Phrase called implies a being really the thing so called is that †Rom. 9.25 26. I will call them my People which were not my People i. e. I will make them my People who were not so before This being Premis'd I come to the Names or Appellations given to the Son of the Virgin Mary I. Jesus Mat. 1.21 This was the proper Name of the Son of God when he took humane Flesh I confess others as Types of him had bore this Name yet never did the Signification of the Name fully agree with the Bearer till now This name Jesus shows him to be of Heavenly Extract in that it was given him from Heaven Probat Angelus caelitùs conceptum cui nomen caelitùs imponitur none but God knew the Dignity of this Person and therefore he particularly Assigns him this Name as sufficiently comprehending his Dignity This Name coming from Heaven did plainly demonstrate him to be the Son of God in that none on Earth had Power over Him to give Him a Name The Etymological Reason which the Angel gave of this Name illustrates the Deity of Him to whom it was given †Mat. 1.16 Thou shalt call his name Jesus for He shall save his People from their Sins so that he really was Sui nominis he in all things answered his Name Salvation in other Jesus's was either an empty Name or at most but a faint shadow of the Salvation which was found in him * Acts 4.12 For neither is there Salvation in any other neither is there any other Name under Heaven given among Men whereby we must be saved Salvation from Sins is God's Peculiar for so it is said †Isa 45.21 There is no God else beside me a just God and a Saviour there is none beside me so again * Hosea 13.4 For there is no Saviour beside me Thus we see God challenging Salvation as his peculiar Prerogative and hence I Argue Since by God's special Command this Name Jesus was conferr'd on the Son of the Virgin Mary because he should give Salvation from sins it is plain that he was God for he must necessarily be believed to be the Lord of Life in whose power it was to bestow Life Secondly He was called Christ and from hence also it will appear that the Son of the Virgin Mary was God Christ is a name of Dignity it is a Greek Word and of the same Signification with Messiah in the Hebrew For him the Jews looked and him they did really believe to be no other than the Son of God and this may reasonably be concluded in that they interpreted the second Psalm to be a Prophecy of him wherein we find it declared †Psalm 2.2 That he was the Anointed of God And of this Christ this Messiah it is expresly said by God himself * v. 7. Thou art my Son this Day have I begotten thee That Christ and the Messiah were Synonymous Terms and that both belonged to the Son of the Virgin Mary is evident from * Joh. 1.41 We have found the Messiah which is being interpreted the Christ both these Names signifie Anointed Kings Priests and Prophets under the Law were Anointed with Holy Oyl thereby intimating that they were Separated Sacred and Consecrated to God in the discharge of their respective Offices and were therefore called Messiae or Christi but this Son of the Virgin Mary was Messiah or Chris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 emphatically as being both appointed to perform all those Offices and moreover anointed extraordinarily above any or all of them for * Joh. 3.24 God gave not unto him the Spirit by measure To give by Measure or Weight implies giving with a cautious or sparing Hand and contrarily to give without measure argues giving plentifully even the whole others albeit they were anointed yet were limited they had the Spirit by measure some having one Grace others another but this Jesus the Son of the Virgin Mary was anointed with the fullness of the Spirit for saith the Apostle †Col. 2.9 In him dwelled all the fullness of the God-head bodily Whosoever allows the Son of the Virgin Mary to be the Messiah the Christ must allow him to be the Son of God that the Jews did ever believe the Christ to be the real Son of God is very perspicuous * Joh. 1.49 where Nathanael allowing Jesus to be the Christ i. e. anointed to be King of Israel immediately concludes he must be the Son of God his Words are Rabbi thou art the Son of God the King of Israel and that he as Honestly as Rationally spoke what he believed there is not the least cause to doubt seeing that this Christ who knew what was in Man and needed not that any should testifie v. 47. declared of him * That he was an Israelite indeed in whom was no guile Hear we also Martha's confession of Faith grounded upon the same Reason †Joh. 11.27 I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God What shall we say the High Priest though enraged had not forgot this truth that The Christ must necessarily be the Son of God * Mat. 26.63 I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ the Son of God for he was satisfied if he was the one he must be the other also Now that the Son of the Virgin Mary was The Christ is evident in that he so punctually executed the Office of King Priest and Prophet to those that would hear and believe he taught the Will of God to those who would submit to his Sceptre he became a King ruling in their Hearts by Faith and Love for he acknowledged his Kingdom was not of this World and to such he was a Priest not only in offering himself a Sacrifice for them but in Blessing them and turning them from their sins so that the Son of the Virgin Mary thus manifesting himself to be The Christ must by the Jews own concession be acknowledged to be the Son of God Thirdly The Son of the Virgin Mary was called Emanuel and this was likewise a demonstration of his Deity Emanuel * Mat. 1.23 which being interpreted is God with us i. e. He that was God from all Eternity hath now assumed humane Nature and is become one with us in all things sin excepted This name does plainly imply the Union of the two Natures in the one Person of our Redeemer it doth moreover point at his mediatory Office between God arid Man and demonstrates him a compleat Saviour able to save to the uttermost In him there were two Natures and yet nec inferiorem consumpsit Glorificatio nec superiorem minuit Assumptio the Deity did not swallow up his Humanity the Humane Nature was not swallowed up and lost in the Deity nor did the Deity suffer Debasement or Diminution by the Assumption of the humanity but both Natures remain whole and intire constituting but one
