaiiderajioa at firft, wc propofed to make thtm the groand- ^ork atd bafit oi oar reafoning; and by an ippeal to the fcriptares at large, to cadearour to ccbrce sod «llablifh the following propofuioBS. Firft, thiit there is on« p«rfon or iDttlUgent sgeof, who alons ij G*>d, faprcGBC, alaaighty, arid etcraal ; and that this one p^iiOa U the Farh«r^ or at he is loaaetlffics called in lcrip»or«. the God and Fathfr of o»r Lord Jdcs Chrjft. Thii is life etcroal, that thoy might kcc^r tiicc the o»ly rrue God Secondly, that Jtfai Chrlft is not ihc CBofl high Cod j but a being iaferior to him, dcpendsQt upon h'lm, &ad ac* tiag by h'»s coajsiand aad aulhoriiy : or 10 other voids his Soa, Scrraat. aad Msflcogfr ; aad by the Father's np- polQtOQe&t, the Mciiah, or o.?ly Meiiiator beiweeo God and Maa. That they migkt kaow Jefui Chrilt whom thou haft fenr. And Thirdly, aad Laftiy, to confider and anfwcr the obje^ions, that the Trioitaiiaas make to onr hypothecs, aoiJ urge in fupport of their own, fcuodcd oft various places b )tk cf the Old aad New Ttftaracat. It was the objc(5l of our fir ft, f^cond, and third dif- courfss, to prove ifcc truth of th« fiiff prop«;;fiiijn Aod ittoarfottrih, fifth, and fixth dikourfui, wc ially efli- bliOiid ( io8 ) bliihcd tl»c ti'Bth aid ccrtiiity of ih« fec^aJ. Wc BOTf enter upon the third ted lift part ot oar fabje^l ; whicti wts to cniiiTT aod anlw^r ihc objcftions, ihai the Fri- citari{ th^ fjuaditioa or all iru« aod rAtion-*! rcligioo. la combaiiBg our opponents, I (hall cor.fia« myltflf fol>:iy tti thjir fciip'ural objcflioai, foaad#d oa tails rtadii^s, mii-traaQitioas, or erron$> QQi iotcrpr^taiions of the word or Gid. Fori Appre- hend, ilnat nothing diiffv\ng confatitiaa caa b: ofTcrrd, ia rindicatioa of a Trinity io Uait; froca printiplis of rtafon. That noble facaity ; tkar candle of the Lord, which he hath lighrjd up ia th« braaft of cnaa, cia nercs be rcc«»ciUd tj this doflriae; but naaft always pro- Bosace it a coatrai>61ija : aad foiii:: TriQitariirit of £iohha moT€d •* upon rhe w«t«rs. If fhr<« ptrfaof art eotcd her« •* there will bf aa diliindlioa b»twe6a them. And it *^ will follow. ii:iat the Sob wt<; begotten by hisstdf ; md ** that tli€ Spiri? eoas ao» proceed freni the Father but ** from hlnfcif." Agaia CaWia m^kct this rcoaark." *' Mv>les ii"^3 the wcr«i Elohifs which is c? ihe ptural *• susnbcr. From whicn ii it ifual to infer, that tkere < arc three perloas m the Gotihcad But thii pro©f •* of fo :aiport.iQt a dcOrirsc appcari to inc to be by bo ** Bcafii JolifJ , and thcrdorc, 1 wilLiot iafjil epen this ** word. Hit rath«! incli.ie «o wara my r again A •* violent inttipsetaticDS cf this kind." f C«n. i, 2. 3. ** The ipirit of God K>o»cd upoii the face of the witert Aad God faid, ict th«ir be light ; and there wai light " This p^^/I/igc hai been fomctiaats ui'ed to proTe, that the eternal Wurd or ^>cn, (-« 7 riniiariacs fpcak) and the holy fpirit were equally cucccioed wish the «' Putantilli fe ttftiiroalaia habere x^Terfai Arimof, ad *• probandciia Fijii tt Spiritsis dsvisitatem : intcrea in- *• vftlvant ia In erforeoa S:b«]]M. Quia jpoilca f^bjicit «« Moftfs, Elohino hcLUiSia etrc. Et Spiiituca Elohim iu- ** cubHilTs 2qaij. Si trcs pcrfonai aotari placet, nulla •* crit carufii ciftioflio. Scqoittsr cnisn ct f iliuai a *• fc genituc!, ef Spiritum rod cfTc Patris, fed fiai ipfics.'* ** Habetar apad Mofca Elshim, jjomcii pUirafu no- ** mxri» Uade cuHigerc f^lcac hie io Deo aotaii trc2 ** peribrsis, Sed quia parum folida roihi viditQr taatjc ** rci proba'.io, cqo ia voce non infi(Jani. Q«ia potiui '^ BtoDc&di Uat U^ores, ut fibi t Tioknut fjsfflBOdi *f gloifis cavcaat. Cslyifl, ( 112 ) ine Fatljrr, la t\e crfaiioa of the wjrU. Bat this ?i 4 far-feiched aad {liaioeii inurpretatioa for the Spirit or breath o! God moviRg or broDdiag opon the w»t:cr«, appear* here, pUinly 10 Jeadtc, that ^nsrgy ted lafiotfacc cf Ibe fiprcaie b^nn:^, which wis cxcrrcd in tbe prod^s- lion and tormrition o^ '! e warid ; aoii the Chalice inter- prctcr Oa'htbf refcd.rs i^ Vcntum Iki, the wicd o( G(j4, Thr €Xprcllicc, God hid, f^cifi-s noihiag cJara. feat the dirint vol'uioa or cotinnasd. u',Via*i ace Q«ipt Hied ^y hit powtr, pioducci all ih« £;iF_'reBt »«rc3 ci n.iiur«. GcQ. i 26 ** Aod G;>d faii, let us make i»«a in ©«r iiuaj^c, a*tcr Oiir liktaefi." Gea, Vii 2a. *• And the Lvud God Uid, bshoid, the mtn ig b?coaac «5 oivc of ai, t9 k«o*' 2^^"^ and cv';l/* Gci. xi. 7. •* Go 10, let ot go dowtJ, aad rhcr« coE(oan,l t^>clr i*i:ng'jfig5, that they caay nor wftdtrUtad en* anotasr's fpe#ch " luUh, vi. 8. *' \K.i [ h'tard ihc voicf ot the Lard, fayiog, who?a (hall I feai soi wh:? trill go for us ? la o«r firft dif- coarfc, (p. 12. 13 to yrhich w<« emr.'a: th« r«aicr td torn) wcobtiiicd tQ) objt<5tions tha. oaigkt be railed from thefc plscci; ; bui it may b« proper kfr« to *« ii ^6, *• This ii the dream; aod we will tell the inttrprctation thercot before the King " laftanccs cf the piural btiog uicd for the fingnlar, might a!fo be prodDCcd from the beil writers ancient aad modern. From thcte quotatiois, ss well ai trom other confidera- tioQS, it appears how coittmptibly weak it is in fotne TriDitftrians, to iofer t pluraliiy of perfoss ia the Deity, from hil being deicribed as fpeakiag in the plural, ia a few places of fcripture; in dsfiaace ^f thoufaads of paff ges wherein he fpeaks ia the fiagular. The for- mer may be cafily accounted for, upoa the fyftcm that Gcd is one perfon: but bo good reafon caa be affigacd for the latter, on the fuppofitioa of 4 plurality of divine perfons. The learned Grotius remarks on Gea. i. 26. *' It is the cttftom of the Hebrews to fpcak of God «« as a Kiag. Kings are goided, by the advie* of thtir ** principal fubjefts ia importact matters, i Kings xii. <« 6, 2 Chron. x. 9. So is God rcprefented, i Kingi xxii. ** 19. 20 7? t Calvin obfcrvcs on Gea. iii. 22. " Where- *' as, many chriftians from this place, draw the do<5lriD« *• ot a Trinity of perfoBC in the Deiryj I fear their ar- ** gumcat i? not lolid '* :j: Gen. xvi, 13. ** And fhe (Hagar) called the name of the Lord that (pake to her, thon God fceft me, &c." Gen xviii. 2, *' Aad the Lord appeared uato Abra- ham ia the plains of Mamre *, and he fat in the tenC door ia the heat of the day.^'' And ke lift up hii eye* and looked, atd lo, three men flood by him &c." Vcr, f Gen. i. 26. Faeismus) " Mos eft Hebreis dc Deo, *• ut dc Regc loqai. Rcges res mageas agjant de con- ** filio primor»m, i Reg. xii. 6. 2 Paial. x. 9. Sic *« ct DtBs. I Reg. xxii. 19. 20.'' Grotiis. ■\ ** C^iiod aa^cm eliciunt ex koc loco chriQlani doflri- ** Dam dc tribws ia Deo pcrfoais, vcrcor ne fatis fiimum ;|* faargumeiitum.'' Calvin. ( 114 ) 1 5. *' And the Lord (Hcb. jthovah) fald UBt5 Aba- ham, &c '* Geo. xxxii 24. *' And Jacob was Uft alme ; aa^ there wreftled a m»n with him, ¥otil th« breakipg of the day." Vtr. 30. ** Aad Jicob c^lUd the Bime ot the place Pcniel ; fi;r I ha.?e lc«a G»d fac« to f^c«, 184 icy lite is prifc. vtd " Geo xxxv. 1. ' Aid God laid unto Jacob, aii'C, go up to Bohel, 2nd dvr«ll i! e r. .' and make thee an altar unto God, thac appeared unia thee when ihoa fl«ddeft froia the f;cc of EliB thy brOih<.'r." Geo xlviii, 16. ** The Aogel uhich redeemed mc from all tvi!, blcfs the ladf." Jud. gfs. Ti. 12. "And the Angtl cf the Lord appear«d «cio him, and Jaid ucto him, the Lord is with vhc(r, tht>Q Eighty ftaa of valour, &c.'* Judges xiii- 3, *• Aid the Angel ot the Lord appeared anto the Wo- man, and (<^id unto her, behold oow, thoM art barren and beareil act; but thoa (halt cocccive aod bear a foa var. 22, And Maaoah laid anro his wife, wc (hail Airc- ]j di«, bccsufc we have Iccb God. Wc have put aiJ thcfe places together, as one rrp'y wi'l be fuiTiciefit for them a!'. Bfcaufe Almighty God fpcke to Hagar, Abra- ham, Jacob, GidcoQ K«d Manoah, by the miniftry of Angels, who are called fomiinaes God, and at other times Jehovah, becaufc, they reprcfeuicd his pc.foa, end i\C' ted i& his came, and by his authority, therefore foffe patrons of ihe do no mcic^s always ftsind for a fpirif- •« ual iate'ligeni s^cnt, tbo»gh by a vaigo-tr en or, it is *• almoli: uni-frrally fo Mijdeiftoyd. That moA icr,rn- ** cd Jew^ Mai aif. snides mak^s lias cbicrvaiioa- f •♦ Vou ** knew ** t Nofti quod Malach, aagdus, fjgnifictt l€g:irum nun- •* ciutn. Et qijivit qui m;'indatu»ri aliquod expisdir; cd sn- ** gelus; its at dc nioto aaima'.icm irrarioDaliom qai>q»ii ** dica'wr, il ui» fi- ri p*r mnoum acgcTi, quucdo i;ic iro- *' tus e{} ad ictrRtioiHRi cieaioric. q«; isdidii cis fac;ul" ** tatem, qaa iilo moiu eovers polfatt. Sic diciror, ** Dcus ( ltd ) ** know t^tt Malach, angel, figoifi?* in cmbidadfor, «• mtlTdBger. Aa logel alio is wha;avi:r execute* aa «« or. his ** Angels j and fiamiog fire, his friaift;r6." f Aao- ** tber learned writer Mas tht fjlowini» rcmtsk on " the fisbj 6t of which w= , and the oracle fr^tn ** thence, maybe CAiled the angel of the L ra, andiiis *• actually io clled ia fcripture, Thus the Shcctiinih, ** which Moks law ia the fireio rho bu h, and th^- voice *' ot the oracle which he heard ftoja iheacc, arc called " the aagel of the Lord Arid me Shechinah which *' coadudlcd the llrawUtes ia a pilUr ot cloud and (ire, •* is alio called the aogel of Jdhorah St) that the ap- *• pearacceaad Tuice of Jehovah io the midft of the fire, <« aod the aagel, which Tpakc to Mofes oo Mjunt Sinai, ** are equivaUat expreffioQS^ And thus Ufo in the Ua- ** guige of the Ch^ldce p^raphrafc, the Shechinah oi *• Jehovah, the Mi ura de Adonai (hat is the word of *' the Lord,) arc boin of ihcm equivaleat to the voice of '* Jehovah, or the voice of the Aagcl of the prefcncc, or ** the divine majefty and glory. This abrervatiou; '• which it not a bare coajedt ire of criticiitn, bu( which *' is founded on many coacurreat and divefl evi.ieace?, will. ** Dsii mcus mifit aog^^ltim fuus, et coaclufit cs leo- •* aum, et non perdidcraat tn«.-— ^nia im^ elecocnta ** ipfa Tocaoiur angcli ; ut, qai facit ang?los fuos, vcn- " tos; miaiftros Tbos, igaem f^ajimiateoB." Maiui« More Nevochim. p. 200. t MrLiodfcy^i Scqacl^to his Apobgy. p: 314- ( 117 ) «< will, I conceive, take nway the force of uhat 1$ objec- " ted, viz. ihat we nsKft uBtlerftacd the eppcar»n£c in ** the Shechicah of lorrrc fpiiuutl being reprtlentiog •' Gad; btcaslc il is afcribtd to argcls, std the appear- *• sDce itlclf, is often called in fcripture the angel of Jt- •* hovah. For ir appears, th«t the Shechinah, and the *' oracle ihfiijfckes, raay, ii a very proper fenfejbe *• ftyled the angel of the Lo^d; though the true God *' hioafeif was the ORly iptrit or intelligent a(^e»l, who *• a6ted upon them, and fsanifened bisakl^ by them; as '* much ai if they were afted upon by ioa»e cher (pirit, •' whom God feat to reprefcnt rim io the vifiblc appear. * ancc ot the Shechioah, and by the audible voice of '* the Oracle. Ths fire and the vo'ce, were at? properly •' angels, in the language of Scriptuie; tsaoy intelligtot ** beingi, or Spiriti." | But whether we are to under- flaad by the term, the angel of the Lord, the Shechifiah itfelf, or any difliB^l intcllcdual being reprei^Rting God ; there can be no argument raifcd from it to prove, that 3efu$ Ghriil: i« God or cqoal with the Father, For the Trinitarians have bo authority from Scripture to fay that Jcfus Chrifl appeared in this manaer .* and although it "Were granted that ke had fo appeared, it w©»Id not prove tisftt he was God, but only that he reprefcnted the perfon and wajefly of God. Some TrinitariaBS have r.ffirmed, that Jcfos Cbrift appeared in the Buflte to Mofcs, but St Stephen tells us Adli vii. 30, that it was an angel. It has alfobeen afTerted, that Chrift delivered tfee Law to the jews on Mount Sinai j b«t the lame Stephen informs us Ads vii- 53. that the Jews received the I&w by the dif- pofitioa of Angels ; ao^ St. Paul affirms Gal. iii. 19 ihat •* it waJ- ordained by Angels io the hsnd of a Metfi- ater ;'* which Mediator was Mofcs. B«^ the author of the Epiftle to the Hebrews affords the flroageft argo- menr, agaiiifl the notion of Chiift being concerned in the delivety ef the Law frona Moant Siaai, Heb. ii . 2, 3. •* If the word fpoken by angels was ftcdfaf>, and every tranfgrefrion and difobedience received a jufl t^ecom- peoce i Lowman's Trt^s, ( n$ ) pence of reward J how fha!l we efcaps If wc B§|?Ieft fo great lalT«tion, which «t the firft begat^ ta be Ipaken by the Lord." Mere there is an oppufitioo bctv^'cen the word rpokea by angel, (by which aadoubtedly the MAaxc itiw is rocaat ) and the hlviuon Ipoken by tha L»/d ; and we are lei to und^rftaad, that the danger of ■cgle^iog the latter, is prtater then the farmer, becaufe it wai fpoken by his5. But if cur Lord hid beeo the au- thor ot both dilpcn at'oa?, there would have bcea dd rea- lign for the ap.^ftie to iaiinaatr, that a greater punilhmcnt wjuld be infli6le^ for tl« cegUfl ot tne oae more thao that of the other, aad To the farce of his arguaociu, for gifitg peculiar itteaiion to the Gafpsl dirpealitioa, w-uld be dcftroyed. But wc proceed to the coafiic- ration of other obj€(5tioas. G»n X'X. 24 ** Then the Lord rained upon Sodon and upoQ Gomorrah, brimftone and fire from the Lord oHt of heaven. * 1b the Heb'ew it ii, •* Jehovah rained firs trum Jshovah," from which fomc would inter, that there arc two perfoas to whom the title of Jehovah be- longs. But we are ex pre fly rold by the iacrcd writer* that there is but on* Jehovah ; «nd many iaftiices of a fioiilar wav of fpeakiog, bjlh ia regard to God and man, ib.iy be produced from the fcriptures. thus Gca ▼ i. lu the d,^y thii God created man, in the likeucis of G Dd made he hliu • that is, he made hioo ia the likenefs of himfelf: i San,iii 21, "And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh t for tht Lord revealed himftlf to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.'i i King? viii. 1. « Then Solomon a(remb>ed the clderi of Ifrael, and all the heads of the tribes, th« chief of the Fathers of the children of llrael unto King bv^ljjif)n, &c " I Kiogi xii. 21. Aad when Reh jbo:ini wai come to Jerufalcm, he afn.mblcd all tht huufe of Jiidah, to bring the kingdom again to R.hoboam, &CC. No body coacludcs from thefe two laft priffagj??, that ther« were two Solomons, or two Rehoboam?, why tten fliould it be fuppifed from a like form of gxpreflion, that there are two Jahovahs? See allb i Sam xv 22. 1 KiDgt X. 13. 2 Chron. vii. 2, Dan. ix. 17. Zech. X.12. John iv, I. 2 rim. i. 1 8. ScbaAijQ Caftalio h-'.S { 119 ) fciiv^nr properly rendered tuia pr^fTage. ''Jcyaabl* " dc cse'o fulphur tt igncm in SodornitBi «t (jorcninca •* deplait.'* The Lord rained froai hiailei? out ol hc«- v«o, brifijfloQc aod fire up-.n Sonom and Gomorrah. Scene have Inppoled, ihat the AdscIs wi o were (enl to dcftroy Sodoro ar« here called JthjvaK in the fir ft place, as icprufcatifsg ihe iaprcmc b«-ing. Others ha?c ieRj-gincd that the fire and bricftoBc is called fi:e from JehoTah; en acc^aat of the fury aod V'.h«roe»€e with which it dtkcnitd ■ and the c^rcici.'ul celoistiiyn it oc- c&(ioDcd. Bat ircrc is no ncctfTity to hr'v« tccoyrfc to cither uf ihelc fupp' fitious, as ihe cxprcffioa oaay be very well accounted tor from the koowu phraleology of fciiptore. Gca 10^ 3. " Aod it cam« to pafs whca God caulcd fRe to wnndcr from B^y Fathei^a houfc, (Heb." Gods they csulcd me to wandtr,) Gee 35, 7. '* Aod be built aa altar, aud ca'led ti c place El-bcth-tl, beca»(c ther« God appeared ifito him." (Heb.** Gods they ap- pealed yaio him.") 2 Sara vii. 23. *' And what one na- tion in the carih is like thy people, cTea like Ifrael whom God went to redeem (Heb. ** Gjds, they went, or have gone to rcdeeni.''; Dent iv. 7. *• And what aatioa is there fo great, who hath God ic aigh od:o them." v^eb," Elohim KiKEBiM, Gods who are io Bear.') in th« three firll of thelepaflages, the veib as well as the nomia- itive cale is plural; and ia th« laft the adjedtive is io, which «mrBrir? to the fame thing. But no argument can be rtiied froarj them in favour ct the notion ot a Trinity of pcrfons id one dlviDC elTsiCcc, 0« ihs contrary, as the Vfcfb or adjefHve is plural as well as th« nopainativc ; they wocid rather prove a piBrailty of Godt or ffcparate efTeoccs. A learned Ttinitarian c» mnneniaior obferves on Gen. 20- 13. *' Gods they caufed me to wander," &c, as follovrs. *' The Hcb/ew word which wc traaf- •' latf wtsder, beipp, the plural nuanber, the Scptuagint "• render the word hlohira (God) the angels; who by ** the comtcacd of God led hiaa (Abr^hatn) from his Fa- ** ther'i houfe, through diveifu countries. But the Chal- f* dee tranilatss it, **hen becaufe of the Idoli of Chaldet, i Wdf ( uo ) «. I vra called iway froai my own conatry, ^c ** For «* fo the Li^di, that ig, the idol Gods, might be faid to ** ciufe hi.u to wanc;er, bcctufe it was by rcjfoaof thrm, '* that Gwd vvoald rot have him ftiy anj ^-^ngcr in his *• own aouory. Bat thert is no n?ed of thcfe dcricci ; ** nothing bciag more uftfal ia the Hebrew lan/^oa^.c ihaa «* for th- pluril nniftbcr to he pat iafteid of the (iagnlar, *• «(pccli!!y T^hcn ihcy f^eak ot God, a^-B'ocha i obier/ct •• in msny placet, Geu • xxxv. 7 £)^>o3 xxx i. 4 PIJ, ** cxlix 2 Ecc'cs, xii. i S eHi rozo, P. i. L. 2.C. 34, *• Nay Hatkfpan hath lightly cblctvcd, that there «rc ** noiiGS of the plural unosbcria their tertciiinroiJ, which *• iu fignificauoQ arc fingular ; with which it rs ofual t(^ *' jcifi a verb of the plural oajTib^r, bcc.iufc of the plu- ** ral termiija'.ion of theuoBa. A plain eximp'.e of whick •* we hsTc io Gen. iv. 6. Why is thy co«n'' nince (Hebrew *' fi^ci) fallen? The like he obfcrTes ia the Syriac bngiage, •* Joha i 4 the lift (ta the Syriac lives; wai the light •• of men 'f t 2 Sam. xxiii t 3. " The fpirit of the Lord fpatc by nsc, and his vrjid was in my tongae. Tbe God of lfr».mo€d, IS well is from the B«tnre of the thicg icfclf, it is evidcct t9 me, thar there is no foundation for ftippodBg, that aay d Ainft ageot is maaut by the words Spirit and Holy Spirit, in the Old reftaaacot, dif- ferent from Jehovah, the God of Ifri*! ; (Ijltd ia th« New T*ftameot, the God and Father of our Lord Jefas ChrifV. The words, Ruach, ia Hebrew. Pneuma, ia Greek, and Spibitus ia Latii, in their original accep- tation, dcBOtc *11 the very Umc thing ; and whta ap- plied to the divine beisg, as operaricg upon his cua- tsres, figEify, fom« kiisd of ii^fl«e8cc or coonDauDicatisft from hiisa, fome exertion of his pow@r an.1 agency. It WBS by this breath, or •pe:i:ioQ, and iQfiafnseof the Almighty, that the whole fyftcm ot nature was proda- ced, tad by this it is co&tiosally preftrfed. It was this prioeipW that dwelt is the Prophtts, and /\pt>fties, and was imparted ia tht largeft decree to oar Lcrd Je- fus Chrift. It is a prodigioes error ia the Trlriiiariaas, tp aakc as intelligcat agcai equal with Gci the Fa- ther, oat of aa attiibutt or propurty ©f the divise caiure. It is true that there i« more to ba fiid f. r the pcrloa- ality of the Holy Ghqft, froca the New, TsAan-teat ibaa from the Old. But ik^n, thufc paflages vhlch ai.)ft fa- Tosr this BciioE wi;l be f^und eqaiily ftroBi? to prove, that if there is fnch a difttfc*:^^ agfjct or beiag, as the Holy Spirit, that he is iB(«rior to, aad iltogstbcr depeRdtnt lapon God the Fa her. So lh-*t oar lyftea ^ill not be iovalidaied, nor that of our oppoattiits proc:cttd by this opiiiioB, even iho' it (heuld appear to be foai3'i«(i in truth. Wc will have oecafioe to refcDse this fDbje<5t agiia ; ao J to treat it more itjly, ^hca ws com« to confiiier ( 124 ) confidcr the objc^lloas from the M«w Tcftamonf. Ik eir Dflxt di!cai«rl«. ths rcmainiog ob^s6tio&i thit art rappoi«i to occir ia the be^ki ot the Old Teftament; and to favoKr the ij^im of oar oppo&eact, will be cx« amitcd and removed. To God o&lj mit be glory b/ Chrift Jilus, for tfcr, Amen. DISCOURSES ON THE DIVINE UNITY, DISCOURSE viir. John Chap, xvi'i. vcr. 3, Ard th;« '}*> life C'Crnal, that they might kaow thee ihe only true G^^d, atd Jcfus Chrift whom thou haft iett. IN our fevcnth difcoMrlc, wt entered upoa ih« third •Dd left pi!t of o«r febje^, which was to coesfidcr snd anfwer th« objed^ions, that the TiiDUariiii makt to our hypoihefis, aud urge in lupport ot their own, foocd- ed cB various places both ot th« Old acd New Tefla- Bent We propofed firft, to eccCdir the objtdlioos vhich are luppdcd to occur in the Old TeftaireBt ; next thcfe in the Evangeiifts; and laAIy ihofe vhich are toeod in the Aaa of the Apcfilcs. the Epifllei cf S; Paul, and oth* Kny reins be c. cfuaicd within me/' Stvfral W( rds have bcsfi irifertcd in this prfTigc by oor tiacflitors, lo make out what they fuppofcd to be the (enie of it- Neither, day, woriTf, ccr bcdy, eccur ia ih« oiigioal Kcbrcw; and ( n6 ) and Tcfcral learned commentators conGdcr It, oot %t rc- ferriMiz to the g«acral rtforrcftioa ot ih« dcid : but as cxprciliv:; of the hopes of Job. to be delivered cvaQ m ihii lite, from the l©sihiotsac Qiicxfc, asd gricroys c^Uta- itics with which he was ciH;dlcd ; which coQl^mtd %^i wafled his ba'iy ; ar.d thii Alsiighry God woaM ap- pear a» UA as his RcictiBcr. or the viadicitor of his ianocPHte, aod rsJtort Ma -Jg*ia »o a CiiXt cf healih and vigDMr; which in the o:ndii(ioti ct his hiftory wf f.ad he a(fi-iiallv did. Aa ingeaioui wri cr on the bo„Ic of Jub traBflifS this pall»gc as fJIowj *' For i Rqow that my a^cBgcr Uveiti, and iK^st he will at Uft flaad oa the earth; and althoigii ray fk>n be to; a in this man- ner, yet in uy flc.^i rhall I lee God, wh a I fliill fee oa^ my fide »s oiiae eyes hare btheid nim, for ha is bo ftfkngcr : »y reins within me arc ready to faiat with longing for him." b«t although wc ihculd fuppofe Job to allude here to the fttiurt rt;« revTtion; yet, as he h4d BO tiplicit knowledge of the deft iies oi the Gof- prl, Bothing tariher could ba drawa from this p^fTagf, but oQiy his bclict that Go.^ vou!d £it iwine feisre dif- tact period, ra.fc him from the dcaJ, make hii iano- ceoce appear, and abaidftStly re was d bina for his fuf- feriags. Fo apply this paffage to Jfefas Chrifl, from the ir>erc fo«nd of the word Rcdecrfitr ia cur Eaglifh Terfioa, is quuc cxiraragant. For Jehovah, or G >d the Father, is iu varicai places of the old T^^^nitnt, ftylcd the Re- deemer or deliverer Oi t-i? psopie. Sec Pial cxxxvi. 