Ques. From ivhat testimonies of Scripture do they endeavour to demonstrate that Christ luas, as they speak, incarnate f
Ans. From these, John i. 14; Phil. ii. 6, 7; 1 Tim. iii. 16; Heb. ii. 16; 1 John iv. 2, 3 ; Heb. x. 5.'
Of the first of these we have dealt already, in the handling of the beginning of that chapter, and sufficiently vindicated it from all their exceptions ; so that we may proceed immediately to the second.
Q. What dost thou answer to the second?
A. Neither is that here contained which the adverse party would prove : for it is one thing which the apostle saith, " Being in the form of God, he took the
1 " E quibus tcstimoniis Scripturte demonstrare conantur Christum (ufToquuntur) incarnatum esse? — Ex iis ubi secuiiduni eorum versioueni legitur, Vcrbum caro fac- tum est, JolvAU. i. ]4; Et qui (Chriatiis) cum essel infonnaJJci, etc.; Phil. ii. 6, 7; 1 Tim. iii. IG; Heb. ii. 16; 1 Johan. iv. 2, 3; Heb. x. 5."
28 t VINDICI^ EVANGELIC^.
form of a servant;" another, that the divine nature assumed the human; for the '• form of God" cannot here denote the divine nature, seeing the apostle writes that Christ cx'inanivit, — made that form of no reputation, but God can no vi^ay make his nature of no reputation ; neither doth the " form of a servant" denote human nature, seeing to be a servant is referred to the fortune and condition of a man. Neither is that also to be forgotten, that the writings of the New Testament do once only, it may be, use that word "form" elsewhere, namely, Mark xvi. 12, and that in that sense wherein it signifies not nature, but the outward appearance, saying, " Jesus appeared in another form unto two of his disciples."
Q. But from those words which the apostle afterward adds, " lie was found in fashion as a man," doth it not appear that he was, as they say, incarnate f
A. By no means ; for that expression contains nothing of Christ's nature : for of Samson we read that he should be " as a man," Judges xvi. 7, 11 ; and, Ps. Ixxxii., Asaph denounced to those whom he called " sons of the Most High," that they " should die like men ;" — of whom it is certain that it cannot be said of them that they were, as they speak, incarnate.
Q. How dost thou understand this place?
A. On this manner, that Christ, who in the world did the works of God, to whom all yielded obedience as to God, and to whom divine adoration was given, — God so willing, and the salvation of men requiring it, — was made as a servant and a vassal, and as one of the vulgar, when he had of his own accord per- mitted himself to be taken, bound, beaten, and slain. J
Thus they. Now, because it is most certain and evident to every one that ever considered this text, that, according to their old trade and craft, they have mangled it and taken it in pieces, at least cut off the head and legs of this witness, we must seek out the other parts of it and lay them together before Ave may proceed to remove this heap out of our way. Our argument from this place is not solely from hence, that he is said to be " in the form of God," but also that he was so in the form of God as to be " equal with him," as is here expressed ; nor merely that " he took upon him the form of a servant," but that he took it upon him when he was " made in the likeness of men," or " in the likeness of sinful flesh," as the apostle
' " Ad secundum quid respondes ? — Neque hie extare quod adversa pars confectum velit. Aliud enim est quod hie apostolus ait, Cum in forma Dei ei^set, formani scroi assumpsit ; aliud vero natura divina assumjisit hitmanam. Etenim hie forma Dei de- signare non potest Dei naturam, cum apostolus scribat earn formam Christum exin- anivisse. Deus vero naturam suam nullo niodo exinanire potest ; nee vero forma servi denotat naturam humanam, cum servum esse ad fortunam et conditionem hominis referatur. At ne id quoque dissimulandura est, scripta Novi Testamenuti banc vocem forma semel fortassis tantum alibi usurpai'e, ]\Iarc. xvi. 12, idque eo seusu quo non naturam, sed extcriorem speciem significat, cum ait, Jesum duobus discipulis siiis appa- ruisse in alia forma.
" Ex iis vero vei'bis, quae apostolus paulo post subjecit, ITabitu inventvs est nt homo, nonne apparet eum (ut loquuntur) incarnatum esse ? — Nullo modo ; etenim ea oratio nihil in se liabet ejusmodi. De Samsone enim in Uteris sacris legimus, quod idem futurus erat ut homo, Judic. xvi. 7, 11 ; et Ps. Ixxxii., Asaph iis hominibus quos dcos et fdios AUissimi vocaverat, denunciat, quod essent moritun ut homines; de quibus ccrtum est non posse dici eos (ut adversarii dicunt) incarnatos fuisse.
" Qua ratione locum hunc totum intelligis ? — Ad eum modum, quod Christus, qui in mundo, instar Dei, opera Dei efficiebat, et cui, sicut Deo, omnia parebant, et cui divina adoratio exhibebatur, — ita volentc Deo, et hominum salute exigente, — factus est tan- quam servus et mancipium, et tanquam unus ex aliis vulgaribus hominibus, cum ultro se capi, vinciri, caedi, et occidi permiscrat."