A Brief History OF THE UNITARIANS Called also SOCINIANS In Four Letters Written to a Friend Acts 17. 11. They searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Printed in the Year 1687. The First Letter Concerning the Unitarians vulgarly called Socinians SIR IN Answer to yours demanding a brief account of the Vnitarians called also Socinians their Doctrine concerning God in which only they differ from other Christians the Remonstrants professedly agreeing with them in other points of Faith and Doctrine and the Defence they usually make of their Heresy They are called Socinians from F. Socinus an Italian Noble-Man and a principal Writer of their Party They affirm God is only one Person not three They make our Lord Christ to be the Messenger Minister Servant and Creature of God they confess he is also the Son of God because he was begotten on blessed Mary by the Spirit or Power of God Luke 1. 35. But they deny that he or any other Person but the Father the God and Father of the said our Lord Christ is God Almighty and Eternal The Holy Ghost or Spirit according to them is the Power and Inspiration of God Luke 1. 35. That the Lord Christ was a Man the Son Prophet Messenger Minister Servant and Creature of God not himself God they think is proved by these as they call them Arguments 1. If our Lord Christ were himself God there could be no Person greater than he none that might be called his Head or his God none that could in any respect command him But the Holy Scriptures teach that the Father is greater than Christ is the Head and the God of Christ and gave Commandment to him what he should say and what he should do John 14. 28. My Father is greater than I. 1. Cor. 11. 3. The Head of Christ is God. John 20. 17. I ascend to my Father and your Father to my God and your God. John 12. 49. The Father which sent me he gave me a Commandment what I should say John 14. 31. As the Father gave me Commandment so do I. 2. If our Lord Christ were indeed God it could not without Blasphemy be absolutely and without Restriction affirmed of him that he is the Creature the Possession the Servant and Subject of God or that for his Obedience he was rewarded and advanced by God. But the inspired Authors of Holy Scripture do say that the Son our Lord Christ is the Creature of God the Possession of God the Servant of God was obedient to God and for that cause by him rewarded and exalted also that when God shall have subjected all Men to his Son our Lord Christ yet even then shall he remain subject to God. Col. 1. 15. The first-born from the dead ver 18. of every Creature Heb. 3. 1 2. Consider the Apostle and high Priest of our Profession Jesus Christ who was faithful to him that appointed him In the Greek and in the Margin of our Bibles 't is faithful to him that made him 1 Cor. 3. 23. Ye are Christ's and Christ is God's Matth. 12. 17 18. That it might be fulfilled that was spoken by Isaias Behold my Servant Phil. 2. 8 9. He humbled himself and became obedient Wherefore God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name above every Name 1 Cor. 15. 28. When all things shall be subdued to him then shall the Son also be subject to him that put all things under him that God may be all in all 3. He that is true God is not the Minister or Priest of any other Person or Persons he neither doth nor will being himself Omnipotent and All-sufficient mediate or intercede with any whomsoever for his Servants and People But 't is certain that our Lord Christ is the Minister and Mediator of God and Men a Priest that appeareth in the Presence of God and intercedeth with him for Men. Heb. 8. 6. Now hath he obtained a more excellent Ministry 1 Tim. 2. 5. There is one God and one Mediator between God and Men the Man Jesus Christ. Heb. 2. 17. A merciful and faithful High-Priest in things pertaining to God. Heb. 9. 24. Christ is not entred into the Holy place made with Hands but into Heaven it self now to appear in the Presence of God for us Heb. 7. 25. He ever liveth to make Intercession for them 4. Almighty God doth all things in his own Name and by his own Authority He ever doth his own Will and seeketh his own Glory he declares himself to be the prime Object of Faith and Worship and pronounces all Doctrines or Religions to be vain which proceed not from Him alone But in our Lord Christ all things are contrary for he declares that he came not into the World in his own Name or Authority not to do his own Will or seek his own Glory or propound himself as the principal Object of our Faith or Worship or to publish a Doctrine of his own John 17. 28. I am not come of my self John 5. 43. I am come in my Father's Name John 8. 42. I proceeded forth and came from God neither came I of my self but he sent me John 5. 30. I seek not my own Will. John 8. 50. I seek not my own Glory John 12. 44. He that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me Phil. 2. 11. That every Tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father John. 7. 16. My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent me 5. God was always most wise never ignorant of any thing He needeth not the concurrence of any other Person to assure him that he judgeth right He cannot saith St. James chap. 1. ver 13. be tempted And as he is infinitely great so he is no less Good. But the sacred Writers do not speak of the Lord Christ after this Tenor They say our Lord Christ increased in Wisdom that he professed himself ignorant of some things that he ascribed the Certainty and Infallibility of his Judgment to the Father's Presence with him that he was tried by great Temptations being thereto exposed by the Holy Ghost that he refused to be called Good because God only is Good. Luke 2. 52. Jesus increased in Wisdom and in Favour with God and Men. Mark 13. 32. Of that Day and Hour knoweth no Man In the Greek tis none knoweth no not the Angels which are in Heaven neither the Son but the Father S. Matthew Mat. 24. 36. adds But the Father only John 11. 34. Where have ye laid him They say unto him Lord come and see John 8. 16. My Judgment is true for I am not alone but I and the Father that sent me Matth. 4. 1. Then was Jesus led of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil Luke 18. 19. Why callest thou me good there is none good save one that is God. 6. God giveth what and to whom himself pleaseth he needs not the Aid of any other he entreateth
not for himself or People he cannot die and he deriveth his Power from none but himself But 't is certain that the Lord Christ could not himself without the previous Ordination of the Father confer the prime Dignities of Heaven or of the Church He placed his Safety in the Father's Presence and Help He prayed often and fervently to the Father both for himself and for his Disciples He died and was raised from the dead by the Father After his Resurrection he received of another that great Power which he now injoyeth Matth. 20. 23. To sit on my right Hand and on my left is not mine to give but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father John 8. 29. He that sent me is with me and the Father hath not left me alone for I always do those things that please him Luke 22. 42. Father if thou be willing remove this Cup from me Heb. 5. 7. Who in the Days of his Flesh offered up Prayers and Supplications with strong Crying and Tears unto him that was able to save him John 17. 20. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe in me through their Word Ephes 1. 19 20. According to the mighty working of his Power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead Matth. 28. 18. Jesus came and spake to them saying All Power is given to me 7. Jesus Christ is in holy Scripture always spoken of as a distinct and different Person from God and described to be the Son of God and the Image of God Rom. 16. 27. To God only wise be Glory through Jesus Christ. Luke 18. 19. Why callest thou me good there is none good save one that is God. 1 Tim. 2. 5. There is one God and one Mediator between God and Men the Man Jesus Christ. John 13. 18. He that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed on the Name of the only begotten Son of God. Luke 1. 35. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee Blessed Mary and the Power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also or and therefore the Holy thing that is born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Col. 1. 15. The Image of the invisible God. ' Tis. say the Socinians as impossible that the Son or Image of the one true God should himself be that one true God as that the Son should be the Father and the Image that very thing whose Image it is which they take to be simply impossible and contradictory to common sense which Religion came not to destroy but to improve Whereas to these arguings 't is objected that these things are in Holy Scripture spoken of Christ according to only his humane Nature or as he is a Man but that he is also God the Son though united to an humane Nature that is to an humane Soul and Body The Socinians reply that there is in Scripture no real Foundation for such a Conceit that 't is inconsistent with almost all the Texts already cited especially those in which the Lord Christ is spoken of as a distinct and different Person from God and that there are many other Considerations and Passages of holy Scripture which no less than demonstrate it to be false As 8. Because so many Texts expresly declare that only the Father is God John 17. 1 2 3. Father this is Life eternal that they know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent or Jesus Christ thy Messenger 1 Cor. 8. 