24. Scz, Pfal ii 7. ** I will dccUrc «hs decree the Lord haiii faid unto me: thou art my Sea, this d:iy h^vc 1 b.'gotiea thee " This pface has b:cn allcdged to prore, the lup- polcd eternal geaeraiioQ *h!ch the rriBitariaai afcribc to Jefos Chrift : but it has not the Inisallcfl reUtion to that fubjcfl. Thi gtneratijH here fpoltca of, is a gcneraiioa performed at biuc particular lirioe *' this day have I bigoi- tea thee," br.t an tttfrnAJ generation can eerer be fixed to my period; but muft always be performiag and yet ntpcr performed. W« fiad this pafTage appli«d in the New lefliiaicat, to ibc rclurc<5>ioa, the cxaltiticn, and FiUAhood ( 127 ) Fiwfthooi cf C\it\(\. Aftv x'o. ij^, 33. <* And wc c?2- cUrf untd you gla4 tidiagi, ho^ that the pr^mile vhich wst flaainc< cbt«:ncd a bctc cxcclleat Dacae thxn tfccy. For Mnro ^hirh of- ths Aagcli laid hi at any ii?Tje, ihou iri my S-^, this day haT« I begotten thee?" Hcb. r 5, So alfo Chrift giorifi«d not himfcif, to be i&fids aa high pr.eft ; but he:th«t ftid »ato hiffl thou art my Soi, to day h*v« i' b^gr/tica thee." Pfal, xx.T. 7. 10. " Lift up yosr heidf^ O ye g»tei, attd 1^€ ye tift cp, yc eTer]»f^ing'do(jr«, aa^ tiat king of glcjy (hail come is — • — Wbo is thii kiug of glory ? The Lcrd oi hefts, he is the kiug of glory " Becaufe ia I Cor. ii 8. Chrift is Oykd ** the Lord of Gloiy;" thcrctcrf , iome of otr •pponeats hare ecnclvded, that he is the Kiug of Gloryj and Lord of Hofls rnentioaed herd aod that this pn flags relates to kis alceahon into hcaTca after his reltarrcflion. But xhere is no coaiic6lion be- twixt lhcl« two place* of fcripture. The kiag oi Glory lD*itioscd m the Pl^ltns, if Jchfivah, the GcJ of Ifratip the Father ot ChriA: and the Lord of G!©ry mentioDcd by St. PauJ, i^ bis Sob, wbo was CfMcIfied. Nor daes this place of $«ript' re refer to thfafceitiiioB and exiltatlon of Chrift ' bat to the remor&l ot tl e ark iroin the hoifc of Ubed f dom, and its bciag placed with gr^at triampll by Da?iTai. Ixxxia, 3. 4. .** I hAvc »a*i« a cjv^caat wah i^y c}>orfB, I havs fworn unto D^.vid ray I'.iTaa!, Thy f«*d will I eft'.biiih fjr ev«r, aaj buiH «p iliy tJ)l»3« *<^ iiii g«otratioa»." $e« alfo I ChrcQ. xvii, i2. 14. There is uotbiog harfh ia thFs Trasfiation, aai th« orig^aal will Tery wtil bear ii • as boJh tK« Hebrew ftod rh«j Gicek arc.irBVr?»o'Js. Bv»t adflajtu.-g the proj>v*.*t7 o» '"^lae common ttauflatian, our caufc wlil Eoi be alTit^.d by it ia th< leatl : for Chiift U only €«}lcd GoJ lKr« in the inferior fcoie, btcavfc he ii fiprcwTiW f'.iii to hcv« 1 God; who «n accauat of his hivift^ iovei rigHtconfiuf* a»d hstcd iniqaityj haj anoiaUd fciim with \hc oil of gisdocfs abovi his fcilowj, (Gr.. METOCHoi, ftilcj^vs iJr parinars) that is iboTf ail ihofe, whether <^ngei» or M^^q, who hivt fided offices of dig»it7, authoii*y, aad truA ; aad aay b« calUd Gods in the iaferior ac««ptatioa of the word. This pafTagc thca, (luppofiJig the coiHiaeo iranfluion to be j'jft) is lo far fro:n iaTaiidatiag onr iyil:«n», thai it flrengibeas a&d confir.os it ia tie flrcDgtft terras. It (hawB, thit the ■word God wuca ?pj>Iied to Ciiiift ia th« mod prccciib aad folcma manner ij caly to b« undetftood in a qua- lified add limted fciifi; and that there? i« a God over him and fijperiot to him, wH9 Tor hit difliiguidud fidelity, and tQBin.-at attach aa*n: to th« cauls ot righteoafncft, ha« b«ca pl-'ifed to advaacc hi;n 10 a more txahcd aud il- luHfioiii Tiaiiun, ihaa he fits ihoagbt (it to coafer upon aoy ©thcr b*iag. What a mciR awwoithj ariifica is ii in ilic rriQrtaiiaas 10 fay, that *' Thy throac God if ( 129 ) IS for e?er and «7«r, Set** is to ht undirfloofi of tHc fup- pofed div,«c natert of Chrift; aa.^, thit ** thou H^ft loved rig tcoiliefj aid hattd i.iiqaity, &c " rifpcas his f e- maa nature. This is fhifiing tJif p€r!oa of Clviib j^H: as it fuits thdr owa priicip!e$; and gro£ fly per 7.j ting the words of fcriptUff. Neither th- Pfalaii^ nar the author of this Epiftic, f«rBi;h any haadle for an int«r- prttation of this kind. Th«y fjBcak of tht Sjh a>oae fioglc ftg«Qt, or beiag, who at th« faais tin* that his ihroae is «nablifh«d for erer aad «v,r, is alfo anointsd by his Gad with tht oil of gladnefs iboYc his fel- lows. Pfal. Ixflii. 1 8* *' Thou haft afccnded on high, thou haft ltd captivity captlrc : thou hafl received gifts tor men ; yta for the rsbellioas alfo, that ths Lord God might dwell among them.*' Wc fiad this pafTigc ii part q«otcd by St Paul. Epk. iy. 7. 8, " Bat vn^o every one of us ii given grace, accordinjj to the meafure ot the gift of Chrift. WhcicFerc he faith when he afccnded up on high, he led captivity captiva and gave gifts uato men. This pafHigcwas originally fpoktn of God, whom David celebrates it beaniiful metaphorical hngnage; as having fubducd sad carried into cipnvity the ent mies o\ his people ; and afterwards as afceading into hfav«a like a triunaphant conqncror laden with fpoil ; and dif- penfiQg gif's and botaRti«6 upon his people; and cvta to ihoie "^ho had fortxerly been rebelioas. The Apof- tie 2CConJn50':iiit2S this figurative pafTagc of the Ffalmifl to Chriftj and reprefcnti hiei in lik« maai^r as leadiag into captivity »ill tht Spiritual ensmies of chriAIans: and bcilo'^'ing giffs and graces upoa xhz chnrch ot clifftrcnt kinds, raifiog feme to the rank of Apofilcs, others of Prophets. EvaDgslifls, PaOors, and Teacher^: fnd fil- liog sU ihing', that is aRimsiing, con^'u^iHg, and guid- iQg that body, of which he is the head. CferiO: was enabled to do this in confrqyence of vhe prooaife of ths Holy GhoO, which he received ©f the Father, and fhcd- furih in an emiaent degree, upon his fufl followers. Tha ' allufioti of the Apyftic is exceedingly elegant, b»t is bo ( -s* ) mor9 thxB an aIIuIioq to, or aa tllegoncil laterpretatioa of the wurds ct David. It is nut uDulual wi(h the lac cd writtrs, to apply tadls and circumftanccs «fider the JeAifii dirp&Blau<^a, to th« ^Utc ot thiai>s und«r the ChiUti«a: thus the words of Hofea, Chiip. xi i. *' VVhcB >riHci,wai A child, then I loved him. aad called wy ijQ ami of Egypt; " which are plainly fpokca or the wbo!« bo'L^j of- Jtw6, that came out of Egypt under the coaJutH: of Moics; ar« applied by bi Matthew to the rctMfft of our Lord Jefui Chrifk from that coiarry. Math. ii. 15. *' That it might bs fnifilled which was fpokcn ol the Lo:d by the prophet, oat ot Egypt have 1 called my Son," h is then a very crroDeooB coDclu- (jan, IB iotsLQ of our cppoQcnts to icaagiae, that a whole VU\m is applicable to Ciirift, becaulc part of a verfe is acconamoJatcd 10 hiiii, Nay, thougfe it were granted, thiJt thu v Chrift before his refurrc^tioa from tfee dead ; und thcrefure that the p-iflTige is the Pfalms ii aot applicable to him, in its Ov\£t and primary fsjile. If Jefns Chrifl had been the one true God, cr equal lo hini, he w.^iuid nof haTc needed at^othcr to have fubJ£Giftcr tor liitm who should be heirs oF Jaivati an. la laorr, the AiJgcl.-. bctiftg eomtniuded by God to worfiiip Chrift, •or pay hi *) huiJige, dcjotsj; nothiug iDors, tnaa what is cxprcded io other places or fcript jre, when it is aftirm- ti, •' that God fhc Faih«r idK d him from the dsid, «sd iet hiai at his owq right ha«d in the hcaVraly places i far above all princip^jlity, and power, and might, aud domiruoa, and every uame ih it is oamed not oq!y ia this worlii, bat aifa :n that which is to carr.^ &c Eph. i. 2c« 2 1. Sec ai(o Phil. ii. 9. 10 11 iPct. iii. 2r. 22. Some Itarncd n^eo have been cf opision, that the a»ithor cf ihs Eplftie to the Hebrews ia regard to the pafTage we have bcea coafidtriag, does not refer to the Plaicss but to the Scptaiigint verfioa of Deut. xxxii, 43; where the wordi {profkiiatf to^an aufo pantes aogeloi I heou/' let all the aogeis of Goi worfhip hini,»' occur, and whicl» are aot to bt met wiih in owr prefeiit Kebre«^c:pic . Bat whether this be the cale or Bot, the naea«ir«g ©f the writar ot this Epiftie; eao be no other ihao what we Iiave before «xplaiiiri» Pfal. cii. 25. ** Of old has thou laid the foucdatioa of the earth' tad the heavcas arc the svork of thy hauds. They (hall p^rifh bat thou (halt endure ; yea all of them (hall wax old iiks a garmeac ■ as a vcflurs (hill ihoa change thetn, and :hey fnall be chasged. " Bat thou art the fame, and thy yean (hall have bo eod. This is qaa- ted in Heb. i. 10. ir. 12. *' And thou Lord ia the licgiaciag &c." The Triaitariani afTert, that this pafTigc is applied to Chrift; and that h« h the Lord who ia the bcgiGDing laid the fooadations of the earth &c. But if m coafidcr atuatirclj ths miaaer ia which this q«o- tailofl ( 133 ) tation is introdnced ; we fliall End that it is not tpplicablf to him: bnt is ooly alle(*gcd to prove the ftabilify of his Kicgflom. The acthor of this Epiftic havicq told xa m the prtceeding vtrfej, that the throne of Chrift or the Sod, is for ever and ever 1 and thi;t btcjiwfc he h«d loved righteowfBefs and h^'ted iciquity, Therefore G®d, evta his Cod ; had anointed him "with the oil of gladnrfs ab >ve his ftllow?. ; adduces this pafl";.'ge, in order to {hew th« eertainty and fcibility of that throne cr kingdom, to ¥^hich the God of Chriil had raifsd him. ArH ihou O Lord, even thou of whom I had been fpfaking as th« God of Chrif^, hnfl in th« bcginsing laid the four dations ©f the csrrh Sec. The kisgdom of Chiift may therefore be confidercd as refliisg en a folid foundation, (ttieg it was fffablifticd by thcc who srt tke author of all nature, whofe ptifcflions arc Bcchingeablc and eternal, and who fhall continue to exift, when the Fabric of the U^ivtrfc itlclf fhall w«x old and decay. ' All the other qyioisiioBS is this chapter have prefixed to them. *' An-J to the ' Son he faith or '* Again," which fiicws that the spcftic intended an applicatioi or allwfioa. Bet this citation, ii brought in abruptly without awy preface or applicatics, «poB the back of anatherj and after the Apcflle h^d bcea [peaking of the God of the Sob; fo that it is Ur more Datura*]y referred to the Father, than to thiin-. In fhort, (to make ufe of the words of an able wiier) this pafTage, ** feeros to be a declaration of God'» ira- *• mutabiiity made here, to afccrtaiB the ^rsrablencU of '* Chrifl's kingdom bfeforc mentioaed: and the rithtr (o, ** becawfe this pafTagc had been ukA originally for W.c *• lame parpofc in the cii, Pfalm viz. toisfer ihfscc " this conclBfiSB; ver. ult. **thf children of thy fet vasts «* fhall c^ntliue, and their feed b« eflablifhtd before ** thee." Ib Wkft manner it here proves the Son's lhrcn« *• fhould be effablifbed for ever and ever by the fame " argument, viz, ky Gods imimutability; and fo was *' very pertincnrly alkdged of God ; witho«t being ap- ** plied lo tbe Sob ; to fliew how able h'n God, who an- ** ointcd him, was to make goed and mam rain what *• he ( 134 ) " he htd granted him, viz. a durable kicgdoa for «« ever ' t prsl. ex. I. The Lord faid unto my Lord, fit thin at my ri?,ht hand, until I make thiof eicmics thy foot- ftooL'* Ma-h xxii. 41 to 45, ♦ Whtlc tht Pharifecs were gathered together, Jcfu^ alk> d theoa, fayiig, w'^at think yeotChrift? Whoff Soa is h« ? They fay iaro him, the Ion of David, He faith uato them: how then doth Darid in (p'rit call him Lord, layia^^, Thf Lord laid 0*510 nay Lord, fit thiu on my right haad, till I make thine en- cmice thy footftool ? if David thea call hiin Lord, how is he his Son?" Heb. i. 13 " Bui to which of iha Aegels faid hs at any tisij, fit on my right hand, uatH 1 make tkiae enemies thy footftaol." In car comoion vcrfioa, as svell a^ in the Greek of the New Teftameat, there appc:irs no difF;ireBC!: in the I'ltles given to God the Father and to Chrift ia the ex P(a!si. ** The Lord laid uiito ray Lord," This might iead *a unlearned and iaconfiderate reaicr to fuppoie, th.it thej Were b )ih Lords in the very iame ienfc. But ia th« He- brew original, there is a ftcikiog d]fFer«nce ia the lan- guage The cxpreffioa is t!-\cre, Jehjvah lad-jni, thit is to fay, the f)Ver<:ign, feU cxiftcnt, and in 'cpesdcat beiog, laid wato my Lvird, the MeiTiah or Chrifl. The word A DON, ^y which the Mefliih ig here charaftarifed, lignifics any Lord or mafter what ever; aad is appliad tu Poiiphar, Joleph, and others, in the Old T*ftemcnt. Chrift was the Son or Dtrid according to tirnal defeent, sad he is David's Lord or Mafl«J5 ) wifdora fpokfB ©f by Solomoa, ^eaot«i Jefoj CKrif!, aad reprcfcnrs his eternal ex itence as t diYinc pcrioa io th« Godh«iid. Bttt it ws coafiicr the coutext, w« ihtll fiod fh.^.t tso real agent or psrfoa is here fpoken uf, ao4 thit Soloiuon in leaded a«thiDg more than to reprckat the auribuK of wirJom a$ tWc (priiig 9i iftioa in th« Deisy, prel'disg over hi« works, nad orderisg und eif- pcfin;; 2ii fhc pirts of cres'.ios in ihc inofi ex.-dUut ^od judicious mcumcr. For id the bcg'msisg of ih^s ch^ptfr, this wifdoTE is chzTu£\:t\iic'\ as a (cm^Ifi being, attd coyp- led wirh undaiftarjding. *' Doth sot wifdcm cry? jiud i8Dderfe»n."?jfij7 ^u? fartli her vcice ? She (Ijodcth ia the top of high plsc€8, by tke way in ti t places of the parh^ She crieih at the g^ter, it ih« entry of the city, at the CG»a>ing ;a nx the doors/' ."\gain Ver. ii. 12 * For \?ifdo?a I* hst €r than rubies; xcd all the things that itiy b? drfiicd ar« not to b« compared to it. I wif- dotn dwell with pruaknce. and fia-i out knowledge of witty invrTitions, Sec." From thefe palTsges h is, c?»deat, that \h9 wU^dom m^ntioacd by Soloitoa is not a peifoo or ao intcilecftual being, bat m atrribut?, property, Tir- t'jc, or qni'tty. It is iadccd a moft bia«tifui pfofap-jpnii, or perfoiiiiicatioD. b«t nothing more. B»t if it coold ha admitted that any real pcrfai or being wa? iotctt'edi ia thit p3ll«gc; aad tkat that perfon was Jtfas Chrift 1 y«t the caufi of o«r opponents would derive io adr^a- ti^gc from it. For this luppofed pcffon, ii plaJDJy dif- tiiir,a.fhed from the Lord or jehcvaH, aad k< is (aid to pollers hiiTi : nnj although hf h hid to have bsao let up from crerlafting, Vtr. t^, yet this is «iplaifted aad re- flrjftci by the vrsrds foilowiag, ** from the beginaiflg, or ever th« earth was; which fhtws that a Ari^ agd provcr cUrniry is not TBfxnt ; but coly that ht exiil^d br!d was prodacsd. Yea, in ver. '25. it is affirmed, that he was browghl fofh. before the hills; which plainly denotes ihat he ii not eternal; b;:i that ht w:»s pryftiic«d or brought isto being st (oir-t particular peri',>d ; ia'thc eternity that preceded fhs creation. It is proper 10 nute here, that tkc ftptusgiat traDdute, Vcr. 22* ( 137 ) 12. '* TK« Lord pofftfled me in the b«gmniDg of hh wav*' Kudos cktili mc archcii hoaon, iha» ii, (< Tke Lord ci^catcd mc ia the begianiDg of kig ways, Pro. xxXc 4. " Wko hath afcaoded up into hct- Tcn, and delcendcd. Who hath gathered the wiada in hi» fifts. Who hath bound th« waters ia a gar- ment. Who hath cOabHfhed all the cods of the earth, "What is his n:;mc, and what is his fons name, if thoa caaft tell.'* ThJ^ pafiage, has been foaietimcs biouiiht ia- to the controvtrfy conccrniBg the divine Uahy j aUhoagh it has not the fmaiUft relation to the lubjc6t. Agur' is BOt (peaking here of God bat of Man. it w. .uld be ri- diculous to mppofe Agnr, to challenge the Jtws to uU him the aame of God. Every Jew knew very well, thai the aaoie of the God of Ifracl was Jehovah : pfal. Ixxxlii, 18. ** That mca miy kaow, that thou whofe name alone is Jehovah &c." Agar here profeflTes his own ignoiance of the works of God ; aad chaliebgcs any pcr- fon to produce hiai the case of a ir^ao, or the aame of his fon, who underltood the whol« lyilena ol natare, aad could fully cxpiaiu it. It is ia fbis wsy that a learaed writer paraphrafes this paiFage. '♦ Who is he among all the (( wife men, that ever Vfcut up iato heaven acd came dowa *• again, to tell us the order asu motion of the itars.— — «< Wko but God hstk tyed up th® wavsi of the fea, that *« they fhould aot exceed their bo«ads ; and who ksth ** fixed the eai'ih,— By what name is he called, that can «• cxplaiis tbcle thiagsj ©r if he fee dead, what is the ** Dame of his ion or his family, that we may eoquire of V them.'* llaiah vii. i. 9 lo. ** I faw alfo the Lord fitting up- on a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple &c,— — And he laid, go and tell this people, hear ye iadead, but underft.^nd not : nnd Ice yc iiidtcd, but p«rc*iv« not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make thtii cars heavy, and fliut their eyes ; leit they fee with their e^es, aud hear with their ears, and underftand with their heart* a«^d convert and be healed. '' John xii. t ^P' F^^tiiwk. 39. ( >33 ) 39 43^41. ''Therefore they could not bdievc, bc- CJiuic that Efiias fiiid agiiii, he hath bliuJed ihtir cy«$ and hardtncd thcrir heart; th»t they (tioold not Ice with their cy.s nor uad»riUnd with their henri, and be con- Tuted iiUii I {Viould heftl thcna. Thefe tlirgs (aid Efa- inS uhm he Uw hit gl ^ry, and fpake him. From thtfc two p aces C'^aapur^.d together, oar opponents infer, that our LortI Jelus Chtift w.^s the Jehovah that llaiah l;iMr, filiiog the ttmpJc wi h his fran &c. But in the fii ft pl«cc, i( may be iaii agaiali this inference, that the tx* pre lion, '* hi« rI- ry." may be more properly retcrrcd to God the Father than to Chrift. For in ihc xxxviiii vcrle of this chapter Si John had been qaotiag ifaiah liii I. " Lord who hath believed our report, and to whom haih the arm of the Lord bt«n icT^alcd; which pflfT-ge cert.»laly rdans to God he Father, bccaufe the Prophet adds, that he (the Mtflji.^h) (hall g-ow up be- fore him a» k tender plaot, Now thi« I eiig the cafe, the words '*hi8 glory" mofl be cocGdtrcd as ic- lating to the glory of tnnt Lor!\ \\z. the Father, of whooj St John h..d bicn fpcaking before, and fo the ob- jcif^icn wiil be wholly reaaoYcd. But fccondiy, admit- tiag that the words, 'his glory," are to be iotcrprcted ot Chriif, 'n will not toliow that he was the Lord of hoftt that Ifaich faw ; for Ifaiah my be (aid to have iet^a the glory ot Chnft beforehand, by the fplrit of prophecy, according ro the obfcrvation of a learned writer. ''Thefi f things (aid Elaias when he faw his glory aad fpake of ** hies. I he true mca-iig is; when Efai.« (Ch.vi. i) law •' the gli^ry of God the Father rcvcaliag to him the ** corcirtg of Chrift, he then fsw ths glory of him who •* was to cornc ia the glory cf his Father, Math xvi. ** 27, E;aias, ia beholding the glory o^ God, and in •* rcctivinf, from hioj a revtlati-jn of the coming of Ch.iff, •* faw , tiiai is, forelaw) the glory oi Chriil, juft as Abra- *' haiT. (John viii. 56 ) i;iW (that ij, toreiuw) his dar, •• and was £!ad." f But in the third p!cc«J. it Is nscrfhry to reraaik, that the connraon reading ot this pai]apc is f-r trtn being abfolatcly certain: tor there are *nir S Greek t Dr Claik's works, Vol. 4. p, jS. Lo.:d. 1738, ( '39 ) Greek Mas^fcriptt, tbtt either rtzd, »' the glcry of Cod,'* or, •« the gkry ot hj« God ; " ind f^o orica-'' tal vcrfioni reodwr this plsec *' the glory of his God/' which readingi, occcfr»irly retrain ihe wcrd« to God the Fithcr. t Ifaiah vii. 14. " Behold, a Virgin Hull conttive, sad tjcar afoa. and (hall c»li his nimt flifcOjtBici.'^ Math. i. 23. *• Behold, * Virgin ftjuU b« wiila child, lod (lull briflg fcrth a foe, nvid thry fiuil call his »stic Eiuman- »cl (irhith being inicrprcud, is God with a^") The cxprcfiiOD EEmntnacl, C ©d wiih ur, dc«i not dcEOte fas wc bf^^fore rtsjaikcd, p. 47. ia the act©,) that the child ■who wai bora of" a Virgia, (tIz. our Lord Jefas Chrift) W£$ God, or that God was iocararte in him, which is a thing abfolouly impoffiblc: hot it HQeass o»ly, that G^.d wculd reveal or mar.ifcd kimf«U to bis people by Je^u*; and be prelent wiih him ia a pccaliar and txiraordicary Qiautj«r. Chrift was the great fOiba-^ador or meiTcpgcr ot God th« Father 10 maa, and the Father dwelt so him aod caabled him to perform all his •nriiracuioas vcrks. The Btb'ew word El alTo, makes a pari cf oibir camri^ ia Icr^ptarc befiJes this prophetic name which St. Ma?htw aopiics to Chiifl* Thus Klihu ligcifies, he is my God, aad bliatha, thoa art my Gcd i Uur no body ever imagiQeJ Jrcm this, that iha t The i^faBufcrip^a which exhibit thcfc readis^s are, the Leicefter Ms. Gale's in the rairgin, Stepen's B. and the celebrated Cambridj;e Ms. which is of g;fat antiqniiYj a^d which reads ia the Greek pari, "the glory of God," and in the Latia, *' the glory of l^is God." The two orieatal verfiocs arc, the Ccptic, and later Syri«c Terfioo, Sec Mill tad VV«ift«iii ia loco* Dr Harwjod was io fuily perfuaded, that the coaimoo reading c;f this place was erroacon?, that he hu changed ir. and gives the text as follows ia cunformity to the Canebricigc Ms. 1 aura de tipea Efiiis hort cide tea doxaa tcu Tiilou. kai clalcfe pcii au:cu, that is, *« Thefc thirgs taid Efaias whca he law God's glcry, »ad fpalu ot h'yji.'[ Harwoad's Gr, Tcfl, Load, 1776' C 140 ) the mea who Wfr^ fo called, wcrt rca!!y d'lTint pfrfaai.' In fliort ths were imf2»Qu«l is no proper niaw of Jcfai Chritl; fir we c-«er lind that he called kimUif lo, tr thftl a^y body cile ev^r did io the Gv4»«l hiftoif ; »nd therdojt it it oiiy to be coafidcrci a* eetlaiauvc of whac Go.'i would pcrfurai by hiiii. "^ If*iah ¥iU. If 14. ** Saaflifv the Lord of hoftf himlclS snJ Lt hiftt be your kar, and let hi^a be yoar drcAil ; &nJ he Paill be for a f in^Stuary, but for a ftoac of Uaiiibling aed rock of off ace D boih hoisfcs of Kracl." Roiii' ix. 33. '* ^^i it is Wfiit n, bcnolvJ, I lay in Zion a <\ ^pjb.iag (loae, a.id a rock of oiTcncc! ani vhofocrcr b«!»«?<;thoa hivn {li.iilnf.oiQfad head ovt r all things to his church, and the j-idge of ail mankind; •\i>gcl« authorlti?i tad po.tcri alCj being maie febje^ anto hiai : it will not app :ar it all forprifirj, that he fhould be called, '* a migiify God," cfpeciilly, in the baU. figuratirc, and highly poetical laagnigs of Ilaiah. Mofei was made a God «ato Pharoah, t-xod. Tii I. ** S«« I haTt made thee a God to Pharaoh. '* Acgfls art ftylcd Gods. Pfal, xcTii. 7. «« Worfhip hla A\ ye God*;." Kiogi and M3oy:: utii^- ■i^bj, ih the ige to cofflC;,, sod WiHich is in ft^oit to per form CTtry thWifj that is here prephtclcd coactraiag him. \^ hen ibeie Uft Trordi are fiksi ir c^jnGe^t^.a 'j&iih the rdl of tfee prophecy as they erer ought to be, this paf- f^gc icflcad of weakeniog will bs fosn4 ftrangiy to con- ii aa tht: Uttitirian dloftriwe. 1 hsie are ionac who laf- isg ^fid. th« hebrtw wowtl poiEi^, teft«lcr the wo' di, migh- ty God Farhffr if the age ev€ilai,>* a Arong or taighiy God, asd all the other vetUoQ? in Waltoa's Polygbt bible have fomcthiDg s^BivalcDt to it. t Bifhop Lowth ia kit ae^ tr iflflatioa of Ifaiah ren- der j. ( M4 ) IfJah XXXV. 5 6. " Bcbo^J josr God ^^ill com^f \>iih Tcngcanc*, cvt.i God wi:h a rccompcnce, he Tviil cctne and lav* ten Thca tht eye* ot thr bind (hAil be opcrei, aiivi ih« e^ri oJ th« rf«if fhall bt unft(,ppeJ. TiicQ &Eil ilie ism^ m?n leap as in hart and the ioiit,tt« of thj dumb (liall fufg " Math. xi. 4. 