he appeared, both from his words and works, to be One of fuperior dignity; for he fpake and acted, in numerous inftances, as Lord of the whole creation. There were some special feafons, when the brightness of the Deity broke forth upon his favoured attendants. These faw fome part of the radiance of his majesty, when he was transfigured on the mount: they heard the voice, by which "he received from God the Father honour and glory *:" and they his chosen witnesses have declared that which they faw and heard; (6 fhewing unto us that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifefted unto them +." The celeftial fpirits, alfo, who could not mistake his real character, were commanded to express their reverence of him. For when the Lord God "bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he faith, And let all the Angels of God worship him ‡."

Let us, then, maintain the truth, which is clearly delivered, and fully confirmed to us: nor fear, on the teftimony of the Apoftles, to receive Jefus as "the Lord of glory." If even angels bow before him with profound adoration, who are we, that we should refufe to pay our homage to him? Let us enquire, Do we entertain worthy notions of him, or feel a fuitable regard towards him? Do we render him the honour, due unto his name? It is poffible to affent to his Divinity, in a mere fpeculative way, while the heart remains infenfible to his excellence, and difaf

Matt. xvii. 1, &c. 2 Pet. i. 16, 17. † 1 John i. 1-3.

Heb. i. 6.

Many are the publications, in which the Apoftolical testimony for the Divinity of Chrift is admirably collected and ftated. To thofe, who may not have leifure for the perufal of the works of Dr. Waterland, we might recommend "A thort Defence of the Divinity of Chrift," published at Leeds, price 3d. "Jones's Catholic Doctrine of the Trinity," &c. If the learned reader wish to fee the teftimony of the primitive Church, in addition to that of the Apostles, the writings of Bishop Bull, particularly his " Defenfio fidei Nicænæ," and "Dr. Horfley's Tracts in controverfy with Dr. Priestley," are deferving of his regard.

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fected to his fervice. Accordingly, many call him, "Lord, Lord," who fee no beauty in him, that they should defire him, and who do not the things which he fays *.

But to form a right judgment of the character of Jefus, we must take a different view, and observe how he gives us access unto himself. The glory of his effential and unveiled Deity would dazzle our fight. But we are encouraged to draw near, while we are affured, that he is IMMANUEL, "God with us," or, God in our nature; "God manifeft in the flesh.' Hence we confider

Here,

III. His incarnation. Various and opposite errors have prevailed, respecting the person of Chrift; some denying him Divinity, others humanity. We believe, that they were both truly united in him, and that he was very God, as well as very man. indeed, many objections are raifed. Such an affumption of the manhood, it is faid, is unintelligible, unneceflary, and impoffible. Alas! to what impiety may we be led by our own pride and prefumption! There are thofe, who will not allow any thing to Jehovah, which exceeds their own fcanty comprehenfion, and, without regarding his express declarations, arrogantly determine the only way, in which it is proper or poffible for him to exift and act; and then they dignify their conceits with the name of "Rational Religion."

If it be asked, how this union between two natures fo diftant could be effected; we pretend not to explain the manner; for it is not explained to us. And, indeed, there is no subject, even relating to ourselves, which, if we enter into curious fpeculations, and ld unravel every difficulty, we might not be foon arraffed, confounded, and obliged to confefs our ponce. And fhall we, who know nothing clearly

* Luke vi. 46.

about

about the mode of our own being, undertake to fay, of what the great and glorious God may be capable? The fact is clearly established: it is declared, that "the Word," who was in the beginning, with God, and was God,-" was made flesh." He partook of all our infirmities (fin only excepted), being fubject to the fame fenfations, fatigues, pains, and temptations, as any the weakest of our fpecies. He was, therefore, as truly man, as if he had poffeffed no higher nature. This will be fufficiently manifeft, while we describe the various circumftances of his life.

We allow, then, that there is a fenfe, in which the Son is inferior to the Father; for, as his fervant, he is fent by him, receives his commiffion from him, and to him likewife owes his exaltation. But expreffions of that kind, which are frequent in the fcriptures, by no means contradict the doctrine here maintained; for they are used only with a reference to his manhood, or his mediatorial office, in which it is granted that he was in a state of fubjection. The incarnation being admitted, the Bible speaks a confiftent language, refpecting the Redeemer; whereas, otherwife, it would be at variance with itself.

This humiliation of Jefus is represented as a neceffary, or at least a fuitable, and expedient, fcheme. "In all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren *." In his humanity alone, he was capable of obeying and fuffering for us: in this alone, he could fuftain the character of "a merciful High-priest,” and be touched with a feeling of our infirmities."-Thus the fame nature, which finned, atoned for the tranfgreffion, and repaired the breach. Hereby we draw near to God, and God to us: He ftoops to us, and we rife to Him: our IMMANUEL joins heaven and earth together. Of how great importance,

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44," Why was his coming delayed fo long, o Tule are ignorant and prefumptumy macellary? or, why not longer, if not # who are we, that we should rete bewys to juftify to us the wifdom of his difpenfations? We should adore

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+nd embrace the mercy, which is offered to us through the Saviour, rather than difpute about it. His maniestation in the flesh, no doubt, was feasonable: nay, the fcripture afferts, that he died " in due time," and that he came "in the fulness of time *." Some reafons may be affigned, why the great event did nɔt take place fooner:

1. That the neceffity of redemption might be more clearly perceived; and that our condition without fuch an interpofition might be proved to be abfolutely defperate. The Lord fuffered men to walk in the way of their own hearts, in order to evince their extreme and total depravity, the blindness of their understandings, the perverfeness of their wills, and their utter inability to restore themselves. For if we poffefs any wisdom, ftrength, or goodness, fufficient to effect our own recovery, how ftrange that no approach was made towards it for four thousand years! A full trial, furely, was allowed; but during all that time the ignorance, degeneracy, and wickednefs of the world feemed to increase. It appears, then, from undoubted fact, that, left to ourselves, we should never have obtained reconciliation with God, and that without Chrift we are " ready to petifh." O let us profit by this fad experience, and learn to value our Saviour the more!

2. That a long series of clear and circumftantial prophecies might be delivered, and fulfilled in him. This was a wife and gracious appointment; for the Gofpel has thereby received an abundant ftrength of evidence. It pleafed God, in every age from the beginning, to raise up and inspire faithful men, to proclaim the coming of a Redeemer, and to describe his character and office. Accordingly, they foretold, with an astonishing exactnefs, his birth, life, and death, and the various incidents relating to them; and