nor cause them to withdraw their Affections or Communion from each other for saith the Apostle respecting these things Phil. 3.15 16. If any be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you nevertheless whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same Thing The strong must bear the Infirmities of the weak the Consciences of none are to be imposed upon either to Practice what they do not or to omit what they do believe to be their Duty and where their differences are about such Things which are not essential there ought to be Christian Charity and tenderness towards one another in Order to this Vnity therefore the Apostle exhorts to lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbearing one another in Love Eph. 4.2 But this Christian Charity must not be abused and the Line stretched to reach those who profess such Principles which root up the Foundations thereof But whilst we are separating from these let us unite together in intire Affection and close Communion among our selves not suffering the lesser Points about which we may have different Apprehensions to break the bond of our Vnion that so we may as one Man set our Hearts our Hands and Shoulders to the Work of God amongst us which is the earnest Desire and Prayer of Yours in Christ Jesus J. T. A Brief Enquiry into the Nature of that Article of the Christian Faith Viz. That Jesus Christ was Truly GOD from Eternity and in Time Assumed Humane Nature and so is both GOD and MAN in One Person THe Enemies to this Truth are many and various and their great Endeavours are to Proselyte but when that cannot be done they labour to keep the Orthodox in Church-Communion with themselves by representing this Doctrine as a thing indifferent That it is not a Principle of such Consequence for which to leave Communion but what may be believ'd or disbeliev'd without danger That it is a Mysterious Point and the knowledge of such Mysteries can neither be necessary to Salvation or Church Communion The Design of this Discourse therefore is to represent the Nature of this Principle and put it in its true Light Wherein I shall offer to shew that it is a Principle of such a Nature that they who assert and they who deny believe and dis-believe it ought not to have Communion together which evidently appears from the Reasons following 1. It is a Principle of that Consequence That either they who believe it or they that disbelieve it must be Idolaters and they must esteem each other either guilty of Blasphemy or Idolatry We all know there is an infinite distance between Creator and Creature between God and the highest Creature whatsoever Idolatry is to give Divine Honour and Worship to a Creature only 't is not Idolatry only to give Divine Adoration to a mean Creature but any Creature They who Adore the Stars are not less Idolaters than they who Adore Wood and Stone they who adore the Angles are not less Idolaters than they who adore the Stars Because that Idolatry consists not in rendering Divine Honour to a mean Creature but simply in rendring it to a Creature for Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God Matt. 4.10 Deut. 6.13 and him only shalt thou serve Now if Christ be not God such as give him Divine Honour can be no less than Idolaters because they give Divine Honour to a Creature only and they who believe he is not God and yet worship him are guilty of Formal Idolatry because they give Divine Honour to one whom they believe to be a Creature only And as they who deny this Principle cannot but esteem such Idolaters that worship him as the most high God that is not so So they who assert it cannot but account it Blasphemy in them to make him that is God from Eternity no more then a Creature to rob Christ of his Deity and all that Worship that is due to him as God they that love the Lord Jesus cannot bear this and how can the others if they have any Religion bear to see the Glory due to God given to a Creature only It is a Principle therefore of great Importance For Idolatry is a crime that violates the express Law of God Matt. 4.10 and is Opposite to the two great ends of Religion viz. The Glory of God and our own Salvation 1. The glory of God Because it is a taking away of his Glory and giving it to another contrary to Isa 42.8 2. To the Salvation of Men for the Spirit of God expresly declares That Idolaters shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven 1 Cor. 6.9 If Jesus Christ be of the same Essence with his Father then he ought to be adored in the same manner with him and they cannot without impiety refuse to acknowledge him as such If he is not we cannot without Idolatry confound him with the most High God So that the actions are inevitably either Idolatry or