5. ** Jcfoa «n- Iwcrtii icd faid urr© ilum, go aid fti&w John «g"in thulii ih'ngj; r.'hich yc do bear led ke ; tht bliid rtc«j>e their fi;?ht, and ihc '•"ne walk, the lepers »r« clfante^] t^jd th« detif hisr 5:c.'* God U « ^hen Chrifl ap- peared, becaufs he cam'? in the Father's Dame and aflffcl bf his suihority ; asd the Father was the author ot u]{ ChrifK*8 miracolaus works. Jaha viii. 42. ••Jtjoi h\d unto ihcoB, it God wrrs joar Fathtr, y« woold hta me: tor I procttdcd lorth, and came from G«d ; nei- ther caiae 1 of caykU, but he Tent me.** John r. 43- dcFS, Chap, ix 6. 7. as foHowJ. ** For nit* is a ehili f* is bcrn ; uLto ua a , cx^'cp ing that the words, * the naightyGod *, raight hive befen more properly rcsdertd ' a mighty God, as the cr.'cinal words arc co: H[:i«l Hagglbbor, which cccur Jtr xxxii. 1 3. butElGibbor. ( MS ) 4;j. '• t s« come is my Father's, name, and ye rcce* iff «? not '« Joha vHl i6< ** My Judgement is true ; for I am aot aloof, bat i and tht Father that icnt me. Verfc 29 •• Aud he iha- [cat me, is with mc: the Father bath not left me aIoB« : for I do alwayi thofc things th«it pkte him.«' John xIt. 10. *' Tht words that I Tpaak QDto you. \ fpeak cot of ray myfelf; but the Fiitker that dweilcth ift tnehc dteth the works. lUith xl 3 ** The Toice of him thtt cricth in the wildcr«eii, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make ftraight im the defart a high way for cur God. Math. iii. 1.3. «* In thole days came Joha the Baptifl, preachiog in the wildernefs of Jiidea. For this is he that was fpokea of by the prophet Efaias, laying, the Toice of oae crying in the wildemefi, prepare jc the way of the Lord, make his paths (Irtight. L»ke i. 76. *' And thou child fhalt l»e called the prophet of the highcA : for thou fhalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways. Math, xi. TO, Mark i. 7 Adls xiii 25. The obfcrrations of or Lord quoted in the lafc article, le&d as at once to the true intcrprctaiica of thcfc pafTages. God is faid to cciac wheo Chrifl made his appearance, aad John the Bsptift it f«d to be the prophet of the higheft, and to go before the (ace of the Lord. For as Chrift afted la the worldj it the name, aid as the embafTador of the Father ; and is the Fathtfr was ever prefeiit with him in anextraoidinary manner: Joha ihc Baptift i» going before Chrifl, may be rery properly faid to hare goac before Cod. ifalah xl. 10 "Behold, the Lord will come with flroDg hand, aad his arm fhall r«le for him. Behold his reward is with him. Rev. xx" 12. •' Behold I (Jefas) cosio (juickly, and my reward U with me.*' It is not prcbab't, that trstre is any conct J..:hB xviii. ** 20. 21. This therefore was cnc remarkable i»ftacci ** of hardfli'p snd injuAice, among others, predifled by ** the Prophet, which oar Saviour ooderwtnt in ^is ** trial acid lufftriags. St. Puul likewife, ia fiajilar •' circumibnces, ftanding bsforc the Judgc;iu*Et *' meRt feat of Feftas, Icetas to complaia of th« fame " unjull ireaicDeBt ; thai uo osa was called, or would ** appear to vindicate his charadler. ** My aaaaocr of " life (ten BiosrN mou, H.b. Doro,) from myyaaih, ** which was at the fird among my own laticn ar Jcivi- ** falcm, know all the Jews ! which knew me from the ** bsgioing, if they woalU teillfy; that after the ftraiteft " feft of oarreligioa I lived a Pharifce^' Ad* xxvi. 4. 5, Do^ (in Hebrew) figaifies age, daration, the lijue, whlcli oBc maa or mauy togeth«r paiu in thi* woild ; iQ this plage, th«; courle, tenor, or manier of life. 1 h« verb DuR fignifies according to Caflcll, ** oidi- natcm vitam five a^taten cgit, ordiaavit» ordine " conftitoit.'* " Ipfam -Kerux, Prasco ; et hccc verb* dicent : Ule ** exit occidifadus morte ilia, quia iraofgrcfTui «ft iranf- ** greffione ilia, in loco ilio, tempore ilia, et funt ejui ** rei iefl«s ilie ct iilc. Qui ncvciit aliquid ad ejuf •* infloceatiam probaudaai, vcniit, tt loquator pro co," ( ISO ) *• connUmt.'* In Arabic, " carstit, idminiftT'iTir.** t Froca the light tiiii leaned writer has throvn iipjm this pA^Tvigt, and the tiappy illuftrtflon h.t hsi girsa of if \t appaars ihai Ifauh inteadcd nothiag more, butt mcfireiul complaint of the injufticc dooc to Jtfut i» hij coB'icmnation ani crucifixloo, uiihout lUowir.g hiai tj.» privUedgci o? his CodGtiT. '« He wis tikcn (i4\e tix Frophct) trom prilon and from Judgrmcui: and hit iL-anaer of life who ihall dccUrt." The iuDocsnt Jcfui w^s hunied from the place of judgement to th« pU^.* o£ puniforceat, withcat any pyblic crytr atteuing him * »Dd without any cpportonity ot vindicatiag ktii charsfler or making his innocerce appear. 1 he co»rtoa forms of the Jewifh law, which ctco the iBoft notoriouj; crimi* nals enjoyed the bentfit of, were riolitcd ©n thii ocCi^rion: and BO perfiii either appeared or w^i ccfired lo appear, to (peak in bshalf of oar Losd From thia txplic:a of tht Soa of Ood, fall at once lo the Grojiad like the bifeUls ft- biic of a Yifion. Jerem xxiii, 6. 7. ** B«hold the dtyi eomt Gith the Lord, that I will raife HUto David a rightcout bracch, aod 1 Kiag Iha'l rciga and prolpsr, and ftiall execute Jufticc and Jttdgsment in the earth. In bi« days Jndah &»li be (-red, aad ifrael (liail dwell faftly; and thiiis his nanac whircby ha (hsli be called, " the Lord oar rightLOilacfs," (Heb. «* j-t-iovih Tiidkenia, i e, Jehovah our rightt^oinels." ) This place has been often pompoufly brought forward by our oppoacDti, as a proof that Jcfus Chrill it cxprtf- fly called Jchovah, and that therefore as Jthovah is the incomaaunicable name of God, he milt bt coafid^rcd as God equal with the Fiiiher, The learned Grotiui however was fo far from laying aiy peculiar ftrefs upcQ thji title, in the maaacr in which it here ocean, thac he fxplaint $ Bp. I^owtii's Nct«8 on Ifaiah p. 240. 24 !• ( 'S' ) cxpUioi thif fhcc of Znrobabjl, ard tlie rrfic^rsMon of %he J'Wf? alter the c*ptW:ty. There arc loyie lifo who think ihiispl cc o«ghi -to be ^Tar;fi4'sd. thus, •* this ii the oamc that the Lord { Jehovah fhaii csll )vm, o«r iigh coBlne(«.*' But admit tf.g the p'cp'ic'y of the com- toon rrliau(tn of this place, and alio that it is rightly ■ r plied to the Mcfllahj «h« conclunca that our op5>o- Bctits form froai it, wiil be twacd to l>c groandiefs and cr- !roneous. For wc fiud (lo verfc 5) that it is thf Lord or Jcnotih tt5»t \* to f'-nic up \»oto DaTid *' a righteous 't)ranch ; lud a king that ihaU r«;gQ and profpcr &c," 1 his br»BCfi and hi* kiog th«rretorc, uittft b« a difFtrent Thert ii therefore no more riafoa, for in- ferring ( iSi ) fertiag Uw dif laity of Chrift Uztt \ha wt? of fptakiflf * tli4» ibcrt i« f«?r rafaring the dlTimty oi th« city ©f Ja»r»ieni ; lod th« l^tftc trgiincat vill bt cqvaii^ coa- chifirc ia bwh c«(c5 f Micah V. i. ** But t'loB, Btth-lchcm Ephrwtah, tho* tho« he little aiflioag the rhottiaadi ot jwdah, yet oti> of tbce ftisii he C0JB6 ftirih uata mc i^9n b to b« ruler ia Ifcael : whoie golags f^?th lr&7C been hda af old tram cTtfUil^ing. This pjifTage h»g bc«» adduced to prove th«c cteriwl esiftctce of Chrift Bat it is by far loj flcader and prccanaas a ioendauoa, to build fo exc^^^pti- onabla a d6<5ltine upon. Tre original wordi are *fra:n the days of tDc age," which aay be uadcrftood to f^ai. f y, only a long iadtfiaite period ; bat by no means a pro- per eieraity. Bet tarther, th« Hebrew word Umo- TSATHA, which our iran.laiors h;xiii, i6 The Lord car righteonrnefi fig- «' BiFies, chat God will do gojd to m : for ri^hreoofcefs «* ia Hebrew ofccn mt&ot beaefiiecce; aid it if takes «* in this ifnfe by the Chaldec ioiirpreter V7hat it " here affiraicd of the people ot Ifraeh ii afterwards af- ** firmed of ihc ciiy ot Jcrafalcm, Jer xxxiii. 16. Dr Clack hat alfo the followiag remark on tkU pUc«. " The name Eiaenancel (Sod with as) and Je. •* hoTah Tfidk^Qu (the Lord our rigkieoulnel*) ani the •< like; prove nothiag more ii point uf arganacnt ihaa «* etei the Q^.mei of piices, J^htwab-JiVch, Jckwfah- '* Shamaiih, JehdY&h Shaloojj Jchohan Ni/n. ( '53 ) *' Kis defcelt ic ticicnt, from dlfttnt tlmtt, that •' b, he dttivts hif birth ficm a hoafc of iiluftrioss ** antiquity; who had been the r«igRing family for ** fivehiiftdrcd ycari" f And thii inicrprttatioo is th« IBote natural, becawfe th* prophet fpeaks of one who wai to appear at fon:e foturc period. The Chaldce paraphrafe render! this place, ** ^hole name has bccu told, or men. tioDcd from eternity; from the days of the age :'» and Calvin iiterprct^ it in a manner fonnc what f]mi\iiT, " ^hofe goiDgs forth have been decreed from the ^ays of eternity." But howeTer this place is ex* plained, no argument can be raiied from it to pro7< thefupreme Divinity of Chr'sfl; or his equality with tlae Father. For the prophet affirms coacirning the famt pcrfoo, Vcr. 4. ** that he fhsll ftind and feed in th« flrenghth of the Lord, io the m^]tf\y of the &ame of the Lord his Ged;'' which evidently insplies, whatever the An- tiquity of himfeif cr family may be, that he ii a depen- dent beieg; and fubjtft to the power of anotkerl For if fcc were God he wculd ftacd and feed ia his owo llrcngth j «nd would net need the iuppoit or alJlflanct ©f the Lord hiiGcd. Zcch. viii. 9 *« For thui faith the Lord of hofti, after the glory hath he (e»t ir.e «Dto the catioct which fpoiled yon; far kc that toHchcth you, toischcth the apple of his eye. Fer behold, 1 will ihake miae haad upon them, aad they fl^all be a (poii to ihclr krvant* ; and ye (hall know thit the Lord oi hoi\i hath fent me,*' Some Triaiiarisns have ifTerted, that the pctfoa who fpoke in this manner was Chiift. But there is not the letfl tcundatioD tor luch s fuppofitiGa. It appears from the context ver. 3. 4. that it was one angel who dcii- Yercd a 11 efl'agc ro another* The angel fpeaks fomc- timcs in his own charaiflcr, ai}d fomc times ia that of the fuprfcic being ; but declares a: the facie tinse that he was t •' Orlgo ipfi (Zorobaheli) ab dim a temporifeus " loBgis. Id fft, ©riginem trahii a dcffio illuAri ** antiqoitus, ct per quingeatos rcncs legnatrice, <* Grotiui. ( '54 ; was feet by him. ArgiaEeuts like thtfe ere hardly wcr- tiiy cf conrutatioi. Z«ch. iii. 1.2. " And hs fhewed mc Joflina the hi^h priill, flin iing before the Angtl of ih« LcrU, andl iyv.Ti?. flaadi'".^ at his light hand to rtfin: hlra. Atid th« Lord l^iJ unto Sat:ii* ; the Lord lebuku thc« Sa- tan, &c." There is no ground vrhattver to authorize the iuppofiiloo, that cur Lord jd'as Chriil vvai the fpeakcr hcr^, rcott ih«u in the la:! article h is cx- prcifly mcKiioacd ila.u it was ai lagcl who fp^ke, ?fid ^ ho u called Ji hovth, bicaale, he rcprclentsd hini oa tli;s occSi'ja', and ihis \i tlse uCuil pradlict of the wri- ters of ihfc CUi TtAameni, as we bwtore had sccafi n to rcroavk. Thit this angel was not Jthov^ih hiajft'lf is cviderit; becauf?, ke prays to Jahovah to rebukt or piinidi Satan, for «nd«avjuriDg to refiil him. Zch xi 4. re, " itt that da) faith the Lord they iltall look or m« whcra they have p-erccd." J*hQ x5x, 37, '"' They ilvJl lock on him (Chiiflj whom 'hey have p «rccd.'' It i« iDfcrrsd frcm thcfe piac€8 by Trioi- tar'RBS, that ChriA who hurg upon the crcfs and w;t ptcrctd, w;iS Jehovah But, that Js'aovah the fcit'exif- teat and indtp^ndcni beirsg, fhoiild Tuficr or dir, is aa iica too fiiocki.Dg and horrid to be ?.d.T.iucd And as St John exprttfly qaotes the pniTaga ia Zcchariah, ♦*rhfy ilinil loc'k oa i-ifP4, whom they hai's pierced; " we are warranted by the bed and mod uc£xception.ibI« Rtt.hority to fuppo'f, that a mi^skc Uss crept into Z3- charith, a»d that the crigioal reading was the fame as St. Jof'Q has quoted it. A osiflake of this kind might CAfily kappcn i& the the fiebr«w f9Xt, bscaufi, i!k fetter Vau which figaifita Hi m ; an j ths Urttr Jod, or YoJ, which fisjaifios m e, ref«mb!e oa« anocker Viry m«ch ; and thus ioi.;ht bs coafoundid by an incoafiierate tranl- cribjr. Bui the two Greek pionouns auton and me arc very difTcrtn*. and it is not naturil i»> lupfof*, that any ra'tl.ikc C3uid hiipprn ii regsrd to them. And tfic wo.di whi^h f'jllow ia Zechatiah reader this conJQ-Sturs lUll U ( ';s ) Uill mctz fTo'bihU ; for the propbct lids ** t' ey fcall mouinfor him,— — lad fhali be ia bistercefs for hi Mi Zfch. sHi. 7. <* Awake, O iVord, ^nalcfl: n>y flicp- l^crd, i»d sg^iafl the cnia that 1$ my ftl!«w, lalfh ih« Lord of hsP.j." This tc^ct b.i£ beea producid 35 a proef, cf th« eaiirs atjd abicb.t« equx'i y cf jefes Chrift with ^l>c Fsthcr. the original word Gf,^A:.ii thi hcwevcr, ^rhich oar tran.nar©'* hsis. rendered ** roy fiIio'<»'," it t«r from denov^ng a profar eqr.alify. It llgn^fies odIt, pre:s- iasuEp Df€um, ray ncighbowrj cr mj i,fitnd Tb« S.eptu2gin.t renc'tr it, politenmo.u, isny citizen, »B,d the Syrisc Tcjfi.>n hJ.s if, lasicum mccra, my t^i^f^d. A'^raham \7af CftHtd '*thc friend of God ; '> and pood s;cn trc faid to hs, f.fh. n 19. **F€:ncu' citi.zf bjs y. ith ih« Saints, iidof the boBiehi^id ot God." Is it «ny wonder th&a, that cur Lord jifui Chriil the well bclcred of the Fatljer-, fiipuld be ft] led the friend, farouritt, or r5cighbo,iJr, of the Lord of HoRs. But ii is proper to Gbi4,r7€, tbnt at tbc fani« tijic tirjat the dirias being calls tht Mcffiah hlg Nsighbour, cr his favourite, be calk hln alfe. '* his (hep- herd-'* u'l.ich rparks a Jubordina?* snd df p^sidcnt charac- ter; and lign\f.c$, that he hai eGirKllsd hira wiih the char^f cf his church asd ^«icp!e, hh\. iii. I " B*hofd 1 will Tea d it y tDsl^eng^er, aa.d h? fhill prepare -the way b?fof« mt : and ih« l-cd whooi ye feck, ibftil fuedeii'y ccrr.e to bis ter??pis : evt» the iBcfitDgcr tf il";e cov:Qa,nt, vybom le dclghi ia : Ixb'jld he fball eomc faith the L€>rd of hof'ts." There «rc two mefiengers^^ mcf ticjQid, here, sad the Lore] cf h-vi.'s ii plaioly dlAin^Eifhcd frara both. The fivll ffiflTeogcr i's Joha the Bapiifr, who ji faid to prepare t^^t Wii)\ before Jehovah, (as we bttorc ic.TiSrktd) bccasfc ha war, ihs Harbinger cf tb« Mifliah, v^ho, cnin* ia bis Father's isame, and afted by his CoaKifiio:^ nnd jJiithciiry. The fccord, is the MeffeRger of the corcrsnt, or the lord Cbrift hitarcH: ily]«4 Haadon. the Lord or the ruler, a titjt which tray b« ?.{>plied ta any Lord or roafter whauvfr; but is peculiarly applicable 10 the Mtfi'Mh, on account { 15^ ) accoait •f tV:« pawsr sad domia'oD thg Father hss in. v«ri«a hisi with f his Lord or ruliir ii jaici to toaic faddtny ta his temole ; or to that houfc of praysr %hich was r..)IciKaly dci.C4itd to tlic w-'-rTnip ?.Qd lervice ot his God aAd Father : iheVe to cclcbtaic hit oa8"ie, proclaira his peing aay ob- jcftion lo onr do^lrjct, itjpplicj as wiih « g )cd argvi- m€iit in f.4yi.>Uf ot ic; as the Lord Chr-Pc, or the governer that w from thz Suprcdc t:«;ng or ths i/j.d ©f H >/t.^ We h«r« noir c^aSdcrcd nad replied to the objes^ions of the Tiinic-iiflju toundt«J oa the Old Tefiacaeatl or that ancient revtlaiian v;hich Aloiighiy God was pka- itd to gir« his p€>pie ih« ]ew»> AUhough lomc of thcfe ob- jcDj, aaAj appter piauublc Had fpcciotis at lirft iight ?.o tho(c, who hart: bce« accaftorecd to andcrflaad the fcrip- tures in «9 erit^acju^. fcafe: yet, a«5nsof therinarc lolidj notid ot thcja are luffi:'«ot :d fluke the firm toaadnrioui* oa iffhich the Utiiu iaa Syl^«ui 1« grounded aud eftab'i.Qi- cd. All the piTagcs which give rife to ihcle objeflions, aic CRp&bk of i clear [oieiion ind fatJifaflorf *xy!ication, vrithDut tiding aay miajitural. violcBce t9 the lasguagt of th« ififpircd writeis: an J Oiaay oi them whca recoBrlc is had to the criG/n«l rexr ^ni the gcfsuiae reading; or whcQ they arc a *cniiv-«]y comptred with the Con- text, aad tke fcopc and i*j ten i 05 of the writrr, aiS fouBd to canfirsn thai Fai h wnich thsy v/eie fup- pcfcd to dellroy. in our next difcoarfe, ws fhail pte- dace thofe objjdlons of our opponents which arc lup- pofcd to occur iii tiic Evasgeii 'rs; aad we doubt not but ^'c (hall b< »b!c l» give ta equal!/ clear and hui'- faftory reply to them. No?/ t:j Jehovah the God of th« Uaivcrfe; the God of Abrsham, ifiac, aaci Jacob; the God of Mofci aad of the Propheic; the God atjd Father of our. Lord Jcfai Chrilt, b: tlcribcd ill glory and praifc tor ever, Amen. DISCOURSES GN THE DIVINE UNITY. DISCOURSE IX. John Chap. xvit. ver. 5. Ard ih's "n life e'crn?.!, thst they might ksc.v thee the oaly tru: Gtd, acd Jcfus Chrill whom thou haft ieut. 1 N car f«7ea*»h sod tighth dlfcoiirfes, w« cocfidared .1 aad anTwcrej The objcflioas of Trinltirlaws vahiek arc fouadfd oa difTircct phcfs of thi Did Ttnaroeaf, Wc propofe at prcirnt i» conforrouy to the plan wa l«id down, to reply to thoft objwflions which are fippofed to occur in the Eracgelill*. Some of thtfc obj^Oions, bcin^ either qa«>t«tioEs from, or references to the Old TeftameBtj whieh have been already difVinftiy coefidcr- ed, we (hall juft bx/cly nitctioB, referring ths rt»»^cr to ihc places where tha proptr aifwcrs are to be found. Math.i. 23. ** They Qiall call his nime EtssjaBbel, (which b«Ug interpreted 18 God with «*.'') Th?8 plaet was explained, Difcourfa. viii. p«pei39 140. iMath. ii 2. " Where is he that ii born king of the Jcw» ? for we feave (ecQ hi» Air ii the esH, end are come to worfiiip him.'' Jcfus Chrl0 is dtchircd by the Evjin- gelifts, 10 have btea vorfhipped by Oihera, btfides the Ma5>l or rt'ih mm from the e«ft; thus, che man who had bccD born blind worfkipped liicn, John ix- 38 ; ihuf, the .^poftlcs woiHi'ppcd him, L*k« xxir 52; end in hkc mantser the aagcls of 0«d arc coGBJCianded to Worfliip hint, or to be fubjs<5l to him, H*b, l 6. An argument ka« beeri forjued from thcfj pUc*"$, for tho proper divinity of GhtiH. Hi 510ft be Go j {aj our cp. ( 158 ) ponents, bfciafe h* wxs ▼/orfVliipci, Pat tVit «rgu- nieat i» qnite trivitl ; sal r«{\i tylely tpon ta« pr«{eat accrptt'toB of tht w©r«i worHiip, ia oir ItMg^ngt. This tcria ia the ©rig'nil ]*ns»;uge« in which ihc rrp»ur*3 were writUa, has a rfUii/c ngoificitioi axd Bseiniiig ; a ad i» iadilfrrcntly t;>pritd to deaoJc homage, rcfpcdt, and obiditnce, b3!h ia regard to God asd Mia. Sec I Chron. xk:x. 20 ** And all the tongrrgitiou bUf- icd the Lojd yjod df tScir Fath'rri, siid bowed d^-v.i tbcir heads, and worfhipptd the Lord and the King," Hen wt find thii w...rd ufcd hoih of G©d tod Kiag Da- vid at the Tcry fame tiait. Ifl like manntr, Math, xriii, •26 the fciTint that wa« aot able to p*y hl« Lord *'f«ll d "WQ and war(hipped him." In (h )rt the worfhi^^ which w?^; gJTcn t) our Lord Jcfut thrift was aot diTiis or iuprc«« ; but iafcrior stnJ rubordinate worship, foJBs- ivhnt equivalent ro the rclpedt aod homagt that waj paid to Kia^^.s and MagiflratCJ f Th* Magi -worHiip- ped Chrift as St. Mat^cw ii orms at, ax tht aativ^' King of the {ewi : the asaa bora biiai and the Apoftlcs, as th« Chrift the aaoictcd Son of Gjd: and the AogiJ; being camnsandcd to worlb;p bias dtnotas lotkiu'j more, than their lubjftl^ioii to W\i aatkoriry after hi» r«- fc.'rt(^V)OB; as head orer all thiags to bis Chtrch : to wnich iUium he was advas^ccd by the free and volun- tary gift of G»d iht Father; ai a reward fer his fsfftr- idgs, and obcd'cnct ooto d«dth. Pbil.ii. 9. 10 • Where* fore God rHo hath highly exihcd hi«33, and gi^cn hira a Mnm« which is aboTc every utaae, that at tbe namt of Jefus eViry knee fliould bjw S^q " Math. ix. 2. •' Jefaa facing ihair faith, faiJ unto the fiek uf the ptify, Soa. be of good «heer, thy Has be for- givea f Tht word worfhip, wti onct ufed is ihij inferior ac- ceptafioi ia oir own Ungnige ; aithongh sow almofl grown obfolcte, la the marriage fervice of the Churcb of England, the hufbaod i» directed to fay •'with ray bjdy 1 thee worfhip : " and the ckief MagiHrafcj ia publie Cofporaiioni is Englaai, ire ftjkd '* Wor- Ihipfsl.'J < ^^59 ) f irtn th^c. Vcr. 6. " B'Jt ihst ye «isy kRow tlvu tKe Sos ot nata ht^h powcj- on etnii to rorgirc /ias ScqJ* Mali ii 7. " Why coik ihk m'ia ihm Ipcsk b.^iphe- xci€« ? wha c$n forgir* Tiss but Goi only?'' Cinift j-or- gavc lius on t«^th^ io th« faiwc i».4«s€r ai h« periv>rDif4 I8u*ci*i hy I p.>ircr rtceived horn Gi>d. Jofeu ?. 2'e., *• The fftihci jii jgeth no r««ii ; h^i h*th cotiaaaittcd ell Jvdg«tmf»t Mato the Sg».*' Atjci wc r;!fs ', snj whsa he } .«nd fhcon t« be lo, could pioftouoee ^-'iih ceuaiiJiy th-it the p«^ic>t« were proper o^-jsv'^s of fo»giv< shfjr wiiial praclicc w«S; put « falk asd ia* vidio«i conftrvdtion »pon cur Lurd'i Bs^^aacr ®^ if>«ak- log : but the waltitac'c jadgcd luach mere Iv^ly and css-didiT, ** aBat the Father ; neither koowtth toy Kian tfe« Faiher, f-iv« the Sen, ftii« Ttld to be d««iTcrcd to the Son oF th« Fafhtir; it msiks the f^j^rfjca'-j oF tht latter, tnd th.: dc* p«i< nxnj.ff, ihcir pjayers fhould be as favourably acc*:p'e denote ihi uiTiae approbation of (uch mtviiigi. la like ra*r»ner our Lord was nor rtaliv prc!ent triih iwo or iKrec o{ h-s tlilciplcs, rfTifsbiing in his ninac, but iiniy rc|;rcrcnti hiLnfiil i& bting lo, to fignify that th»ir r«- qt'cdt wonid be grintfd by Almighty God. M^th, x\\\ 45' " i^ David then call hira (Cbrift) Lord, i ow 15 he hit Sun r S;:c this cxpliiacd dif. viii* P- '34. »35- Msih. xxviii 18, T9 ** And Jeftti came, tod (pake noro th;m, feying, ali power is givco usto me in hea- ven an i ia cank Go ya thcritdrc asd teich all nations* h«p';z'.ng t( eta in ihe iiaai« of the Father, and of the Son, aad of the Holy Ghoft.^' 1 hefc worit of our Lord have been frequeritly allcdged, in proof of a Tri- rity of co-eq^ai and coafubftantial perfons iu the God- head ; ».nd arc Thought by iomi to be a clear a«4 irre- fragable dcmon'iratiQa of it This coriclefi.jn however is entirely afiiicitd axd arbitrary, aod kas nothicg ia iho words of oar Lord to cooQlcnsncc or fupport it- Three, are here tnentione^, but it is not faid that thcfe three art •»« Go!«• «ib acl of rtligWus wcrfnip, if '.hcj bxq not difioe pcifooi iqatl vfitli hisi, in pov/cr aid in glory. 