Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

racter in the highest conceivable manner, and at the same time secures the greatest glory and happiness to all them who believe. Let us then believe in the Father, receive the Son, and cherish the motions of the Holy Ghost.

Fourthly, it is inferred, that this doctrine ought to excite all christians to cultivate union, peace, harmony and love one with another. Is there harmony, love, peace, and union in the holy Trinity? Ought not christians to be followers and imitators of God? Ought they not to be like-minded one towards another? Ought there not to be, in a measure, a oneness of heart, views, and interest among them, in resemblance, in a degree, of the oneness of the three persons in the Godhead. Hearken to our Lord's prayer for this purpose. "Holy Father, keep through thine own "name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one 66 as we are. That they all may be one, as thou Father art in 66 me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us. And the "glory which thou gavest me, I have given them, that they may ❝be one even as we are one." Let us all, therefore, who profess the religion of the Gospel, keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Let us walk in love and peace; for he that loveth not, hath not seen God, neither hath he known him. Oh that the hearts and minds of christians were united in a holy and heavenly affection, which shall never be dissolved; so that all creation may unite in one eternal anthem of blessing, honor, and glory to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, forever and ever.

Amen.

SERMON IV.

JESUS CHRIST PROVED TO BE VERY GOD, CO-EQUAL AND OF THE SAME ESSENCE WITH THE FA

THER.

JOHN Z. 30.

I and my Father are one.

[ocr errors]

CHRIST Jesus, the Son of God, and the Saviour of mankind is co-equal and co-essential with God the Father, of the same eternal essence in one eternal Godhead. This doctrine is expresse ly and plainly taught by our Lord himself in this text. The occasion of his making so explicit a declaration of his nature and divinity, at this time, was this: There was at the present season, a great festival held in Jerusalem, called the feast of the dedication. After the old temple had been destroyed by the Babylonians, and the Jews had returned to their own land, they built a new temple, and at the dedication of it, they instituted a festival, which was annually observed ever afterwards, until this temple also was entirely demolished by the Romans. This feast was celebrated about the beginning of our December; hence it is said, "It was winter." Jesus Christ attended this feast, as in all things he conformed himself to the Jewish rites, institutions, and ceremonies. He was walking "in the temple, in Soloman's porch," a place so stiled after a porch in their former temple. Here the Jews collected around him, to put ensnaring questions. to him as usual. Therefore they ask him, "How long dost thou

make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." Out divine master enters upon a very particular answer to them. He assures them, that he had told them this already; that he had proved it by the mighty works and miracles which he had done; that he was the author and giver of eternal life; that he possessed infinite power to save and preserve all his followers, all true believers, that none of them should perish, that earth and hell were not able to pluck them out of his hands. He assures them that he possessed the same omnipotence with the Father, that he was of the same essence and Godhead: "I and my Father are " one." This plain, full and explicit answer, instead of satisfying them, or inducing them to believe and become his disciples, which it ought in all reason and justice to have done, it had an effect directly the reverse. It wrought up their enmity and rage against him to an intemperate fury. "They took stones to stone "him." Thus the highest evidences of the divinity of Christ, will not convince some, but they will still continue in unbelief. Yea, not only so, but the greater light flashed upon them, and the stronger the arguments stated before them, the more will they be hardened in their hearts, and the more will their anger be enkindled against the truth. Thus, my hearers, though some will never receive Christ, nor believe his divinty, notwithstanding it should be testified by all in heaven, and all the saints on earth, which really has been the case, let not us be of that unbelieving and unhappy race, but cordially receive the truth in the love of it, and believe to the saving of our souls. The fact is, that Jesus Christ and the Father are one; one thing, one being, one God. This is the doctrine plainly contained in our text, and abundantly revealed throughout all the sacred oracles.

Now, if it shall fully appear, that the same names and titles are given to Christ-the same attributes and perfections ascribed to him the same operations or works performed by him-and the same divine worship paid to him, which are given, ascribed, and paid to the Father, will not these things demonstrate him to be

G

very God, co-equal, co-essential, and co-eternal with the Father and in all respects, the same in substance, power and glory.

First, we are to show that the same names and titles are given to Christ which are given to the Father, and whereby God maketh himself known. Let it be here observed, that the term Lord, in the old testament, when printed in capital letters in ́our translation is always the name Jehovah in the original. And the word Jehovah, is a peculiar term, never given to any but the only living and true God. The word Jehovah, is in itself, necessary, eternal, independent, immutable, self-existence. Therefore, it is the incommunicable name of the Most High. Now this singu lar and incommunicable name, which is never given to any other but God, is often ascribed to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Hence it is said in the prophecy of Jeremiah, *"This is the name where"by he shall be called, the Lord, or Jehovah, our righteousness." This is expressly applied by St. Paul to Jesus, when he declares he

"is made unto us righteousness." Thus speaks Isaiah, ‡ "Sure "ly shall one say, in Jehovah have I righteousness and strength; "in Jehovah shall all the seed of Israel be justified." This is directly interpreted of Christ, in the new testament. "By the

"righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men to justifi "cation of life." And Christ ||" was made sin for us, that we "might be made the righteousness of God in him." He is stiled Jehovah by the prophet Zechariah, when he predicted that he should be sold for thirty pieces of silver.

The name of God is likewise frequently applied to him. He is called the true God, the great and mighty God, the wise God, and God blessed forever. **This is the true God and eternal "life." "To us a child is born, to us a son is given, his name "shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the "Prince of peace." Thomas, when he is aroused from his stupid

* Jer. xxxiii. 6. † 1. Cor. i. 39. ‡ Isa. xlv. 24, 25. § Rom. v. 18.2 Cor. v. 21. **1. John v. 20. tt Isa. ix. 6.

*

unbelief, cries out "My Lord and my God." Whoever reads the fourteenth chapter to the Romans, will find the terms Lord, God and Christ, used in a promiscuous and synonimous manner, so that the former are as really applied to Jesus as the latter. He is called the only wise God by St. Jude. "To the only wise God, "our Saviour, be glory, and majesty, dominion and power." He is declared to be God, blessed forever, by the apostle Paul. "Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh, “Christ came, who is God over all blessed forever." Thus Jesus Christ appears to be called God, the true, the great and the migh ty God, the only wise God, and God over all blessed forevermore.

We also find him styled the Lord God of hosts. Thus the prophet Hosea, when he retails the history of Jacob's wrestling with the Angel, declares, "By his strength he had power with "God; even the Lord God of hosts." And another prophet says, "Thy maker is thy husband, the Lord of hosts is his name,

[ocr errors]

and thy Redeemer the holy one of Israel, the God of the whole "earth shall he be called." He is proclaimed king of kings, and Lord of Lords. Thus saith St. John, "The lamb shall overcome, for he is the Lord of Lords, and king of kings." And another apostle styles him, "The blessed and only potentate, "the king of kings, and Lord of Lords, to him be honor and "power everlasting." He is pronounced the first and the last, a peculiar title of the supreme Jehovah. This is frequently ascribed to him in the Revelations. "I am the first and the last; I am the that liveth and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. "These things saith the first and the last, who was dead and is "alive. I am alpha and omega, the first and the last.” Thus we see the most sacred titles, and the most divine names, are attributed to Christ in the scriptures; and what can all this teach us, but that he is truly God, co-equal and co-essential' with the Father, or that he and his Father are one.-) -I proceed

* Jude, verse 25. † Rom. ix. 5. Hos. xii. 3, 5. § Isa. Jiv. 5. Rev. xvii. 14.

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »