Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

God has made of it in the Holy Scriptures; where he is, for this reason, said to be the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, Heb. i. 3. The image of the invisible God, Col. i. 15. To be from God, John, vii. 29. To have life from the Father, John, v. 26: and the like. And upon this account it is that our Saviour himself says, that the Father is greater than he, John, xiv. 28. That he can do nothing of himself but what he seeth the Father do, v. 18, 19. Or, if this be not yet plain enough, they tell us farther in express terms, that he is the begotten, and the only begotten Son of the Father, i. 14, 18. iii. 16, 18. 1 John, iv. 9. v. 1.

8. Q. But will not this make the Holy Ghost as much God's Son, as Christ? And how then is Christ his only Son?

A. In matters of this kind, which are so far above our capacities, and of which we know nothing but what God has been pleased to reveal to us, we must speak as God, in his word, has taught us to speak. Now, the Scriptures no where call the Holy Ghost the Son of God: nor God the Father of the Holy Ghost: and therefore, though we know not what the precise difference is, yet because the proper act of a father is to beget, we say that Christ received his Divine Nature from God by generation; but of the Holy Ghost we say, as the Scriptures do, that he proceedeth from the Father, John, xv. 26; and is the Spirit not of the Father only, but of the Son also. Gal. iv. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Rom. viii. 9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man hath not the Spirit

of Christ, he is none of his. Phil. i. 19. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. i. 11. Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified before hand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

As proceeding from both.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-* John, i. 14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. iii. 16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Acts, xiii. 33. God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Compare Heb. i. 5, 6. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? v. 5. So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an High Priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

9. Q. What is the last respect in which our Saviour is here represented to us.

A. His relation to us: Our Lord. Eph. iv. 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. 1 Cor. viii. 6. But to us there is but one God the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. xii. 3. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that

no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

16. Q. How is Christ our Lord?

A. As he is God, together with the Father, and as by him God created the world; so has he the same original right of dominion with him, and is Lord of all his creatures.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Acts, x. 36. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, (he is Lord of all): that word I say ye know. Rom. x. 12, 13. There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

11. Q. Is there not some other ground for this title, and which restrains it in a particular manner to mankind?

A. Yes there is: inasmuch as by his coming into the world, and dying for us, he redeemed us from death, and so became our Lord by virtue of that purchase which he thereby made of us.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Acts, ii. 36. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye crucified, both Lord and Christ. Rom. xiv. 7, 8, 9. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 1 Cor. ii. 8. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.

Phil. ii. 9, 10, 11. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12. Q. When did Christ begin, in this respect, to be our Lord?

A. He entered, in part, upon this authority before his death, though not without regard to his dying for us as is evident from his publishing his Gospel, abrogating the law, and setting out the conditions of life and death to mankind. Hence, before his death, he asserted to himself the power to forgive sins. Matt. ix. 2, 6. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed and walk.

*But the full exercise of his dominion he entered not upon till after his resurrection, when, as himself declared to his apostles, Matt. xxviii. 18. All power in heaven and earth was given unto him.

See Eph. i. 20, 21, 22, 23. Which (the greatness of his power) he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the

church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

PROOFS SUBJOINED.-* Rom. xiv. 9. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be the Lord both of the dead and living. Phil. ii. 8, 9, &c. Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.

13. Q. How long will Christ continue, in this respect, to be our Lord?

A. Christ will continue to be our Lord for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Luke, i. 32,, 33. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign, over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

But then as the subject matter of a great part of that authority which he now exercises over his church, is proper only to the present state of it, and will determine at the day of Judgment; so will all the farther exercise of such authority cease together with it. Christ, as Mediator, must reign till he has put all his enemies under his feet, i. e. till sin, death, the devil, and all wicked men shall be destroyed; and all his faithful servants be delivered from the power of them. Psalm cx. 1. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 1 Cor. xv. 24. Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power.

« AnteriorContinuar »