6. But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord or Master i. e. Teacher by whom are all things In the Greek thus One Lord Jesus Christ for whom are all things and we for him See the Note on Heb. 1. 2. in the Fourth Letter Eph. 4. 4 5 6. One Spirit one Lord one God and Father of all who is above all 1 Cor. 15. 24. Then 〈◊〉 the End when he Christ ver 23. shall deliver up the Kingdom to God even the Father Jam. 3. 9. Therewith with the Tongue ver 8. bless we God even the Father Rom. 15. 6. With one Mind and with one Mouth glorify God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 9. If Christ were indeed God as well as Man or as Trinitarians speak God the Son incarnate in an humane Nature it had been altogether superfluous to give the Holy Spirit to his said humane Nature as a Director and Guide For what other help could that Nature need which was one Person with as they speak God the Son and in which God the Son did personally dwell Luke 4. 1. Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost departed from Jordan Acts 1. 2. After that he through the Holy Ghost i. e. through direction and motion of the holy Spirit and Inspiration of God had given Commandments unto the Apostles Acts 10. 38. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost 10. Had the Lord Christ been as Trinitarians speak God the Son joyned to an humane Nature he could not have ascribed his miraculous Works to the Holy Ghost or to the Father dwelling in him but to the Son dwelling in him and united to him Matth. 12. 28. I cast out Devils by the Spirit of God. John 14. 10. The Father that dwelleth in me he doeth the Works John 5. 30. I can do nothing of my self Acts 2. 22. Jesus of Nazareth a Man approved of God among you by Miracles and Wonders and Signs which God did by him in the midst of you 11. Had our Lord been more than a Man the Prophecies of the Old Testament in which he is promised would not describe him barely as the Seed of the Woman the Seed of Abraham a Prophet like unto Moses the Servant and Missionary of God on whom God's Spirit should rest Gen. 3. 5. I will put Enmity between thy Seed and her Seed Her Seed is by all Interpreters understood to be Christ Gen. 22. 18. In thy Seed shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed This again is universally interpreted of Christ Deut. 18. 18. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto thee and I will put my Words into his Mouth This is interpreted of our Lord Christ in many Texts of the New Testament as John 1. 45. and Acts 3. 22. and Acts 7. 37. Isai 41. 1. Behold my Servant whom I uphold mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I will put my Spirit upon him and he shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles This is interpreted of Christ Matth. 12. 17 18. Now that the Holy Ghost or Spirit is only the Power and Inspiration of God at least is not himself God they hold is ascertained by these Considerations 1. The Holy Ghost or Spirit and the Power of God are spoken of as one and the same thing 1 Cor. 2. 4 5. My preaching was not with enticing Words
occasion both to his Friends and Enemies to think him an Arian He saith that Phil. 2. 6. was the principal Argument of the Fathers against the Arians but that to say true it proves nothing against them He notes on Eph. 5. 5. that the word God being used absolutely doth in the Apostolick Writings always signifie the Father In his Scholia on the third Tome of St. Jerom's Epistles he denies that the Arians were Hereticks he adds farther that they were superior to our Men in Learning and Eloquence 'T is believed Erasmus did not make himself a party to that which he esteemed the ignorant and dull side of the Question In his Epistle to Bilibaldus he speaks as openly as the times would permit a wise Man to speak I saith Erasmus could be of the Arian Perswasion if the Church approved it 2. H. Grotius is Socinian all over This great Man in his younger Years attacked the Socinians in a principal Article of their Doctrine But being answered by J. Crellius he not only never replied but thank'd Crellius for his Answer and afterwards publishing some Annotations on the Bible he interpreted the whole according to the mind of the Socinians There is nothing in all his Annotations which they do not approve and applaud His Annotations are a compleat System of Socinianism not excepting his Notes on John 1. 1 c. which are written so artificially and interwove with so many different Quotations that he has cover'd himself and his sense of that Portion of Scripture from such as do not read him carefully 3. D. Petavius the most Learned of the Jesuits has granted that generally the Fathers who lived before the Nicene Council and whose Writings are preserved agreed in their Doctrine concerning God with the Nazarens or Socinians and concerning the Son our Lord Christ and the Holy Spirit with the Arians For 't is to be noted that the Arians and Socinians agree in their Doctrine concerning God that he is only one Person the God and Father of our Lord Christ but they differ concerning the Son and Holy Spirit The Son according to the Arians was generated or created some time before the World and in process of time for great and necessary causes became incarnate in our Nature The Holy Ghost they say is the Creature of the Son and subservient to him in the Work of Creation But the Socinians deny that the Son our Lord Christ had any Existence before he was born of Blessed Mary being conceived in her by the holy Spirit of God They say the Spirit is the Power and Inspiration of God saving that Mr. Bidle and those that follow him take the holy Spirit to be a Person chief of the Heavenly Spirits prime Minister of God and Christ and therefore called the Spirit by way of excellence and the Holy Spirit to discriminate him from Satan Prince and Chief of the wicked and Apostate Spirits This difference notwithstanding because they agree in the principal Article that there is but one God or but one who is God both parties Socinians and Arians are called Vnitarians and esteem of one another as Christians and true Believers as may be seen on the part of the Arians in their Historian Chr. Sandius Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. de Paul. Semosat and for the Socinians in the Disputation of Alba. But to return to Petavius He often affirms that the Doctrine of the Trinity and of the Divinity of the Son and Spirit cannot be proved by Scripture only and that those who have attempted it have always been baffled He adds there is no way to Unity in the Church about these matters but by contenting our selves to speak concerning them as the Fathers who lived nearest to the Apostles time did speak 4. S. Episcopius so much esteemed by our English Divines seems to have been an Arian He saith the Father is so first as to be first in order i. e. time in Dignity and in Power He saith that to make three equal Persons in God or in the Godhead is to make three Gods. He denies that the Lord Christ is the Son of God by substantial Generation that is by Generation from the Father's Substance or Essence Speaking of the Creeds that express the Catholick Doctrine of the Trinity and the Divinity of the Son and Spirit he saith that Bishops in general Councils being led by Fury Faction and Madness did not so much compose as huddle up Creeds for the Church See for these things Episc Inst Theol. l. 4 c. 32 33 34. 5. C. Sandius a Gentleman of prodigious Industry and Reading and no less ingenious then learned in all his Books refuses in Words to be called either Arian or Socinian but has written an Ecclesiastical History in Quarto with Addenda to it Coloniae 1678 on purpose to prove that all Antiquity was Arian and that the Vnitarian Doctrine has been reduced so low by the Persecutions of Rome and the puissant Arms of Charles the Great and other Kings of France for which Services they have been requited by the Roman Pontiff with the Titles of Most Christian Kings and Eldest Sons of the Church He has also under the borrowed Name of Cingallus written a small Treatise with this Title Scriptura Trinitatis Revelatrix here under pretence of asserting the Trinity he has as much as he could defeated all the strengths of the Catholick Cause and shews that there is no considerable Text objected to the Arians or Socinians but is given up as an incompetent and insignificant proof by some or other of the principal Critics and Authors who were themselves Trinitarians so that among them they have given away the Victory to their Adversaries But Sir I perceive I have drawn out this account of the Socinians to already a sufficient length for a Letter I will therefore conclude with a Passage out of Dr. Burnet's second Book of the History of the Reformation abridged George van Parr a Dutch Man refused to abjure so he was burnt in the year 1549 by virtue of a Law or Writ since abolished by Act of Parliament for affirming that only the Father is God and denying the Divinity of the Son our Lord Christ He had led a very exemplary Life for Fasting Devotion and a good Conversation and suffered with extraordinary Composedness of Mind These things cast a great Blemish on the Reformers It was said they only condemned Cruelty when acted on themselves but were ready to practise it when they had Power The Papists made great use of this in the next Queen Mary's Reign and what Arch-Bishop Cranmer and Bishop Ridly Authors of Van Parrs Punishment suffered in her time was thought a just Retaliation on them by that wise Providence which disposes all things justly to all Men. Thus far Dr. Burnet SIR I am most sincerely Yours A Second Letter TO A FRIEND Concerning the UNITARIANS Called also SOCINIANS Containing the Texts objected to them out of the Old Testament and their Answers Acts 24.