gross Impiety It being then such a Principle that either we are Idolaters or not Idolaters and they Blasphemers or not Blasphemers according to the Falsity or Truth of it Persons of both Opinions ought not to have Communion together Secondly It is a principle of that Consequence as they who deny it deny the Person of the Son of God and thereupon deny the true Christ and bring another in his stead so that they believe in different Objects This is evident for if the Person of Christ consists of the Divine and Humane Nature and this is the whole of his Person then they who deny both Natures in Christ as is manifestly the Opinion of some or those that deny his God-head only as the Socinians they necessarily deny the Person of Christ Objection It is objected That the difference between us is not Who is the Person for both believe in him that was born of the Virgin Mary that suffered under Pontius Pilate was dead and buried c. But what is the Person and therefore it is alledged they do not deny the Person of Christ and bring another in his Stead Answer I answer If they may be truly said to deny God that deny what is Essential to the God-head then they may be truly said to deny Christ that deny what is Essential to his Person I think none will deny the former and the latter will follow For if a Person should deny the Essential Perfections of the Godhead it may be said with as much reason he don't deny God for the difference is not Who he is for he believes it is he that made Heaven and Earth c. but what he is but notwithstanding it is most evident that he which denies those Perfections which are Essential to the Godhead must deny God as to instance without holiness he cannot be God it is Essential to his Nature therefore he that denieth he is Holy denieth he is God in like manner we assert The Divine Nature is Essential
to the Person of Christ without that he cannot be the Immanuel the Mediator between God and Man he could not make Satisfaction to Divine Justice nor answer the Demands of the Law nor Work out Salvation for us It is evident therefore that as he who denieth the Nature of God denieth God So he that denieth the Natures of Christ denieth his Person yea it is better as the Reverend Mr. Charnock on the Attributes page 496. Charnock saith to deny there is a God than to deny his Perfections as Plutarch had rather it should be said there never was such a Man as Plutarch than it should be said he was a vile Man or a base Fellow So it is worse to deny what is Essential to Christ than to deny there ever was such an one it it better to say there never was any Christ any Messiah than to deny he was God for as it will be seen in the sequel this is but to make him an Impostor and a Deceiver The Socinians assert That Christ was that Man whom God anointed certainly therefore they would account such who should deny he was a Man anointed by God to Deny Christ and yet they might at the same time answer We disagree not about the Person of Christ for we both believe its He that was born of the Virgin Mary c. From whence it is plain there is nothing in the Objection but they who deny the Natures of Christ deny his Person and hereby the true Object of the Christian Faith is removed viz. Immanuel or God-Man in one Person This Object we are to believe in for Eternal Life and Salvation but he that denies He is God-Man removes that Object and he which asserts He is of another Nature brings in another Object in his Room For Faith depends not upon an empty Name but hath respect to the Nature of the Person believed in There can be no Act without an Object the Object of our Faith is not the bare Name but the Nature of the Person believed in No Man can be said to believe in God that knows nothing of his Nature Psal 9.10 They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee viz. The Nature of God signified by his Name In like manner No Man can be said to believe in Christ that denies his Nature From whence it is evident That they who deny and they who assert this Principle do not believe in the same Person The Christ of God is Immanuel God-man The Eutychians the Arians the Socinians Christ is not God-Man Therefore the Christ they worship is not the Christ of God And can they walk together that disagree about the Object of their Faith Can any have Communion with them who deny the true Christ and bring another in his Room Hereupon Thirdly It is a Principle of that Importance That a Man cannot be said to be a true Believer in Jesus Christ that denieth it For if there can be no Act of Faith without the true Object of Faith and this is Jesus Christ the Son of God or the Immanuel God with us then they who believe the contrary wanting the Object of Faith viz. The true Christ they have no Faith in him and so are yet Unbelievers and therefore should remember that Text John 3.