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tions, which the New Testament writers lay down relative to Jesus Christ. If the writers intended to affirm the divinity of Jesus Christ, these are words of truth and soberness; if not, the language is incautious and unwarrantable; and to address it to men prone to idolatry, for the purpose of destroying idolatry, is a strong presumption against their inspiration. It is remarkable, also, that the

singular passage seems to be accomplished. The emperor Charles V. saw it expedient to check their progress in his dominions: they were expelled England by proclamation 2 James I. in 1604; Venice in 1606; Portugal in 1759; France in 1764; Spain and Sicily in 1767; and totally suppressed and abolished by Pope Clement XIV. in 1773. Enc. Brit. Mosheim's Ecc. Hist. Harleian Misc. vol. v. p. 566; Brough-richest words in the Greek language are

ton's Dict.

made use of to describe Jesus Christ. JESUS CHRIST, the Lord and Sa- This language, which is very copious, viour of mankind. He is called Christ would have afforded lower terms to ex(anointed,) because he is anointed, fur-press an inferior nature; but it could nished, and sent by God to execute his have afforded none higher to express mediatorial office; and Jesus (Saviour,) the nature of the Supreme God. It is because he came to save his people from worthy of observation, too, that these their sins. For an account of his nativi- writers addressed their writings not to ty, offices, death, resurrection, &c. the philosophers and scholars, but to the reader is referred to those articles in common people, and consequently used this work. We shall here more parti- words in their plain popular signification. cularly consider his divinity, humanity, The common people, it seems, underand character. The divinity of Jesus stood the words in our sense of them; Christ seems evident, if we consider, 1. for in the Dioclesian persecution, when The language of the New Testament, the Roman soldiers burnt a Phrygian and compare it with the state of the Pa- city inhabited by Christians; men, wogan world at the time of its publication. men, and children submitted to their If Jesus Christ were not God, the wri- fate, calling upon Christ, THE GOD OVER ters of the New Testament discovered ALL.-2. Compare the style of the New great injudiciousness in the choice of Testament with the state of the Jews at their words, and adopted a very incau- the time of its publication. In the time tious and dangerous style. The whole of Jesus Christ, the Jews were zealous world, except the small kingdom of defenders of the unity of God, and of Judea, worshipped idols at the time of that idea of his perfections which the Jesus Christ's appearance. Jesus Christ; Scriptures excited. Jesus Christ and the evangelists, who wrote his history; his apostles professed the highest regard and the apostles; who wrote epistles to for the Jewish Scriptures; yet the wrivarious classes of men, proposed to de- ters of the New Testament described stroy idolatry, and to establish the wor-Jesus Christ by the very names and ship of one only living and true God. To titles by which the writers of the Old effect this purpose, it was absolutely Testament had described the Supreme necessary for these founders of Christi- God. Compare Exod. iii. 14. with John anity to avoid confusion and obscurity viii. 58. Is. xliv. 6. with Rev. i. 11, of language, and to express their ideas 17. Deut. x. 17. with Rev. xvii. 14. in a cool and cautious style. The least Ps. xxiv. 10. with 1 Cor. ii. 8. Hos. i. 7. expression that would tend to deify a with Luke ii. 11. Dan. v. 23. with 1 Cor. creature, or countenance idolatry, would || xv. 47. 1 Chron. xxix. 11. with Col. ii. have been a source of the greatest error. 10. If they who described Jesus Christ Hence Paul and Barnabas rent their to the Jews by these sacred names and clothes at the very idea of the multi-titles intended to convey an idea of his tude's confounding the creature with the Creator, Acts xiv. The writers of the New Testament knew that in speaking of Jesus Christ, extraordinary caution was necessary; yet, when we take up the New Testament, we find such expressions as these: "The word was God, John i. 1. God was manifest in the flesh, 1 Tim. iii. 16. God with us, Matt. i. 23. The Jews crucified the Lord of glory, 1 Cor. ii. 8. Jesus Christ is Lord of all, Acts x. 36. Christ is over all; God blessed for ever, Rom. ix. 5." These are a few of many proposi

deity, the description is just and the application safe; but if they intended to describe a mere man, they were surely of all men the most preposterous. They chose a method of recommending Jesus to the Jews the most likely to alarm and enrage them. Whatever they meant, the Jews understood them in our sense, and took Jesus for a blasphemer, John x. 33.-3. Compare the perfections which are ascribed to Jesus Christ in the Scriptures, with those which are ascribed to God. Jesus Christ declares, “All things that the Father hath are mine,"