Church but if they will often read and consider the Socinian sense of them they will soon discern that 't is not only a probable sense but the true and only sense of which these Texts are capable if we would reconcile them to the rest of Scripture and particularly to the many and clear Texts and Demonstrations cited and hinted in the first Letter SIR I am Yours A Third Letter TO A FRIEND Concerning the UNITARIANS Called also SOCINIANS Containing the Texts objected to them out of the Evangelists and Acts and their Answers Matth. 22. 29. Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures Printed in the Year 1687. A Third Letter Concerning the Unitarians called Socinians SIR IN this I give you the Texts of the Evangelists and Acts objected to the Socinian Doctrine concerning God our Lord Christ and the Holy Spirit and the Answers of the Socinians to the Arguments arising from them 1. Matth. 1. 23. They shall call his Name Immanuel which being interpreted is God with us Answ See on Isai 7. 14. 2. Matth. 2. 2. Where is he that is born King of the Jews for we are come to worship him Answ Neither the Hebrew Greek nor Latin Word for worship him import any more than a civil Worship and Honour And it was the manner over all the East and particularly among the Jews to prostrate to Kings 2 Sam. 19. 18. 1 Kings 1. 16 23 31. 2 Sam. 9. 6. 3. Mat. 9. 6. The Son of Man hath Power on Earth to forgive Sins Answ This is plainly spoken of Christ as he was a Man. God gave this Authority to the Lord Christ because he gave to him also to know what was in Mens Hearts namely whether their Repentance and outward Professions were sincere and lasting John 2. 24 25. Rev. 1. 1. 4. Mat. 11. 27. All things are delivered to me of my Father and no Man knoweth the Son but the Father c. Answ 1. If Christ were himself that one true God it could not be said here that another Person gave all things into his Hands 2. The most Orthodox Interpreters do understand all things here to be all things requisite for procuring and effecting the Redemption and Salvation of Men or all things necessary to the executing the Office of the Messias Whereas our Lord adds None knoweth the Son but the Father c. Maldonate and Grotius make the sense to be None but God knows what the Son's Office is or what he is to do and suffer in order to the Salvation of Men as on the other side none but the Son knows the Father's Mind concerning the way and means by which Mankind is to be redeemed and saved 5. Mat. 12. 31. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven Answ St. Austin and generally all judicious Interpreters by Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost or Spirit understand Mens ascribing with the Scribes and Pharisees in this Chapter the Miracles and Works done apparently by the Spirit or Power of God unto Magick or the Power of the Devil So that the Holy Ghost or Spirit is not in this Text a Person or a God but merely the Power of God. 6. Mat. 18. 20. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them Matth. 28. 20. I am with you always even to the end of the World. Answ Christ is in the midst of and is with his People not by an immediate Presence as God is but by his most powerful Aid and Help which he affordeth partly by his continual and succesful Mediation with God for them all in general Heb. 7. 25. partly by the Angels who are under his Directions and by him engaged in the Defence of the Faithful Heb. 1. 14. 7. Matth. 26. 63. Tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of God. Like to which Text are Matth. 14. 33. Mat. 16. 16. John 1. 49. Answ It being manifest that Princes are called Sons of God by the Psalmist Psal 82. 6. As also that Psal 2. 7. Thou art my Son is literally meant of David Hence it was that the Jews both then and now call the Messias the Son of God not because as some imagine they think he is God or is generated of the Divine Substance but because they expect he shall be a very great Prince an universal Monarch and therefore the Son of God in a more perfect and higher sense than David or other Princes are 8. Mat. 28. 19. Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Answ 1. To be baptized in the Name of a Person or Persons is a Rite by which one delivers himself to the Institution Instruction and Obedience of such Person or Persons so that to be baptized in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost is to profess to be led and guided by them or as Grotius expresses this matter 't is to declare we will admit of no other thing as a part of our Religion but what proceeds from these that is nothing but what is commanded by God or the Father and has been delivered by his Son the Lord Christ and confirmed externally by the Miracles and internally with the Witness and Testimony of the Spirit that is of the Power and Inspiration of God. 2. 'T is in vain not to say ridiculously pretended that a Person or thing is God because we are baptized unto it or in the Name of it For then Moses and John Baptist also would be Gods 1 Cor. 10. 1 2. Our Fathers were all baptized unto Moses Acts 19. 3. Vnto what then were ye baptized and they said Vnto John's Baptism that is saith the Generality of Interpreters unto John and the Doctrine by him delivered Nor can it be doubted that to be baptized unto a Person or Persons and to be baptized in the Name of such Person or Persons is the same thing For 1. 'T is acknowledged by all that understand the Hebrew and Syriac Idioms 2. 'T is manifest by comparing some Texts of Scripture For what in some of them is called baptizing unto is in others called baptizing in the Name of Rom. 6. 3. As many of you as have been baptized into Jesus Christ or unto Jesus Christ for 't is the same Preposition in the Greek that is used of Moses 1 Cor. 10. 1 2. and of John Baptist Acts 19. 3. have been baptized into or unto his Death Gal. 3. 27. As many of you as have been baptized into Christ in the Greek unto Christ have put on Christ Acts 2. 38. Be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ. Acts 8. 16. They were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Who does not now see that to be baptized unto and in the Name of Christ or any other Person or thing are used as equivalent terms And accordingly the Fathers particularly Tertullian often say baptized unto the Father Son and Holy Ghost Nothing therefore can be inferred from this Text
11. 1 Pet. 1. 12. believed on in the World received with Glory that is entertained in most places with the greatest Respect and Honour Gal. 4. 15. Note that the Gospel is here called a Mystery because it was so long concealed and so late discovered and the Mystery of Godliness from its Effect namely because it disposeth Mens Minds to true Piety and Godliness Note also that it was Macedonius the 2d Patriarch of Constantinople that corrupted this Text by substitution of the word God instead of the word which and for this and other matters he was deposed in an Episcopal Council and banished by the Emperour Anastatius about the Year 512. But 2. Admitting the word God were truly read in the vulgar Copies of the Greek yet if you will make sense you must thus translate and interpret great is the Mystery of Godliness God was manifested by Flesh i. e. God's Nature and Will was manifested by Flesh that is by Man by Jesus Christ and his Apostles to us Gentiles was justiby the Spirit i. e. the same Will and Nature of God was verified by Miracles done by the Spirit or Power of God was seen of Angels was known to the Angels who were very desirous to understand this new Revelation believed on in the World received with Glory or gloriously 22. 1 Tim. 6. 14 15 16. Vntil the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ which in his time he shall shew who is the blessed and only Potentate whom no Man hath seen nor can see Answ The last Words shew that not the Lord Christ but God is designed in this whole Description 23. 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is given by Inspiration from God. 2 Pet. 1. 21. Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Answ The Holy Ghost or Spirit being only the Inspiration and Power of God it is truly said that the Scriptures which proceeded from that Inspiration did proceed from God and that those who were acted by that Inspiration were acted by God. 24. Titus 2. 