The process of our catechists is unto Rev. xvii. 14, xix. 16; in both which places Christ is called " The Lord of lords and King of kings." This also is expressly the name of God : 1 Tim. vi. 1 5, 1 6, " Who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;
328 VINDICIiE EVANGELICE.
who only hath hnmortality, dwelling in the light/' etc. To this they say: —
In this testimony he is treated of who is the Lamb, who hath garments, who was killed, and redeemed us with his blood, as John evidently testifieth ; which can by no means be referred to a divine nature, and therefore a divine nature cannot hence be proved. But all things that in these testimonies are attributed to Christ do argue that singular authority which God hath given unto Christ in those things that belong to the new covenant.'
These are but drops; the shower is past. Because he who is the Lamb who was slain is King of kings and Lord of lords, we prove him to have another nature, in respect whereof he could be neither killed nor slain; therefore he is God, God only is so. And the answer is, " Because he was the Lamb he was killed and slain, there- fore he is not God," — that is, he is not King of kings and Lord of lords; — which the Holy Ghost, who gave him this name, will prove against them. 2. Our adversaries have nothing to except against this testimony, but that the King of kings and Lord of lords is not God ; which they do not prove, nor labour to disprove our confirma- tion of it. 3. Kings and lords of the world are not of the things of the new covenant, so that Christ's absolute sovereignty over them is not of the grant which he hath of his Father as Mediator, but as he is God by nature.
And so much for this collection concerning these several names of God attributed to Christ.
What follows in the three questions and answers ensuing relates to the divine worship attributed to Christ in the Scriptures, though it be marvellous faintly ui'ged by them. Some few texts are named, but so much as the intendment of our argument from them is not once mentioned. But because I must take up this elsewhere, namely, in answer to Mr Biddle, chap, x., I shall remit the consideration of what here they except to the proper place of it ; where, God assist- ing, from the divine worship and invocation of Jesus Christ, I shall invincibly demonstrate his eternal power and Godhead.
In the last place, they heap up together a number of testimonies, — each of which is sufficient to cast them down to the sides of the pit in the midst of their attempts against the eternal deity of the Son of God, — and accommodate a slight general answer to them all. The places are worth the consideration ; I shall only propose them, and then consider their answer.
The first is Isa. viii. 13, 14, " Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall
^ " In tcrtio tcstiraonio, cum agatur de eo qui Agnus est, et qui vestimenta habct quom ot occisum, et sanguine suo nosrcdimisse, apcrtissime idem Joliannes fatetur, qufe refen-i ad divinam naturara nulla ratione poswunt, apparet eo naturam divinara Christi astrui non posse. Omnia vero quce hie Cliristo in iis testimoniis tribuuutur, siugula- rem ipsius potcstatem quam Deus Christo in iis quce ad novum foedus pei'tinent, dedit, arguunt."
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be for a sanctuary ; but for a stone of stumljling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel." He that is to be for a rock of offence and a stone of stumbhng is the Lord of hosts, whom we must sanctify in our hearts, and make him our dread and our fear. But this was Jesus Christ: Luke ii. 34, " This child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel." " As it is written. Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling-stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed," Bom. ix. 83. " The stone which the
builders refused, a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence,"
I Pet. ii. 7, 8. In all which places that prophecy is repeated. Christ, therefore, is the Loed of hosts, whom we are to sanctify in our hetirt, and to make him our dread and our fear.
Isa. xlv. 22, 23, " I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." He who is God, and none else, is God by nature. But now " we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. For it is written. As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God," Eom. xiv. 10, IL It is the judgment-seat of Christ that men must appear before when they bow their knee to him, — that is, to him who is God, and none else.