John xvi. 15. a very dangerous proposi- || death is a sacred act of worship: in the tion, if he were not God. The writers performance of this act, Stephen died, of revelation ascribe to him the same saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit, perfections which they ascribe to God. Acts vii. 59. The whole host of heaven Compare Jer. x. 10. with Isa. ix. 6.|| worship him that sitteth upon the Exod. xv. 13. with Heb. i. 8. Jer. xxxii. throne, and the Lamb, for ever and 19. with Is. ix. 6. Ps. cii. 24, 27. with ever, Rev. v. 14, 15.-6. Observe the Heb. xiii. 8. Jer. xxiii. 24. with Eph. i. application of Old Testament passages 20, 23. 1 Sam. ii. 5. with John xiv. 30. which belong to Jehovah, to Jesus in the If Jesus Christ be God, the ascription of New Testament, and try whether you the perfections of God to him is proper; can acquit the writers of the New Tesif he be not, the apostles are chargeable || tament of misrepresentation, on suppowith weakness or wickedness, and either sition that Jesus is not God. St. Paul would destroy their claim of inspiration. || says, "We shall all stand before the -4. Consider the works that are as- judgment-seat of Christ." That we cribed to Jesus Christ, and compare shall all be judged, we allow; but how them with the claims of Jehovah. Is do you prove that Christ shall be our creation a work of God? 66 By Jesus Judge? Because, adds the apostle it is Christ were all things created," Col. i. written, "As I live, saith the Lord, 16. Is preservation a work of God? every knee shall bow to me, and every "Jesus Christ upholds all things by the tongue shall confess to God," Rom. xiv. word of his power," Heb. i. 3. Is the 10, 11, with Is. xlv. 20, &c. What sort mission of the prophets a work of God? of reasoning is this? How does this apJesus Christ is the Lord God of the holy ply to Christ, if Christ be not God? prophets; and it was the Spirit of Christ And how dare a man quote one of the which testified to them beforehand the most guarded passages in the Old Tessufferings of Christ, and the glory that tament for such a purpose? John the should follow, Neh. ix. 30. Rev. xxii. 6, Baptist is he who was spoken of by the 16. 1 Pet. i. 11. Is the salvation of sin- prophet Esaias, saying, Prepare ye the ners a work of God? Christ is the Sa- way, Matt. iii. 1, 3. Isaiah saith, Previour of all that believe, John iv. 42. pare ye the way of THE LORD; make Heb. v. 9. Is the forgiveness of sin a straight a highway for OUR GOD, IS. xl. work of God? The Son of Man hath 3, &c. But what has John the Baptist power to forgive sins, Matt. ix. 6. The to do with all this description if Jesus same might be said of the illumination Christ be only a messenger of Jehovah, of the mind; the sanctification of the and not Jehovah himself? for Isaiah heart; the resurrection of the dead: saith, Prepare ye the way of Jehovah. the judging of the world; the glorifica- Compare also Zech. xii. 10. with John tion of the righteous; the eternal pun- xix. 34, 37. Is. vi. with John xii. 39. Is. ishment of the wicked; all which viii. 13, 14. with 1 Pet. ii. 8. Allow Jeworks, in one part of Scripture, are as- sus Christ to be God, and all these apcribed to God; and all which, in ano- plications are proper. If we deny it, ther part of Scripture, are ascribed to the New Testament, we must own is Jesus Christ. Now, if Jesus Christ be one of the most unaccountable componot God, into what contradictions these sitions, in the world, calculated to make writers must fall! They contradict one easy things hard to be understood.-7. another: they contradict themselves. || Examine whether events have justified Either Jesus Christ is God, or their con- that notion of Christianity which the duct is unaccountable.-5. Consider that prophets gave their countrymen of it, divine worship which the Scriptures if Jesus Christ be not God. The calling claim for Jesus Christ. It is a command of the Gentiles from the worship of idols of God, "Thou shalt worship the Lord to the worship of the one living and true thy God, and him only shalt thou serve,' ," God, is one event, which, the prophets Matt iv. 20. yet the Scriptures com- said, the coming of the Messiah should mand "all the angels of God to worship bring to pass. If Jesus Christ be God, Christ," Heb. i. 6. Twenty times, in the the event answers the prophecy, if not, New Testament, grace, mercy, and the event is not come to pass, for Chrispeace, are implored of Christ, together tians in general worship Jesus, which is with the Father. Baptism is an act of idolatry, if he be not God, Isaiah ii. iii. worship performed in his name, Matt and iv. Zeph. ii. 11. Zech. xiv. 9. The xxviii. 19. Swearing is an act of wor- primitive Christians certainly worshipship; a solemn appeal in important ped Him as God. Pliny, who was apcases to the omniscient God: and this pointed governor of the province of Biappeal is made to Christ, Rom. ix. 1. thynia by the emperor Trajan, in the The committing of the soul to God at year 103, examined and punished several

