state of Christ is clearly declared ; declared, too, in terms that can refer to none but God himself, seeing that he alone is "from everlasting." This passage alone was sufficient to furnish them with the true answer. But the Prophet Isaiah had spoken more clearly still; and had distinctly declared, that the person who was to be " a child born and a son given, was no other than the Mighty God"^ ;" and that " the child that should be born of a virgin should be called Emmanuel, God with us^." Thus their own Scriptures informed them that the Messiah must be David's Lord, according to his divine nature, (being indeed the Lord both of heaven and earth;) whilst yet, according to his human nature, which he was to assume from the posterity of David, he was to be truly and properly David's Son.
In the New Testament, as might be expected, this truth is yet more abundantly confirmed. Our Lord himself spoke of his own existence previous to his incarnation; saying, "Before Abraham was, I am." Yea, he declared that "he had a glory with the Father before the world was ;" and that " He and the Father were One." Very remarkable are those words which he addressed in a vision to the Apostle John : " I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saitli the Lord ; which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty^." What can be conceived more expressly declarative of his Divinity than this? To the same effect the beloved disciple himself speaks : " In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God And the
Word was made flesh, and dwelt amongst us^." St. Paul also says, that " being in the form of God, and counting it not robbery to be equal with God, he made himself of no reputa- tion, (he emptied himself, or divested himself of all his glory,) and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men^." From these and other similar passages it is evident, that he is " God manifest in the fleshy" even " God over all, blessed for ever''." And thus you see that he is in truth both " the Root and the Offspring of David^."
The Pharisees, not understanding this, were unable to return an answer to our Lord : nor, as long as the world shall stand, can any man solve the difficulty, but by acknowledging the Divinity of Christ. If it be said, that the very passage that is cited by our Lord proves his inferiority to the Father, because it is the Father who " exalts him to his right hand, and puts all his enemies under his feet ;" I answer, that, as man, and as Mediator, he was inferior to the Father ; whilst, as God, he is
<! Isai. ix. 6. « Isai. vii. 14. ^ Rev, i. 8.
g John i. 1, 14. ^ Phn. ii. 6, 7. 'I Tim. iii. 16.
^ Rom. ix. 5. ' Rev. xxii. 16.