13. Looking for the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Answ 1. Nothing hinders but that we may believe that not only the Lord Christ but God himself will appear at the last Judgment So that Christ is said to judg the World because he shall pronounce the Decree and Sentence of God and order the Angels to execute it So several of the Fathers understood this Text. 2. But the Truth is the Words in the Greek are thus Looking for the appearing of the Glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Where the Glory of the great God is the Pomp Power and Angels that God even the Father will cause to accompany the Lord Christ on that Day Matth. 16. 27. The Son shall appear in the Glory of his Father with his the Fathers Angels 25. Heb. 1. 2. By whom also he made the Worlds Answ Grotius renders the Greek thus For whom he made the Worlds The Author saith Grotius writing to the Hebrews refers to a Maxim received among them that the World was made for the Messias This Translation suits well with what went before whom he hath appointed Heir of all things for what can be more agreeable than that the World should be made for him who is appointed Heir or Lord of it Others render the Words thus By whom he made the Ages understanding hereby the Gospel-Ages or Times 26. Heb. 1. 3. Vpholding all things by the Word of his Power or governing all things by his Powerful Word Answ This is to be understood of God's Word or Power not of Christ's otherways than it was communicated to him by God and did abide on him For the whole Context runs thus Who Christ being the Brightness of his God's Glory and the express Image of his God's Person and upholding in the Greek Governing all things by his God's powerful Word So the sense is Christ upholds the Government and Order of the Church both in Heaven and Earth he governs the Angels and Spirits of Heaven and the Church militant on Earth by the Word i. e. the Power of God given to him without measure See also on John 1. 1 c. 27. Heb. 1. 5. Thou art my Son. Answ See on Psal 2. 7. in the second Letter 28. Heb. 1. 6. Again when he bringeth the first-begotten into the World he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him Answ See on Psal 97. 7. in the second Letter But as to the word First-begotten or First-born it doth not belong to Christ only in all the senses of it Christ is Almighty God's first-begotten or First-born from the dead as was said on Col. 1. 16. but in other respects others also are so called Israel is Gods First-born Exod. 4. 22. and David Psal 89. 26 27. for this Expression in the Hebrew signifies ordinarily no more than the most beloved or much beloved as is apparent from the Texts last cited and from Jer. 31. 9. Heb. 11. 17. 29. Heb. 1. 8. Vnto the Son he saith Thy Throne O God is for ever Answ In the Greek 't is unto the Son he saith God is thy Throne i. e. thy Seat Resting-Place and Establishment for ever So Grotius 30. Heb. 1. 10. And thou Lord in the Beginning hast laid the Foundation of the Earth Answ See on Psal 102. 25. from whence these Words are taken 31. Heb. 2. 14. For as much as the Children are partakers of Flesh and Blood he also himself took part of the same Answ The Socinians do not deny that the Soul of Christ took part in Flesh and Blood that is was incarnate as his Children that is his People were also Partakers in Flesh and Blood. 32. Heb. 2. 16. He took not on him the Nature of Angels but he took on him the Seed of Abraham Answ In the Greek and in the Margin of our Bibles 't is He taketh not hold of Angels i. e. he saved not from Ruin and from utter and final falling into Perdition the Apostate Angels but of the Seed of Abraham he taketh hold i. e. he saveth the Seed of Abraham The Author here mentioneth only the Seed of Abraham because this Epistle was written only to the Hebrews Unless perhaps by the Seed of Abraham he meaneth Abraham's spiritual Seed all the faithful all true Believers 33. Heb. 3. 3 6. He who hath builded the House hath more Honour than the House Christ as a Son over his own House whose House are we Answ The House here is not Mens Bodies but the Church of Christ which under God he is truly said to build partly by himself partly by his Ministers 34. Heb. 4. 15 16. We have not an High-Priest which cannot be touched with the Feeling of our Infirmities but was in all points tempted as we are Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace Answ We are encouraged here to pray with Assurance and Faith to God by this Argument or Consideration
Psal 95. 9 10. Your Fathers tempted me forty years long was I grieved with this Generation These words spoken by and of God are interpreted of the Holy Ghost Heb. 3. 7 9 10. As saith the Holy Ghost your Fathers tempted me c. Answ As saith the Holy Ghost that is As saith the Holy Spirit or Inspiration of God by the Mouth of the Prophet David So Estius Piscator Capellus Grotius c. Note that in the Psalmist's words there is an Enallage of the Person frequent in the Hebrew and especially in the Psalms Me for Him and I for He. 10. Psal 97. 7. Worship him all ye Gods or all ye Angels These words though spoken of God are interpreted of Christ Heb. 1. 6. Again when he bringeth the first-begotten into the World he saith And let all the Angels of God worship him Answ In the Greek 't is When he bringeth again the first-begotten into the World that is when he raised Christ from the dead who is his first-begotten from the dead he commandeth let even all the Angels of God worship him 'T is uncertain whether St. Paul had any respect to the Words in the Psalm but if he had he doth not quote the Words of the Psalmist as if they were spoken of Christ but only declareth the Decree of God known to him by the Spirit for subjecting the Angels to Christ in the same words that the Psalmist had used on another occasion because they are words most proper to express that Decree for the Writers of the New Testament generally affect to speak in Scripture Language 11. Psal 102. 25. Of old hast thou laid the Foundation of the Earth c. This seems applied to Christ Heb. 1. 10 11 12 13. And thou Lord in the Beginning hast laid the Foundation of the Earth but to which of the Angels said he at any time Sit on my right Hand Answ Thomas Aquinas hath rightly acknowledged that the Words of both these Texts may be understood of God only not of Christ The Context of the Hebrews hath this sense And thou Lord that is and in another Text of the Psalms 't is said Thou Lord. So Estius Camerarius Grotius hast laid the Foundation of the Earth But to which of the Angels said he i. e. said the Founder of the Earth c. sit on my right Hand as he saith to Christ at Psal 110. 1. For though Psal 110. 1. is literally designed of David yet you Hebrews knowing that David was a Type of Christ do also apply the Words there sit on my right Hand unto the Messias or Christ 12. Psal 110. 1. The Lord said unto my Lord Sit on my right Hand until I make thine Enemies thy Footstool It appears by Matth. 22. 43. that the Jews understood these words of David as spoken of God and Christ and therefore our Saviour puts this Question to them how Christ could be David's Son for they were it should seem commonly taken to be David's Words if he was David's Lord which can no way be answered but by saying he was David's Son according to the Flesh and David's Lord as he was God. Answ Our Saviour's Words are David in Spirit calleth him Lord saying The Lord said unto my Lord Sit on my right Hand that is David in the Spirit of Prophecy foreseeing Christ calls him his Lord. But he calleth him so not because Christ is God for if that were true himself could have made his Enemies his Footstool but because not only the Spirits of David and all Saints but even Angels are in Heaven made subject to Christ and that as the Reward of his most Holy Life and obsequious and acceptable Death 1 Pet. 3. 22. Phil. 2. 8 9. But note that when the Psalmist says the Lord said unto my Lord the Lord said is to be understood he hath in decree said he hath decreed it shall be so So Dr. Patrick in his Paraphrase on this Text. 13. Psal 110. 3. Thy People shall be willing in the day of thy Power in the beauty of Holiness from the womb of the Morning thou hast the Dew of thy Youth Answ This Text as 't is in the English Translation is wholly unintellible Seb. Castalio has as he is wont made a probable and elegant sense from the Hebrew thus Thy People or thy Troops shall be chearful when with sacred Majesty thou goest to Battel thou shalt have innumerable Youth The words are spoken to David 14. Psal 139. 7. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit Answ From thy Spirit is an Hebrew Phrase for From thee Like as when 't is said of Moses Psal 106. 