SERMON II.

UNITY OF GOD, OR CONTROVERSY DECIDED. TEXT.-1st Tim. ii. 5. "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men-the man Christ Jesus."

My design is to present to view some of those numerous passages of scripture which prove the unity of the Godhead, both as to person and nature, and the dependence of Christ upon the Eternal Father. In order to compress an extensive subject into a concise form, I shall pursue the following method, viz: Make a statement which I believe to be correct; then prove its correctness by direct quotations from the scriptures; then make another statement, and prove that in the same manner; and thus proceed until the subject is sufficiently explained.

1st. Statement. There is a God or Supreme Being.

This proposition needs no argument or quotations to prove its truth; it is a fact that is self-evident and generally admitted, being proved by all the works of nature and Providence as well as by the whole volume of revelation. 2d. This God is of one nature or essence.

The nature or essence of God is infinite; it fills all space; it pervades IMMENSITY. It is evident there can be but one being in the universe possessed of an infinite essence, as infinite space itself could not furnish room for another. Thus far the subject is explained by the light of philosophy alone. The scriptures teach the same truth in terms most plain. The Lord he is God, there is none else besides him:

Deut. iv. 89. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no God with me: Deut. xxxii. 39. There is NONE like thee, neither is there any God besides thee: 1st Chron. xvii. 20. I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God: Isaiah xxxxiv. 6. To us there is but one God the Father: 1st Cor. viii. 6.

3d. This true and living God is but ONE person.

That PERSON Who is the supreme God is infinite knowledge of course, he knows all things that ever have or ever will take place. Now attend to the words of Christ, and then judge whether he was that person. Alluding to the time of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, the Saviour has these remarkable words: Of that DAY and that HOUR knoweth no man, no not the angels which are in heaven, neither the son, but the FATHER only: Math. xxiv. 36; Mark xiii. 32. Christ here declares there were some things of which he was ignorant. That person who is essentially God is an infinite being, nothing is or can be hid from his omniscient view. Undeniable inference. There is but ONE PERSON Who is the only wise and all-knowing God.

Blessed be the God and

1st Cor. i. 3.

Rom. xv. 6.

Glorify

We give

4th. This one person, who is the infinite and eternal God, is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord himself says, Father! this is eternal life to know thee the only true God: John xvii. 13. Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: God even the Father of our Lord: thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ:-Col. i. 3. He shall deliver up the kingdom to God even the Father: 1st Cor. xv. 24. Therewith bless we God, even the Father: James iii. 9. To us there is but one God the Father: 1st Cor. viii. 6.

Can language express an idea more plainly than the above quotations? They prove incontestibly that the only

wise God is the Father of Christ. Christ was produced by the Father, and has not eternally existed as a being of personal identity any more than we have eternally existed! God is not only the Father of our Lord, he is also the Father of the spirits of ALL FLESH.

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5th. Christ is not the most high God, because he himself has a God above him to whom he addressed invocations and thanks. Hear the exclamations of the Redeemer on the Cross My God! My God! why hast thou forsaken me ? Math. xxvii. 46. I ascend to my God: John xx. 17. Even in his glorified state he speaks in the same manner Him that overcometh I will make a pillar in the temple of my God: Rev. iii. 12. The head of every man is Christ, and the head of Christ is God: 1st Cor. xi. 3.— That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ may give you the spirit: Eph. 1. 17. Therefore God, even thy God, hath annointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows : Heb. i. 8, 9. These texts require no explanations. If our Lord Jesus Christ has a God above him then it is evident that Christ is not the most high God.

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6th. Christ is not the Supreme Being, because what Christ does is done by the assistance of power which he receives from God. Christ declares I can do nothing of myself: John v. 30. All power in heaven and in earth is given unto me: Math. xxviii. 18. When the multitude saw his miracles they marvelled and glorified God who had given power unto men: Math. ix. 8. Can such things be said of the eternal Jehovah? He from all eternity possessed all power. In no sense can he be said to have received power from any being in the Universe. Concerning Christ it is recorded that he neither said or did any thing but what he was commanded to say and to do by his Father. I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which

sent me, he gave me a commandment what I should say and what I should speak: John xii. 4. I must hére notice a query. If Christ is not the Supreme Being is he able to save sinners? is he able to save the world? Ans. He is. God hath raised him to this high power. Him hath God exalted to be a prince and Saviour: Acts v. 31. Has he power to give eternal life? Ans. He has. This power has also been given him. Thou hast GIVEN him, power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him: John xvii. 2. Has he authority to execute judgment? He has. For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the son: John v. 22. Has he power to raise the dead? He has; for the Father has empowered him thus to do. As the Father hath life in himself even so he hath given to the Son to have life in himself: John v. 26. For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will: John v. 21. The glory which Christ possessed was bestowed on him by his Father. His own words are as follows: The glory which thou hast given me I have given them: John xvii. 22. Again; the kingdom of Christ was given him. I appoint unto you a kingdom as my Father hath appointed unto me: Luke xxii. 29. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ hath put all things under his feet Eph. i. 19. Can any person believe that CHRIST is the supreme GOD, when it is so repeatedly declared concerning him, that whatever power, glory, or kingdom he possessed, was given him by another being, who was greater than he; who was ABOVE him, and without whose assistance he confessed he could do nothing.

7th. Christ is not the one self-existent God, because God and Christ are plainly distinguished from each other in the scriptures, as two separate beings, of different powers.