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned But he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed on the Name of the only begotten Son of God By the Name of God in Scripture his essential Perfections are signified Exod. 34.5 6. and if we thus understand the Name of Christ in the Text they are yet unbelievers that believe not his Divine Nature and the Perfections thereof or which is all one that Record which God hath given of him which is 1 John 5.10 that as he hath given Eternal Life so that Eternal life is in his Son or as mentioned v. 20. That he is True God and Eternal Life And a like Argument they have against us and therefore it is very plain there can be no Communion together for we must not have Communion with Unbelievers 2 Cor. 6.14 Fourthly Hereupon likewise it is a Principle of such a Nature as they who deny it deny the Lord that hought them as the False Teachers 2 Pet. 2.1 By denying the Lord here it cannot be supposed the Apostle means a direct denying of Jesus Christ to be the Messiah Because First They should be teachers among them which they could not be if they openly denyed Christ Secondly They should do it privily and this would be an open denyal Thirdly They did it by those damnable Heresies which they privily brought in they should bring in such Heresies that should deny the Lord that bought them and what Heresie can there be that more plainly denieth the Lord than that which denieth what he is He that denieth I am of the nature of Man certainly denieth me who am a Man and so he that denies Christ is of the Nature of God certainly denieth that Lord who is God If the Person of Christ consists of the Divine and Humane Nature then he which denieth the Natures denieth the Person for if that Name belongs to a Person of such Natures then take away the Natures and you leave only an empty Name a Name of nothing it is in vain therefore to say that both own Jesus Christ They who deny the Natures of Christ deny his Person and they who deny his Person deny the Lord that bought them and therefore are Incommunicable Sixthly This Principle is that Rock upon which Christ hath built his Church Peter makes his Confession of Christ Matth. 16.15 19 17 18. Thou art Christ the Son of the living God And our Lord saith upon this Rock will I build my Church Whosoever therefore denieth this Principle cannot be founded on that Rock which the Church of Christ is built upon and consequently can be no Member of it Objection It is objected That both Parties believe that Proposition That Christ is the Son of the living God Answer I Answer It is impossible For if we don't understand the same thing by it we have not the same Faith whilst one asserts by the Son of God is meant his Divine Nature and the other that by it is meant Humane Nature only Both cannot believe the Truth contained in this Proposition and each Party must suppose the other to deny that Rock upon which Christ hath built his Church and therefore cannot be Members thereof Seventhly It is a Principle of such Consequence that the Christian Religion stands or falls with it As there is but one God so there can be but one true Religion Now There are three Religions in the World each of which plead to be the true Religion viz. The Mahometan the Jewish and the Christian I shall therefore following Monsieur Abbadie in his French Treatise of the Divinitie of our Lord Jesus Christ shew First That if Jesus Christ is not true God
sent from God But he would not have him have the Name of God nor of the Son of God his Words are not so obscure nor equivocal He saith plainly That they are Unbelievers and Infidels who say that the Son of Mary is God he saith the Christians are Infidels making Three Gods when there is but One and he would that Men should call upon the Creator of Heaven and Earth which made the Light and the Darkness Now I say if Christ was not God Mahomet spoke more truly and plainly than Christ He had more Wisdom and took more Care not to intangle the Souls of Men he was more zealous of the Glory of God and would not Attribute to himself the Names and Nature of GOD as Christ did These are such Consequences as our hearts abhor as full of Blasphemy but they are such as we must be constrained to receive for Truth if Jesus Christ is not of the same Essence with his Father 2. If Christ is not true God of the same Essence with his Father then he was an Imposter his Disciples Deceivers the Jewish Sanhedrim did justly in sentencing him to Death for Blasphemy the Jews do well in maintaining that Sentence in rejecting the Preaching of the Apostles and Ministers of Christ That Christian