33. They provoked his Spirit the undoubted meaning is They provoked Him. So also Eph. 4. 30. Grieve not the holy Spirit of God is an Hebraism for Grieve not God. 15. Prov. 8. 24. When there were no depths I was brought forth Answ Solomon speaketh here of the Quality or Faculty of Wisdom by which God and Men order their Affairs wisely That he meaneth not as some have fancied the Son or the Spirit of God appears by the Gender he useth For he saith ver 2. She standeth in the top of high Places ver 3. She crieth at the gates and chap. 7. 4. Say unto Wisdom Thou art my Sister 16. Prov. 30. 4. Who hath ascended up into Heaven who hath established all the Ends of the Earth what is his Name and what is his Son's Name Answ Dr. S. Partick interpreteth this Verse thus Hath any Man ascended into Heaven who among Men hath gathered the Wind or fixed the Earth what is the Man's Name or his Sons 17. Isa 6. 1 8 9. I saw the Lord sitting upon a Throne I heard the Voice of the Lord go tell this People Hear ye indeed but understand not shut their Eyes c. This Appearance of God is ascribed to Christ John 12. 41. These things said Isaias when he saw his Glory the Words Go tell this People c. are ascribed to the Holy Spirit Acts 28. 25 26. Well spake the Holy Ghost by Isaias Go unto this People c. Answ 1. The Words in St. John are to be understood not of Christ but of God for God only is intended in the foregoing Verse as all confess 2. Accordingly the best Greek Bibles read that Text thus These things said Isaias when he saw God's Glory 3. The Texts in the Acts ascribeth the Words in the Prophet to the Holy Spirit because the Vision and all the Words there mentioned were a Scene wrought in the Prophet's Mind not exhibited to his outward senses by the Spirit or Power of God. 18. Isa 7. 14. A Virgin shall conceive and bare a Son and shall call his Name Immanuel 'T is added Matth. 1. 23. which being interpreted is God with us Answ 1. Matthew as all know wrote his Gospel in Hebrew and therefore did not interpret the Hebrew Name no more than the Prophet whose Words he cited had done before him We are not bound
to subscribe to the Interpretation of the Greek Translator being an obscure and unknown Person Immanuel is by Erasmus interpreted God with him a Name most proper for the Lord Christ and to this Interpretation of the Name Immanuel S. Peter very plainly alludes Acts 10. 38. 2. Admitting that Immanuel may signify God with us yet the Child also who was to be a Sign to King Ahaz and whom Grotius thinketh to be the Son of the Prophet Isaiah was called Immanuel by order from God. And there are several Names of this high Import and Signification in Scripture Elihu recorded 1 Chron. 12. 20. signifies He is my God. Eliatha mentioned 1 Chron 25. 4. is Thou art my God. 3. Christ may well be named Immanuel taking it for God with us as God was most plentifully with his People by sending the Lord Christ to be his Ambassador and Representative and our Redeemer Several of the most learned Trinitariaus acknowledg that no more than this was intended by this Name 19. Isai 8. 4. He shall be a Stone of Stumbling c. This is spoken of God in the Prophet and applied to Christ Rom. 9. 33. 1 Pet. 2. 8. Answ Neither St. Paul nor St. Peter cite the Words of the Prophet as spoken of Christ but only as in some sense applicable to him namely as Christ also was to many a Stone of stumbling 20. Isa 9. 6 7. Vnto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given He shall be called Wonderful Counseller The mighty God The everlasting Father The Prince of Peace Of the Encrease of his Government and Peace there shall be no end upon the Throne of David to order and establish it with Judgment and Justice from henceforth and for ever The Zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall perform this Answ 1. This cannot be a Prophecy of Christ because it speaks of a Prince actually born at that time Unto us a Child is born Unto us a Son is given Isaiah lived above seven hundred Years before Christ 2. The Text is indeed to be understood of Hezekiah but is very extravagantly rendred in the English In the Hebrew 'tis thus Vnto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given the wonderful Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father shall name him the peaceable Prince his Government shall be multiplied i. e. He shall reign long even twenty nine Years and he shall have very great Peace he shall sit upon the Throne of David ordering and establishing it with Judgment and Justice from henceforth to the end of his Life The Zeal of the Lord of Hosts shall perform this i. e. God's Love to his chosen People shall make good this my Prophecy Note that no end of Peace and no end of Riches are never to be strictly understood in humane Affairs but we mean by them very great Peace and Riches Therefore the Peace of Hezekiah being in twenty nine Years interrupted by only one Expedition against him and that also in the end unsuccessful he may be said to have enjoyed great Peace or speaking hyperbolically as is the manner of this Prophet Peace without end 21. Isai 35. 4 5. Your God will come then the Eyes of the Blind shall be opened c. This seems to be applied to Christ Matth. 11. 4 5. Jesus answered Go tell John what ye do see and hear the Blind receive their Sight c. Answ God is said to come to the Jews in his Ambassadour and Messenger Jesus Christ and because in and by him God gave Sight to the Blind c. John 14. 10. The Father that dwelleth in me He doeth the Works Acts 10. 38. God was with him 22. Isai 40. 3. The Voice of him that crieth in the Wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord a high way for our God. This Voice was John Baptist Matth. 3. 1 3. And it was Christ's way he prepared Luke 1. 76. compared with Matth. 11. 10. Mark 1. 7. Acts 13. 24. Answ John Baptist is said to prepare the way for God when he prepared the way for Christ because Christ was the Ambassadour and Representative of God and God was with and in Christ Acts 10. 38. God was with him John 14. 10. The Father that dwelleth in me he doeth the Works 23. Isai 44. 6. Thus saith the Lord I am the first and I am the last Christ also is called the first and the last Rev. 1. 8 17. Rev. 22. 13. Answ Rev. 1. 8. is not spoken of Christ but of God. At v. 17. Christ is called the First and the Last but Erasmus Grotius and Hugo Cardinalis interpret the Words of him as he is a Man. Christ saith Hugo is the first or most honourable with good Men and the last or most despised with Infidels and wicked Men. Briefly both Almighty God and our Lord Christ are the First and the last but in different Senses 24. Isai 45. 23. I have sworn by my Self Vnto me every Knee shall bow These Words of God are applied to Christ Rom. 14. 10 11. We shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ for it is written Every Knee shall bow to me and every Tongue shall confess to God. Answ In bowing and confessing to Christ at the last Judgment we are said to bow and confess to God because Christ then and there holdeth the place of God representeth him and acteth by his Commission So Men are said to appear before our Soveraign Lord the King when they appear at the Bar of his Judges because the Judges act in the Kings stead and by his Commission 25. Isai 48. 16. I have not spoken in secret from the Beginning from the time that it was there am I and now the Lord God hath sent me and his Spirit Answ I in this Text is not Christ but the Prophet for Christ was not sent by the Lord God and his Spirit in the days of the Jewish Prophets Heb. 1. 1 2. But if it were Christ or the Son that here speaketh yet this very Text would prove that he is not God for he is here distinguished from the Lord God as one who is not himself God but is sent by God. The Prophet seems to speak of the Overthrow of the Chaldean and Babylonish Troops by some great Prince whom God either had or would raise up against them see ver 14. and 15. Therefore Grotius and Forerius do not translate as the English hath it From the time that it was but before this thing is or before it hapneth There am I that is I declare it as explicitly and clearly as if I were present on the place 26. Jer. 23. 5. 6. I will raise unto David a righteous Branch in his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is the Name whereby he shall be called The Lord Heb. Jehovah our Righteousness Answ In the Hebrew 'tis This is the Name which they shall call the Lord our Justifier that is in the happy and peaceful