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should thus be human, in order to fulfil the divine designs and prophecies respecting the shedding of his blood for our salvation, which could not have been done had he not possessed a real body. It is also as evident that he assumed our whole nature, soul as well as body. If he had not, he could not have been capable of that sore amazement and sorrow unto death, and all those other acts of grieving, feeling, rejoicing, &c. ascribed to him. It was not, however, our sinful nature he assumed, but the like

Christians for their non-conformity to the established religion of the empire. In a letter to the emperor, giving an account of his conduct, he declares, "they affirmed the whole of their guilt, or their error, was, that they met on a certain stated day, before it was light, and addressed themselves in a form of prayer to Christ as to some God." Thus Pliny meant to inform the emperor that Christians worshipped Christ. Justin Martyr, who lived about 150 years after Christ, asserts, that the Christians worshipped the Father, the Son, and theness of it, Rom. viii. 2. for he was withSpirit. Besides his testimony, there are out sin, and did no iniquity. His human numberless passages in the fathers that || nature must not be confounded with his attest the truth in question; especially divine; for though there be an union of in Tertullian, Hyppolytus, Felix, &c. natures in Christ, yet there is not a mixMahomet, who lived in the sixth cen- ture or confusion of them or their protury, considers Christians in the light of perties. His humanity is not changed infidels and idolaters throughout the into his deity, nor his deity into humaKoran; and indeed, had not Christians nity; but the two natures are distinct worshipped Christ, he could have had in one person. How this union exists is no shadow of a pretence to reform their above our comprehension; and, indeed, religion, and to bring them back to the if we cannot explain how our own bodies worship of one God. That the far and souls are united, it is not to be sup-greater part of Christians have con- posed we can explain this astonishing tinued to worship Jesus, will not be mystery of God manifest in the flesh. doubted; now, if Christ be not God,See MEDIATOR. then the Christians have been guilty of idolatry; and if they have been guilty of idolatry, then it must appear remarkable that the apostles, who foretold the corruptions of Christianity, 2 Tim. iii. should never have foreseen nor warned us against worshipping Christ. In no part of the Scripture is there the least intimation of Christians falling into idolatry in this respect. Surely if this had been an error which was so universally to prevail, those Scriptures which are ablesures, he was equally free from ostentato make us wise unto salvation, would have left us warning on so important a topic. Lastly, consider what numberless passages of Scripture have no sense, or a very absurd one, if Jesus Christ be a mere man. See Rom. i. 3. 1 Tim. iii. 16. John xiv. 9. xvii. 5. Phil. ii. 6. Ps. cx. 1, 4. 1 Tim. i. 2. Acts xxii. 12. and ix. 17.

But though Jesus Christ be God, yet for our sakes, and for our salvation, he took upon him human nature; this is therefore called his humanity. Marcion, Apelles, Valentinus, and many other heretics, denied Christ's humanity, as some have done since. But that Christ had a true human body, and not a mere human shape, or a body that was not real flesh, is very evident from the sacred Scriptures, Is. vii. 12. Luke xxiv. 39. Heb. ii. 14. Luke i. 42. Phil. ii. 7, 8. John i. 14. Besides, he ate, drank, slept, walked, worked, and was weary. He groaned, bled, and died, upon the cross. It was necessary that he

We now proceed to the character of Jesus Christ, which, while it affords us the most pleasing subject for meditation, exhibits to us an example of the most perfect and delightful kind.

"Here," as an elegant writer observes every grace that can recommend religion, and every virtue that can adorn humanity, are so blended, as to excite our admiration, and engage our love. In abstaining from licentious plea

tious singularity and churlish sullenness. When he complied with the established ceremonies of his countrymen, that compliance was not accompanied by any marks of bigotry or superstition: when he opposed their rooted prepossessions, his opposition was perfectly exempt from the captious petulence of a controversialist, and the undistinguishing zeal of an innovator. His courage was active in encountering the dangers to which he was exposed, and passive under the aggravated calamities which the malice of his foes heaped upon him; his fortitude was remote from every appearance of rashness, and his patience was equally exempt from abject pusillanimity: he was firm without obstinacy, and humble without meanness.-Though possessed of the most unbounded power, we behold him living continually in a state of voluntary humiliation and poverty; we see him daily exposed to almost every species of want and dis

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tress; afflicted without a comforter, persecuted without a protector; and wandering about, according to his own pathetic complaint, because he had not where to lay his head. Though regardless of the pleasures, and sometimes destitute of the comforts of life he never provokes our disgust by the sourness of the misanthrope, or our contempt by the inactivity of the recluse His attention to the welfare of mankind was evidenced not only by his salutary injunctions, but by his readiness to embrace every opportunity of relieving their distress and administering to their wants. In every period and circumstance of his life, we behold dignity and elevation blended with love and pity; something, which, though it awakens our admiration, yet attracts our confidence. We see power; but it is power which is rather our security than our dread; a power softened with tenderness, and soothing while it awes. With all the gentleness of a meek and lowly mind, we behold an heroic firmness, which no terrors could restrain. In the private scenes of life, and in the public occupations of his ministry: whether the object of admiration or ridicule, of love or of persecution; whether welcomed with hosannas, or insulted with anathemas, we still see him pursuing with unwearied constancy the same end, and preserving the same integrity of life and manners." White's Sermons, ser. 5.

ances, but soberly recalling them to the principle of their establishment, and to their place in the scale of human duties; there was nothing of sophistry or trifling, though amidst teachers remarkable for nothing so much as frivolous subtilties and quibbling expositions: he was candid and liberal in his judgment of the rest of mankind; although belonging to a people who affected a separate claim to divine favour, and, in consequence of that opinion, prone to uncharitableness, partiality, and restriction: in his religion there was no scheme of building up a hierarchy, or of ministering to the views of human governments: in a word, there was every thing so grand in doctrine, and so delightful in manner, that the people might well exclaim-Surely, never man spake like this man""

As to his example, bishop Newcome observes, "it was of the most perfect piety to God, and of the most extensive benevolence and the most tender compassion to men. He does not merely exhibit a life of strict justice, but of overflowing benignity. His temperance has not the dark shades of austerity; his meekness does not degenerate into apathy; his humility is signal, amidst a splendour of qualities more than human; his fortitude is eminent and exemplary in enduring the most formidable external evils, and the sharpest actual sufferings. His patience is invincible; his resignation entire and abso|| lute. Truth and sincerity shine throughout his whole conduct. Though of heavenly descent, he shows obedience and affection to his earthly parents: be approves, loves, and attaches himself to amiable qualities in the human race; he respects authority, religious and civil; and he evidences regard for his country, by promoting its most essential good in a painful ministry dedicated to its service, by deploring its calamities, and by laying down his life for its benefit. Every one of his eminent virtues is regulated by consummate prudence: and he both wins the love of his friends, and extorts the approbation and wonder of his enemies. Never was a character at the same time so commanding and na

Considering him as a Moral Teacher, we must be struck with the greatest admiration. As Dr. Paley observes, "he preferred solid to popular virtues, a character which is commonly despised, to a character universally extolled, he placed, in our licentious vices, the check in the right place, viz. upon the thoughts; he collected human duty into two welldevised rules; he repeated these rules, and laid great stress upon them, and thereby fixed the sentiments of his followers; he excluded all regard to reputation in our devotion and alms, and, by parity of reason, in our other virtues; his instructions were delivered in a form calculated for impression; they were illustrated by parables, the choice and structure of which would have been ad-tural, so resplendent and pleasing, so mired in any composition whatever: he was free from the usual symptoms of enthusiasm, heat, and vehemence in devotion, austerity in institutions, and a wild particularity in the description of a future state; he was free also from the depravities of his age and country; without superstition among the most superstitious of men, yet not decrying positive distinctions or external observ

amiable and venerable. There is a peculiar contrast in it between an awful greatness, dignity, and majesty, and the most conciliating loveliness, tenderness, and softness. He now converses with prophets, lawgivers, and angels; and the next instant he meekly endures the dulness of his disciples, and the blasphemies and rage of the multitude. He "now calls himself greater than Solomon;