2cily. How €»■ we be comniinded t» be baptizad is the natna of a ^«iTob, U he is EOt God? To both of thefc qucf- tioni , we ftall give a diftiofl: and explicit anfwar. To the fi.fl: we rep'y, that the Form or Ccrtaioiiy of gaptifa it- feir, is not properly aa i^ of rtligiviis wojftiip. N«iihcr player nor prsifc ait contained cr ifnf»li«d in the iefti- tution itf«lf, »hho»gh tney ssay bt very properly rncexcd t© it. B^psilm is aa initiaiiig ordlwiKCc, or cererror/ul cbfervance, that hss ta inllrodlive m©ril KisaBing ia it ; scd rhe torsi ©t' words that arc ptefcribed to br. cf^d, costaia a llort fiimmary of the priecipal dcOilRci of thfe Chiif^iic R«jigi<>n ; bvit do »o sot isajjly any appeal tfr addfcfs to the Deity. But further, it h no Bnaufual praOiec ia tk* fcsertd w»ite»i, to jiiA th« Gr«a- tsre tdgtther id fp-^Kakir^; of th«:ii, ?nd ii«at cv»a ©a very fQlecan occafiv;'Bf. as wiii appear ftrcra th* fclic^'ing paf- (ages. Kxod. xiv. ?»i. ** AcJ ?h« people feared she Lord, aad believed the lord, aud His firvsnt M^Tt'^.'* I Sam. xii. i^. '♦ Aiid al! the people grgaTiy [feared the Lord and Sa'syal." i Chroi- xxix, 20. *• And all the coygrtga'ic'O tUll'ed the Lotxd G 'd of their Fa* th«rs, and boned dc Vvfn their heids, aod wor-'fipptd ttic Lord and tht Kicg " 1 rini. v. 21. "1 chAigt thee before God, and flic Lcrd Jfus Chrifl, sod tha els'^ a£c«!iAry diftindioa betwixt ibcni id their ainds !aoi[ St. Paul joins the elect iDg^cli with God and tkc L«rii Jclui CLrift, ia a folcisn adjiiratiojk ; but ha4 ao iatcfltioA ia doitg io co lead my pk^rToR to fiip- pof«, that they wire c^ual ia «atiu« or dignity. To the iecoad q*ieft on w« aalr/er, that i« be baptized in iht nine of a parfoa \* ao proof that that pcrfoa U God. For the Ifrasli:«s arc faiJ t« htf« bto *• all biptiitd aoto MoUi ia the c*o«d lad in tht fea," i Cor. x. i. 2; and in Aifli xix 3 wc rtad of prrfons tkat wiir« bap« tizcd aato J^ka's ba tiim, Njw bilng bapfizvd antj Mofca axd uato Joha, implbs the very Utne at biing b>iptizsd ia tfee asoic of Mjfcs or Jahr. Far a like form of ipaakirg i« applied to Chrif\. Rom. ▼!. 3. *• Kaow ye Lor, ihac io many of ns as wjre baptized (Gr. E13) aato jeiai ChriH:, were bapiizad uaio kis Death? Gal ia, 27. '' For as many of jod as hive bcca baptizad {Gr Eia) uato Chiift, karc pat oa Chriit.'* From thde two placei it is plaits, that tci be baptized nato Chrift» or in tkc naais cf Chrift, hat the fama mean- lag r and coaftqatntly to be bapjizgd wnta Mjf«8 or ua- to Joan, muft bt equiraUns to bciag baptized in the a^RJc of felofei, or Jo*b alfo. This being th« cafe, it clearly follows, that there ii uo naore realos for fuppounj* ChriLl to be Gcd, htazk wt are cr^irjDaaded to be bip- tizfd iu his name, or iato tb* profiifi.'a of the ducfcia*j he taught; thaa there wit for iuppofia^ Malej, or J«ha the baptifl:, to hafc bcco dirlai psrfoai, bwauGs their Dlfciples arc alio fftid to hays bttA baptiztd in their nam«« ,- or iato the protetiiia of tht refjiif iva c!oftrincs they alfo taagkt, Tnat to b« baptized ia ths uatnc of a perfoH does eat imply that taat p«i fon i* God, may b:: further proTcd, from the qscftion St. Piul puts to the divided and contcations part of thtf chnrch of Corinth. iCor, i, 13. *• Is Chri\\ divided? wa? Paul cruci'ied £or you, or wcrt yc baptized ia the aaiac of Paul. Thi« fuppafitioQ { '«S ) fiippofitioQ ol the Apofile wouitJ have bfcn iiapicus, if bapiizing ia the name of a pcffon hsd ancefTajUy implied ihc divinity of that perfcn, in whcfs QiK* bap- ijfm wa? par^orfi'^cd. ii is rosscwhtt Irrprirag, thit \vc never find tku form of bap^iJm wh ch St Mithcw re- cord', to h'iv?' been »ftci wards rt pe*ud or raacJe u!e of by thRf of o«r cppoaeits In ihc new. Thlv Ificiai to be a prcjpcr pUsi far iatrodacing thcfe tdd'Kioaal remiiks. I'hat co srguo&ent can be forossd t©r ihc divioiiv or cquiHy of tke H >lj Spirit with the F> h.cr^ (Ikjpp^fiBg h gi to be a prrfon) treni hii nim< bfiog joited wita that of the Father, io the ^«»rm o^ biptilm, it ctidcat frwm the od{erfiri«of, we hart alrmdy made. Bit {oine aay thifjk tliat his being jj^iii* ed it this latiinirr, «'lrh the Father and the Sot, i.< a goad pro'jf of his perfoftaiity. I na of cpiaioa howsvsr, that ihe perri>nalitv of the Holy Spirit canuot be proved frona this couj»^DclijE. For to be baptized in th« lamc of thf Holj' Spirit, appears to mc to be cqairalfat to that other phrafe ii fcriptcrt, of hi\ng baptized with the Holy Spirit. Ii dosi not at all deaote a perfoa, btit a gift, a gracr» a qualiScsiioi ; and we fiijd frojyj a padagc trc quoted bcters. teii which it if praptr hcra to rcprat. that tkt Moly Spirit or the aiifacaloui powtrs, fallowed oftsn as a natural coafe^u<«c<; of Baptiraa, Afli ii 3!. '• Then Peter UiJ »Dio thein, reptit, a^id be bapt!z:d tTcry one of you io the iaoic of Jc'qj Chril^, for the reaaiiTioa oi fins asd ye ftial! rcccife iht gilt of the holy GhofV.'* The derout cenrarioa ippearp to hsts beio poHcnr^d of this gift, even btfort Saptiim. AtU X, 47. *' Caa any man foibii witsr that thcfe fli.-jald not be baptized, which hayc rfctired t/ie H07 Ghcil (or the miracolotti powers) as well ti it*.'* Thij fai- dcn cffiifion ot the holy Spirit, feeaa to havi gr«ijtly fHrpriffd the JewiHi Chriftiaos. Afti x. 45. •* Aad they of the circuiacita«tt which belieTcd, Wire alloainigd, ais raaay as came with Peter, befljufe tliat on the Gcq- tiici ilfo was POURED OUT the gift of th* holy Ghoil *' St. Peter ( «67 ) St. P«tcr U recitiRg thit Jra»ra^/i4a ia the next cfeipwr ha; the tollowiig rciaarkabic words A<5ls. x). 15. 16. 17. «* Aai as 1 b«gaa to (?CAk, the holy Gboft fell on ihc», as OQ a> at tbo begit'Lig. Thta rtmaoibtrcd I thj ^ord or the L»rd, bow that he faid, Ji5hD inic«d bapiizsi virh iTjitgr; bat yc fi-.^'l be bapt'ssd wiih ih« holy Ghs^ft. Forafmvch ihw as G«f! ^;ave them the lik« gut as he did unto if, -wiiobciicrad on th€ LorJ J^fnn Chrift, what was 1, that 1 cacld witi.uAnd God.'> In all ihef« piKCCi, lh« halj Sj3>irit is callfd a Gift, bat ia ihe(t lad "W«rdi of ?t PtJar, it is called the gift which God giTe : aid th« warrff c{ our Lord art quotti when he suca. ti»ni, tbat thi Apoftles fhoaid " be bapiizsd witk the Holy GhwU, «t't miay days he?sc«." Afls i. v. *' Ji>hQ tht Baptift i\i; fpexka of the Half Spirit io the fxm« BQtancr/' Math iii. n " He (Chrii^) (hall baptize you witii &€ holy Ghoft, and with fire.** This way of fpcakiag of c^r Lord, of his fixemnBcr, as^ of the A- poiiiea, leesr.8 to me to afford a clear proof, t^ai to be bipviz«d i* the naae «f the Hdy Chart, and r« be bspii- 2id witk tiic Ilaly GhoH:, are iKprcffioas of ihefamtim- po) t -ina mcar/iiiv. : tnd th«J erery a;gufi>c»t for the ptr- iesality ©f tlu Sj^irit, fauB^^cd on the {©rm of Baptifta viii be iatista?i£hdiawnj yei being kaptizid in iha came of iht Koiy Sp-rii iDay ft;il figoify, ail thofa divicc aids ajjd afilifiacts luitible to onr wsr*t8 £nd iofirciiltifi, which as c hriflians we haye t righ: to espedt in the pr©- fccutioa cf car Duty! Bat it will be iViU ob- jcftcd, that the Holy Spirit 15 fpokea ot under firong ptiiuBii chara6feri, in fame places of tht New T^f- tam«nt, foch as the foUowiog, Johu siv. 16, 17. " Aad I will pray the Fathtr, aud he (ball give you tDOthsr c©i»to» tcr, that he may abide with you (01 ever ; even the fpirit of tr»th; whom the world caiinot rtciivc, be* caule it fccth fei* iBOt, ocithcr liQdweth him ; but ye Kaow ( i6t ) kr.oxc hioi: for h« drrclltth Trlth yo\i, ao^ (hill Win you.»' Vcr. t^- 26. *' Theft thiagt have I ipvkcQ unto yoVf being yjt prcf*flt with you. But ihc com- forter, (vthich ii) the Hcly Ghoft, wh^ea tlic Fiihtr \f ill (cud ia my caklc, tie iball teach yoa &!1 thi#g>, and b.vRgs nil things to your rf«<^robfsnc« x^fhatK-jcvtr I hi!Ye f»iJ UG'o yow.'*' JohnxTi.7. ** Ntvrrthtltis, I tell y©u tk» trath; It it cxpedlaei (or yoa tSat I go a. wfty ; for if I fo act t^/*,^, the ct^mfortcr will act cootc Bftto yen; but it 1 tic part, I vili fcBd k\m lacio you." Vcr. 13. " Haxtbcit, whea hf, tKt ipirit of truth, is coT.c, fe« vil! ««ii!« y cu unco bU truth j far ke (Kail not fpcaik of himfcif ; but whstfaartr he fhali hear, that (hall he fpcsk : and he wiil fhcw yoa thiegB to cs-m«." h is tlfo Uid of the ipirit that he imparls Ipiritusl gifts u fee plcafes, ! Cor. xii. 11. *' Su: all x.t,^(t wo.keth thit t>ne tnU tha UU farce fpiiir, difiding to avery mxB fs- varaDy at ha will.'* W« ar9 alio commaftdad B»t to griivc tfee koly fpirit, Eph. U, 30. ** GiicTa cot iht holy Ipirit of Gc^, whereby yc ar< fcaUd unto iht day of redcoij^tlea— la Roai, Tiii, 16. Tht Apoftla fayj, *' ihc rpifit itidi bcareih witBsfs with our fpirit that wt ar« the childrei of God ;" and V«r. 27. it i$ (aid of the fpirit that •* he m^kcih ialcrcefiioa for the Salat* according to the will of G«5d.'* And blafphsoEy againft the lioly Spirit is declared to be uaptrdeaablc, Math, xii. 31. 32. * Wherefore I hj uoto you, all naatner of fia and blafphaaiy fliall hz forgiven uoto men : bat the bl-ipljitriy agaijft the Koly GhoA fhill Dor ba forgivca tinttt iD«n. Ani whufoevrr fpeaketh a word agiinft the Sou of rr.:a, it fh:il ba forgiveo him: but whdoever fpsflktih agaicft the Holy GhcA, it (hall cot ba forgiTan M'Ti, rcithcr ia this wcrld, neither ia the world to coma." An%yf, 3. 4, '' Pe:cr fiid to Ananias, ^hy hath Sataa iillcd thioe hcirt to He to t':*x Holy Ghoft thou hnft Di)t liad unto men, but uato God." Thefa are ihc P.r^D^tfft Fifrjgcf, hr ihs pcrfcmlity of the Holy Sptrit ( i69 ) Sjlint, t]8tt tre to bf found ia ill the New TeftsfflenJ. { But fo far n th«y fiiour this soTioa, they pro?e at the ftat tiiDf, th*t if thfrt is fnck * diftinft iatclligtni ap?nt, th^t he mufk be i bcia^ cuirtly lubordiaatp tc», anj ds- pffldvnt ipoQ God the Fithcr. F«r ttic Holy Spirit is d«fcribtd as the coxfortcr, that the Father, is to Und ia coifeqaeiice of the prayeri of cur Lard ; Asd as he was ftat by the Father, he muft ba con/iicred as iaferior to the Father, by whom h« Was feat. If the Holy Spirit had been God, ChriA wo«!d hare diredlcd his prayers to to himfelf to come tad afTiA his Difciplet, and Dot have foilicited the Father to feikd him. Again our Lord tclli «i conccrftiag the holy fpirit, {\n the ftrongtft pafTage ofallforhii perfonality) John xvi. 13. "He (hall ftot fpeak of himfelf, hm whatfoever he diall hear, that fhall hs of the Ariao deaomisatiois, haVc held the perfonsrity of the f^oly Spiiil; a^d fo»e ^ho hitvc btea Socinians ia 0;hcr refpe^^U, have yet followed the Ariaa Ijllcm it this refp*,^. The «xc«!Icat aad coa- fcientfons M: Eiddie, tn citiififnt coofi'fror for the truth, was one of thefe, hie cec:tn*!cd (Iron^ly f;:r the pftrioa- i?ity oi tk« Holy Spirit 1 but cocfidtrcd hi.TJ at ihc fi.-ae trrne.nftt as God, but as the firJt and moft sxi'.red fpirit amccrjft tbe H'>iy Acg*ls. The 'aie Dr CUyton Bl(hop of Clogher. mi she aiuhor ef the Appeal to ihc common fen^a of all ChrlHiaa Pecple. have dcf^cded the hint opifiiwn. S(iC the Eifay ca Spirit, sni the *'^pp'-al, 8cc, ( 170 ) were a diftlQ<5l agent eqnal with God the Fith«r, he WfulJ palTels all thiegs of hinQfcJf, aid could neither receive nor :akt I'aul, wherein he affifms, thit the fpirit diviJ« h unto rvery mnn liveral y a:? hg wills ; " as if th« H<»ly Spirit aft d love^ci^^nly and independently : for oar Loid rXprtJly anTwres us in the words quoted bcijre, that he (hall Ipeak, a»d coafsqacntly &£i, according to the ditc(ffioQs he receive?, if we attend to the context ia St Math{!Nv'B Gofpd, as well as thj. paraldl places, we fhall find, that the blafphcay againli ihe Holy Ghoft therein roesti Joed, relates to the perverfenels and incxcu- fiiblc rnaiicc of the Ph-irifees. in aicriblng the miracles of Jcfus to Bhe ag«ncy of Baclzebub the prince of DeviU; iuftcad of O'Voing thetn as they really were, to be plain proof* and evideaces of his ilivine m'lfTioa. The /\por. tie Peter di^es not fay to Ananias, that the Holy Spirit was Gid; but only, that in lyiag to the Holy Gholt hs had not lied unto men, but uato God. For as the Holy Spirit was given by God tkc Father to tbs Apoftlcs, ly- ing to hi« was Iyit5g to God, whcfe mefTcnger ho was. In the lame maaaer oar Lord tells the Apofflcs, Lake X. 1 6. ** He that dsfpifeth yoo, difpifith me; and ke that defpifetb me, defpiftth him that fent rae.^' /^.od all thofs pilTagss wherein what is afcribcd to God in one pK^ce, is ia another (aid to have been done by the Holy Sp^-^it, may be explained in the vtry fame way. It ap- pears evident to me from thrfe coafiderations, that if there is fuch »dirtiRift iatclleftual being called the Holy Spirit, that he can be co other than a creature or a pro- dudliua W ( 17' ) duftion cf the fyprcnac being, probab'y, tht cV.'jcfand moft iliuftriouft oi theie noiuifirinir Spirits, wno ?.r« fcnt forth to miwift^'r uiro tl.era who (biill be hths of faiVAtioa. tJui jit the iaaen!ioucd, ;;»frord a clear sn*^ pofuive proof of the perfi nali y oJ the Holy Spirit : or that thcj can coKnte':b\ll&i?cc thofe many pl'X^s tf Scripi^-JTs, ^h«r«ia the 5j..'irit is fpcken of, as the ppw«r, ecergy, si;d opprariop. tf Goi Vvifdom i« reprci^Btcd «s a pfeifoii by Solomop, (Picv Chsp. 8.) and is dtjlcribei as ery^og, pBtrJpg forth h^r voice, and ap- pesriug at- the gate* ot th- city &c. Wiifiom alfo if fiiid, to h^ve btcn with the Alnj-ghiy ia the biginning of his ^yays, to ha¥8 attended hiru is the works ot creation, and to hive rtjo'.ccd betorc him Sec— In hke maoRcr, Charity is fpoken cf as a piifv a by St. Pa«:l, and a great varisi^y or st'lio s arc Afcilbed to it i.Cor xiil 4. 5 6. 7. *' Cha i;y fi-if«:i«»h lon-^, af,d is Vied; chNiity c^ivlcih OQt : cfe'irit^ vasru«th not itf^i^?, is not piiffljij wp, doth opt b^b^ve itfclf ufiGs^mly, fe^kti^h »ox h«r own, h cot eafil^: piovt-'ksed, thinketh ao e^il ; lejolce'h aot in inKpi;y, but rcjoiccih is Uie truth ; bciircth all things^ belitvsih ali thitgs, hoptih ?.'.! thin,?;*, cn-iurcth all things. 5* Sin r.D'i Death a c alfo. psrilnifisd ie fcrp- ture Ron?, vi- 12. " Let not ^ia tlicrt^fGre reiga in your mor,tai bjdy."' Vwi\ 14 «* For Siu I'h^l'. Dot hava doasinjaa fcvar you." Vcr. 17. ** Ye w.!re the krvants' of Su^" Vtr 23, " V i' the w^s-^s of Sin is desth." iloaa v. 14, '* D^ciih rftjgrjsd fsoaa Adana to .\kr^ ." 1 Cor, K7 26. " Tlie l/.fV cutmy thai fiiall be d^ftroyed \i dc4?h.'' Ver. 55. *' O daih,, »t?hirs is th^^fiir-g? 56, She ftieg or Deiith is Sic." In the(e places \vc rifi,d Vyifdorik, Charity, Sifi» and Dsath, repreitntad uaitr parfboaJ chatacferi. Nov/ it is not unreafooable to fi^ppvf^, thst the spirit of God, cr thtf Diy-Rfi {r>li-eaccs and Opcr, tons, rasj l« parf^^nifit.d; in. -ho laiDf ruanriGr. la ccmnjcu DiicQuifc we frequen- tly talii oi' tnc Prcvirft nCi: ct Gcd as n pcrfoB, a:.d Uy tiiut iiij ihc will of fiu.idtcce, that iuch {:\iii:t (hci jd ( m ) happen: bot ao boiy 5vcr (uppMd thit Protidcncc wa» a difliaft agsnt ifi ih^ D::ity, or tint it ^.eaoicd «ny li«itfg, b«t ih« iv'uiz G )V-rni .tH: and $(ipar;nr;.ndcacv of hu- E tu affiirs. Novv the Spiri-, or breath cf- God, in the f)ri5>ia>il accfp?ation cf ilu woid, ao more denotes a p»r- lo(i, or inrjlligcvir s.gcQi than tha v/ rd Providence does ; aotd fij Jjw wciiU h{*v« CJnceircj ihs; Idea of arty diit- ifidb a;;':iit by kniii:ig it uttc.td. And it appears ex- treajs'y probable to ns", th»t our Sstioiir io rep cfcntmg thi- holy Spirit, or thait divine Inflatnc-'f, aoi Oiiracalous opcratioBs; b; which the Ap'j'l»«« W5ic lo be (Ijeogth- ta«d ar.d un iTsated, asd the Gjip.! was to be f ri^paguted in the w^rJd, uadcr ihe cliar:.6^£: of * cotniorter, or Ad- vocate ; had oly rccOwtle to ens of there fij^yrcs «f fpeed:, whicii ^'ere in cofr.moa liU arriongfl ths Jew*, aad vhcTsfvrc c^uld »ot be ciifuadtri^.odd l)y the Apof- tlc?^. The A^poftUs thtinlciyis alfo, ifi iRiifAtion of t'hrir mailer, ioa ft^^retrkb'y to the praaic« o« UVeJr Countjy- tn«a aiopt<:d the farse fi^i ir-ntive way o? fpeiiiimg ". but do not appear to hare intsridcd by i«, to gi'?5 any psrion rc-jfca to mink, \hat tbey ar-dcrf^joti ihe S»irii of God to figaiT"y any thing ellc, bcfidcs the dlvi??e poxcr tni lEflu('nc«s. For whtfn ifcc Holy Spirit ij faid to have dcicea'ded upon any psrloa or tj hkvt bctn imparted to a ay one, vc n'-vcr fiRd any iutcHlgeot agsat intro- daccd or mafiif«ricd : bat o&ly gU'tj graces, and Ipiri- tcil ciiio'«rniv«ts coafcrrcd. iR 1.5a! h, id. i6. The Spiiit i$ ddtribed as dcicendi»g ap^sn j^^ailiks a D^ve, or attsr the mtnncrof a dovej an j ia conieqaeace of it Jefvii was tolly qaalifisd to cater upoa his onice, and tftiblcd to porforai all hii ni'>racubss works, ia hkc manner iJt joha tilh us Ch. ix. 22. that Jilasb.eEthed upoa his Difciples, aad fi'id uvixo thca," Rccdrs ye the Holy Ghoft:" which as^ioa of o'ir Lord plai'jiy deaoccs a» ioflacoce or commuaicition, but n^i n.)t the Gu^ikft rclati'jQ to a pzdijn. Agaia, the dcfccic of the H^'y Spirit apia the Apoflles at the day 0!: Psct:coft, is ds- fcribed in the follawiog aiana:r. ActJ ii. 2, 3. 4. •' Aad fujdialy thcrs Cia: a found frcnj hcatrea as of ( 173 ) of a rufliing mighty wind, and it fired airthe hoafe where th«y were futiDg. Atd thtre appcircd unto theai clo7en toagucs, like as of fi'g, and it lat upoD them; a/id they were all filled with the Holy Ghoft. and bcgaa to {peak with other tOiag«es, as the Spiiii gave them kst- tcrance ** Tisc lulhiQg mighty wind, the cl: vcn tacgoe*, like as offifC, here racDtioned, and the fpiiiiual gifts thai wereioapartcd to the Apcftles agree very wtii vvith the fchense of a divie* /iiilatufi or ifilpira'^ion, but do d»4 at all fait the noiioti of a pcrlon, In many p4iiL«Q- csrniag our Lord, by John the baprift, John iii. 34- •* God giveth not the fpirlt by meafsrc unfo h.m:** which implies, that it was given to uthers iu fn^Her por- tions, but was c;}mmuQica\ed to hins in the lajgeft *■«- grec. This way of fpeiKing ftill more confirms ouk idea of the holy fpirit. For a perfon cannot v^ifh ary propriety be faid to be girea by mcafure, or in difFer- cni proportioBS/ bat a power, a quality, or an influ- ence niay. But what abovt all other confiderations, tends 10 crtablili our noiion of th« Holy Spint. is ihis, that ia many places of fcripture, the holy Ipirit, asd the power and operaujn of God, arc uled as f^nonimoas ex- preffioas; ani the one term is cxplaintd by th* other, Lukei. 35. ** The Holy Ghoft fh^ll come upon thte, and the powtr of the higheft (hall 0¥#r(liadew thee.'* Here, the haly fpirit and the p?)wer of God, are ihe very (anae thing Math. xii. 28. •* If i caft out Devils by the fpirit of God, tiflsn the lingdam of God i» come un- to you." Lukf xi. 20 *' If I wi.h the finger of God call out Devilsj CO doubt the kiagdoa ol God h ccmc upoE yon *' Wi at Mathaw calls the fpirit of Gfcd, Luke leims th« finger of God; which ihew^- that the divine agency, is the oaly thing that is here iu tended, tukc Xi. * 3. " if y« ihsQ, ( '74 ) tlien being evil, know how to give g^od |Iftg into yoar children; how much ra.ne ihall your hcivtoly F*ther give the holy fpirit to thfctn that alk bin?" M;iih. vii. n. *' if ye ^hsa being cviJ, know how »o give good gUts unto your childi^a^ hovv much more (hall your Fathur wliich is in hicWcn, giv« good things to them that a(k him ?" jVlaihew hcie explaiai the holy Ipirii mentiou«d by Si Luk?, as dt^iosing ga:^i things coafarrcd by God tn^ Fa.her. Oar Lord nad frcqacetly promi:«d to his* dilciples, that he wjuU lend the Holy Spirit, or tli« comtorter, to their affiilancc, and to Toppiy his ptifja^il abiiQCfi. He exphiaft his o' lathis plac*, fhc holy fpirit aad the power of God hjve th« lame ligQification; aind God is fa'd to be with Jelus bc- caufc hi:> power rcfiied in hicn. i Cor. ii 4. '* Aai n\y tpei-ch and my prcschii^g was not with cBticing W3rds oi mia's wildom, but ia d^nionftrarion of the fpirit, »nd q\ powar." Tht dfaaoadration of the /pirit here men- tioned, was the power ol God, or tholt faperaatural q jali,'icatioas whic^i were bellowed upfpel. The fpirit of God fomtiiaiei d««ot«d the diviac being, even the perfon of God the Fatr«r himfclf. at Ir th« tuilow- ing places ia the Old Ttftaiaeii, Gea. ri. 3. ** My fpirit (hall aot always ftriv« with man," that 19, I will not always ftrive with man; Pfal. cxxxlx. 7. ** Whiher (hall i go from thy fpirik? or whither (hall I flee from thy preiencc." The fpiiil, a»d the pretence of Ood here, mtaa oec aad th« lame thing, viz. God himftlf, l(a. Ixiii. 10. ♦• 1 h«y rebelled and vcxed his holy fpiiit/^ Naaa. xiv. II, "How long will lais people proYoke mb ** And m Other p'accc ot m toilar nature, the fpirit of God is ( '75 ) Is to b« €5:j>Uificd in the f«mc mssncr, as fsr^Blfylng God himielf. The moil rc;:flfirVable pa(Iag«*of xhM, kind is that in, iCor.ii' it. ** For v^bat m^n ko©we h the tbiags of t mm fare th« fpiiit of tian which it in him ; •Ten ib the tliingi ot Goc kKowtth ro roan but the Ipirlt ef God." Thir; pl«cf (tC'??* to HfTcid a detifivc proof thai by the {pirit of God, w? src not warrsn'ed to Dodcrfiani any bJng different from Go* hicifclf. For the ApoAk here ccjoipueft th« Spirit of God to rhc Spirit uf- retej and ica- foal from the on« to ihc ether. He ^ouLi be a l\:*nga rtnioier indeed, who (hauld iisj«gjn§ that ;ht ipirit ©r inielicfttttl facwUy ot a »*a, wa* ft diff^resit sgrnt frotn tb* man hiwlfif ; and ts like aa»R!5tr from Ui« ntturc of the Apoftlt'i argRnt5«nt. it mwft be tqefiHy abfmdta c^ncludt, that ihe Spirit ol God the Father, is t diui^ict RtricR cr »gcoi frora Geo the faihfr hinai'df. A^d that the Hoiy Spirifc n the fpirtt of the Father, h evident from the tsaifoiia t«nor of Icriptarc, which alHrrss, ihrro«ld haTC appearef*, is A gv^cd negative argisrr.eat ag;/inA his perlbnajity, la wh« ioirodj^tory addrsdss in tlae Epifllcs of Sf. P-iul and o;hcr$, we lind Grace, Mercy and psacc, wiflitd hoav Gtti the Father, aid the Loid Jefus Chrlft; but nolhing wi(k«d frosi the Holy Spirit, and not even hii naaa% icfcrt8 of thofe gift! wbidi th« Fajhcr confcrt by Jcfus Chufl; and fo is iuciudcd tnder the ai tide* of Grace, Mercy, and Ptace. In a Cor xiii. 14, St, Paul willies ihe Church of Ccrlnth, the Comaunloa or parti- cipitioQ of the Holy Ghoft : bat ihii dois aot imply perl.-nslity ; and is a Tery difFc:r£ai phrafe froa wifhipg 1 thioo froiii xht Holy Ghoa. In the fame tDanncr tkc ApoA e« fiys i Ti;r?, v.i. 21. «* Grace be wiih thee;*' h»i this d*4S uot iiBply the pcrfouality of Grace. Sf. Johu (lUv. i. 4 ) wirn£« Gr-cc, and Peace, from the Scvca Spiiiis which arc b;f(?re God's throne; but n© pr8 Gcjd, the Lord Jcius Chrift. and the «lc(!t ^ngcli. there is ro mention made of the Holy Spirit. And ia Hcb. xli, 22. 23. 