Religion is a Cheat it is Superstition and Idolatry and the Messiah is not yet come And certainly if this be proved true all will allow with me that this Principle is of such a consequence that they who assert and they who deny it ought not to have Communion together In order to the Proof of what is asserted I take it for granted That none will deny the Jewish Sanhedrim being a Council of Gods own appointing to judge in Capital Matters relating to their own Tranquility either in Church or State to the Preservation of their Religion and Laws But that they had a right to judge to condemn and to put to Death for Blasphemy The only thing therefore to prove is That if Jesus Christ was not God then he was a Blasphemer and they had reason to condemn him for Blasphemy which appears in what followeth It is Blasphemy for a meer Creature to call himself by those Names that are proper only to the Divine Being with the Names to ascribe to himself the Nature of God And those Perfections which distinguish him from all Creatures to assert that he is equal with God that he ought to have Divine Homage and Adoration given him And Lastly to ascribe those Scriptures of the Old Testament to himself which are spoken of none but the most High God I think none will vindicate such a Person from being a Blasphemer and his Disciples who attribute these things to him to be Idolaters It remains then only to prove That he did these things which is evident from the Writings of his Disciples before the proof of which I will only remark that what his Disciples asserted of him must be look't upon as asserted by himself because that they spoke as they were Inspired by his Spirit it was one and the same-Spirit that dwelt in both First That the Name of God is given him is beyond all Contradiction John 20.28 The great God Tit. 2.13 Where the Learned note that the Greek Article put before the Great God and which agrees to Saviour also is in the original a certain Mark that these two Terms are understood of the same Person and that it is Jesus Christ who is called the Saviour and great God both together The True God Rom. 9.5 1 John 5.20 Yea God above all Blessed for ever The Mighty Most Mighty Psal 45.3 Heb. 1.8 Yea Almighty is ascribed to him Rev. 1.8 Secondly That the Incommunicable Names of God viz. Such as can belong to none but the Supream Being are ascribed to him is evident Jehovah is a Name only belonging to the most High God Psal 83.18 Pray read these Scriptures Thou whose name alone is Jehovah and this is attributed to Christ if you compare Isa 6.1 with John 12.41 and Psal 102.25 with Heb. 1.10 Where note that Lord in these Texts is Jehovah in the Original I am that I am is an incommunicable Name of God Exod. 3.14 this Jesus Christ attributes to himself John S. 58. He saith not before Abraham was I was but before Abraham was I am Which would not be sence if he did not signifie he was the I am before Abraham and the significancy of that Name viz. Eternity and Immutability he claims to Himself Rev. 1.8 From whence it is evident he is of the same Essence c. Or he was a Blasphemer because no meer Creature can without Blasphemy ascribe these Names of the most High God to himself 2. With the Name the Nature of God and the most distinguishing Characters thereof he claimes to himself It is the highest Blasphemy for a meer Creature to claim Eternity For nothing can be Eternal but God There can be but One Being that never was made But Jesus Christ claims this incommunicable Perfection of the God-head to himself and that in such Terms as the Father expresses his own Eternity Isa 43.6 Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel I am the first and the last and besides me there is no God and thus saith Jesus Christ Rev. 1.8 Chap. 2.8 ver 18. I am the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Omnisciency is an incommunicable Property of the Divine Being 1 Kings 8.39 For thou even thou only knowest the Hearts of all the Children of Men And the same Jesus Christ saith of himself I am he which searcheth the Reins and Hearts Rev. 2.23 John 21.17 And his Disciples ascribe this to him Thou knowest all things which must be Blasphemy if he was not God Omnipresence belongs only to God And yet this Christ claims to himself Math 18.20 and Chap. 28.19 And asserts he was in Heaven whilst he was on Earth John 3.13 which cannot be said of any Creature without manifest Impiety Omnipotency is an Attribute belonging only to the Supream Being and this is spoken of Christ John 5.19 21. Phil. 3.21 Immortality is so ascribed to Christ as it is proper only to the Eternal God 1 Tim. 6.16 who only hath immortality dwelling in that light which no man can approach unto This can be only said of the Supream Being Jesus Christ is of the same Essence therefore or He is a Blasphemer for it is He of whom this is spoken as plainly appears by the preceding Verse Immutability is an Attribute belonging only to God it can only be said of God Jam. 1.17 In him is no variableness neither shadow of turning And was he not God of the same essence with the Father what Blasphemy would it be to say Heb. 13.8 Chap. 1.10.11.12 Jesus Christ the same yesterday to day and for ever And Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the
Foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the Work of thy Hands they shall perish but thou remainest and they shall wax old as doth a Garment and as a Vesture shalt thou fold them together but thou art the same and thy Years shall not fail Of what meer Creature can it be said He is Eternal Life without Blasphemy yet of Jesus Christ is it said This is the True God 1 John 5.20 and Eternal Life From all which nothing is more evident that he is either True God of the same Essence with his Father or he was a Blasphemer and his Disciples Idolaters For either a meer Creature may assume all this without Blasphemy or else these things are not so and certainly we may as well deny the Light at Noon-Day as the clearness of this Evidence 2. To strengthen this Those works which are peculiar to the Deity that none did or could do but the Most High God his Disciples ascribe to him and positively assert he did them which cannot be without Blasphemy if he did them not It is God only Created the World this was the distinguishing Character of God in the Old Testament that He made Heaven and Earth And this is beyond all contradiction ascribed to Jesus Christ John 1.1 2 3.14 Col. 1.16 Heb. 1 10. That all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made That in the beginning he laid the Foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the works of his Hands It is the Almighty God only that Sustains this mighty Universe all things are upheld in being by the Word of his Power and yet of Jesus Christ these words are spoken Vpholding all things by the word of his power Heb. 1.3 I ask what can be said greater of God than this and what can be greater Blasphemy if he was a Creature only Yea he assumes to himself the power of forgiving sins Mat. 9.6 of Quickening whom he will of bestowing eternal life The Peculiar Character of SAVIOVR Isa 43.11 Chap. 41.21 whereby the God of Israel is distinguished from all other Gods he eminently claims I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour This is spoken on purpose to beat men off from trusting in any other as a Saviour but the God of Israel and this is ascribed to Christ in the most eminent manner The saviour of all men 1 Tim. 4.10 John 4.42 Rom. the Saviour of the World who is to be believed in and trusted in as such Fourthly That you may be assured all this was spoken properly of him the Evangelists acquaint us he made himself equal with God John 5.18 He said also God was his Father making himself equal with God John 10.30 I and my Father are one whereupon the Jews took up Stones to stone him for Blaphemy because he being a Man made himself God ver 33. And least any should think it was only the Jews mistake the Apostle Paul assures us That Jesus Christ thought it no robbery to be equal with him For he saith without any manner of hesitation Phil. 2.6 that he was in the form of God and thought it no robbery to be equal with God In Isa 40.25 the Lord makes a challenge to whom then will you liken me or shall I be equal saith the Holy one Heaven and Earth and all the Creatures in it cannot be Compared with him v. 17.18 they are nothing less than nothing and Vanity But the Apostle Paul likens compares and equals Jesus Christ to him and lets us know Jesus Christ himself thought it no Robery to be equal to the most High God who being in the Form of God thought it no robery to be equal with God It is the more to be remark't because it is the Apostle Paul that thus speaks who above all the Apostles exalts God and debases the Creature 2 Cor. 4.7 We have this treasure in earthen Vessels to the end that the excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us Who very well knew that Jesus Christ was accused of Blasphemy and was Condemned and Crucified for making himself equal with God Who also knew the Prophet Isaiah had asserted there was none to be likened or compared with Him and yet with the greatest assurance asserts He was in the Form of God and was equal to him Jesus Christ therefore is of the same Essence with the Father or he was the greatest of Blasphemers 5. To put the Matter out of doubt that all this was spoken in a true and proper Sense he requires Divine Adoration