Heavenly Anthem What shall we say The very Oracles that is Images wherein the Devils acted and impos'd upon Men did attest at this Nativity that Nature had brought forth a King and having thus Declar'd they submitted to his Sceptre for whereas formerly they received Worship and Adoration they now prostrate themselves even to a breaking in pieces We read likewise that Augustus Caesar having first presented his Sacrifice enquired of the Oracle who should succeed him in the Empire as if this had been too difficult or rather because the Resolution must produce his own shame the Devil refused all answer till after a second Sacrifice and then did Declare Me puer Haebreus Divos Deus ipse gubernans Cedere sede jubet Tristemque redire sub orcum Aris ergo dehinc Tacitis abscedito nostris The New-born Hebrew Infant who is God far transcending all other Gods hath Commanded me to withdraw and to retire to my desolate Mansions of Darkness Seeing therefore I must obey give your self no farther trouble to frequent my Altars for you will always henceforwards find here a profound silence Hereupon Augustus Erected an Altar bearing this Inscription Ara Primogeniti Dei The Altar of the First Begotten Son of God Farther St. Paul speaking of Jesus Christ †Rom. 1.4 averrs That he was declared to be the Son of God with Power the Powerful or Mighty Works which he did throughout the Course of his Life were Demonstrations that he was the Son of God because no other could do such things The Case may thus be stated No Ordinary or Natural Means could possibly induce that Faith among Men That Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary was the Son of God but seeing this Faith was necessary in order to the obtaining Eternal Life therefore was he pleased to doe many things beyond the reach of Natural Power His own Discourse imports as much * Joh. 11.4 where he Interprets the occasion of Working a Miracle to be an happy opportunity of Manifesting Himself to be the Son of God for saith he This Sickness is not unto Death but for the Glory of God that the Son of God may be glorified thereby All his Miracles did publish the same Truth I shall Instance at present but in Two The Winds raging and the Sea roaring and both being deaf to Humane Commands or Entreaties did readily submit to His Authority * Matth. 14.33 upon his Speaking of a Word they were husht into a Calm What could the Spectators hereupon conclude other than of a Truth thou art the Son of God Humane Flesh cannot possibly so conceal thy Deity but that these Admirable Effects of thy Power will more discover it Nay the Devils themselves paid such Ready Obedience as did declare the sufficiency of his Authority they disputed not the Case nor would they try their Power and Strength but fore-seeing they were to be dispossessed ‖ Mark 5.7 I Adjure thee saith one in behalf of the rest that thou Torment me not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not to send him to his Prison to his place of Punishment and Restraint where he was to be kept Close and Tormented What could be a plainer Proof of his Deity than the Acknowledgment of those Infernal Spirits how that they were wholly at his Disposal It is evident that having formerly felt the Effects of his Irresistable Power when they were turned out of Heaven they dreaded by the least Act of Disobedience to Provoke him least he drave them to their Torment before the Time With Instances of like nature the Holy Writ is so plentifully stor'd that the Reader will not take it discourteously to be referr'd thither especially when he will there find the Jews Acknowledging the Gentiles Admiring the Apostles Proclaiming the Evangelists Recording and Multitudes offering to Seal with their Blood the Truth of the Doctrine and Miracles which were Ample Demonstrations of the Deity of Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary Lastly For farther Proof of the same Assertion we Appeal unto another Trinity of Witnesses viz. God the Father God the Holy Ghost and the Sacred Scriptures I. We Appeal to God the Father If Two or Three Creditable Persons Affirm a Thing the Wisdom of Men has Subscribed to such an Affirmation as a Rational and Warrantable Ground for Belief Hence the Apostle Argues †1 John 5.9 If we Receive the Witness of Men the Witness of God is greater i. e. ought to be received with greater Deference and Veneration * Ver. 11. We have the Testimony this is the Record that God hath given to us Eternal Life and this Life is in his Son The direct way to Acquire this Life is Rightly to Believe in him as the Son of God ‖ Ver. 10. The Reason is given why we ought not to Fear Doubt or Waver in this Fundamental Article because we cannot doubt in this Case but with manifest Injury offered to the Truth of God for we must make him a Liar because God hath given this Testimony of his Son And the same Apostle says * 1 John 2.22 They are Liars that deny Jesus to be the Christ and not onely Liars but Antichrists for they deny both the Father and the Son they deny the Son directly and the Father by consequence because he hath Testified of the Son So that a Man cannot depart from or deny this Article of Faith That Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary is the Son of God without becoming a Liar and an Antichrist At the Baptizing the Son of the Virgin Mary in the River Jordan God the Father did openly declare this Truth ‖ Matth. 