24. where all the iohabitaats ( '77 ) inVflbiMnts of Moii«r Slon, the cUj of the living Goi. are cuumciatcd. God, Jclos the Mediator of tne Ne«f Covenant, Angels aad the fpirits of juft Bj«n made pcrfi61:; ftiil w«f find the na.nc of the Holy Spirit lift out. This vvuuld be &ft> nifbing to tht laft degree aad Mtteriy uaac CGunttblc, li the Holy Spirit were ag Trinitarians alHiin, a diy'me perfou eqoai with God tht Father, An ingen- ious writer who defends the perfonslity ef the Holy Spirit, as an inferior agent uodtfr God, fuppofes, that the holy Spiri; if here included amoBgft the innum- bcr^^bic cosapany of Angels; and that thtrefore tkere WHS DO occafion for diftln^tly m«ntIaaiRg him, b«t this realign cannot be wrgtd by any Triiiiuriai. Further, when o^jr L«rd fayi Math. xi. 27. *' Noae knoweth the Son but tht Father j Diith«r knowctli any the Fa- ther, fave the Son : '^ why (liould thi holy fpirit be om- itted, who upon the Trieitarian iyftem rouft know both the Faihfr awd the Soa, m well as they ean know each oiher. Again in Riv, v. 13. the following words occur, «* Every creature — -heard I, fsjing, bkfling, asi honour, and glory, anel power, be anro him thai litteth upon ihe throne, end unto the hmb lor ever and tver»" He that fits cpoa the throns is God the Father, and the lamb is our Lord Jcfus Chiift„ but why is not glory afcribid to the holy fpirit along with thc^m ? U l8€Bis the fanjr.Bs Trisiiarian doxolegy is unknown in heaven^ although fo rough u[«d ©n earth. In the words ot our text, life etcrfi«I is faid to eonfift in the ksow- ledgc ot the Father ths only true God, and ©f Jefus Cbrifl: whom he kas fent. Bu? why is it not faid alfo, to coafifi in ihe knowledgs of tke holy Spirit? Msny njore piac«s naight have been aliedged, wherein it was natural to 9Xft^i to find tha holy Spirit named, but theft arc fuf- ficient for onr pwrpofc. It is impciTible to aflign a reafoa for ibef* ottiiflions, on the fuppfifition that the Ho^y Spiiit is a divine perfon cqsal with God the Father; and it is net even prcbnble that he lb^>uld have bcsn omitted fo ohen, (uppoHog him to have been an inferior biing. But if we uudeiiland the fpirit of God, or ( i7» ) i)T Holy Spirit, in the true {cript«ril acccptxtlon of tht word, ft9 figsifiyiBg ciihcr w* cr of £liai. &c." Ver. 76 •« And thou child fiiall be ealled the prophet of the highcft ; for thou (halt go before ike face oi the Lord, to prepare his wayi-"' F r sQ ex- planation o( ihefc palfages turn to Dilcourfe viii Pag«, M4 145- , Joha i. I. to 14. " la the beglcning was the Wor:?, and the Word was with God, aad the Word was God. The fitnc VIS in the begiuainj^ with God. All things were mada by hiic; »nd without him wis not ftay thing mace X { 179 ) made thtl was made. In him was lif* ; and the life was the light of aa«n. Aad the light fliiBcth is dark- nefs; and th« darkaefs comprehcaiitth it not. Ther« was a mat leat from God, whole name wa« John Tht JaKi« CXB5C for a wiiutfs, to bear witnef* of th« light, tfcat all men through hina might bcliife He was not that light, bet wai feat lo bear wisicd of that light. That was ih« true Jigbi, which lightfth every man that coaa- €th into the world. He wis in tbf world, aftd ?hf world was made by h m, aad the world knew him cor, H« CABie vsato h;$o\vn= aid his own received hiru not. Bat as roany as reccircd kiiaa, ti> ihem gate h« power Jo b«- Gomc the Soai cf God, even to theaa that bjliefe on his uams : whieh were born, not of blo©d, nur of tht will of the floidi, nor of the will of m&Ut but of God And th« Word was aasde ficfh, and dwelt aiamig »g, (and vfc be- hold his glary, the glory as of the ©»;y baih«r,) full of grace and tr«th ^' St jchn hegiuJ his Gj(pc], ia a casaocr very d^ffcreut from the ether Evaa- geliih : and vArioas hire beea the cat e«r wai in the wordi ot oar ttxt tliC only true God; ihat he hi'«f4f was his McHenger I and ma.^y other ihiagjj uttcrlv iacoinpai'ole wiih proper DiTJait} . St. Joha ail^j iator.Tis us towards the concluiiuu of iteij Gofpd, that bis iafeitian la writing it wii to rilcirtjiia the Mc/liabiliipof ]»fui, or tc* prove that he wai the au- ©iated Son ai Godr Ci,.xx. 31 ** Thcfe (thinj^s) are wriitca, that yc might bsUcve (hat Jefus i* the Chrill ihj $»• oi God/' Biu tccoiding to our opp^neBts, it Wits W[itten to prove, not that Jclus is the Son of God in tfes kriprural iciiit of the word; but that he is the mod high God hiaiielr In omCvht'mg this pafTtgi^ wc fhaii firtt fire the rrinitariia iiiferpreca.ioa ol" it, with t r^Jtsiation ; and then lh« difFtrear explieaiioui ol Uriitarian?, baili of the iliiaa and Socini-a d«no.niaat!on. The Frinitar- iaa is as follows ** in ;hc begiaoin^ wu the Word.'* J«fus Chrid or God the Soa exided ^rhsa ihiags firft bigtD to be cre&isd, and coufcqaeatly nail Ut etersal. Reply. Jf the Word here eseans a perion, aad that pgr- foa is Jcfas Chrlft; yet it will not folio vv that he is eter- nal, bscaule he is (aid to have cxlfted ia liie begifinipg i;f the Molaic creatioa. If St. John had iaieaded to cfli- blifh the eternity of tV.s Word, the Greek laDgiiagf coald have ealily (uppHed hins wii;h proper terms for exprcf- fiag his meaflia;^ ; and he warn d BCFcr have made choice of an expreHioQ which did no: aafwur hii purpolis. ** In the bsginnings (fays M^f^s) G.fd created the Heaven and the Earth;" bat this does aot imply that the hcavcas and the earth were created froTi all eternity. In like manner the alfcnion of S:, John, that the Word exillsd ia the bsginning, (if by ihc Word is meant J:fas Chriil) will nji pfw^v; that he exiAcd ( i8i ; €xlftcd fronii all cteraity, or how Iccg bcfort the bcgiB- R^nj? o^ th« world h« cxiftcd : but it will ociy prove that be exiftrd ac that dtltrt&'mxtt period ftylsd tb« begineicg; ©r pjior to th* crwtiun of this world and i's iDhabitants. ** Aad the Wcrd was with God." Here ih« Triaifafi- sns differ among thcBsicives ; iomt undirftaoding by the God with whoaa ths Word was^ their whoU iuppolfd Triaity, the Father, Sen, and Holy Ghoft ; fid olhcsa ifPrtiag that the wo^d God hec rataos the Fithrr. 1^' they abi'ic by 5h« ^crcicr cxp!icaiii>D, it will foiU^w that th« Word was with hicifelf ; which is a Arsr^e, ridiccloas, and sbfurd way of fpesking. If thef adept the latter, ii toay bt very properly afk d, why the Woid is ^ ot Isid to hav« bcfU with the Holy Spirit ilfo. it wcl! as th« father? *' And the Word vas God,' that i^ lay the rrir.itarisoR, the Word cr JMui Cbrift was i« ih^ (*ri6tift fenic God, equal with the Father. But hfrc tht laraf i^fficuliy occurs as io the firmer cUufe. For if fhc God with whom the Word wa*, ncaas the whole Trinity, as (oujc of them (ay, then the Word had bcca iufFicitntly declared to be God before • and thii U a Bccdlefs and uteccountable repetition of lh« ApoAle. To tike ofF the force of this ohjtftioa, thole who adc»pt this iDfcrprctation («y, that it is nccfTary to diftinguilh bctw xt God confidered clTfatially asd p«rfooally ; icd that th« God wi h whom the Word was, fignificf the tr»ree periot)S in c^jDJundtion ae exiAicg in ooe divine tf- /«nce ; and wl-.eo the Word is afttrwardi fa'.d to be God, hero wc are to »adcribad God as d«rcrib«d nadcr a per* fonal char-4^«r But this diftiftfkion will he foafid to iftvcbt our oppoaears iQ ftiil further difficulty; for it fuppofes a q««tiraity in the dirioc nature; or that thcr« •re thr.f pcikmal God?, and oce elTcndal God, which is abiurd to the )aft degree aad catirely Hnfcpportcd by \h^ fcripiujas. For the facrcd wrircrB never di{^ing\)'fli berwixi the efTtr.cc and pcrkn of the diTioe bticg ; doc Cia &ay perl n be fappoftd ta fubfu^ wi*hotit x dtflin^ and fcparate ttfancs, of hi# own. Bat wc hare fufTicifnt- Jy Hjcwn ihe cwrrtrxdiOiija of this oolica bcfare, in the co.icisfiua ( 1?^2 ) conclufioa of o«r fi.iV aod ihvrl di'cowrTtf?, to vhlch wc rc'er the rcaticr. li our oppon-nta then j7,rao% (as miaf oMfcftn do, tbit tbc Cod wiih whoiti the Word v»4t Wean, the Ka h«r only, U is a natural coDfcquenc*, that wh«tt Ue Apo'lic a^tcr-^;?i.rds Ir.Ti that •• the Word xvij G jd ;"tbjt Hc are to ukc the ^oril God hersia ihut in. fcnor tccfpt Alien, in which it i& [ofD« iroei ulfd by the Iricfcd v/ri'cTi. For it is t' e cxprcfs and uoifoiia d«j>c- triae ef the fcrip*urcs, that there is b»t o^e trt'.c aad Ht- lEg Gad; md that that one God is \hr Father; snd as the V/f;rd i« plaiajy dil\iag« fhcd fr^ai God and faid to be WKO h-.cs, \vc arc v/urra6icd b? ail j«{\ rules of intcr;»rc- tatioi, to uDdcrftaod .he w3 d G d whm spplied to h-di in the itjfcrivjr fciiU. Aad ti^.crc is {ufH:cnt fcursdaticJE in ;hc langutg'S of the AjvoHilc hitsJc f to authorize this «xpl5c*:idQ, (if rhc Wdrd figoifict « perfoa; si we O^a'l fhsw jaorc ^ully wlien wc toms to glr* the An*n inr- lii&g with God-" Here. tVc Tfttnc diffifiulty wc m^fiti aj^a ou tbc TiiD-.ta-ian^. btforf, 'rtirn^. Vcr. iii, lo. ** All thing* were nad'c b? him; a?.d r/thom h m w«i not any thing «ade ihat was »2ade. fie way in th« worlJ. at\d th« «orii was made by hi.n. arid the wofld knew him rot." Herr, -ay ouroppoDcBls it if affirojcd, that the \Yo:d ct Jrfus Chrii\ ma'c or cr^^tcd all thingf , and that he rrar'r the w»fl bcafcribi^^d to jod re tauft be confidered -58 a ('tTifi« p.iToa rq^a! wi.h the K*;h:r. Reply If the Word here mesni au i»i«l!i« gent igcnf, and is juflly applied to Jt>us Chfift; yet a? the Word It the lime lime is, pla;aly niftngoifned from G.-d, and ii> f»i(i to have b eti with hi2i in the brginrir.g VSMi tha wiu Id w^s created ; ?hc ^iprcfilon *' all thirgs Ip^c t.tdc by hiai,"can only dcro c, that hz v.'sg the infrricr and fubcrdioii* i.'iftrcm^ai by v/hon the world was I5«ade. Aad that iht original wordi di' autou have this meAoicg, wn,' be cofl^;rm^d by the taftiitttssicj of two annent Greek writtfi. Or^gia comojcating t?pca this p (Txgc obf^jrvii ** The Phrafc through whoxj,'* •' flsvjr figaifics ths fiiA, b«t alvt'ays the fccokd cayf* — " Ail ( '83 ) «* Ail things were miie through the Wor^; not by hm «* (as the original caiift,) but by one loptrior aad gr«ater «* thtti tht Word." f in Hke coXnRer Eufcbius fays'. ** When the Eringclifts affirms rhaf «11 things were made *• f D! a) by (or thv«ugl») hioQ, he ihtrcia declares the ainif- ** triti^'oof tli« Word toGod (the Father.) For wo«r«4s h» «• might haTC fxpitlT^d it thus, hup autou^ (all things <* were mtde by him as the efficient cawle,) h« does sot •* focxpreli it» but tha*; di' aUtou (sll thiag** w«r« «* mafi« by (or thr©»gh) him ts the «i:;iil:iiGg cbhIc; ) *' that (o ht might relcr ui to the fuprem* pv«w«r and *« f ffid«Rcy of »hc f achtr, is the mak«r ot all things.'' X If i$ tw'idsnt ihrp, that th« agency of the Woid (if a per- fon) in the wotk of crettioa. can only be Qi^Mtrtd ai iciniftciial; and that God the Father Aiiaighty (ia th# language of the Apoftlei' creed.) ii the proper Maker and Crcttor of heaTen ted of earth. Ver 14 ** And the W>ird was made itih, and dwelt anong us, {md we be- held hi: glory, the glory ai of tht ooly begotten of the Father,) full ot grace asd truth >> H«ic fiy the Triai- tariaoi, the Word it faid to hstrc been »ade fleih, or to have been uaited to a hamaa icul aad body ; aad ii de- ciarad to be the only begotten of the Father, which im- plies that r\€ w»» generated from the Father's fubAance. Reply. The Word being made flcfti, docs ROt oe the fuppofition of his perfonality iirply, hit being uaiicd to a hKmao ioul and body : for ift that caie Our Lord Jefut Chrift would be two perfottt and not oat; wkich Dotioa Wfl refuted ia our fjxth difcoarlc, but it fjgaifitf, that the Word afTunaed a huasao body and became him- felf the foul of it. The phrafc only begotten ia fcrip- MT^ if fonaetimes as learucd nen ha¥e ubierTed, a mere mfc^aifm, deootiig tffedti^i, end teaderaels, and equi- valent t Origea Com. in Jahan. p. 55 56. t Eufeb. dc Ecdes. Theologia. The tranaailon of this, and the preceeding pafTigc from Orig«n, is Dr. Clark'*, and is agreeable to the origiaals. The words ia paren- tbefis are inferted to miKe the meaning plaiBcr to an fiu-^ gUih reader. { lU ) valcnt fo well bcloTid. Bit Jifui Chtlfl: ffliy bf flylcd with gre»f propriety tkf «r.!y begottfn of the Father, becavlc ht wa< immtdiitly produced in a fiBguiir msa- nar, by the powtr of God, withi>»t the ioftrumfurility of ADj humiin aticeAor, an4 this pbrafc h;if cot th« final- If ft relatioa, to any fuppclcd ^deration from tht Father's t'fTeuct or liibftancc. Haviog naw fnfficieBtly confuted the Trinittriia irttrprttatiai of the iatrodudlica to St Joha's GiMpcl, Wf piocced to give that of tke Arizng. •• U the bcgiaiing was the Word," The Ariaru affiraa, that the Woj d here meani the perfoo of Jef»t Chrift in his pre exigent flats, acd that big bciag in the brg^i- ningdtaotii, ih85 ) Orig«n, icd Hu'VbjMf, who fake notl€« of ikt ioier iofl pf the article in the one pKce, and the o- ©iiliofl ot it in the other r and a^go a rcafon for ii iomc- what fimilar to ihrira. Origeo in pirticaUr obf<'i Trs ap- ou this plac« a« followi. ** Ths Wortl was with GoiJ, •* and again, ',hc Word was GoU " Johj very carefully. ** aai as CO? being ignorant oi the ^ccurat* cature of «• the Qjeck lauguags, (ometiaics ufes the artidti. aad ** icmetlosss ociiti them : addiog the article io the ap- <* pcllation. ^ho Logos) ihs Word ; but ia the appella- •» lioa ( Theoi) Gqd, fometimes adding it, nnd fome- •• times, for diftinftioa lake, omi'tiog it. He applies «« the srticU whtn the ticle God daaotci him', who ia ** ;hs uBoriginated aathor of the wniverfc; but he dropi «• it when the Word ia called Gud. He adds further. <« He who ii God (cif exiUnt is properly aad abfolutc ** ly God; wherefore cur Saviour fays in hii prayer t3 *• the father, that they may koow thee the oaly true ** God. But tTcry bting, befides him who is God fclf- '* cxifteBt, rcceivirg his divir/iiy by commsalcation irom *« him, ]% cot HO iiiEos, (Cod abfolutrly t ) bat may •' more prtp^rly be f\}hd Theos (a God, or diviae * perfoR io the infer i^x Jcnfc.'*t) *' Thtfaasevva? ia the beglnsii);^ w'rth God." The Word was with the Father ifi the Um* OJaaRcr, ti one pwfon is prafcat with aao- tncr; before at>y p%rt vf the crea;iua ^^as produced, at I) fore obftfTcd. Here ihe Aii*ni remsrk very judly, trat it is iirjpofiible that the Word can be iaid to be wi;h God, aad yet be the God with ^sho|ll he wai. This vfOuli be A Ci5ntradip.46. 47* ( lid ) the fcftfc of JlTiae rercUtioa ; whtreln we are told, ihit this title bai been g'lTcn to AngcU, Kiagi, Judges, &c, much nore may it be beAowcd, gq the mofl esincot Asd illalUiout of ill the creation of God. •* All ihiugs wtre made b) bin (or throegh him) aad without him w»s aoi any thing made that wai made.'* Thii im- plies (ay the Ariani, that the Word wai employed by the Suprenc Leing, with whoa he was in hit pre exif- teat ft&tc ot g^ory, as an tDferior agent ia the formatioa ot the world, and that he was the iaArumental c«ttlc» by whick all the different ranks of creatures were brovghc i«to being. ** And the Word was made At(h aid dwelt among os. &c.'» This Hgnifies fay they, that the Word emptied t imfelf of his pre cxiileot glory, and refigned for 1 time that exalted flatioa he filled in the hcafenly world« that he cams down literally from heafco, and affumed a hamaa bjd\, being kinfeif the foul or animating ptia- ciple ot it. And on this account he it called a mao» bi.ctttfc he was joined to a body of the very fame kind th^t (Ben are poiTefled of, and fubje^ed te all the tnnoceoc ittfirintties of ktisan natara. It was a wonderftsl and a- mazing loAaa^e of condefccnlxoa^ (lay the Ariaos) iri this iliuHilous Spirit to become ■ man ; but there it no- thing in this iacarnaticn that is abfurd, or impofTible vj be admitted. 1 hat a pcrfott poffeflcd of the effcncc and atvributcs of Gcd ; who is etsrnaljj imBeoft, tnj omalprefenr, (hoald be inaarnatc, wottld indeed be aa impuiTible end contradlftory fappofition .* iod therefore the Trinitarian fyftcm which Contains this do^riae is dcferredly rejcfled. Bat that the firft and greateft of all God^s crcatarcs fhoiald asdcrgo a change of this kind, to ferve a grand aad importaat parpofc in providence ; by rcfvuiiig the hamaa race from the dominion of fin aed vice; and rcf^oricg them to the true dignity and glory of thsir rational natures, may be believed without doing vio- liuce t9 reiifoB, or the dictates of natural light. For tiliho' the divine nature caonot chaege, canno? be dimiailhed, caa* «<9r empty iiUlf, or be diToSed ot its cfTcnlial glory and iatrififtQ Y ( iS7 ) ictrinfic fxcdlenec; b^t ro«ft slwaya coi tiBue irvarU* bly \he iamc : y«t any dcrWcd, crotcd, oi dcpsmdcnt being, howcTci cTilted, UBty by hii owa co»len!, »nd the p9w«r and will of ihc Almighty, be transferred froa a highsr Hi a lower ft^tc of txiI\«oc€. 1 his is ihe Ariin iu- tcrprctation ot the iitrcduAion to St. Jwhn's Goipcl, and is the moll literal one the wordi are cspxble uf : 9.nd if the beginniBg there mentioned, mtta* th« bej^ioniog of the creation, sad the Logos or "Word is applicabU to the petfoQ of jefus Ckrid, it moft b« received «s the cnly gi^iifjios cxpllcAtloQ or the pafT; gs. I (liiil now giy« ihc Sacioian intcrprstatioo of ty^efe verfcs. '* Id the beginning was th* Wvri." The Socin- ians, (or thofc who mitajiia th« Hri^l and prober human- ity of Chrift, which is what ie rr:e*Bi by the appcliatioa; asd not th?it they follow all tha opinioni ot Scclna*) row generally admit, that »' the begieoing " refers to the be»'*gaiDg ot ih« c;«ati(i>i. f But they da rot apprehend, that the Logos or Word mcatioBed by St. Joha fignifiss 2 pcrfoi, or iBtaliigcnt agent, but they ecnceive ihst it is only a M:>df, Qiiality, or Attribute io the Deity; or ia Ti^ort a dclcripti..n of ih€ one true God the Fathar him- klf, afrer the Hcbrev/ tj^ariner, fsuadrA on the or'g'nal language ot ihe lacred writerg of the Old 'leltatneDt, ill th« f Thofe e^^celknt Chiiflixn?, the Ucltariani of f'oUnd and Traijlylvariia. adopted the interpretjtiwn ot SociuB?, and rfcfcrrew th« begiflomg mevtioned by St. John; doc to the begiDBiog cA tnc creation; but the beginning wt ihe Gofpel, that iJ, whea John the biptiit b^egau t» p-each rer»int;BC€ to the Jews; which St. Msrk Ch. i. i tx- pre. fly calls the beginniag ot the Gofpel. 7 hey interpre- ted the whole palugc of the new creation, or moial re- novation of ihc woild^ by Jefus Chiiil. Their iute-pte- tatlou, as feme cf them hivc cxplai.'iid and esftrcrd it is in;j€nious ; and by no tnsans e'ererving the codi? mpt or redicole, ihxt Abp. Ti-iofion, and Bp. Srilliigflcei^ have <.Bdcavoured to ihr^w upas it. It has however of late years, found f.w or bo patroiis in ihii> part cf the World. ( iSS ) tbe fol!ow}«g p'»ir>ge? — G«n i. i. *' To the beginning God crcAfed ih« hc*v** then wai he tloat for h« hid vitk him hit Rcal©o, •• whUh he had tvifhia h-rTafcU* Gq^ is rational •* 9\{0t tad R«ahn had cot ihia Light ia himfelf, nor was it '• the tud cf hit comiag, tc mike men partaken of that '• Light ; bat only by his ttltinooay to procirc credit " and authority to him who kad that Light tmoBg the ** Jews. 9. That Light was the trwc Light, which c«mc •' iofo the world, and calightcacth every Man. y. Ia •• that Man, and bo other reiidcd this Light, vvhich ia •* the fnci\ cxccllcot fcafc dt(«rTef only to be fo called, *' and vvhich now fliiaei among Msq; fo that cTcry ons who «« Ratio ifi ipfo priss ; ct ita, ab ipfo omnia. Quse Ratio *• Scnlus ipfius ell. Hanc Grscci Log©n dieoir, q«o ** T^cabuio etiam Scrmootra appcllamoi. Idcoquejam '* ii! ufaeit nollrorsm. per fimpiici.atem iiterpretationij, '* Semoncm dicert in piimcrdio apad Deufo foilTe • '• cum niagii Ratiotieort competat aniiqaiorem habcri ; ** qiji.i nou ftrraonilis a priDcipio, (ed rationalis Dcus ** etiay. ante principiuai; ct c;uia ipfs quoqrr Lrmo *' Rationc cuafifttDF, priorem earn ut iubftaafians iaana «• olUudat, kc TerruUiuB. edy. PrAxcam Cap. v» p. 502. ^o^, £d» Kigahii. Parisiii. 1695. C m ) « wko will but follow thii light, o^iy be fare of beidg ** brought to efcrn?! Lif«. lo- Rcafoo wai ia ihe Woild, *• aad tho World wis made by it, but tht World kn w •* it tot. lo. And he ia whom thai light was, coov rici ** for fomctimc amoDg men; but tbcy not with ftaadtog ** thcrt hating becD created by the divine rcafoo whi.:h << dwelt in that Mao, did oot dif^iDguifh him (roe T-y.U ** teachen, ii. It came to iti owo, bat its owa ree^rivei «* it act. II. Nay he lifed anaoBg ihofc whci alooe were ** called the people aod chiidrea of God, aad yet they *» did- Bot know the dcflrine of their God 12. But to as *< otaay as receiTed it, it gaTe power to become the Sons ** of God, efeo to them that bcH«ye oa iti oaxe 1 2. But ** all that embraced his difise do(ftrises, became ia eoa- ** fcqyeaee the people of God, and were received, al- ** though they were not Jews, ioto the nambcr of his «* children 13. Who were boio not oi blood, ocr of tha ** will ot the Fie(h, nor of the will of maa, bwt of God. ** 13 Tho' they were tot Jcw$ by Birth, nor by Mar. <' ri»ge, fior Profyletci, yet God wa» pleafed freely t© «« honotr them with that title. 14, Aad that Resila '* Wit nade fleih, aad dwelt emoag m, (and we beheld «* its glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Fa- «* ther) full of Grace and T.uth, 14. That Reafca ** which I btforc fp^kc of. aad aflferted to hate been with •• God from the begifiaing, yea to have been God bina- " felf and ia which was life aod the light of meo, did • not always^ as i faid, conceal itielf from us; bat by the ** Man in whofla it was, became coilpicto us, and dwelt ** for fomtiroe aaiocg us. (We (aw the Mijsfty of the *' DiTinc Rcafodi which was ncritr before beheld •* difcovering itlclf in that maa, as it became him wha if *< the Sen ot God, cot in that mancer that vrc are, bat ** ia a Oiaoaer pccttli*r aad propsr to binildf alone.) ** That Eternal Rejifoa laade iilelf vifibic aad mauifeil *' to Hi in him, and ilxg^ud itfclf ifiercllul and gracioos *♦ to as." -f- Another ingenioos wriler, aod ftieouoas ad- vocate for the diTioa uniry, pjraphrales ihcfc vciUs in t Lc Ckrc ID Icca C »94 ) ihe fbllc^iEg maQRer. <• The Crctk terra whlcliw^ «« biirc t!a^ri*t«d the Word, docs all'j %nifiy rciOn, <' i9fel!i^«ic«, -wii^^cca. Thi» notk^s ecuch btttcf fcoft '< than iSie other, ^ncc it it SBore iuittblc to the «^iTio< «• citMre, which i« pwrcly fpiriiuil; nad to whith «* Ipccch Qftiaoi be proptrly tppiicdi. Thii b^iog (cl- *• il«d, ih« iittafion oi St, John ia my op leioB, !« t» «' inform U9, trim the r«mf wiiaom wn «h ai iiiii Utttci " ikc Qttural wcfi«! of crcatur« wiih iu«h idasirablt <• art, kai b«ea cqu^liy ccnrpicauai is *.h« crtaticc of iht «' n«w or moral world. i bii ifiottghi ii ti«iy noble, '^ atd ts^bTc^s 2 rub2i.