in and by him performed Works not much less wonderful than was the first Creation And the World knew him not Knew not that the Word abiding on Jesus was that very Divine Word which made both the World and all Men. Ver. 11. He came unto his own i. e. To those whom he had made ver 10. He is to be understood of the Word The Word came in the Person of Christ His own received him not i. e. did not own him for what he indeed was the Divine Word 'T is again repeated to brand the Ingratitude and Stupidity of the Jews of that Age. Ver. 12. Them that believe on his Name On his Name is an Hebrew Phrase as much as to say on him i. e. Them that believed on the Word made Flesh or them that received and owned him for what he indeed was even the Divine Word Ver. 14. And the Word was made Flesh Or For the Word was made Flesh i. e. did abide on and inhabit an humane Person the Person of Jesus Christ and so was in Appearance made Flesh or Man for Flesh is the usual Scripture Phrase for Man Gen. 6. 12. Deut. 5. 26. Jer. 12. 12. Jer. 17. 5. Mark 13. 20. And we beheld his Glory i. e. The Glory of the Man on whom the Word did abide and inhabit in him We beheld his Glory in his many Miracles John 2. 11. Also in his Transfiguration 2. Pet. 1. 17. And on many other occasions The Glory as of the only begotten of the Father i. e. A Glory worthy of the only-begotten of the Father Christ is called the only-begotten on several accounts this especially that he only was begotten by the Divine Power on a Woman Luke 1. 35. Ver. 15. John bare Witness of him saying He was before me i. e. Was before me in Dignity being the only-begotten of God. So Erasmus and Beza as well as Grotius Ver. 18. Which is in the Bosom of the Father i. e. Who is most dear to the Father So the Phrase signifies in other Texts Numb 11. 12. Deut. 13. 6. Hath declared him i. e. hath revealed his Mind and Will to Men. Hitherto for the most part Grotius Briefly The Word according to Grotius is not an eternal Son of God but is here the Power and Wisdom of God which Word abiding without measure on the Lord Christ as it is expresly said Heb. 1. 3. Matth. 28. 18. Col. 2. 3. see the Notes on these Texts 't is therefore spoken of as a Person and as one Person with Christ and he with that This notion of the Word will lead a Man through all the Difficulties of this Chapter with far more ease than any other hitherto offered Besides that it is so well founded as has been shown on ver 1. 't is also as easy and obvious and clears the sense as much as can be expected on a Portion of Scripture that is so obscure and dark and which was designedly written after a mysterious and sublime manner 13. John 2. 19 21. Destroy this Temple and in three Days I will raise it up He spake of the Temple of his Body Answ Christ raised his Body by a Power communicated to Him by the Father and accordingly his being raised is always attributed to the Father not to himself Gal. 1. 1. Paul an Apostle by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead See also Eph. 1. 19 20. 1 Thess 1. 9 10. Had our Lord raised himself by his own proper Power his Resurrection could in no respect be ascribed to the Father 14. John 2. 25. He knew what was in Man. Answ The Knowledg which the Lord Christ had or now in his state of Exaltation hath of the Secrets of Mens Hearts is the pure Gift of and Revelation from God and the Divine Word abiding on him Rev. 1. 1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to him to shew unto his Servants John 3. 34. God giveth not the Spirit by measure that is sparingly unto him But see also what they say on Rev. 2. 23. 15. John 3. 13. No Man hath ascended up to Heaven but he that came down from Heaven even the Son of Man which is in Heaven Answ 1. Erasmus Beza Camerarius acknowledg that the Greek should be rendred which was in Heaven Neither so are the Words which was in Heaven an idle Repetition of what went before for it is repeated majoris asseverationis causâ for its greater Confirmation The most learned Orthodox Interpreters understand this ascending into and being in Heaven as also the descending only metaphorically and interpret thus No Man hath ascended up to Heaven No Man hath known the Mind of God our Heavenly Father But he that came down from Heaven i. e. but he that is sent to you as the Messenger of Heaven or of God. Even the Son of Man which is in Heaven i. e. even I whose Meditation and Conversation is in Heaven As St. Paul says of himself Phil. 3. 20. Our Conversation is in Heaven So they interpret the whole Passage of the humane Nature I suppose because our Lord considers and speaks of himself here by the Name only of the Son of Man. But the Socinians do generally understand this Text literally and say that 't is here intimated that before our Lord entred upon his Office of Messias he was taken up to Heaven to be instructed in the Mind and Will of God as Moses was into the Mount Exod. 24. 1 2 12. and from thence descended to execute his Office and declare the said Will of God. The same thing they say is also hinted John 6. 38 46 51 62. John 8. 40. 16. John 3. 18. The only begotten Answ See on John 1. 14. 17. John 5. 19. Whatsoever things He the Father doth those also doth the Son. Answ The Son doth them only by the Spirit or Power of the Father inhabiting in him John 5. 30. I can do nothing of my self John 14. 10. The Father that dwelleth in me He doth the Works Matth. 12. 28. I cast out Devils by the Spirit of God. 18. John 5. 23. That all Men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father Answ The meaning only is as we honour God or the Father so we must not forget to honour also the Son of God because to him the Father hath committed the last Judgment of all Men ver 22. An Equality of Honour is no more intended here than an Equality of Perfection in those words Be ye perfect even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect Matth. 5. 48. For the sense there is as God is truly perfect so do ye endeavour to be perfect with that Perfection of which your finite Natures are capable 19. John 6. 44. I will raise him up at the last Day Answ The Lord Christ shall raise and change our Bodies by the same Divine Word or Power of God communicated to him and abiding on him by which while he was in this
mortal Life he raised and changed the Body of Lazarus which was corrupted that the Power by which he restored Lazarus to Life again was not our Lords own proper Power but God's that is the Fathers is plainly intimated by our Lord himself John 11. 41. Father I thank thee that thou hast heard me c. Almighty God can lodge even in dry Bones a Power of restoring the dead 2 Kings 13. 21. see also what hath been said on John 5. 19. 20. John 8. 56 58. Abraham rejoiced or desired to see my Day and saw it Before Abraham was I am Or as 't is rendred by the Syriac Nonnus and Grotius I was Answ 1. Abraham saw Christ's Day in the Spirit of Prophecy he saw it as coming not as present he foresaw as he desired the time when it should be 2. St. Austin has confessed that Christ is here said to be before Abraham not actually but in the Counsel Decree and Ordination of God. And so St. Peter explains this matter 1 Pet. 1. 20. Who verily was fore-ordained from the Foundation of the World but was made manifest in these last times In like manner at Rev. 13. 8. Christ is called the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World. The Words are Whose Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World. Every one sees that Christ could be no otherways slain from the Foundation of the World but in the Counsel and Decree of God. See more such Instances on John 17. 5. 'T is true the Jews did not apprehend in what sense our Lord meant he was before Abraham but neither did he intend or care they should for finding them averse from Truth and Piety he often so spake to some of them as to perplex and affront their Blindness and Arrogance yet more and not to instruct them see for this Luke 8. 10. 21. John. 10. 30. I and the Father are one Answ Not one God but as Friends are said to be one Thus our Lord explains himself John 17. 11. Keep them whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are The Disciples could be one no otherways than as Friends are one namely in Affection and Design neither with one another nor with God. Ver. 22. The Glory which thou gavest me i. e. the Power of doing Miracles I have given them that they may be one as we are one 22. John 10. 