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one who can command legions of angel; demned to slavery; but the more they and giver of life to whomsoever he were oppressed, the more they grew. pleaseth; the Son of God, who shall sit The midwives, and others, were thereon his glorious throne to judge the fore ordered to murder every male inworld: at other times we find him em- fant at the time of its birth; but they, bracing young children; not lifting up shifting the horrible task, every body his voice in the streets, nor quenching was then ordered to destroy the male the smoking flax; calling his disciples children wherever they found them. not servants, but friends and brethren, After they had been thus oppressed for and comforting them with an exuberant || about one hundred years, and on the and parental affection. Let us pause an very day that finished the four hundred instant, and fill our minds with the idea and thirtieth year from God's first proof one who knew all things, heavenly mise of a seed to Abraham, and about and earthly; searched and laid open the four hundred years after the birth of inmost recesses of the heart; rectified Isaac, God, by terrible plagues on the every prejudice, and removed every Egyptians, obliged them to liberate the mistake of a moral and religious kind; Hebrews under the direction of Moses by a word exercised a sovereignty over and Aaron. Pharaoh pursued them all nature, penetrated the hidden events with a mighty army; but the Lord of futurity, gave promises of admission opened a passage for them through the into a happy immortality, had the keys Red Sea; and the Egyptians, in atof life and death, claimed an union with tempting to follow them, were drownthe Father and yet was pious, mild, ed. After this, we find them in a dry gentle, humble, affable, social, benevo- and barren desert, without any proviTent, friendly, and affectionate. Such a sion for their journey; but God supcharacter is fairer than the morning plied them with water from a rock, and star. Each separate virtue is made manna and quails from heaven. A little stronger by opposition and contrast: after, they routed the Amalekites, who and the union of so many virtues forms fell on their rear. In the wilderness a brightness which fitly represents the God delivered them the law, and conglory of that God who inhabiteth light firmed the authority of Moses. Three inaccessible.'" See Robinson's Plea thousand of them were cut off for worfor the Divinity of Christ, from which shipping the golden calf; and for loathmany of the above remarks are taken, ing the manna, they were punished Bishop Bull's Judgment of the Catho- with a month's eating of flesh, till a lic Church; Abbadic, Waterland. Haw-plague brake out among them; and for ker, and Hey, on the Divinity of Christ; Reader, Stackhouse, and Doyley's Lives of Christ; Dr. Jamieson's View of the Doctrine of Scripture, and the Primitive Faith concerning the Deity of Christ; Owen on the Glory of Christ's Person; Hurrion's Christ Crucified; Bishop Newcome's Observations on our Lord's Conduct; and Paleys Evidences of Christianity.

their rash belief of the ten wicked spies, and their contempt of the promised land, God had entirely destroyed them, had not Moses's prayers prevented. They were condemned, however, to wander in the desert till the end of forty years, till that whole generation, except Caleb and Joshua, should be cut off by death. Here they were often punished for their rebellion, idolatry, whoredom, JEWS, a name derived from the pa- &c. God's marvellous favours, however, triarch Judah, and given to the descen- were still continued in conducting and dants of Abraham by his eldest son supplying them with meat; and the Isaac. We shall here present the read-streams issuing from the rock Meribah, er with as comprehensive a view of this singular people as we can.

followed their camp about thirty-nine years, and their cloaths never waxed old. On their entrance into Canaan, God ordered them to cut off every idolatrous Canaanite; but they spared vast

1. Jews, history of the.-The Almighty promised Abraham that he would render his seed extremely numerous: this promise began to be ful-numbers of them, who enticed them to filled in Jacob's twelve sons. In about two hundred and fifteen years they increased in Egypt from seventeen to be tween two and three millions, men, women, and children. While Joseph lived, they were kindly used by the Egyptian monarchs; but soon after, from a suspicion that they would become too strong for the natives, they were con

wickedness, and were sometimes God's rod to punish them. For many ages they had enjoyed little prosperity, and often relapsed into awful idolatry, worshipping Baalim, Ashtaroth. Micah and the Danites introduced it not long after Joshua's death. About this time the lewdness of the men of Gibeah occasioned a war of the eleven tribes against

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