-cc Idaa of the Gofpcl. To aakc (< it appear in it« luli Inft^t. let ^t trtceod miavUly to the << Uogsagc ot th« £vasga«r « might it ba {op>)e>lt:c I'^tt tlonai falling cifually frotn «« ths top of a rock, fticmld forxn a hicdloma csifiee-at «« the bat!oa) of it; thaa that the blind »ad tjnitit^iri- «' ^cat parts of maifr (hoold prodece, 1 will not fay •' the UsiiTfrff, bst •vca a fivigle creature facb as msa. ** la vdia would you pat thc{«£ aioms in naotion : vyih- ** out th« iaUj-pofKioa of vifdora ric>thing but wild *• corifaSon woifid enfsc ; ** wi haas h*r Do.hing which «* ha? bsta mtd« coud hara bfceD ma«if." Wc co^nc *"' now to the Isfc pcr"®*^ o-'^ th« word; and St. J >lia «* arriv«» at hi? priacipsl prontOtioa, and ih-At wisich h« •* iaiaaded is the ("ssjsct of iiis hiliory'. " th< word wiS *' mada fl«fh.'» Bcf jr« wc gife the tree meauing of it, *' let us fui\ rssasTt oat eircncus idea. i'rop^'ily •* fpcai^.iig, \Virdd:a did o&t btcJu(5l. On ihi« accoUQt he it ctlitJ the ioijig* of '« iht inviiible God, becaaf* the pcricfti.^ni ot ihe Deity " were obiervcd u> fhiat forib i« him r and \t w Idora *• dircovficd herUlf is the worki o/ creation, it a5«y be <• tffiroicd, that ihe wai ftiU nv)r« ooalpjcouily display- ** cil by theGoipci. •* Sh^ aw*lt »n::ot g us i-»3ii or grace «< asd rrtiijl," which m«40«, that H't was iRctfi^ntly ** eaaployod ia pcr'orcaing betif •rclcai a^Jhcns to oi*a- " klod, by iila?s-cat:Dg iheir uniierdcrl^andingi, aod ** Supplying thtcn witn crcfy thiag ntccifary to *alrad- *• on: ** acd w« bthtld his gi>)fT, ^. glisry becoming «< iht oily begotten ot the Father."* This glory op^car- ♦* ed ia lh« tni.acies ot J«>u« CJuiil, ia his lerurreftion, *' and in hia afceafioQ into heaven ; a glory f-i" f;2rpar- " Citig that of Motes arid tiiC Prcphsrs ; but y«i Co *• more thsa was fuitabis; »o the dig&ity of the ©aly foa " of God, wDo W8f produced by Kis Farhcr in a mir- •« aculous way, and ftai by him witti aa cxtraorJioary *« pow«r and auiisority to men | in this m^isacr jh« Saciniani inrcrprit the introdu6^ioa lo St Joha'i Gofpel ; and the parUgc can only be undtrilood ia this lewf^, or ia ihat oi tha Ariaas ; tor tht Tricitariati cxpofiaui is in all rcipe<5l« abfurd, sod evideatiy contrary to the fcopc aod iBictttioQ of tlic Evaogelift, nn wcii as the general tenor Oi fcripture. § \Vc bo^ pau from this («bj««^ to the CGBliderafion of othsr objeilions. John i. 1 8. ^* No man haik feea God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bofom of the Fa- ther, he hath declared hiai." The t&rm mjncgehouj, Oflly be^oiteit, does not ii tht f««ll«i\ mAnacr relate to any :| OcoTrci direrrai df Moq. Abaezir. § Mr Lindfey io bit Sequel to hi? Apology, and in his Ctlechift, has adranced patny cxcelleiu things in cjn- fironalioa of the Sociaiin icicrpretation of the introdjc* «ory Terfes of 3t John's GofpH ; which highly di.r«rv« the tttcntion of tvcry firioui aad ia i«iriiiv«g duiilUn. nay fappoftd «t«rfl»l geaeratlon: but eld €r rtf^^ec>3 iba jiaira>.ieiu«« prodo^hoo of Jcf«$ by th« p-s-wtr o; God; or is cqu'iTaleai lo the trrffi beloved, and v«ll btio¥«^, ' ia offen tffed by «h« othrr hFasgel'f^s coifictmlttg our Lord. Ccmpsrc wih thi»p'»84f of Ss Joisa KLih. iii 17, xvjj, 5 Mark i. 1 1 , ix, 7, Lukt iii. 22. ix. 352. Pet. i. 17. In Jik« sfiJnncr, Ht:b. xi, 17. ifatc i« Oylcd Abra- liam>* oaJy brgoi'c* or well bfloTcd ira ; «hho»gh Abri- bam had other chil^drsa btfides hiaj by Bi^«r aad Kttu- rsh. Tht ph«'a!e, ♦< who is in the bofcm of tW« Fathc: ,^> raay bt undtiAeod ia the fi®* w»y, v'z. Uiat J«(bs was the objtift of th« Father's pteaiiar affeflioQ and r«ga>d : or it may fignify that he xl?na was ac;uaioted wr,fe ihe counlcli er dcfigr.8 of the Faffcer, lad from what fo'l ws '* be hath declared him/' this appears t(» b« iKc tra« meaning of the pUce. John ii. 19- •' DfcAroy tKis temple tfid ia thr«e c'ayc I will rtifi it up, &c," S«c tfeii ixpUined, Dif. 5 pa^c y6 77.^^ Joho li. 24. 25 •• Bkj J*fu3 did tet coffiralt hlra- ffilf unto them, becawfe he katw all wea, and uesd- «d not that any maa ftiould teftify oi msn, for he knew whit was in man " Our Lord Jeiui Chiii* 'was made acqaainted with ths knowledge of tbe ho- issaa heart, ia coaftqueace of the Wifdoia a&d Spirit of the father which dwell in him. Math, xi 27, "Ail things are dcliycred unto ine of my Father." John iii. 34. *' Gcd gi7Cth not the Spirit by mc^ilurc uato hiea.'* John xiv. 10. ** Th« words that I fptak unto you, I Ipcak Bot of mylelf, &c." The Frophits and Apoftlee pwflciTed cht (&»• knowledge on lome oetJtfions ; ihai, Eii(ha kfiiw whist Was i& Gchizi'g niind, 2 Kicgi v. 26. " Weat Bot Mine heart wiih thee ; " and Peter was ac- quiint«d wiih the deceitful intfotians of Ananias asd Sa- phira, A^s ▼. it is not wonderful therefofe, that eur Lord (hovld poiTcfs a knowledge of this kind. Johi iii, 13. *4 And kg naan hath aLfc^cJec up to hcarca, bat ht that came dowi fro© heaven, erca tkc Son of man ^hich ii in heAvea." X*.is pa/Tigc ka bc«Q Ufg«d as a proof ( 158 ) f>roof of i'o€ cmniprckrcc of Chrlft, sij thtt ht wai ift httTjtu ID hii rupp«f<>d diT;a< citurt, at the i»er ii>!>« that he w«i upoa cirih Wat that ©ir Lmd w»$ not li eriliy in heitro, at ih* tiai; he (fok« ihcU wordi n cvidccr, btciulc he teHa «s ihn he came dowc frooi hcii- vcn. New ia w^iatiTer itnic w« takt the worili "c etc cown ti^m k««Tta/' they c'««»iy pruT*, that at that jpc- r«oii 1»« wa« Mjr adlffall? In heavfn. Sorac Ariaat have bcf^a cf opifii'.rj that tht voiiii ho on e« lo ourano, (h.)old be tiaifl4ird» *' wJi j vpii in htavti;*' aoJ it i» ctfi.io, that ON U fo tr^cflarcdi ia Ch. ix. 25 ofthii GtJf-tjl, •* hoti tBphioi ON, vhercai \ wis feliod, &i:.'* But other* taking ifee woids a» tbey (\aad \w our vtrfkn, fiii4 10 ciiTisulty in cxpUioing tbim- The following U 1 RcA iralUsly illuftratiaD ot thii pa/T-'gc ot Socioiaa priic pl«s, vhich I rt ti! thcrtfore gitc at fii)! l«og!h. ** 1 his text (John iii. i^-) ia by Boaay (uppofcd to fc* '• quite couclulWe 001 orly for theprc-fxil^eccf ot Cbriil, «' in that he ia Taid to havf comi down from heav^a ; •* fcui as a proof of hi* dcilr, beca%»e of holy icrip'jiie, how di^creut do the iatB« ** phffifcs appisar ? An cmincat perfoa at fhe da\*n o£ " the recr;rai*t^oa co erersv to what it called ihe divi- ** Dfty ot t'hiift, did ntTifthc'efa f© C;early perc«»T« t^n *' fci Loid, by thcfc lofty txptfflioBi intefidcd coly rg *- teAch a Ttry plain triith conccrcing hiasfelf, that h« ** without fcrapie jaT« ihia ittarprttation ol it to ih« •* public : ** Hvl ce cognolt )c« chofei ctlcftei fofi *• q>.e aoi, i, e. No oac unierAaod) the thiRgi o{ God, •• bill I oiily." t There arc three ih'ngi h»rt adaiicd «» by our Lord. i. That no ens kad afceoded Kp te V hodvca bat hiiultlf. 2. Tt%\ he the fca oi taac, hid •' cojJt dc'A'n troro hcivtn. 3, 1 hat himfelf wai tbea I* in hciTca^ even whil« he waa fpeakiug to Necodatnus. ** A trB« t Robert StcphiOi. ( ^99 ) ^* A true 2&d cofifiClcnt icccunt of tl cf« pofitWfts will ** give us o«r Lord's mckai:.g ia the«n.^* 1- *• Ihifwholt difcouric v;it«i N'icodc«5US i» in ihe *« prophetic ftylc, highly fig\3r«?ivc. In the f^rift littril *• fcnff, it W4f by no mskai tiue, that no one had afccnj- *' fld up to heiTfa, but th« San of vnim ; for EoQch, *• tht levcath from Ad;km, it »li pro'axbiliiy; md EliJH.h *• tht prophet, hadctnamly ¥v«n trasil;it«il from ttrtli *• to hctvcn. Kc'.th«r wau it irue in the dirc^ kn(c of •• the wordi, that tht ion oi fhti}, si here a/fsfted, had ' afcendcd up to hcarea. Wc htvc no tccouat w the *• kriptuiei from whence alo«5 we caa know aughi *• coactruiog hioi, that he c^tr afccnded to heaven but •< once, whc» he took his final leave ©f this cirth and of ** hii di(cipiei» Some other ka(e o! the words then it ** to be (ovsglit for in which it njight be faid that tjse (on «. of aitft had afcendcd up to heaven. Now ai ia our •• way of appreheafio*, a maa that would be aequaintei '• with the iccretf ot the divloe will, flioald go to hfa- •• Ten to conysrfe with Gad ; it hence comes that the •• phrafe alcesding to hcaye* eafily figaiSes the being «• adniited to the kaowUdgc of God'i coanfels. So «• Mcfes tells the Jews, th^t God had fo clearly revcsltd •• his will to them from hcavta by him, that there wae <• CO need for theisi to go up thithef to he acquainted «• with it; Dfcut. XXX. n. ** It is «oi ia heaTsn, that *• thou fliouldeft , which was indeed •• fir more JUjftriotts and divide. John ri, 33. «* Ths ** bread of Gad is ke whish caaacta down froaj hwvsa «* attd giteth lift U3lo the wr»dd." V hU Apology p. 213 to 2 if;* ( 202 ) ^ iVEN A% yojr Faihtr which it in htaven it perfe£li" but nd boiij ever imagir.tf the Fadicr 6«ia)3iaQic&vcd to him. For he tella va Jofefl ▼. 16. " For as the Father hath life ia him- (tU: To hath he gina tot^G Sen tohare life (or the power oi raifiag the de&d) in hinsfei^caad ifi tkia Uimt chapter, Ver. 39, our Lord obr«*T«8 «*thiiis thcFajher^i wiil which haih feni me, ihat of all which he hath given me, I (bould lole B J^hieg; but fh jaM r^ile it up again at the laft day." Whca Jcla$ laifed Laz»r«3 from th«5 dead, we find him addreffing the Fattffer lo thii manner, John xi. 41. 42. '* Axd Jefaa lifctd up his ayci, and faid. Father, ( thask ihct that thou haA heard me. Aad 1 kssw that th*>« htarcR me always: box becaife ef the p«opl« which Oaud by, I laid it, that they mfty bslicv« that thou haft fiat mt:*' Again the very refure£\ioQ of our Lord him- fcll. vas effiiTlcd by tha Faihcr't power* Sec Dlf v, p 75 &t. No arguoaaDt therefore cau ba formed for the Diviaity of Chril^, frosi his rslfmg the d p odttced by the poi/cr and will of the Father; and in a!i refpef^jt fubferyient to and dcpesdeot opaft him. A great critie has ihswo, that vh* wordi in Exodaa traQflated ia ovr Ysrl^oa *'I am that I am," and rcadered by iheScptaagict ii the fame riaaacr ; da ia the origiaal Hebrew figai^y, E?o qni ero *'I will be that I will be, that 16, that Gad woald paifofjaa whatever he had projaifsd ; which traafl:*tioa piaioly proves, that there is act the fffljillcfi coDQ«r!>ioa betwixt this paOige a»d the wordf of Chrift recorded by Sf Jaba ; aad fo all the Brgusseate foosdcd &poa this imaglaad aliiafioii fall to the grouod f Bat t Eso'J. iii. 14. ** Ero qai croj ehjck afcherchjeh. ** Kic. ut tfj»}t5 pjijirast, aen edit nomen f«nm Deei, ied *• Mofis q^e^Vioae^s obiter ceAigat, Nam ia feqatstibas ** Biaaif«l^j Jtaovah it('i vocau* »«qut nfqaam aiibi iegi- ** r«r voz Elijeh, quafi Dei t^otaiea. Hot igitur vclle vidc- *' lur : noa eft qvtod ccmcn naeam qucsras qaod Dult»aa '* miiiii hadteaus tribui, is Ero Ifr&ali Dtra, q&\ Kno, ** quocttnqae me noasiae appdllteat parinde eft; fen, C9 •• Bomioe app«lUri fise patiar, qao appcllabor. Ea eft vis *' repctitiouit €Jtifd«ai vctbi, cujas vide exeajpla ed Gta, *• Chap, xliii. i-^, Lxx, let. vcnrtvat, ego eimi boon, " ego fuBa qui fuen, qui tgnrg-ai qiideaa ei\ feafas, ** led ex Plftiuaifmo in viiacur, dcducendBs potiefqaana •* ex loci i'etie. Vide Eofebii Prarpar. Evaag Lib ix. '* Cajp. 9," Lz CUtc ;a be©. la coifireatioQ of ( 204 ) Batfurtli«r tbtwordi of oar Lerdhimfirlf, IB Joha ▼!». 58. do not tppcrr to hay* beta lightlj Br;dcrAoc»d bj our trAiH^tcrs. For is ull o Son ttf rnata, thea (hail ye kcow that (Ego ei^i) I tm he, tad that £ do nothing of myfclf ; but &• »y F^ihor h«th ta«ght roe. I fpatit thefe tbicgt. In thif lafl chttion, jtfus at ths very titse he aakci^ afe of the worflls i a m, declares ihat he cto 4q nothing oFhimfeif, bat wai tJiughttnd inArec- ted by hii Father what to fay. It is ptipably evideot from o«r Lords cxpr^fTing himfelf in this manaer, that do deep myfterijus (eoic, implying diTinity, ii coiched under the word* I am ; bur that ihey aro only t coicifc de- claratioQ of the M^fTiafliip of Jtru*. In John xiii. 19. we have aiaothcr inftincc ©f the fume kiad ; ♦•Now I tell you before it C'>ra<', tha? whca it is come to pjff, yc may belicTtj that (ggo eimi) I am he," But the aoft ftrikiag ioftaac* of this way of fpeakiog, ii to be fcuad IB o«r Lords dialogue with the woman of Samaria* John IT 25. a6. " The woman faith unto him, I ko^w that Meffus cotDeth, which Is called Chrift: when h; is come, he will tcil us all ihiagi. Jel«s laith aato her I that fpeak nato thee am hs. (Gr. Ego Eiai.) Now the womao'i obltrTanoa, asd our Lotci's reply, prove b«- yond the puiTibility of a dowbt, th^c Jemu iiitanded ao- thisg «onfirmalio« of this iiterprelatici of L« C!trc*i, it may be here obftrvad, that the Chaldcc paraphraii Onkdlos, renders this place of Exofiai in the fa«e miiner. Ft dixit DciBS ad Moyfcn, Ero q«ifro: i, e. Aad God faid toMefes, I will be that I vUl be. Waltoa's Poly- glot Bibli. ( «J ) »>iiflg i^ft by {h\i abrupt wiy of fprak'ng ; bis« t© figni- fv that ht was the Chrift : an«5 fsom ihli psflaj^t it if >lfo ptrfe^ly dear, that uar traallatojs have ciooc ^rll, in laltrting he ia other p!«c«». And if ♦hsy had eo« beta sniflcti by erroneous id«a$, ihcy would H.'jtc render- ed, johuviii 58 in the fasic m:iBaer, viz. **Bcfor« Abra- hacxi WAf I am HE,*' tha^ ii, I am the Chnft, But it may b« here aflced, hojw Cb;i(l co»!d f»f, that he was before AbrarftHQ. li he cnly began tf* eX'fii wheu ho was l?orn of Kiry i To «hii nc rcpiy rhai chrift's exifting befor« Abraham, yta bcf^ra the 7/or!d wat, is bo pruof at all of difliii»y; a^J i« eo mm thAO what the Ari/ias r.a^c »lwa>s ciaistaiaftd, ^ho y€t poativtly rcje£\ the Ttioi- ttriea fyA«Qa. But OMr Lord dofs not htt^ Uy, that h« wai bcf(;rc Abraham, h« only lays, that before Abraham was I aai h«{, 01 the Cfeiift. Kc 3H0 obferfrs, in V«r. 40 of this chapter. •• Bat now ye f«ek 10 kill ffif A MAN ihat hafh told yoa the truth, which I kaTc heard of CoA ; ihi* did oot Abraham." And ic Vtr 56. he adds. «* Your F:ithcr Abrah«m rejoiced to fee s?iy day; asd he faw it, uiid YJ&t glad-" N&w to fet the day oft pcr- fon beforehand, ioiplics in tht jadgcasent of fom»,ihai th« psrf .'E himlcU did not tfern aftaally exift ; bit was only at ('^mc futurf period to rxitt. Our Lord then msy havt only ifticnded 10 iatiariate, that h» wii thf Mefliah prosjifcd t» Manktad at'cr the fall ; aid foretold long b«lorc Abnhtta had a being ; and alio the obj«^ of Abrahata's Fiijh aid j^syfsl expcaatioa. But whither Chrift pre exifted or nor, (iocs not form a part of our prefeot coati overfy wii?i the Tn»itariat55. For the objfft of difputc is net the ^re cxif^enfe» btit the Ditiuiiy of Chrift, acd his equali- ty with the Q3d asd Father of all; which they affirm, aad w« think w« have the bsft and mcft Mnexctpiiouablt realoas in th-i werld to dcoy. Jeha X. Ver. 30. *« I and my Father aro one." The Trinitarians taking this fentence by itftU, wiihoMt con- fidering its connc(5tion with the preecediDg and follow- ing parts of our Lofdt difco«rre, infer froas ii thai the Father aud she Son arc oftc iU^ucc or fabftaace, and coa- (ei^uiatjy { 20S ) Tqufntly o*e GdJ.. Bar our Lord hinaftlf doci Dot fay, ih«t hi« Father aDc dvftroy- «d ; and cither ihs ime &r ths othc? nauft ccafe to be a perfoa The Son will be the Faihcr, und iha Fstkfr the Son, and thgy v-ill net cciy be one cfTsisc*, but one pfcrJoa a!lo, in the ftr;(^eft firafe. Thas, tJjis pr^tcadcd Uniiy ot th« Sob with tke Father, \vi!l be fouad to asci- feilutt the Son altogfethcr. it it is atHna^d c^n the ©iher kapd, ifcat the Ftife^r and {h« Son have diAlrd divia3 under hi» protc^^iion, but kf:«C7 one liitHld doubt of hit abiiity for thai purpyfj, he adds, that tkc Ftifeer who is gtuster than all. isd con- feqtjeEtly greater thaa hiicfeK, had jivt i ih^m unto hiw, and thu the Fithcrs pow«r vhich w.ii» bouaUieli, ir«ild be exerted ia ihcir behalf. And then he «d{i», ** i lud the Father art cue;" th« p!»io nricjojffg of whish is, 1 and the Father h&vs the faiTiC benti^olcnt dfrdgAs ac«d ia* tcoiioc?, for the falratioa of wy people asd foKoxs-ers ; ftcid the pe*'cr of the Father is £OEnmu".ilcat«d to m't acd wi)! b^; tffi^jloyed for rht t patpoft. It i* po arg^mtut ia faTOKr of oai opponcoif, thai the Jeva Kcdnflood *ur lavievf ia as crrcnco«is (lafr. For they ncre tvtr ready to Uy held of hif vpord*, snd to pat faijc acd ii? idicus conftrn6tiaa:; epos them. And we are Eot to arau% fr$ai their f^Hc coiEmeots, b«it from tht natural a«d a^p«re»t fB«ai&:Eg cf our Lord hissiclf It icsot prohabic how- ever, that ikc Jews ondcrftood owr Lord in th* f«ofe that Trinitarians do bow, as ciaimJDg to-be a dl?i»« per- foQ cqu^I with the Father; bat only ai iffuiaing the pow- er tnd amhority cf God. B«i our Lord fully «xplaia«d hioafslf to ihim, nud d«cia?ed, that he CislU^ hins,icif ihc Son of God, oaly beca»k the Father had itaftifisd hi« and f^nt hid inta the world; and juftifitd hlsuiaif Ur a- fneiug tkisf title by the fcripcarei, in^ which xtM* ire cal- led Qoia to '>^hortt the word oi God caise, cr who had leceifcd pow«r and authority f;02» God, f«ck ai King?, J»dg«8,5cc. This was a toiaplete rcausciatioa of proper diTinity by our Lord, at a tigse when it wat incHttbcBt upon hina to have declared she corirary, if h« had really been in poficffion of it, Ac-i il&t the wordi cf cur Lord, ••1 and the Father are oc«/* e'o not figsifiy any unity of ^Stnc^i »«7 b« further pjGved, frca tht ufe of the fame mode <^/pe^eh in other plasei of fcripirure. Johe, xv\U 2o. 21. *' Keither pray i f«r thefe alor.3; b«t ior theoa iilfo which fliall bclieTo on me through their wcrd ; that ihey tjl may be (Gr, htn) ewa; as thea, Fatbir, art ( 2of ) trt ifl "c, tnd I it thcc,- tht\ th«f ilfo rc.y b« (htn) one IN «s, &.:.*^ I Cor. iii 8. '* New hs thit planitth (Ptal) aoi hf th*c wttcreih (Apoiles) £rc (hen) ©ne, Eph. ii. 14. " For h« is our p«sce, who hath made bcrh (J«w« tftd Ge-tilc?) (h«a). oN'B. How iia what kcfc, were ovr Lcri's difd^Ies, Pan! uai Apoilos. lii* J«W5 aod GcatiiM. to be (h^n) oat thing? Were they 0Q< la have beliavcd in God prcm^iOy to hisafalf/which fh«ws that the person oi Cari^, \» rot iocludcdl ooder tha word God. Btlieviag in Chrift docs oot ioaply DWiaijy ia hira, but oaly acknowledging; him as the M«lfiah the Soa of God, tht great Mtirttg-r of the Father to Maakiod, aad the Saviaur of i-c wcrld. And our Lord iciis us Johfl ( 209 ) Johe xii 44. ** He that bdiereth on me, bdUTcih co« CQ CSC, bot en hisR tkat fcnt nic." John itJT. 9. ** JcfttS iaiih BOto him, kave I befn f« loi'g »isr€ wiJh yon, and yet haft jhoa net kcwn nee, PhiJip ? he thkt hath ftra me h th ftca the Fithsr; atd how liiyeft ihoo then, (htw us iht F:5i!iCr. bclicvcft then not th t 1 rrr, in the Father, fed ihi Father in cae •* "Va U. •* Bc!kY« me, that I am m the Fitther, anU U;« Isthcr ia Ec &c." The words hs that hath htn mt haih fvCB the Father," have bsen addwccd as a proof, thf t the SoQ is a diriEe pcrfon equal mih the Father. But if tbc) vsrc; to be t&l-cn liierall) thty would prfiva » Tcry c-ifflttns do^hiii?, viz. that the Svn wai ih« Fiiher hiti^r/if. But the treth i», that oar Lord ictend- fid Roihiog &iQtii by this W£y of i^catking^ hist to iutimaic that he w^4 the Farhcr's leprefcDtativt. cmbailador, tud iht grc-sticveaigf ot his ^iU, that the ^ifd.m and power et the Ffthci rcfidcd in hisn, aiid were dilpkycd to ir.i^fikicd by him. This pnfl«|ps is fiisilar to iht exprsf- fion of St Fisl, Col. i, i 5. ** Who {Chni\) it the im- rgtr of the in^iijfiblc Cod. i, c. the pcil .fc T^liO «ibcYe all others, icUrDblca ihs Fsth^r okoH ; tf In »hum his per* fc^icus Bf'.oi* eB'nintly app;:ar. 1 he Af oftles alfo in con- Terfing v,itb Chiii^S had the bill oppoirooiiy of know- in^/Co^, -^tA ot btccjrj;iu^ f.equaJntcd ^^iih hi; vijlj and tie f^>j of ob ijnii g hu li vl ar. The words, •* bclikvcft ihou eoi that 1 trsi is ihg Father and the Father in me,** have bteft lfeoi;ght by Irnvtarisna, to rebi to feme ki&d ©f ntyftcriciis ucicE 01 in ex-fteace of twi> divice co equal ptrfoaa. But cer Lcrd hifi'^kif- has cxplaiicd thcsa o- thttwifc: fcr hs Jclh us it ihc fasce Ttrfe, " the words that J fp:sik uBto jou, 1 fpeAktspt of r:yrdf : but the F*- tier ilui drvfllMh ia me, he dotth the works. Froa V'l ich U appears, thitt he nmtA to i»«.u>c«te £B oppcfite do£\riocj acd to figfitfy thai the Fsfhsr, or ths bpirit of lie F*th»r, wai the fcaicc ot l-ii wiictna aid the authur of all hi» Kirtcuioua works. Se e Dif. v. p. d i . 62. — We find fieii&r Iii^guagc to ihii oi oki i.ojd ulcd co»- ccrniag piwui a&d divoui pcifons. i Ccr. iih 16, ♦*}i£iow ( 2T0 ) jt not ihflf 7c art the teaipic of Goi, tud ihil !hf Spsrlt of God dwJlcth io you/' 2 Ccr. vi. i 6 As God hath fiiri, *' I will dwil) io thcia and walk in them " i John if. 16. '* tit that dwalicih ia lore, dwtlitth ia God, and God in hira. VVheo good chrilViani art ddcribcd iii this mTuer, ic \i not iuiprifiDg that Chrift (heuld talK ot his bt'ing m the Father, aQ4 the Fa:htr 'm him. Jt>ho XT 14* "Ifyc fl»a!l tfk ary tblog io my nam« I will dit it." I lis appears to rtUe to th« Bciractilous pov/crf? aaJ extraordinary qaiiifica5i©!n, t)^at were coa- terisd npcQ ihs fi.fi chriilians. ChriA wai eoabled to b«n©w thsfo girts by the prcff/ift of the Holy Ghoft Vvhich he rccsircd cf tht Father. It is obferrablc that our Lord does net dtiire his Ap«i\ies, to a(k from him- ic!f ; but to a(k is his mrac. Aod it is certain, that the ptrloa from whcna th*y were to sfk was the Father : for ht tclU theiB, Joho xvi. 23. ** Aad in that day yc {ball fcfk iBt Dothiftg : Vtrily, verily, I fay unto joa, wbatfocvcr jc fhall ufK the Father m my Bamt, ht will gift it yoa/' This paHTagt therefore, proves Borhiog noort, but thai Chrift Should grant the petitions of his dii- ci} Us according to the will of the Father and to his glory : for he obferves in tht preceding Terfe, (Jcba xiv. 13) **Aod whatlQerer ye niall afk ia my naaac, thi« will 1 do, that tht Father nay be glorified in the Soa." John xvi. 15, *• All things that tht Father hath arc mine,'* Tht ill thiaf,s here racntioaed, appear to relate to ibt things ot tht chriflian church ; becaifc thfi Spirit is laid to ttkt of theit things and give it unto the Ap;«ftlc». It is faid of chrifliaas. i Cor. iii. 21, *' All thiags are yours ;" therefore it is not wonderlul that the ffimt fhoald be affiroied by our Lord JcIms Chrifl of hicnieif. But whatever may be iacUdti under the wo>d ALL, it is no proof cf the divioity of Chrii«, for ht fclU U8 John iii. 35. '* Tht Father luvath the Son and hath given all thiegs into his hand." Whatever thtrt- foic Chrilt poflcflcs, is the free aad voluitary gift of the Father^ Bb { 211 ) Fafher, and we tre fare that God cABiiot rccrlvf frcm any perloa. Stc Rodu. xi. 35 36. Jokn xvll. 5. " And oow, O Fflther, glorify thou mc with thine owofsit, with the g>ory, which. I had with ih«c before the world vtt.'