33. Thou being a Man makest thy self God or a God. Answ It appears they lied by our Saviours Answer at ver 36. Say ye of him whom the Father hath sanctified and sent into the World Thou blasphemest because I said I am the Son of God. Had our Lord been more than the Son of God he would have owned his Dignity when they charged him with Blasphemy for saying those things from which it might by their strained Consequences be inferred that he made himself a God. Camero on this Text ingenuously confesses that in this Context our Lord doth not make himself God He adds that times and circumstances required that the Revelation of this Mystery should be deferred till our Lord's Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven In which saying he gives up to the Socinians all the Texts of the Evangelists 23. John 10. 38. The Father is in me and I in him Answ 'T is also said 1 John 4. 16. He that dwelleth in Love i. e. exerciseth Love and Charity dwelleth in God and God in him Therefore Christ and Christians are said to be in God and God in them by their mutual Love or because of their mutual Love. 24. John 12. 41. These things said Isaias when he saw his Glory and spake of him Answ see on Isai 6. 1 8 9. 25. John 14. 1. Ye believe in God believe also in me Answ Our Lord has himself interpreted this John 12. 44. He that believeth on me believeth not on me but on him that sent me 26. John 14. 7 9. If ye had known me ye would have known my Father also and from henceforth ye know him and have seen him He that hath seen me hath seen the Father how sayest thou then shew us the Father Answ It is also said Luke 10. 16. He that heareth you heareth me 't is there farther added He that despiseth you despiseth me and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me Shall we now infer that the Disciples and Ministers of Christ are Christ nay are him also that sent Christ namely God The Truth therefore is when we are said to know see hear despise God in knowing seeing hearing or despising Christ or his Ministers the meaning only is that Christ and his true Ministers being the Ambassadours and Messengers of God and revealing to us his Nature and Will they are so far forth to be esteemed one with God and in seeing and hearing them we see and hear him as much as the invisible God can be seen or heard in this mortal Life 27. John 14. 14. If ye ask any thing in my Name I will do it Answ The obvious meaning is if ye pray for any thing to God using my Name I will cause it to be done for you by my Intercession the general Intercession that I will make for all good Christians Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save them that come unto God by him i. e. that pray to God in his Name seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them 28. John 16. 8 13 14. When he the Comforter or Spirit is come he will reprove the World of Sin He shall not speak of himself He shall receive of mine and shew it to you Here the Spirit is plainly spoken of as a Person Answ 1. Of those that are Vnitarians all the Arians and very many Socinians do acknowledg that the Holy Spirit is a Person chief of the Heavenly Spirits prime Minister of God and Christ because he is here called the Comforter or Advocate and said to hear speak and teach and elsewhere to interceed for us But they add that this very Context in telling us ver 13. He will guide you into all Truth for he shall not speak of himself Sufficiently sheweth that he is not God or a God. For it were intolerable to say of God he shall lead you into all Truth for he shall not speak of himself the contrary is true of God he shall lead you into all Truth For he shall speak of himself 2. But more generally the Socinians say that Actions proper to Persons are by a Figure ascribed to things and even to Qualities of things not only in Holy Scripture but in all Writers God's Commandments are called Counsellours Psal 119. 24. Understanding is said to lift up her Voice Prov. 8. 1. Wisdom to build her House and hew out her seven-Pillars Prov. 9. 1. Charity to think no evil 1 Cor. 13. 5. Water and Blood to bear Witness 1 John 5. 8. The Stone set up by Joshua to hear all the Words
adv Prax. c. 3. 2. They say farther that none of the objected and above-cited Texts are by Trinitarians themselves thought to be true and demonstrative Proofs either of the Trinity or of the Divinity of the Son or Spirit Every one of these Texts but John 1. 1 c. is given up to the Socinians as an incompetent and unconcluding Proof by some or other of the most learned and allowed Criticks and Interpreters of the Protestant Party As to the Catholick Doctors so called Chr. Sandius hath made a great Collection of Testimonies out of them to this Effect that neither the Trinity nor the Divinity of the Lord Christ or of the Holy Spirit can be proved by the Scripture but by Tradition only Some of them confess that the Scriptures rather favour the Socinian Doctrine and that the Trinity is not only above but contrary to Reason finally that if the Authority of the Church did not oblige them to be Catholicks they should choose to be Socinians See for these things Sandius Hist Eccl. l. 1. c. de Ario and Cingallus in Script Trin. Revel An English Author of the Romish Persuasion has these Words in Fiat Lux. p. 379 380. I may truly say Christ is the Pope's God. For if the Pope had not been or had not been so vigilant and resolute a Pastor as he is he means such a Persecutor Christ whom the Pope both worships himself and propounds to the World to worship as the very true God that made all things Christ I say had not been taken for any such Person as this day we believe him to be Whereas besides the above-cited Texts the Orthodox object that if Christ were not God as well as Man he could not satisfy the Justice of God for our Sins or be a full and sufficient Atonement for them The Socinians answer 1. That the Lord Christ is a Propitiation and Atonement for Sin is a Demonstration that he is not God for God doth not give or make but receive the Satisfaction for our Sins 2. They wonder that the Son of God though he is a Man only should not be judged a sufficient Satisfaction and Propitiation for Sin through the gracious Acceptance of God when 't is so known and evident that the Oblation and Sacrifice of Beasts under the Mosaic Law and from Adam till those times was accepted as a full Atonement and Satisfaction in order to Forgiveness Lev. 6. 6. He shall bring his Trespass-Offering a Ram without Blemish and the Priest shall make Atonement for him before the Lord for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing See the whole Context Finally whereas the Orthodox do decline many of the Socinian Arguments by the Distinction of two Natures a Divine and humane Nature in Christ For Example when the Socinians object John 14. 28. My Father is greater than I or John 5. 30. I can do nothing of my self We answer that these things are spoken of Christ only according to his humane Nature but that he hath also a Divine Nature by which he is equal to the Father and can do all things of himself To this they reply 1. That the Distinction of two Natures a Divine and Humane in Christ is clearly overthrown by the 8th 9th 10th and 11th Arguments mentioned in the the first Letter 2. If a thing otherways true of Christ may be denied of him because 't is only in one of these pretended Natures and not in the other if our Saviour saith he can do nothing of himself only because he can do nothing of himself according to his humane Nature and can do all things of himself according to his pretended Divine Nature then 't is lawful and allowable to say Christ is no Man was never born of the Virgin was not crucified dead or buried did not rise again from the dead ascended not into Heaven under pretence that according to his Divine Nature he never was born of the Virgin never was crucified dead or buried c. Now who does not see that to speak thus were to deny the whole New Testament and renounce Christianity Have not we say the Socinians reason to reject and abhor a Distinction that if it incommodes our Doctrine and the Allegations for it does as effectually fight against the most evident and acknowledg'd Points of the Christian Faith Nay the Distinction and Evasions founded on it do at least as much hurt to the Trinitarians as to the Socinians For if the Distinction of two Natures be true and the Answers founded on it allowable then no Fault can be found with a Socinian when he shall say Christ is not true God was not generated of the Essence of the Father was not from Eternity for all this may be said of him according to use their own Words his humane Nature for according to that he is not true God was not generated of the Fathers Essence was not from Eternity Do not Trinitarians absolutely disallow as false and Heretical these Forms of Speech though defended by the Distinction of the two Natures why then do they expect that their Adversaries in this Controversy should admit their Answers which are founded on the same and no other Defence This Sir is the Sum of what these Gentlemen say on this great Question a Brief of their Arguments and Answers by which they would support their Doctrine that God is but one Person and that as some of them add our Lord Christ nor the Holy Spirit neither are nor ever are called Gods or God in Holy Scripture as also that neither Creation whether New or Old nor any of the Attributes of God are ascribed to our Blessed Saviour For a Conclusion give me leave to advise you in the Words of St. Paul 1 Thess 5. 