Acts xvii. 31. And to sum up all, in his own account before Agrippa, we have the character of his preaching as follows. Having, therefore, obtained help from God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come; that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.' Acts xxvi. 22, 23. Such is the testimony of Paul. It is, you will perceive, full, clear, and conclusive, in support of the truth, which we have offered to your attention. Not one word do you find in it concerning the supreme deity of our Lord; not one word concerning his equality with the Father; not one word, implying more than the divinity of his commission, his doctrine, and his character. We have now laid before you a portion of the evidence, upon which we have formed our opinions concerning the divinity of our blessed Lord. It is derived, as you have seen, from the testimony of the ancient prophets; of Jesus Christ himself; of the Jews, his enemies; and of his chosen apostles. To this testimony we bow with implicit confidence; and when asked, what think ye of Christ, we feel authorized by it to say, with Peter, he is THE SON OF GOD. More than this we dare not say; more than this we dare not believe; for we can find no authority for it in that gospel, 'which was written, that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, THE SON OF GOD, and that believing, we might have life through his name.' We will close this discussion, by offering to you four suggestions, which we beg you to bear in mind, when reflecting on the force of our arguments. 1. You perceive that our sentiments, on the divinity of Jesus Christ are derived, not from the instructions of human reason, but from the light of the sacred scriptures. You may have been told that we exalt reason at the expense of revelation, and therefore reject the deity of Christ, the trinity, and other kindred. doctrines. But you have been misinformed. We fear that some may have thought it their duty to keep you in the dark, respecting our religious views. We have accordingly been represented as obtaining them from other sources besides the bible. Of the truth of this, you have now an opportunity to judge for yourselves. In the preceding pages you have seen, that we have supported our opinions entirely from a comparison of scripture with scripture. We hold to these with the deepest conviction of their truth, because we believe that they are proved by the obvious, unembarrassed, indisputable testimony of the whole bible, while the passages that appear to oppose them, are few in number, obscure in their connexion, and always susceptible of an interpretation, which reconciles them with the general tenor of holy writ. 2. You perceive, from the discussion in which we have engaged, the fallacy of the charge which is sometimes brought against us, that we regard our Saviour as a mere man. You may have been told that this is our belief. But, as you have now seen, the assertion is groundless. You understand, that in rejecting the unscriptural doctrine of our Saviour's deity, we, by no means, deny the scriptural doctrine of his divinity. You perceive that there is a medium between regarding Jesus as the Eternal God and as a common man. You perceive that he sustains relations, appointed to him by his Father in heaven, which elevate him far above the ordinary level of humanity, and make him next to God, the most worthy object of our confidence, admiration, and love. 3. You perceive that the doctrine, which we have now presented, is not exposed to the charge of destroying the grounds of christian hope. We do not deny the Lord that bought us;' for we believe that he was sanctified by the Father, and sent into the world.' We do not deprive the sinner of his Saviour; for we believe that, by the commission of his heavenly Father, Jesus is ' able to save, to the uttermost, all that come to God by him.' We do not make light of the great work of redemption; for we believe that the Father sent the Son, to seek and save them who were lost;' 'not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might have life.' With these views of the mission and character of Jesus Christ, we have a broad foundation for christian hope. We enjoy the spiritual consolation which the soul needs. We repose with perfect confidence in the promises of our Saviour. It is the language of our hearts; Lord, to whom shall we go but unto thee; thou only hast the words of eternal life;' believing in we rejoice with joy unspeakable, and full of thee, glory.' 4. You perceive that the doctrine of our Lord's divinity is not one of vain speculation. It is important that you should possess distinct and intelligent views respecting the Saviour, in whom your dearest hopes are centred. It is important to the strength of your faith. Can you maintain so lively and firm a confidence in Jesus Christ, while his connexion with the Father remains an inscrutable mystery, or is explained only by the strange hypothesis of Three Persons in one God, and two separate natures in one of the Divine Persons, as you can when you acknowledge the Father as the only God, and Jesus Christ as his Messenger and Son?-It is important to the satisfaction of your intellect. You feel a misgiving, we doubt not, at the reception of the popular ideas concerning Jesus Christ. You have never been able, upon close reflection, to reconcile them with the best dictates of your judgment. You have sometimes pondered the contradictions which they involve, until your faith was half confounded, and your reason stood aghast.' In the scriptural views which we have presented, you meet with no such difficulties. Your understanding must approve them, while your heart embraces them.-It is important to your devotion. Have you not often felt distracted in attempting to direct your worship to a three-fold God? Has not the spirit of devotion been disturbed by the vain endeavor to make Jesus Christ at once the object and the medium of worship; the being, both to whom and through whom, your prayers were to be addressed? You will be released from this difficulty, by receiving the truths which we have illustrated. You will enjoy free, unembarrassed and delightful communion with God, through Jesus Christ his Son. You will be among the true worshippers, who worship the FATHER in spirit and in truth.' |