2. The sublime truths contained in it —
[The Person here addressed has two attributes ascribed to him ; namely, omnipotence, as the Creator of the universe ; and immutahility, as being ever the same : and both of these belong to the Lord Jesus Christ ; for it was He who created all things, both in heaven and earth. If an idea be suggested, that he might have merely been an agent deputed to this work, as any angel might have been; and that the execution of it is not sufficient to prove his Godhead ; I answer, that though I will not undertake to say what works God might devolve on a creature, there can be no doubt but that he was God who made the worlds : for it is said, " In the beginning was the Word ; and the Word was with God; and the Word zvas God: the same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him ; and without him was not any thing made that was made*^." And this was no other than the Lord Jesus Christ: for the same Apostle adds, " The Word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us^"
To the same Person, also, is immutability ascribed : as it is said, " They (the works of creation) shall perish, but thou remainest: and they all shall wax old, as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed : but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. Now this, also, is an incommunicable attribute of the Deity ! " I, the Lord, change not." To no creature whatever can this perfection be assigned : the highest archangel, if left to him- self, would fail, even as myriads of once-holy angels did in heaven ; from whence they were expelled for their transgres- sion, and were doomed to an eternity of misery in hell. But to Jesus it essentially belongs ; because, though a man, as to
^ John i. 1 — 3. e John i. 14.