21. Prove all things hold fast that which is good SIR I am Your most Obliged The Publisher to whom the foregoing Letters were written having left them some time with a Gentleman a Person of excellent Learning and Worth they were returned to him with this following Letter SIR HAving had the Favour of perusing these Letters I cannot but greatly esteem the Learning and Judgment of the Author who has brought so large a Controversy and that has been debated with the utmost Industry Learning and Subtilty for many hundred Years even from soon after the time of the Apostles into so small a Compass that one may soon see the Allegations from Scripture on both sides with the most material Distinctions and Answers Wherein it seems obvious to me what is said in one of the Paragraphs of the first Letter that the Vnitarian Doctrine is an accountable and reasonable Faith grounded on clear and evident Scripture-Arguments so far as a negative Proposition can reasonably be expected to be Whereas the Trinitarian Doctrine is founded upon obscure or mistaken Texts and defended by such unreasonable Distinctions as cannot be admitted by any Man of a free Judgment being either contradictory in themselves or utterly unintelligible
days of the Branch the Nation shall call God their Justifier or their merciful Deliverer from all Adversaries and all Evils 27. Dan. 3. 25. The Form of the Fourth is like the Son of God. Answ In the Hebrew 'tis like a Son of God that is like an Angel for so this Passage is explained at ver 28. Angels are called Sons of God Job 1. 6. Job 38. 7. 28. Micha 5. 2. Thou Bethlehem out of thee shall come unto me that is to be Ruler of Israel whose goings forth have been of old from everlasting or as 't is in the Margin from the days of Eternity Answ In the Hebrew 'tis From ancient days Grotius makes this sense of the Verse whose goings forth or whose Descent Original or Pedigree is of old from ancient times For Christ descendeth of the most ancient and Royal Stock of David of Bethlehem 29. Zech. 2. 8 9. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts after the Glory hath he sent me to the Nations which spoiled you I will shake my Hand upon them and they shall be a Spoil to their Servants and ye shall know that the Lord of Hosts hath sent me Answ These Words as they are in the English Translation are hardly sense Neither are these Words Thus saith the Lord of Hosts the Words of the Lord of Hosts himself but of the second Angel who at ver 3. and 4. spoke to the first Angel and to Zechariah The Verses should have been thus rendred from the Hebrew Thus saith the Lord of Hosts Afterwards shall be Glory i. e. after ye are departed our of Babylon ver 7. ye shall have Peace and Honour for he hath sent me to the Nations which spoiled you i. e. To the Babylonians and their Confederates I will shake my Hand upon them and they shall be a Spoil to their Servants i. e. I will stir up their Subjects to rebel against them and spoil them And ye shall know that the Lord of Hosts hath sent me i. e. hath sent me to punish them and give you Peace and Glory 30. Zech. 3. 2. The Lord Heb. Jehovah said unto Satan The Lord Heb. Jehovah rebuke thee Answ The Lord in the first clause is the Angel of the Lord as appears by ver 1. for there Satan stands before the Angel. And that indeed he was an Angel and not true Jehovah is ascertained by his praying to another Person to rebuke i. e. to chastise Satan When Angels are sent by God and do represent his Person the names Jehovah and God are communicated to them Exod. 3. 2 4 6. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a Flame of Fire out of the midst of a Bush and when the Lord Heb. Jehovah saw that he turned aside to see God called to him out of the midst of the Bush Moreover he said I am the God of thy Father Briefly Jehovah is a Name of God but such an one as is sometimes communicated both to Persons and Places Therefore the English have very ill translated Psal 83. 18. Thou whose Name alone is Jehovah art the most High over all the Earth In the Hebrew 'tis Thou whose Name is Jehovah thou alone art the most high over all the Earth 31. Zech. 12. 10. They shall look upon me whom they have pierced The same thing is said of Christ Rev. 1. 17. nay the Words tho spoken of God seem to be applied to Christ John 19. 37. Answ As the Jews in the times of the Prophets did as it were pierce God with their Sins of several kinds so they pierced him again when they put to death the Lord Christ as on the contrary he who received i. e. kindly and respectfully entertained Christ was understood as receiving him that sent him But the Words in the Prophet are not by St. John interpreted of Christ but accommodated to Christ and his Sufferings 23. Mal. 3. 1. I will send my Messenger and he shall prepare the way before me and the Lord or Prince whom ye seek shall suddainly come to his Temple This Messenger was John Baptist who prepared the way before Christ Answ See on Isai 40. 3. 33. Baruch 3. 35 37. This is our God afterwards did he shew himself upon the Earth and conversed with Men. Answ 1. 'T is an Apocryphal Book 2. Those that admit the Book reject these Verses as supposititions 3. The original Greek may be thus rendred Afterwards this Book of the Commandments of God and the Law which endureth for ever was seen upon Earth and turned over by Men. Note that the last Verse of Baruch 3d is to be read with the first of Baruch the 4th Besides these particular Answers to the several Texts objected to their Doctrine out of the Old Testament the Socinians say farther to them all in general 1. Whereas so exceptionable a Doctrine as that of the Trinity and its Dependances ought to be proved by clear Texts and demonstrative Arguments on the contrary these Texts are so far from being clear and evident Proofs that a Man must have a more than ordinary Wit and Capacity to apprehend how most of them are at all to the purpose and why or to what end they are alledged by the Trinitarians 2. Though in the Heat of Disputation and Anger Men catch up any Weapon against their Adversaries yet out of these Heats the more learned and judicious Trinitarians confess that the Trinity and the Divinity of Christ and of the Holy Spirit are not indeed taught in the Scriptures of the Old Testament but are a Revelation made to us in the New. So saith Tertullian Adv. Prax. c. 3. Cyprian Serm. 6. St. Jerom Adv. Lucif Thcodoret l. 2. ad Graec. R. Tuitiensis de Divin Offic. l. 11. c. 14. Fr. L. Brugensis on John 1. 49. and on Matth. 28. 19. Card. Bellarmine de Christ l. 2. c. 6. and more plainly de Purg. l. 1. c. 11. Calovius Anticrel S. 420. Alf. Salmero Pros in Evang. 11. q. 3. And infinite more both Catholicks and Reformed 3. If so many had not confessed it yet the thing is evident in it self For if the Trinity were indeed taught in the Old Testament how came the Jewish Church in all Ages to be so wholly ignorant of it that as all confess they had not the least Suspicion that God is more than one Person And if in this they had erred 't is not to be doubted our Saviour would have reproved their Heresy and carefully set them right as he did in the matter of the Resurrection But doth our Lord any where charge them with Heresy for believing that God is only one Person 4. The Socinians confess that to Persons who never read any thing of this great Question some of their Interpretations of the Texts both of the Old and New Testament may seem somewhat harsh and strained But this they say is only because such Persons have been always accustomed to understand the alledged Texts in a contrary sense that is in the sense of the