and his Disciples assert it is due to him and Divine Adoration cannot be given to the highest Creature without Idolatry it is most certain they which adore God adore none but under that Idea But they gave Adoration to Jesus Christ The Evangelists tell us That at his Birth he was adored first by the Shepherds of Bethlehem and then by the Wise Men and the Author to the Hebrews expresly tells us Heb. 1.6 That when he was brought into the World God said let all the Angels of God Worship him He required John 5.23 that Men should Honour the Son as they honoured the Father That as they believed in God Chap. 14.1 they should believe in him and can there be Faith in Christ without Paying Divine Homage to him Rom. 15.2 In him shall the Gentiles trust And a Curse is pronounced against trusting in a Creature Jer. 17. Both outward and inward Worship is required to be given Him 1. He requires we should Dedicate our selves to him and therefore must be Baptized in his Name Matth. 18.19 whereby we are Devoted to Him 2. Divine Invocation is given to him by his Disciples Acts 7.59 1 Cor. 1.2 2. Divine Praises are offered up to him Rev. 5.9 Chap. 7.9 10. Chap. 11.15 17. 4. He received Worship from the Leper Mat. 6.2 From his Disciples Mat. 28.17 When they saw him they Worshipped him From the Mariners Matth. 14.33 This the Angel would not receive from John because he was a Creature only but charges him to Worship God Rev. 22.8 9. From whence one of these Three Things will follow that either 1. The Angel was mistaken his Charge to John needless and his Direction to Worship God Alone in Vain Or 2. That Jesus Christ was God by Nature and so Divine Worship belonged to him which is certainly the Truth Or 2. He was an Impostor and was guilty of Blasphemy in receiving that Worship and Honour as belonged to God only Objection I know it is Objected That the Honour required by Jesus Christ was not the Honour due to God alone Answer I Answer The contrary is easily Evinced That Jesus Christ required that Honour as is due to God alone For He required Divine Adoration in Thought in Word and Deed. 1. In Thought He Attributes to himself the Names and Nature of God his Eternity Almighty Power Immutability
Hereupon he declares himself to be the God of Israel the God of Vengeance and Recompence and the God of their Salvation All which are Titles given by this Scripture to the most High Instance 5 Isa 8.13 14. Sanctifie the Lord of Hosts himself and let him be your fear and let him be your dread Ver. 14. And he shall be for a Sanctuary but for a Stone of stumbling and for a Rock of offence to hoth the Houses of Israel for a gin and for a snare to the Inhabitants of Jerusalem This Scripture that is applicable to none but to the most High God is applied to Christ Luke 2.34 Rom. 9.33 and 1 Pet. 2.8 Hereupon His Disciples declares him to be the Lord of Hosts himself who is to be our fear and dread whom we are to sanctifie as such in our Hearts Instance 6 Isa 45.21 22 23. Have not I the Lord and there is no God else beside me a just God and a Saviour there is none beside me Ver. 22. Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the Earth for I am God and there is none else Ver. 23. I have sworn by my self the Word is gone out of my Mouth in Righteousness and shall not return that unto me every Knee shall bow every Tongue shall swear This Scripture that contains so many distinguishing Characters of the most High God is applied to Christ Rom. 14.9 10 11. For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the Dead and of the Living Ver. 10. For we shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ Ver. 11. For it is written as I live saith the Lord every Knee shall bow to me and every Tongue shall confess to God It is likewise applied to him Phil. 2.10 11. From whence it is evident Jesus Christ is the Lord and there is no God else beside him a just God and Saviour and none beside him That all the ends of the Earth are to look to him and be saved for he is God and there is none else That he is the Object of his own Oath that He swears by himself because he cannot swear by a greater Instance 7 Psalm 102.25 Of Old hast thou laid the Foundation of the Earth And the Heavens are the Work of thy Hands Ver. 26. They shall perish but thou shalt endure yea all of them shall wax old like a Garment as a Vesture shalt thou change them and they shall be changed Ver. 27. But thou art the same and thy Years shall have no end Notwithstanding this Text is so peculiar to the Supream Being distinguishing him from all that is not God the Author to the Hebrews as hath been Instanced expresly ascribes it to Christ Heb. 1.10 And thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the Foundations of the