* ClsriiU* pof- fcffing glory witk the Father before the Wvjrld wat, Of occMpyiog ao efalu*at ftatica in the hetrenly World, ctu never b« f*ir!y urgfiJ as a proof ot di- Tiaity ; for it is cot faid that ihls glory "Vf as tt«rBal, or that ii was of the Tame natttra with the g-ery of the Fa- ther. Od the c«Dtfary, Chrift clearly appears to have b«cB divefted of this glory,- at the tiirc ke prayed for ih« rcftoraiioQ ®f it. But the DltriRc BtiQg caa n^rer b« dfprlTid of the glorifi of bi« narure. With him thaliuoa, that cur Lord rtally pclTs flsd a gl.jry with the Father pji;^r to the crea-ioft of the world; w'ach hai cv«r b««ii the opinion cf all U;iir*nanB of the Ari.'.n den©f«iinarioa. But there ar^' raiJijy cictliefit and z :aioij| advocates for the CAuls of troth; who shiiik thai the glory that ©ur Lord htr« prays for, wa» a glory trtsit he had sot bsrorc been in poHlili^n of; bat vvhich was po/krlor to Ms fulTeriDgj and deusf)» And it feima hi|;hly proper to produce their regions for ihiaking fo io thio pUcc- A a Author who dcferYs-s the Gocd Will. Edeem, aod Appro* batian, of all who bsar the UttitviiisQ nvi'.c, cxp'xiRf this paflage io the followissg manner. ** It has beea *• too iiaftiiy and erioneoufly scnclaJcd from iki» pwrt *• of Chrift's prayer, thit he is afking Aioaighty God to ** b«fto;y u^vu him foaetkirg of which h« had beea ia ( 212 ) '« in pofTeilioa bcfcrt t'lc world wi« ; but which ht had «* voiumariljr r«liaqHifti€d, whna art •* all his works fwm the b^rginning, Ad:$ xv. i{5. Ia the •* lame raauDfir, 2 Tiai i 9. Eph i 4. Gcd u faid Vo '* have chukn n$, aud to havi given us his g'sce, b(ifoi''e ** thetoBudirion of th« u'6(r!;l, before the wouti t»«g?.r. :^* ** although v/e bad then ftfTurgfjly no bti»g. And Ma:h. •• XXV. 34 whcic our Lord iieicrib«s the bkfTme o^ ihcfcj •* iKho fhaii have pr cmot-d hif g. Ipel^tbe cacfc ot sralh and •• righteoo(B4(«: — he iays ** Come ye bleared of isy Fk- ** iki«r, itihcrii ihc kinjrdam prepared for yon from the ba- " giouifigof tfee world.*' — tit m'lsYit hsre (aid, ichcrit the *• kingdom wkich y iU ha7E had with Ggd bcJotc •* t> e foKsditioa of the world.'* ThU intcipratatioa •* receives farther cODfirmttioa by the pttiiloa which ** h« offers wp for his di(cipl«s, Ver. 24* viz. *' thai *' th««y may behold roy glory which tfeoo haft given *• »«; tor ihou lovcdft me before the fouidiHiiin of •* the woild." He here again fpcaki of the glory " which God bad intended to befloY/ upon bim, A&d *' ai'bdugh it was bjfera he had a bcinji, he might fay, ^* thafi, * God had loved hiQ before the foKodAtion of < the world; *• ai God ii ftid *• to have chofca and gi- ** vtn us his grace before the world bcgua." Sornc ** have canjc^luiid, that the coaUruiat. *; 3. Wh^t is the glory that Chrlft hers rcqucilk ihe hsivtnly (< ( "'4 ) •• kfi*«-3'y FailuT to bc'low npoa him ? We may if- *• loie ourftlves, thai »;> all jiVv^ytr c?tr ocght to be, fo »• Ch«ilV*$ piaycr Bt)w w.»^ii\i be Tilled to his charaftcr, *• prelcnt citco:i.»^.^r;C»:«. difircs aad fxpj:6V^tioni, Wfcat *♦ thvju (j proper aiiid ft»«»T«l f ;r tht holy and bt^-JtVi- *' IcRiJsius, ai tht dole or iii^, to afk of the fisprcax •• Father, tmd Tov^^rcign diffb ci of all ihirgi, tt the Tmc- »' Ctis of ih*t Gofpc!, by Tri.idh the nrl«« and htppiotfs • of mankiuxi v*i to be pioita-tcd; which btd bcco hU •♦ iole aina and pfiifyii; iot vi-hich he had IWcd, ttd tor «* which U« Wi« about to fcic j To fappafc hian to pray " fur his oA-a .psivve happ^lncfi and advaactmcnt ; aid •* to auifiBUe himfc;^ with a t.roipe(\ of that horn God, *• as is the comoBoa opiiiiou of t'rc g'ory he iuaght. would •• not b^ f^iuble to that oerfcJlioa of taoral ch«ratkr •' which wc cannot but zicnbt to WiA r6r »^ihjj np to ** iSAt idea o^ tine moft tnlaigtd ucitalal bentvoIcBce ** which icem* to hifc actj^uJl him. There is a vary ** {i.-^guisr psiUgc of his life r^fcouateds John xii. io. •* Nvhich happcced only a day ci'r {) wiih tl^e ihcnght •• sn4 nexr profpt^ cf hi? li ffeiioMs arid dcatli ; he isy;*, <• Vcr. 27^ ** Now ia c:y feal trcubicd: ae.d u^hat <• fhall I fay^ Faihtr, fare «ie frnw this hour ? Ret «• for this c*«{« caaie I «nt» thii hoar, - Father, fjorify *• thy Ban3C.'> i. •. ** Thoiigh nature (^rifiki upon the «• ?ic\vof the fviU that «r« before b^c, ar*t:o, aad Le CltrCs Haraaonia Efiigelita. Augaitin felfo «nderitood tUii paiTage ii the fcj«i way. •' £1 nuLCclarifica me ta patet apud Icoaetipfuni, eliriutf, qu^m habui priufoeam naHr,d»* effst, ap«d scl ramqacm dlcue-, CliiritAtea qaaaa hstui apaJ te,id eft, ilhraclirita- tcm, v]«i(a habuiipvid u inpuadtAiiiatioBe toa, jamtem- pui eft, ut apud \e habcsw eiiam rifefls ia dexiera tua. i, c, •• .\nd nuw glorify thoe wt ftihcr wiiii thy itU, with tha (i\ory, vhich 1 had before the world was, with thee; at if ht hjid 1. id/' it is now tims lor me to bt pat in affual pef- ffeffign at ihy right hasd. of th-t glory which I had with ihce, that if, had in thy prcdfiflmatioD, or fore-appoint- »*ni. AugulUni Opera. Toca 9. Tr. 105. p, 509. Ed. Frjb Rafios 1569. Where, i -ojd deal more to the fame purpof« may bcfoai-d ( 2^7 ) «f dad.'' t A UarDc4 ©«dcrn wtiicr ffello^'JKg th« facse idti, obrerrci af fallows. My Lord, and my •• God;— — !h« faith oi St Thoroaj, wai only this, tlas *♦ Jcfus waB really rif«n frtas ihe «jcad. For whto the " ApcAlcs hid tgld him, they had leen the Lord ; b« ;• tolwiri, 'that excccpt I fh<»ll fee in hii hands the pilnc •• of thf ctilf, ftDd thrrft try h.ttn4% i«fo his fide i wilS *• BOt bcUfTc" (it.) 1 ii«t Chrift comii>g a fecood Ueki *• r.iiih Uftto him* *• reich Ku\tti thy hngcr, aad behold *• my haodt ; and rtach hithrr thy hand, and thruft it •• iolo Gsy die, «Qd b« not faithkfi bu« beli^Tiog '^ viz. ;• that I am riltn. Li fTly, o«r Savicur faith, *• Tbcmaa, •• becAttft thott baft km »« thou haft believed ; which •• fbewi that he coold bclis ve only v.h»t he had fcen^ t» •• wit, tbal ibt fame body was rasf .4, vhlch Im.d bcea, •; crccificd ; neither had he fcfn, Bor cow'd he fee vt\%k *• hit bodily eyes, that he ¥'ho was thus rajfcd^ wat his •• Lord attd bis Gad. 'i htfe woti$a a naroe i»hat is aboTc rrery oaac, Phil, ii ^ Sec Kat iHe Greek wordu (ho on epi paniaa Thcos «ui!f>g«Tof eis taufi eiquM, Amen.) •ra of amigtteiiS confti udbloa, a"d miy i»e rcndtrrcl either ss our Traailatorn fca?e dioae; or by patting ft f«li ftop »fter ths wordj Ciiriil came, caay rvi ihui, ** God who is ov^r all, be bleiled for erer. Amsss:" or thu3^ who (Chrsft) is oTcr »U, God be bleffed for ev^r. Aoiea. lu this kfi method Kr. Locke hat pir»phirarsiV • wef^Ht J acd tkty ft:cw that in their i'«i« «hc .;.'drvf*, *• God &v«r t!},*' Wirt uo: »pp!ic^ to Chrift ; ft.tj jjfa iKat i grext »fid rcai»Hul>lc d]itiD'5li»fl was mf.dc bs- twixi hiw ind the Fifh«r. f Ram. X 11. *• tor ih€ hn^ Lord crer all ij rich «fl»o til ihtt c«)l WBoa hiaa *' The Lor;J oT?r t!i here mentiottcd. appears ta be th« F^it'scr, wh^ is she ;> Tfff« is f^id to J.SFc r«'?i«rj th« Lo>. d Jsfai ^rof'a th- diiaii : b^i Ck.ift uijdosb^cdly ii k ft i!?r Goif. and by tii«^ppdintm<^l Lerd oTtrtli; for wi e, ar,i ever? ton??3c lb»!l cosfrfs to G©d." Sfc ihii pUca c^ipiAlat^, pi[. Taj, p 146 147. I Cor. i 5 " Wiith a fifion of our Lord, ic caa- not apply to other pcrfoss nmlth they were placed ia the like ciicuadsocei. Another learned writer, has the tol- iewiag commettt upoi this place. '* Call upon the same ** of Jefaa Chrift." Epicaleifthai Cgnifies to be firnamed, •* Math< I. 3, Luke xxii. 3. A£Vi i. 23. and it. 36. ** aftd ift fcaiy ether placet, aid (o ii a paflive Bot ac- ** tive fignifieatioB. Agreeable to this, cpicaleifthal <* oierai JefoB Chriflou. it, *' to be calied by the Dame ** of Jeftti Chrifr/' ai &a agaomen or fupeiaommatlon, * • which notea the fpecial relatioa we have td hiaa; as «* thcTpoBfe otthat hufbiod whofe naxiC is, " called up- ** •& her,** Ifa. it. i. (which it the direct literal DOtioQ «* of cplcaleifthai here) or at the lervaat to thai mafter, << by whole name he it called alls; and To cpicalouacnoi •* onooii ChrifioB) it but a peripkrafis of ChrlAiaat) and ** no more. § 1 Cor. X 9, ** Neither lei us tempt Chrift, at forat of thtm alio tempted, and were dcdroycd of Scrpeits." Explained, Oif. Tiii. p. 130. 131. 2 Cor. viii. 9. ** For ye know the grace of our Lord Jcfas Ch-ift, thai though he was lieh, yet for your lakes ht becaooe poor, that y« through his povc?ty might be rich. This place is very icjprofcrly urged by the Tri- nitariftDS, ai a proof ©f their dodtiioe. For if Jtfus Chrift had t Dr. Clarks works Vol. 4. p. 73 74. j Dr. H&mDioud in loco. ( 226 ) had b«ca Gm^ he iruft hive alwiys continued rich, and o-uld never hRV€ become poor, as ths Apcftl« affirms he cJid. rfie Deity is imn.csle and ilfrral, and ea» never abafc bimblf, or diif-'iaiiti himlclf, is aiay degree He cannot Jay afidc th« glcriu end pe'feOtons of his nature, and bccoiue ?i frsU mortal men. Nor can any Ur'ion be form- ed betwixt him end e mRn, To at that tfee adlions or luf- fcr'iRgs oi that icae, can be properly ar«ribcd to him. But ahh\3ugh GoJ c^ccot change or be dimiaifKcd, yet the m^-ft BtrUd creature may. It ii therefore the Uoi- tariaoi 0117 who hold ChriA to be a Creature or depend- eoc Bring, that can accoual for his becoming poor, or that caa give any ccnQiicnt interpretation of the wotdi of the x^p?ftle ia this pl^ce, 2 Cor xiii. i^, " The grace of the Lord Jefus ChrliV, ted the lore of God, and the Communiou of the Holy Gh -11, be with you t'l. Ana-tn."*' This pifTtgt if no obj«£lioQ, bat rather an argisa:eat in ftrourof Uni- tnriaDilna. The Fathsr only is charu6Verifed here by the word God, a»d Jefii Chrifl is plainly diflingnifficd from him. There arc feverai iofltcces of Cod and the creature beiig tnentioAed together, in fcripture t and our Lord Jefus Chrifl: 15 the bead of the chriftian church, aud the medium of the divine catnoauBicatioas with Mankind is very properly joinei with him in this as well at other apolitical Benfci(^ioo?. See Oif. ii. p. 21. 22, and Dif, ix, p. 163.164. The CoranauDion of the Holy Ghoft in this place denotes^ the p^rtieipatioA tQi cnj^yoient oi fpiritaal gifts and Quali£e^tlons. Eph. ill. 9. »: And to make all men fee. ^hat is the fcliowfhip (or rather occoaonsy) of the myflery, which from the beginning of ike world haih been hid in God, who created all things by Jefus Chrift " '* The words Jefus Chrift, (Gr. dia Jcfou Chriftou) have been rejc^ed by l©me able critics as at interpolation, bcciufc they are wanting is foujc of thcmoft ancient and valuable Manu- f«ripr^ irj fevcral ancient vcrfioas, an^ in the writings of mauy Fathers, who quote the rcA of the verfc without them* Dd ( »>7 ) ihtm. t Ahhddfh thty wtrc g«8uioc, tmi conuJtrtdAi rcfpc^ing tht origiDi! crMtion aid fori&»tion of uW thiags, thej wovld not prove that J«(ui Ghrid was God, b«t only that ktwsf tht ijQftremcBt bj wkem God crearcd tl! thicgs. ]^ph. IT, 8^. " Whcrtfort he faith, vhao he afcsodcd vp OB high, ha led captWity capiitc, a&d gave gifts unto men." Confidtrsd and cxplaioed, Dif. viii. p. 1 29, 1 30. Phil. ii. 6. toil. "Who bsiDgin the foim of God, thought it lot robbery to be equal whh God : Bui made hii&ffif oF DO rcputatioQ, acd teok upoa him the form ef a Str* 7aor, and was i&ade in ike liktesls of mtn : and beiflg f Aund ia fsihion as « nao, he hsmbltd himrctf) and beca&ac obcdifnt unio d«ath eTcn the death of the crcff. Where- fore God alio bath highly ex.alted hitn, and givea hiio a same v^hich is abi^ve every naae'. that at the name of Jefut every kaec (hoisld bow, of things ia heaven, and Ihiogi in csrth, and things uodcr the carek ! and that every tongue ftiould confeft, thai Jefus ChrilV it Lord 10 the glory of Godtkc Fatker/' This peiTage hat be«i the (ubjci^ of cjaAy critical difquifitioBt aad inquiries; a&d ai the firft part of it Aa^ads in our trsQUatioDp might te&d grettly to BBidead a siere Eogli^ readar. A pcrioa uaacqiiiDtcd vrltk the origin&l^ when he icftdt '• Jeiui Chriil beiog ia she form of God, thought it aot robbsry to be equal With God,^' might be very DalnraUy Ird to conclude, (ts m^pj Trioiiariaai have erroneoufly dons,) that jctua was really a divine perfoa tqaal with the Fathei, But il he allows hiofelf tine for rceoUcdtioo, sud goes on 10 t Tht wordi (dift Jefcu Chiiftoo) by Jeffis Chrift, art WADtiug iQ the Alexandrian, Epbrcm, and Cambridge Wbinulcripti, in thole called Borecllii, and Wolfii, *«d su two others. They are alfo wanting, in tht Vulgate, Syriac, Coptic, and Ethiopic vcrfiooi; and is the Fa- thers Tertulliao, Jeron, Ambrofc, Pelagius, the dialogue igainft Marcicn, Bafil, Cyril, and Theodoret. Dr. Mill, and Bcogelitis fet them afide alio. See Wetilcia in loco, and WaitoR'i Polyglot Bible. Dr. Harwood hat omitted them in his late edition of the Greek Tcftamcnt, Lend. 1776. < 228 ) to pcrifc the whaU pa/Tig* i«lib»rttcly ai it is h«re quo* t<], taking it io iti juii cocR mssns wairantrd br tht original Grefk. Mioy learns] criclc* h«Tc fccwa, that th« trie m«:inicg oi the phraU [oQch ^arpigrnoa hcgefiita t« ein«i ifi , 1 heo.] is, did noi tag«riy cavci, or 2.(p\(t, to ')c iikt GoiS ; or did etc loci^ 60 it as a ]Lriz« to be hsIUy c^tcHud at to bt liice God ; or wai noi eager to tciain ikat likenafa to Gmi. } Asd the wcrjj* that follow cjD&rru thii interprtr^a.a. *• 9ui Midi lujsfdf o' fto re|jKtsrioi4 " [Gr. ali' beis-jt^Ti ckeoolej *' B'it implied himleU." If Jcfuj Chrift hid been equ-el with C6(it at pofleilfd of acir»'« pr^[>«il7 diTiae, he couldl D'f teatfe caip-icd hiiufcif bus the likenefs or reftrabltsce #f G.jd might be laid sfiie^ aad ihtre i» ao abiurditjia fapp' fing it be io. Tisii being »he irsBe cicp^icaioa of the pafTugc, 03 arjuassfft can be raiieJ froin it for tha diyiiiity of Chnft or his cq'uii*y witb the Father It v/o'sld have bc?n rery furprifiQ^ indeed if St Pael iisd Y-?turcd td c«Qnadi(51: (a» oar Engli^ jciCioa mzm^s hifii do,) his Loid and Mailer who tells tjr, j;i.ha xlr 28. *• My Finher is grtatcr tl»an I." And St PavA hlaf^'.f «!fo at- faras ui, kph, i?. 6. that *• thtre is oa« God xad Faih-r of § Sec GroJitti, Le Clerc, WetHcin, Lnmb. Bot, Dr. Wkit^Y. Mr Piircc of EzrUr, and Dr. Craik in loco. Abp. Fiilotfoa. and Bp. Bull, aifo difapprov« of ib? com- mon rraallitiaa It appears f;«r» the leH nrtcsaics of Ofigea, Novariaa, and the chiircl.cs of Vi«n!^c tnd Lion?, aad oshcr aadcnt writers, :hat '.his pafT^gc vrs.t uadrn- ftood by :hcfn rery differiatly from she msansr ia which cur Tranflitori have reod^rcd it, and rhar t'^vy by.r.o meaoa inferred the cqaality of Chriit wlih God trcra it. The Gtcck vard isi, is here uiti jjdferbiiUy, and figwi- fies, as, or l.Iie, not denoting cq«i!itf, but ualf a liktritfi or rt'fennblancc. It occurs frcqtJTQtly m ihs Sfpiiiagint in thi-* feule. Job. iv. 15. «* l h -y gropt in thtf oona- day [ila nukti] as in li^e aight. Jobx. to. ** Halt Ihoa not curdled mc [ifd tu:o"J as chc:rhoii ib upon k.s iQcaroatio?. 0«r Lord it here aUBrmid ikj they» to hsve bc&n i& cha fors i>i Qod, tn6 to b« like God, becaule hs w£s the llrft> the moA illuftriovi xid dignsiitd, ci ^11 ihe creation; the image aad reprcfcfttatiyc of his God a&d Father. This glory he freely aad gcncroufly rcfigaed, for the good of Ma&kled; siTunsed a humaa body, and appeared in ths world m the form of a fervsict aod the fAfhioo of a Gsao, and hs^nbled hitnfclf yet farthsr, by fubmittifig 19 the paififul aed ig&omiDiot^s death of the crofi, Oa accoGBt cf thii di^QtercAcd besc?olence, and amazingciiadekenfiony God (hiipervprofe) exalted biia higher than before, (m the Greek word ^gaifics) and wat pleafed to add to hit erigisal dignity, by iab- jcftiog the whole celeftial and terreftrial world to hii do. iciaioD, aad to confer tspna him ths title of Lord, or Kuler over all. which office he holds, and title he hears, at the free gift aad to the g'ory of God the Father. The SociaiiHi (who d* cot a^mit tM pre-exiftencc of Chrift,) art of opiaioD, th2t the foraa of Goi^ and likencfg to God, aacatioacd by St. Paul, rcfps^ts the per- (oa and charaf^ttr of Jefus Chti^ oa «arth, and coafiiied in thofe great aud woaderioi poweri with which he wai eadowed, viz. the falsefs of the Father, or the communica- tioB of the Spirit withoot mtafore, which rcfidtd iq hia Asd was the f^i^ce of hss diy'mc wifdoa iiad knowledge. aad ( n^ ) tad the cssfc of thofi mincuioas wor£f, hj tlit pt^-* iirroance of which he cppearcd more like a Gad thto » bin. 1 kac he ii faid to eicpty himfclf of thtfe high powers, becsaft he did not exerclfe them for his owa tmolamcat, or loai^e anj oflcatatioai difpUj of them, ia Older to procure praife, eftcciB, or authority to himftll; bm only cxerdlcd thena for the gUrj of God, and the be- Dtiit cf rsinlclad. *< Atjd taok up^a him the form cf a fcivaat, and -rai Bade in the likcnefi cf men;" Tfc« f ociniaas obfcrTe, that thtfe wordi irc more jitropcfl^f r«ttder«d from the Greek, "taking upon hios the form of a ferfiBi or fi&Ye, eod wai (or bciag) ia the likeiefi of men ; '' and denote the lofroifi of W.t condition io th:i world; Mejh. Tiii. lo. ** The foa of maa hath cot where to Uy hii heed; " Math. xx. 28. •• Th« foH •f esfca c:irce not to be miniftcred unto, but 10 mininer- Our Lord Jcl'jf Chrift ifted the part of t (erfaat h^rc be- low, miaiftriug to tJae wants asd oecciTuiei of otheri, af- iufLiv.o nothiog ?o hincfclf, bat conducing hinafflf with the greatefV hcn:)ilitj aad coadtfcenfiofi, in all rcfpef^s. S) that thefe wordi they think, are not iateaded to Bg- aify what God made Chrill, but how Chrift tOtd aad behiT«d during hit refidence on eartb. *' And bciag foi&d irk fa(hioa at a man/' or (as hcuretkeii naay be read* crcd) **«Qd being in the fafhion of a maa," that ii, being in the (ituatioa and circumftaBces of other men. ** Ht bum'^led himfeif and becane obedient tscto death, &s *^ ly c. He made no ufc of his extraordinary mlracaloite poweri and qaalificatioai, t« hinder or retard his fef- fcriRtjc ani death, and to prevent the malice of hie tnc- nici tiosB taking cffcdt, but on thii occaHon at well ee others cmpTied himfelf of thefa powers, apptarinf as it were diveftcd of them, and calmly fubmitted lo the crKti aad pfciofttl death of the crofa •• Wherefore God alio h»»h highly exalted him, &a." On account of the h«mi- lity of Jcfu?, and hi» eminent laboori and lufTeringi for tbe gljryof God, aid the good of n/aokind, God hath been pleafed to adrance Kim to a fttte ot the hightft dig- aiiy. ( ^33 ) ftlty in hnren. and to conf tt upoa hloa a fovcrtiga powtr, iiihofiiy, ind doaiinion &c/' f Col i. 15. '• Who (Chriftj it thf ian«gf of th« inn- fiblc Gttd, the fir ft born of every crcatnrc. For by him ^crc til things created thai arc in hearcB, zud that are in nfth, Tifible »Rd inrifibU, whether they be ikioaes or doBDliioBf, er priBcipilitiet, or powers : all thiugs wftrcereifcd bj hiift, incj fur him. And hs ie before all thisgs, end by bifQ tU tkisgt coufift. And he is ths' kead of the body, the chcreh : vho it the bcgiaoiiBg, the fiift bora from the dead ; that in all thiagt he might haf« the pre-cmineoce, I i>r it plcufcd the Father that io him fhocld all fulnefi dwell." This piflage ahhuDgh intciprfted ia the ftfiftfH and moH literal manner, will prove aothisg more, but what both ancient and tTiOdertt Arians hare maiatained, tiz. That jifias Chrift cxiftsd uish the Father ia a Aate ol glory before the crcaticn, and wat employed by him et xd ial^iumcnt, or a fibordinatc operator, in the formation and cration of all thiagt. Fcr it is not iild, tfcat Jefias Chrifl ci«ate4 sll thitgs by his own powtr and agency, bi;i that (Gr. en autw) in hina, til things were created, which (hcicg fynoninious ta di- ftUtou, throueh him, lefed afferw«rds)dc«ores not the firfl, or tfficicDt cawfc, bet the (cccnd, or micrftring caufe. SeeDif. ix. p 1S2. 1^3 It it alfo added, that, '• lU thicgs were created— fer him, and he is bsfore all things aid by h>Di all things coRfiil:" the plairt nicaaiag of "which is, (if a proper creation i& heie inienclKi) that all things were ci fated with rclpcft to Chrlft, and ia the kqu«I to be (ubjeftcd to him, as they aiTlttaHy were at his KfurredtioD (rom the dtad ; that It exificd before iny other created being; and that he is tiDployed by God, as t The above is a brief rcprefen ration of the Soeloiaa explicition cf Phil ii. 6 &c. But to ihofe -A'ho wowUl with tf> (re tbit method cf interpretanon unicldtd mere a! large, I \vo»ld rccomcictid a p^rufal of Mr. Lindffi's Scqtxl to hit Apclcgy. from p. 272 to 278, a"d the Theological Repofiiory, Vol 2, from p. 141, to, 154, aad 21 9j to 230. ( 234 ) » an irftrumeRt Ib the prefervatioa atd goTeromclit of the world. FhJt Jcfiis ChtiA it doi God, may b« pro- T«d trotn this vsry paflagc bj four dccifive irgamcoti. I H< is here iijkd tit image of the invifibif G«d. >3ovv the imaga ot tht invifiblt God, »uft bt a dif- ferent being fiofn that i&viiiblt God whofe image he ii: for 09 btioi; cxa bf the ioa^gc cfitfelf. Set Dif. vl p. 6Z. 2. He is ftyltd, "the firft b«>rB of t Ycry crct- ture," mhich clearly proves that he it not cterotl,' but that hf was produced or broughi into being, at fome pi* ried or uher; aod re explain thefs vrordi otkerwiff, as fomt have done, ii ooly doing unoatural Tiolcncc to sn obvious fXpreilioD. See Dif.T. p. 68. 69. 3, H* ii Called the tirfl born from the dead, which inpliei, that however gi«at and exctilent he was he afbually died.' Now if there be any truth that is clear or ctrtalo, it it this, that God who ii the life acd foul of the criation. caoQut die. As iurt therefore as our Lord Jefiis Chrift died, and was railed froia th« de«d by the Father, 16 farf is it, that ke ii Dot the fl|>(l high God. 4. It it added. «'for it pleafed tht Father tkat in him all fnlaeffl fhoald dwell," or as fomt reader it, " by him to inha- bit all filaefs." The word Father it act in the Greek but ie is QccefTary to laderffaBd itj and thertfort our TraQflitors bare doot ftry well to fupply it. If there- fore the Father's fulnefs dwelt in Chrifl, or the Father Inhabited by hina all fulnefs, it cltarly followi, that ail the power and cKcellence that Chrift podefTci, or tTcr podellcd. was folely derived from tht good pleafurc a£ tht Father; and that if ke afltd a fobordioate part in the original creatioi, he only exercifed the Father's pow- er, and not ^tiy inherent or independent power of hit own. But feveral learned perfons, and able fcriptural critics, beiidts tht proffiiTrd ^Socinians^ hare been of opinion, that this whole pafTage rtfpeal and tkcir reftfon* tor applying it ia this manner, are as fcllo'«»f5. r, T he «pc true G«d is •lu-ays in icripture, decUfcd t* have made the heavens and the earth, D«r is inixa there the linalleft iitim^tioa given of any ififerior 8««Dt beia^ employed hj him in ihc workof crratton, exssp"iii)g v^ tkis, or perhaps one or two paf^Jges more; whish arc capable ef bsing o:hcrwif€ explained, thas, Gen. i. i *' In the beginBieg G®d crejited the hea^ei and th« tRrfn." Gsn. i. 2, *♦ The Spirit (i, 9« tha brsath. po^«r, cr cEc^gy) ct God jK^ved upoa tht face of ihe waters/' iia. xx'Avii, 16, '♦ O Lord of ** f Ccrtum cfl per Vfrbr.m creata cinnia. Scd quse *' praeccdan^ oileiidunl hie de ChriOo >gi, quod hominis *' eft DonitB, quo^Qc'o etinrn Chr\?f»)ft:tim»s huac acccpit ** Iccum. Ssd iiie i5ittlii|!t sa, undmn cr«iiUim propier *« C^i!iiUlm, fcaiu con nritir: i^dproptej id quad p.