Gal. iv. 4, " God sent forth his Son made .of a woman." He Avas his Son, and was made of a Avoman, according as he expresses it, Heb. X. 5, " A body hast thou prepared me ;" as also, Rom. viii. 3.
Phil. ii. 5—7, " Let this mind be in you, which Avas also in Christ Jesus : Avho, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal Avith God : but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and Avas made in the likeness of men." It is the same Christ that is spoken of And it is here affirmed of him, that he Avas " in the fonn of God, and thought it not robbery to be equal with God." But is this all? Is this Jesus Christ God only? doth he subsist only in the form or nature of God ? No ; saith the apostle, " He took upon him the form of a servant, Avas made in the likeness of men, and Avas fovmd in fashion as a man." That his beinof truly a man is expressed in these Avords our adversaries deny not ; and Ave therefore believe that the same Jesus Christ is God also, be- cause that is no less plainly expressed.
1 Tim. iii. 16, " And Avithout controversy great is the mysteiy of godliness: God^ Avas manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spuit, seen
' It involves a critical discussion of long standing, whether Kv^lev or QtcZ is the proper reading in this passage. By some recent editors of critical editions of the Greek Testament — Scliolz, for instance — ©i»u is retained. Adiiuc sub judice lis est. — Kd.
* Since the days of Owen, this reading has been the subject of protracted and titling discussion. At one time the current of opinion had set in against Sioj
OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST. 41?
of angels." It is a mystery, indeed; under which name it is despised now and reproached ; nor are we allowed so to call it, but are reflected on as flying to mysteries for our defence. But we must take leave to speak in this matter according to His directions without whom we cannot speak at all. A mystery it is, and that a great mystery ; and that confessedly so, by all that do believe. And this is, that " God was manifested in the flesh." That it is the Lord Christ who is spoken of, every one of the ensuing expressions do evince: "Justi- fied in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." And this, also, is the sub- stance of what we believe in this matter, — namely, that Christ is God manifest in the flesh ; which we acknowledge, own, and believe to be true, but a great mysterj^,- — -yet no less great and sacred a truth not- withstanding.
Heb. ii. 14, " Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same." Verse IG, " For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham." And this plainly afiirms his pre- existence unto that assumption of our nature, and the unity of his person in it being so assumed.
1 John iii. 16, " Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us." He who was God laid down for a season and parted Avith that Hfe which was his own, in that nature of ours which he had assumed. And that taking of our nature is called his " coming in the flesh ;" which whoso denies, is " not of God, but is tlie spirit of Antichrist," cliap. iv. 3.
These are some of the places wherein the person of Christ is re- vealed imto our faith, that we may believe on the Son of God, and have eternal life.
The method formerly proposed would require that I should take off the general objections of the adversaries against this divine reve- lation, as also vindicate some peculiar testimonies from their excep- tions; but because a particular opposition uuto this truth hath not, as yet, publicly and directly been maintained and managed by any that I know of among ourselves, though the denial of it be expressly included in what they do ajffirm, I shall leave the farther confirma- tion thereof unto some other occasion, if it be offered, and it be judged necessary.
And this is that which the faith of believers rests in, as that which is plainly revealed unto them, — namely, that Jesus Christ is God and man in one person; and that all his actings in their behalf are the
as tlie reading-, and tlie preference M.iS given to S;. The results of later criticism decidedly converfi^e in proof that the text as it stands in the received version is correct. — Ed.
VOL. II. 27
418 OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
actings of him who is God and man ; and that this Son of God, God and man, is to be believed in by them, and obeyed, that they [may] have eternal life.
What is farther added imto these express testimonies, and the full revelation of the truth contained in them in this matter, in way of explication educed from them, and suitable unto them, to the edifi- cation of the church, or information of the minds of believers in the right apprehension of this great mystery of God manifested in the flesh, may be reduced to these heads : —