Earth c. Now I say it is very strange and surprizing that the Disciples of Christ unless they were the worst of Men should make such Applications to Jesus Christ if he is not of the same Essence with the Father And further we cannot imagine they would ascribe the peculiar Glories of the Divine Nature to him if we consider 1. That the Light of Nature sufficiently taught them that they ought not to make Applications of those Things to a Creature which belongs to the Creator exclusive of all Creatures 2. If you respect them as taught in the Schools of the Prophets this cannot be imagined Because there is nothing can equal the Circumspection of the Prophets in this respect it will necessarily follow therefore if Jesus Christ is not God of the same Essence with his Father he was a Blasphemer and the Jewish Sanhedrim did very justly to Sentence him to Death for it And to corroborate what hath been said consider if he was not God by Nature what Reason the Jews had thus to proceed against him 1. The very first Precept in their Decalogue which they had continually before their Eyes was Thou shalt have no other Gods before me Exod. 20.3 this they taught their Children their Servants and all under their Care 2. They well knew it was Idolatry to give Divine Worship to a Creature only and Blasphemy for a meer Creature to take to himself the Glory due to God their Prophets well instructed them in that Doctrine that God would not give his Glory to another 2. They well knew that the blessed God had given himself Names on purpose to distinguish Him from all Creatures whatsoever as Jehovah c. The which Names they had in mighty Reverence 4. They knew that it was Blasphemy for a meer Creature to assume his Names Nature Works and Worship and that it was Idolatry to attribute these to such an one 5. The Prophets were very diligent to prevent Idolatry which was the Sin this People was exceedingly addicted to and therefore warned them against the least appearance thereof and this they did for the Glory of the God of Israel that none might be acknowledged for the true God besides and for the Salvation of Men because Idolaters were not to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven 6. Jesus Christ did say He and His Father were one John 10.30 That therefore they who had seen him had seen the Father John 14.9 That he was in the Father and the Father in him Thereby he did make himself equal with God John 5.18 which is plain in that his Disciples that were inspired with his Spirit assert the same Thing of him as hath been evidenced for this the Jews accused him him for this they condemned him and that with the greatest Reason if He where not true God of the same Essence with the Father and so equal with him These are the Things that the Jews alledge in their Defence for crucifying of Jesus Christ and we demand how any Man or any Company of Men whatsoever that deny the Divinity of our Lord can take off the force of them it was according to their own Law which God had given them and according to his own Exposition of it Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Matth. 4.10 And it was for that which we must allow Blasphemy in another Case for suppose any Person among the Christians should attribute to himself the Names and Natures the Works and Offices of Jesus Christ If he should say he was the Lamb of God that takes away the Sins of the World that he is the great Prophet and High-Priest of the New Testament a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedeck the wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace Immanel God with us Jesus a Saviour Christ the Anointed the Eternal Word the Saviour of the World the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the Ending c. That he is the only begotten Son of God that there is no other Name given under Heaven whereby Men can be saved but his that he is the Way the
who deny this ought not to have Communion together and if we look upon professed Christians of all Persuasions we shall find they do so The Idolatry of the Church of Rome for which the Protestants separate from them is not so gross as this for this is directly and formally giving Divine Adoration to a Creature only especially in those that deny his Deity and yet give him Divine Worship The Reasons for which the Presbyterians and Independants separate from the Church of England are very Trifles in Comparison of this Most baptized Churches maintain a Separation from those that are unbaptized and many will allow Communion with none that are not in the Profession and Practice of those six Principles Heb. 6.1 2. But what is Baptism or Laying on of Hands to this Principle can any urge that they are of that Consequence that they who