^ectlfi-, ** rc^iu* eli ikiiflhe hie inte?pr&tan, oidiiuii Juot. no- ** vam qucr^diin llatuaa iuni coukcuu Grctitis in loco. *':jSi#xep'uhla ad Epf-eiios intcrpretari dib^mus, qrac •• hie habcotur, ut prcltsniifiiroi intcrpreiea cocfentiuiit, •' im^Uiginda iKC iunt da bov^ creatic^ne, five cr.Rfiiiuti- «' oncTi^ndiperadvcntu'Ti Cii.'itti, et pincdicaiionem E- *' vangciii. Eph i. 10. ii, 10. 15. iii.y.iv, 24. Weiftcin <( ialoco. ( 2^6 ) ©f h&fti, God of Iffgcl, th«t rfwtllcft bctwjcff the chtrnbiitts ! Tkovi tn God, srcn ffeot* alone, oi ail th« kingdoKii a^ ihi carch; Thtm h.ill nikdc hiarsn acd •tarcla/' iia. xlv. 24 " 1 sni t it Lord iliat maKtih *ll things, th*t ftr«j fe;-«th forth to*, h.^averis aionj, that fpreasictii ab.osd the cerch ky myiilf," lU. xly. 11. 12* " Thus Jaiih th« L Jid, iht hc>ly one of lirael, aiid hit inak«r, 1 hayir ma^Jc ihs CArth af.d cr-firtd fa*a upon it: 1. *vrn Kay hinds, havs ilrajchcd ojt the h«a- veai." Bee alb. Pi*!, xx:c;u. 6. 9 and irifia^s o'hsr phcff i:i ih« Old lVra;i.s'U. Ui tki N«w Tli, asd lh« ka. tod ail tlhftt la thtai it; — F*>r rtt s I'-u.th ftg&laft thy holy chili (or (irvant.) Jdui, &c " A-'ts xvii. 24. ** God thit mtdc chc woiid &ad &1I tHii>/ff fh«reia, ^gAi haih h« not put in lubjt^iou the work! to cooae, whereof we ipcak" 4. The Gofpfl difpcnfaticn ititU ii dcfcribed by St Paul as a Bcw cr4:aii(9n, 2 Cor. v. 17, *^ lher«^, to create, thus. Ffal. Ii lo. " Create in iie a clean heart, O God i and reoew a right ipiiit within tnc." Ezekiel speaking ©f the cit^ ©f Tyre, asapcoplff or commonwealth fays. Chap, xzviii i^. " Tfcou was pcrfe^ in thy wayi from the day ihat thou wiA created, till iniqaity wai found in ihcc." 1 Pet. ii. 1 3. ^' Submit yoarfelfee to ercry ordinance of man, (Gr. KTiSEi j) every creation of mai • ' and in fercral ether places. 6. The creation here mentioned is afcrib- cd to a man, a perlon whu had been lately dead and had fted his blood ^01 the fake of aiankiiid; Ver 14. «* la whom we have rcdcnption through his blood; even the forgivenelj of fins " it cannot therefore fay the Socini- tns, refpcfl the original creation which Mofet records; bit i&tift be reihi^lcd to the (nbj«^ in hand^ and under- ftood + The word Ktizo has fomctitues the fame fenfe ia clafllcal writers. Herodotus /peaking ot the lUe of Plates fayi, *• kai ckriloun Knrcnaioi i. c. And the Cyicniant created it." Eufebius in like masner affirms, that '« the Phenecians created Bitbycia. The word cando, has a fmilar meaning in L^^tin, ascording to that well known line of Virgil. TaQtse molis €rat RomanaiB cofidtrc GfQt.ccD. ( ^38 ) ![ooJ of th« renDvation of the world by Jefuj Cbri^^. And if we compare thi» piti of the EpilU* lo the Colof- iJADS, with the corrcfp^n iiiig piflages in tKtt to the £p'ic- fiini, rdtrred to above, wc fiiiil find ftill mait reafon t^j be confirmed io this opiniou — Rph i 7 10. *• In whom wc have redcoaptioti through ki» biood, the forglftacfi of £ns, accordiag to the riches of his grace— fhit is the difpeiration of the uineis oMimet. he might gather to- gcrher in one all things in CUrift, b«th which are ia hea- ven, aad wh'ch are in «a.th, evfn in him.'* What in »be other Epiftie is cxprtlTid by '* all things that are in hea- Tcn and ia e/irth bting created by Cnr:(\," it explain«i hsre •' by gathering tt-g^iher in one sll thiigi ia Chri(\ ' Se« alfo Eph 17 to 23; where the glorf and authority of Chrift appear?, tf» hare bfcn p t(lr»i >r to his tcdirrcftK-a from t!ie ciead Ep^.ii lO i 5 ** for W£ .uc his wor km in- flat' ct eared i Chiii\Jcfas, ike ~U«iag tboliiijed in his fifth the .n'mcf, CT«n the hw of Ci'm4j«nki,«nen*s, goq- ta'n«d ia or^intnce«, tor ta mxki i^ r;inil«lt, ot x^i-o, one ««w man, (u making peace." Ep lii 9 qu itcd bofore. See p. 22(5, &c. Rp ir. 24. *' Ani thii yt put oq the new man, Wi^ch after Goi is crcared in riahtedufocfs and tru«; holiaels." 1 akng Col. i. 1 5, Ice. thvftiore as e»- tirely r«iatiog to the new creation, or rscovery of the world, the Sociaitni interpret it thns. " Who Chrift is the image of the infifible God, the fiid born (not la time but digaiiy,) the chief, or mofl: cxcellfnt, of evary crea- luie, for by hicti, and ia order to be iubjtcled ro him, all thin |s wer» created again, or rene Jied and reftored, that are io heaven and in cti tb. Angels of different raaks and degrees, that were formerly hid(\ilc to mankind on account et irieir fiot. are now ia peace and fricadftii > with them; and form a pan of tkis new ercation, or rcaovatioa by being iaibje(5ltd to tht dominion of QhrKf, and miaiiifiini^ 10 ihn hciis of (alvatioo. And Chrid is bttere ill things in ex- celleace end wortk, and dit«(fls and ftiperijitaads every part of ihis new lyiUm, b^ing fhc firft born fioaa tkt dead, th« head ot the chriftian church, accordiMg to ihc good pleasure of the Faihsr, who haili caaled aU fulaefs to { i39 ) to dwfll la hix: or by hl/n inbsbitt ill fuIiuTs, i, c. qwalifies him with propsr povvjrf ior ii3»r.»i]iDjj tMs tjft authority, «nd txt*nfirc gi'veriiment; ur by hi;n txerci- f«s ■ lpisit«al doflQioioB ever Afgfls uud Mtc'^ It u ia this m«na?r, tkc S^xiniaas defend their application cf this pfifTsgc to ih« D«\v ce-aian; an J ih«ir flrgumentt d«^ lfrT« to b« (tuoud)' ?.Bd attsEiiydy confiitrtsj. Hut \Mrhcthcr it rcfpcils the eld or \h€ r«w cr«*tion ; it cannot avail o«i opf oasuti ia th« ItaA, for the rcaioui Lvfoie ailigncd. Coh ii. 3 9 Iq ^hom (i, c. io Clsriil,) are hid ail rh« trcafurcs oi wifdotn asi koowltdl^t.'*— — *' For ia bim dwcUcih all tht fulncfs of th« G:.»ftery, does not imply, that its d©6triae5 arc inexplicable and contradidlory, and in- capable of being fathuaaed or undti flood. For in that cafe (hey won d be of no fervicc to mankind, and would rather ttnd lu generate ftnfc, coBtentioB, at^dcadlcfs un- profitable ccDtrcvofy, thau to sdrance piety and pra^ical religion. Ihe vord myilcry in fcripture has never this nicaoini;. It figoifits otvly a thing cnce hidden, but ca- pable of being revealed and manlftft^d. Thus, Rom, xvi 25. 26. the gofpel is flylcd, ** the rcTclation of the myficry, which was kepf fecrtt ficce ihe world bfgan, but t Mr Pierce of Exeter in loco. ( 241 ) but fow is naJe mmifcft." Tkc gofpcl is therefore % myftcry or r«cret revealed, which iiopies thai it is capi- ble of being undcrflood atcer it is rtvcaied, and oi (hat it is hidden or m}Ilcriou$ ftiil See alio iCor ii. 7. 10, sad iv I. Eph. i. 9 10, iii. 3, 10 ro. Col. i. 26 27, 1« which pUcsb the Gofpel, aid particulaily God'i pur- pofc ot Cailiiiig the Gentiles, is called a myAcrj; beeauf* it was A iectet, a thing bidden and not known* until Gad thought propsr to rcTcal it I but when once revealed and publithed tu the woild at la gc, it ceafed to be t fcciet or myAtiry any longer, and became a plain and manifei^ truth: tind is cnl) called a m^pftcty becauie it was former* ly hidden ; and could not have bocn known but by di- vine r«vtl2tijn As to the wards, *' God was njanifeft in the ficih ; " if the word God was admitted to kavc been in this textorigioally, it would prjve nethiogmore, bur thai the perfections ot the Deity were dliplaycd and manifef^cd by Jelus ChriA : that the wifdom of God (hone forth in him, and became as it were confpieuous to naikind. And fo this place is underwood by Moniieur Abauzlt, who coaiiders it as a commeat or expIaDatioa of the words of St Joho. ** Ths word ar wildo.u was made flifh and dwelt among us." See Dif ix, p. 195, It is however more than propable, yea, 1 may venture to fay it is abfolutely cejtaio, that the word 1 heos, God, was not in this text as it carat fr job the hands ot St Paul. For the oaoft ancient manufcripts read either ho, which, or Hos, he that; lad the verfioas of greatelt antiquity alfo read H(Y or hos ; as do the Fathers for at leaft four or fivt centuries after Chrid, as Sir Ifaac Newton has fuUj (^cwa, ia a m<^(l learned and elaborate dirfertacioa uprm this pafTage, from which I (hall give the following ex- tra(5l. " With tht ancienter verfioas agree the writers, *' both Greiks aid Latins. For they in all their DU- *• coarfes to prove the Deity of the Sou, never allcdgc " this text, («i I can ^ad) as they would all nave done ; •* (;iad lorae of the.n frequently,} had they read ** God "' wa» maaitcft ia ihe flslh,'* tud therefore tbey read ho. ** lerculUaa Ff i m ) *' T«rtoUUi (idftrfuf Prtx«m) Rfid Cyfr.nn i^thtrfis •* Judcoi) ind«ftrKiu(ly citf all the placet, wbeic Chrift " is called God; bm hay* ooihing of ikl* Al«x- •* andcr of AlcxtB^lfii, Athantfms, the Biib<»ps of tht '* council ©f Sirdicf, Ept|)haAi«5, Bafil, Gregory Ntz- •' iaczro, Gregory NyfTea, Chryfol^oia, Cyril of Jtru- '* falem, Cyril of AUxandrin ; an«i amoBgft ihe Latins, ** Hl]»rv, Luci^cr, Jerome, Atcbroff, Auftia, phxbidim, '* Vihit witncfleti a gvod confeffiaa; that th'JH kcap thij coBumaadaitixt without ipat, uartbulc- able, until tiit appear'ng of oor Lord Jsfas Chriil : which in his ticRc: ha ftiali ih:w, who ia the blcfisd and only pot«ntatc, the Kin^ of kioj^s, asd Loid cf lordi ! wha oqIj liath imm>jit;xiity dvyciiirg ia the light which qo maa ca« appicach naic; whom co m.in haih lean, nor can kc : to whom b^ hoAoui and pawar cvcriafling, Amen. It II § Dr. Clarks worki Vol. 4. p. 47. 48, Load. 173*?, % Thf manufcnpii which read aliher hai, or h; are, th« Eprhrtm, Claramontaiise, thole cal ed, Bore«l«i, and Wol- fii, andanathtr. Ia thejudgcaicnt of Wciftiin aad othar*, the AUx noaa of th^m are older than theteiih century, and roaoy of thcoi later, they can- hot be oppolcd to tha rcadiog oF the ancient Mfi. ih; oldeft and beft rerfijns; and the unao'^snotis confaot of the primltiftt church for fire ceaturiet after Chrift. %tc Wcifteift, Grialbaeh, Dr. Citrk, Dr. Beafoa, aud Bowar t» loco, alfQ Sir Ifaac Ntwcon'i hikeri, &c. quoted *koye. ( i45 ) It II perMIy clear ai^d tviJcnf frc© ths ccn(lru Hib. i. 2. 3, " God who at fimdry tinei. tnd in di- vers manDersJpake in time pad uito the Fathers by the Ptophctf, hath in thefc bA days fpeken unto m by his Son. whom he hath appointed heir ot all thiigi, by whom alfo he made the worlds ; who being the brightai fs of hii glory, and the exprefs image of his perfca, and up. holding ail things by the word of his power, &c." Jelat ChriA or the Son is in this place pUinly diAinguidicd from the Father, who is Ayled God akiolatdy. God if alio declared to have appoinred the Sen, " heir of all things/^ Afid in vcr. 4. oi this chaper the Son is faid to have ( 246 ) hivt bfCB, " m*da fo miach bstt«r t'iaan th: Ansfcla as he hith by inhtritaace obtained a mora cxcd ent Dame thaQ ihcy :" whi«h cx?rcfIioni aro only applicAble t« » dcpcndeai being; tad by no means compstiljle with proper Gjdh*«d. iadead th« drift of ih'n whole chapter and th« following crac.is to pvo7« th« riip«rior exceil«jQce of Chiirt <© Aag«U; which \{ Chrift had bsen God, would hare b««Q To much n^cdlcfi labour ia the author o^ this Epi^le. For every pcrfoa mart haTs perceived at onc(j, that the Deity, ihs creator of ;^ng«{i, and al] other Beiogv wa>inhBitely Ciiperior to niso^vQ crciturti. it is here laid, that (^di' ho«, by or rkrotgh whom) viz,'*hy the Si>aal(o God made the Mfotldi." ^dufiiilng di«p. jpii-^y of this tran(l»tioa, and applying it to the orig nal ercation, it will only provf, tliat the Son was an infcrioi agstnt uBe origiaai wird aionai, hi^wcTcr, figaiifics m»ic properljp ages, than Vorlds, agrciably ti tht remark ©f a great iriric : whofa woris I Ihall here tranlcribc ** Tha word aiocas, whiah *• we render worlds, does not fignify the hcaveoj atid the •• farth and all ikiogs ia theaa, but it mesoi priperiy ** «gc5, or cirtain periods of tine, ia which fuca »nJ •* ixxdi things were done or to be done. Such were the " patiia^chal ; that of the law; that of tha McfTuh; that *« of f.he Aatediiuvians : that ot the f^u • great empires, ** which the propiiet Danitl fpoka of T hefc were proper" ** ly aioaes, ages. It docs not follow from f.he worrls oF «* this paflTage, that the apoftle here intended to fpeak of " Chrirt's making all things.— N«r ig thvrcanycac iart:jncc '* in the N. Teftutneiit. where more than this kam to be *' msaot by this word, " Thus Col. i. 26. ** ih« ray- •* Aery which hath been hid from sgcs and generation??, ** but now is made manifeil to his faints," ii the true ** cxplicatioa of what St. Paul fa'd, Rph. iii, 9 wai ** hid in God (not from the beginning of the wjrld, as " we render it, bat) apo ton aioaon, ** from th« ages," *' And fo Eph, iii. 11. what we render J '* hi* eternal ;* purpole," kata prothcfin toa aioooa, is, '* according to hii ( uy ) '• to his pnrpor* or difpofnIcD of th« ages." tli Ikb, X». 3. f " According to this cxjilicatioa of the **ord aionai. the pt(l«g« wili fttnd ihur •' by wkom alio ko (God) mxde the ag^s ;" which fomt v/ilj tjoitrlijnd tf «n the difTcftat dirpcarttioni of protridencs. tnd psriods •f time iioce «hc crfitioa; snd others riOiid^ to !ftof»hich Chrift was the F* h«r, or «BtborJaccerdiog^»s ih*y cither idait or rtj^dl the pre txiftcicc oi Chrift Groiiut remtrks hcjc ♦* Ii appe.-iii to nj that di* hou in ibis pJacc '• may be rightly taken for Di' hcn, *• for wh©ra &c."— " Bot what rccoromendft this interpretation greatly tom» ** is^ tkit the author of this Epiftlc writing to the Hc- ** brcvj, fstaai t© allude to %n o!J Tsyicg iiKoagft them, ** fiz. tkat tke world was made for the M.diai '* f If she critidrm of this learned Trri'.er is adtifittcd, ths uut ren- dering of tke plic« will be this, *' for whoa; God iriadt the aget/' that is, he arranged and difp^^fed all the d:f- (ercnt periods of time, with a view to his Son, the MciTi- ah, and in order to iciroduce that age, or truirc pejfti!t fiifpeDfatioD, of which he was to be the autho/. 7 he Son ia alfo afHrmcd to be here,) apaugafisa tes «luXti, kai charaktcr tes hupoAafeos a«toa) a ray ®f of his (God's) glory, md ihc Tcry image or impreflioB of his fobStcce; which exprciTiUD is h far from affordisg any ground, for inferring the divinity of Chrift, or his equality wirh the Father, that the very contrary may be prcT«d froca it. For a ray darting from a lus'inoas body, it eoc to be cuki- ^ared to the loniiBous body itklf, which U the fovrc« or csufe of tke ray. All mankiDd may be faid to be rays uf God'i glory, icafmuch as the glory of iht creator, ap- pears f Dr- Sjkei in bed f Vidttur 6.V hon hie re«5le aceipi polTe pro dl* hoi, *-pro *' pter quem ks.'*-^ Ideo antetn hsec intcrpretutio hoc '< loco maxime mihi fe probat, quia ad K«bia:os kiibcbs <* Yidetur rtfpicere ad diflom Yetni Hebrce^ruoD, prop- ^* icF MikiTiKm €oa4itu9 cfTs ffiinditfiQ^ Grotius in Ig^^j: ( J-tS ) ptiri la 9.^\ liii worki, and we derive ev^ry thiag Tfc pof- fefi from hin. MciCh mora miy the Soi be To called ; in whosi trie g'ory of God tppeari more eonrpicnoufly thia in isy othsr being. When Chrifl i> ctlUd, iht ?jry or expf«li image of ihi: febftance of Gud, th i plainly didio- guiHiis hi» frc3i thai God whoie image he is : aod by MO in«a t implies that the fubftance, or eiTsncc. o^ God if in y^'\fo, but the coarary. Fa: if the fmbftsticc ohhc Fa- lh«r had b^en ia Chrift, he would fiQi hars htcn tha ioo- •ge of that iabftaBco : bat would have b«ii the lubftanc* itfeif. Afiarn acd all his p>f\.-riiy art f^id ^o hafa been made ia ths inr.ag: and liken-iis of Gol ; is U nut woad< frf'jj therefore, thit Chril^ in who a th« wilJoui asd p3W- cr ot the Father fo fmineo'ly dw^U, fiiould be called his rery or exprtfs ieaagc. It ii f «r»hcr f^id of the Son <*that he •ph»id< all thingj by the word of his p©wcr '." whick mud be undcrftood af the Fathc'r'i p9 Jirar commuQ cate4 t» the Soa, by which Chrift it qaalihed to govira his chursh aod people. In coafifaatio'i of this crp]icalioa» C ft\all her: gi^-c the wordi of a Icaraed writar. •» Tht *' common way of expounding the exprc/Tion, ii, thit <• the Soa upholds ail thingi by the word of his owo po^r- " er. Aad accordingly our pin'ed copies have here '* hsu''oa, asi ni>t autiin. Aud 'tis urged that the Mft. *' copies, which have acseats added, read it wifh to af- ♦< piratioa. But none of the aacieat Mfj. having aaf '* acceois at all, every reader ii at l.bcfty to t/Fix ftich *• Spiriti IS appear moft agreeable t« the fcopc of my *' l^xr. Ani it is eafy ttt ublerve that oar author it\ this *' ysrfe, diftingaidifci ai^rou tad h^autoj; aaJ therc- " fore as autou juft beforo relates to the Fatncr, it is rat' '* ^on ihlc to j JJ^gc it does fo heic alio. The fenfe givca *' by aiy of the ancient Gre^k conamcitaiors, can fignify •• iinle io thia cafz.becaufc Us they lived after thcfe mxt- '• tcr? ^ffr.re warmly coatroirei ted, they would adapt th« «' Spirits to the fcrvingof ihcir ©wq hypothtiis; ie that " t'leir reafon*, ani not their authority, cio osly be of *' any ttjoascnt io the cafe." | Hc!k t Mr. Pierce of Ex:tsr ia loco. ( 249 ) Hfb, i. 5. " For onto which of tht Angels f«id he ftl irtj time, thou art my Sen thii dty havt I bcgouea thci>&c.'' See Dif Yiii p 126. 117. H«b. i. 6. ** And again when he bringtth in the firft-begottcn into the world, he faith, and l«t all the Aogtli of God werfhip him,-* Explained, Dif. viii. Hrb. i. 8.9. *' But uoto the Son, he faith, thy ihrrar.e O Gcd is for cfci zud cYcr, &c. Explaiocd, Dil. viii. p. 127, lit. 129. Hib i. 10. 11.12. ** And, thou Loid in the bf gin- ning haft laid the toucdation ot the earth, &c. Thefc Tories relate to God the Father, and not to Chrift. See Dif fiii. f, 132. 133. Heb. ii. 16. *' For verily, he(Chrill) took not en him the D&turc of Angela ; but he took on him the feed of Abrftham." 1 hii place is iBorc proptrly rendtred in the margin of the bible j •* he takeih not hold of Angelf, but of the fctd of Abraham he takcth held:-' which iomt under fttnd to Tignify, he helped not Angela, but h« helped the feed of Abrah>n), ihat is, the grace and mer- cy of the Gofpel, docs lict cxtcod 10 ihe bentfit of An- gtli, but only of iBackliid. Heb. iii. 3. 4- *' For ihii man was coucied worthy of more glory than Mofes, icaiouch a$ he who harh builded the houle, hath more hooour than the hottfe^ For erery houle is builded by feme man ; but he that built all thit-'ga is God. The hruk that Chrift is her« iVid to build, ia not ar^y mate rlalfabric, but the church, ol which he is the founder and ihc head : thus in vsr. 6. of this chapter we are told that, *' Chiift (was fiiith- lul) ai a Sou over his own heufti ^vhoie houfc are we. Viz the chtidiin people. He that is laid * to build all things,*' it God the Father : who appelated or (as th« Grtek wt)id (poeiaiiii) uiity be rendcied) nude thrift* and to wbcai Chrift, the A p- file and Hif-h pricft of cur proflcflion, is faithful or obrtlicur. 5ec Vcr i. 2. Veh. Jv. 12. *• For the woid of- God h quick and powcitcl, and fhsrper than any two edged Iwoid, &c. Ihe ( 250 / Tht word of God here mcntloicd, is net Jcfas Chrift, b«t the gofpel or Jaw cf God, which if exceeding broad ; aod extends to the inmoft thoughts as well the cxrernai a(^ti jds, and by which word, all matiiiDd Ihall be judged at the laft day. Heb. r:i. 3. ** Without father, wiihoat mother, without dcfccnt, having Bcithcr beginning of days, n'>r ead ©f life; but m&d- like n .to the foa oi God, abidetfi a pricft coBtinually." Thef« words bticg tvidently fpo* kea of McJchifcdcc, hzrs proptrly do conutftion with our prefcnt fubjefV. Chrift cjrtaioly had God for his Fa- thar, and the Virgin M?ry for his Mother t and wai raif- ed to thi dignity of high priefl by God the Father; Heb. V. 5. *'■ So alio Chrift glorified EOt himfelf, t© be made aa high prieft ; but h« that fald unto him, thou art my Son, to day have I b^gott«n thce«'* Heb. xiii. 8. *' Jelut Chrift, the famt yefterday, and to day, and for ever." This pafTigc from the Icope of the context, evidently relates, not to the pcrfoa, but the do<5triQeBof Chrift, Ycr. 7. ♦' Remember them which hart the rule over you, who hav« fpokea unto you the word of God : whofe faith follow coafidericg the end of their converfaiion." Aid again, vcr. 9. ** Be act car- ried about with divers and ftrangc doftrines.'^ The true meaning of this phcc therefore is, that the do£trinfi of Chrift, or the Revelation of the Goipil, contiuuis in- variably the fame, and cannot be changed or al- tered, by the humonri and caprice of men ; apd that Chriftiaas ought to adhere to the original ftaadard of their religion, and cot fufFsr themfelves to be ftdueed from it, and led aftray, by the deleflve arts of falfe and c roneoMS teachers. It can never be afHrmed of the perlon of Chrift, that it is the fame to day, yefterday, and for ever. For our Lcrd has undergone rarious change?, and has been in very difFirsot fituations. He lived in this world as a man, faffered death, was railed from th« dead by the Father, alcended up into heaven, was advanced to a ftatc of the higheft digaity there; and will Gg '( ^l ) 9f\\\ fxt tV.« coftfu mot lion of till ihingj, deliver np the KiBgv^om to th« Father. 1 Fcrcr l. il. ** Searching (tiz tit Prophet*) what, or what cflancer ©f timu the Sphit of Chriil which was in them did fifjoify, when it tef^iit'd bsfoicKend the llfJeiiDgs of Chrift. and the gh.)ry that {bould follow.'* The Spitii of G«vH the Fi:«h«r, :ti the Ho y Spirit, it h«ri csUed the Spirit of Chrift in,* fecowdary f«al€, becaufe it was itR parted to him wirhoat fDe::iui«, acd by him cciifeired upon tha Apcfl:!*?, and fisfl converts to the CksifliiiQ faith. It waa this f^iitic- fpirit or inipiratioQ of God, tlat formprly dwrlt in the Prctphels ; and ^^hich rttveaigd to t! en what ChrJil was to do and (u(T(t ht thit bi» iwic .L»rd of the Ufiiviii*; and is always appiKd' to thf Faih-sr, ^ul rcvrr to Chrift i'j rK« New Tcfliment, It ii the hmt wjr