assert or they who deny them must be either Blasphemers or Idolaters That they deny the true Christ and bring in another in his stead that they deny the Lord that bought them that Christianity it self stands or falls with it If then a Separation between the Baptists and Pedo-baptists is warrantable that they which are rightly Baptized and those which are not ought not to have Communion together much more ought not they that assert and deny that Believe and Disbelieve this great Principle Objection Obj. There are but few who are capable to understand this great Mystery and therefore it cannot be a Principle of such Consequence Answer The meanest Christian is capable to believe what is required of them in this Case the Holy Scriptures reveal as we have shewn that Jesus Christ is God Eternal Almighty c. That be is Man of the Seed of the Woman of the Seed of David according to the Flesh and did partake of our Flesh and Blood So that he was both God and Man this is plain But how these two Natures did unite or after what manner this Union was made as it is past our Capacity to reach it so this is our Comfort we are not obliged to understand it True Faith believes the Thing notwithstanding Reason cannot Fathom the manner of them and this Answers all the clamours made in this Case for generally those Christians that are not concerned in these Controversies believe this Truth with the greatest stedfastness they read in Scripture that Jesus Christ is the true God and Eternal Life that he is God over all Blessed for ever that he made the World and all Things in it And they read that he was Man like unto us in all Things Sin only excepted and they believe these Things firmly and truely because God hath said them and ask not with a carping mind how can these Things be they adore it as a Mystery but humbly believe it as an undoubted Truth Objection There are many whose Lives and Conversations for many Years past declare them to be good Christians that are Holy and Pious Men Men of great Study Labour Sufferings and Self-denial that are desirous to know what is the Mind and Will of God and yet believe not this Principle but the Contrary ought we not therefore in Charity to esteem them good Christians and have Communion with them notwithstanding Answer I Answer 1. In the Words of the Apostle Gal. 1.8 9. Though we or an Angel from Heaven Preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed 2. We are to distinguish between the Seducers that cunningly lye in wait to deceive and those who thro' Ignorance Simplicity or flexibleness of Spirit are seduced by them to the first we are not to give Place no not for an hour Gal. 2.5 Mat. 7.15 beware of false Prophets the Elders of Churches are peculiarly charged to keep these out of the Flock Acts 20.28 29 30 31. The Apostle Treats these with the greatest Severity Beware of Dogs beware of evil workers beware of the Concision Phil. 3.2 Whose Mouths must be stopped Tit. 1.11 Because their Words will eat as doth a Canker 2 Tim. 2.17 2. To those that are seduced by them we are to carry it with the greatest Love and Tenderness in Order to regain them so the Apostle Treats the seduced Galatians Gal. 4.19 My little Children of whom I Travel in Birth again He mixeth Intreaties with his sharp Rebukes 2 Tim. 2.25 26. Thus we should in meekness instruct those that oppose themselves that they may be recovered out of the Snare of the Devil 2. If after all means used they persist in their Heresies they are to be rejected for a little Leaven leaveneth the whole Lump Tit. 2.10 11. after the first and second Admonition reject and this fully answereth the Objection for let their Lives and Conversations be never so exact let them be Men of never so great Study Labour Sufferings and Self-denial yet they are to be rejected by the Church which shews that notwithstanding this they are not good Christians and therefore their Piety but seeming and not real because good Christians are not to be rejected from the Communion of the Church as Hereticks And as for their being willing to know the Truth we find by Experience that after they have once espoused and broached their Heresies they set themselves with all cunning subtlety and obstinacy to oppose the Truth and maintain their Errors shutting their Eyes against all the Evidence that the Truth carries with it and using all ways whatsoever to evade the force thereof whereby whatsoever they may say it is plain to every Observer that they are not willing to know any Thing to be Truth that is contrary to their professed Principles hence then it is so far from Christian Charity that it is against the express Rule and Law of Christ Jesus the Head and Lord of Christians to have Communion with them FINIS