3.17 Loe a Voice from Heaven saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased The Time at which the Place from which this Voice came and the Substance of the Voice are all manifest Declarations that he that was then Baptized was no other than the Son of God Again when our Saviour condescended to give to his Disciples a more Convincing Testimony of his Deity he blessed their Eyes with a Glimpse of his Glory †Mat. 17.2 and for their farther Confirmation that they were under no Delusion nor were encouraged to greater hopes than what should in time be accomplished beside the extraordinary Majesty of his Face the Heavenly Fulgure and Lustre of his Raiment the Tendance and Ministry of Moses and Elias they have from God's Mouth * Vers 5. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased The Apostle Illustrates this whole matter †2 Pet. 1.17 For he received from God the Father Honour and Glory when there came such a Voice from the Excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased If we consult the Verses preceding we shall find the Reason why the Apostle urged this so strongly viz. least after his departure which he looked for every day the Deity of Christ and the Redemption wrought by
him might be forgotten or disbelieved as the Gnosticks were busie it should he therefore by way of Prevention delivers this Testimony of God the Father in the behalf of Jesus Christ his Son our Lord and assures them that he was an Eye-witness of the Majesty of Christ at his Transfiguration ‖ Vers 16. and also an Ear-witness of the Voice from Heaven * Vers 18. We heard it when we were with him in the Holy Mount Moreover that the Tragedy of his approaching Death might not startle their Faith in this Article a little before his Passion while our Lord was Discoursing of it †John 12.28 There came a Voice from Heaven Attesting He was heard in what he desired for the Voice said I have both glorified my Name and will glorifie it again this was the Subject of our Saviour's Prayer I have glorified the Name of my Truth and Mercy to Mankind in sending my Son into the World according to my Purpose and Promise and I will also now Glorifie the Name of my Wisdom Mercy and Justice in exacting and taking of that my Son the Punishment due unto the Sins of Believers Our Saviour's Words justifie this exposition * v. 30. for he told the Disciples and the rest of the Spectators This Voice came not because of me but for your sakes I needed neither satisfying nor reminding me who I am or what I am to do my Father 's gracious intent in this Voice was your good it was merely for your sakes in compassion to your hard heartedness that you might believe you were not willing to believe me telling you that the Father and I were one but now you cannot refuse believing seeing he speaketh the same thing from Heaven God the Father did also testifie this Truth at the Ascension of his Son * Heb. 1.6 And again when he bringeth in the first begotten into the World he saith let all the Angels of God worship him If you look to the end of the †v. 3. you may know the particular date of this Command When he had by himself purged our sins he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High and then the Father said Let all the Angels of God worship him The same is also declared by St. Paul * Phil. 2.9 10. How that God the Father had highly exalted his Son Jesus Christ and had given him a Name above every Name that at the Name of Jesus every Knee should bow of things in Heaven and things in the Earth and things under the Earth II. We pass on to the Testimony of the Holy Ghost The Spirit of God which is called the Spirit of Truth because it is impossible he should bear false Witness testified the Deity of Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary at his Conception †Luke 1.35 The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall over-shadow thee therefore also that holy thing that shall be Born of thee shall be called the Son of God The stress of which Words lies upon the Illative therefore and the Sence may be thus taken That the Son of God was designed to be Born of a Woman because the Holy Ghost shall over-shadow her the Blessed Spirit was concerned to prepare that Nature after an extraordinary manner which the God-head was determined to assume and seeing the Holy God was pleased to dwell in Flesh the Holy Ghost must prepare and form that Flesh Again At his Baptism the Holy Ghost testified the Deity of Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary for he Descended upon him * Mat. 3.16 as a Dove not in the shape or form of a Dove saith the learned Dr. Hammond on the place but he lighted upon him as Doves use to light who hover over and over-shadow the place first which they intend to light upon At this Baptism of our Saviour there was Concilium Augustissimum a most Majestical meeting of the Trinity God the Father spake from Heaven challenging and owning him whom John Baptized for his Son God the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily appearance God the Son was there clad in humane Nature and being in the form of a Servant he submitted himself to the fulfilling of all Righteousness Again the Holy Ghost particularly declared this Truth to Simeon †Luke 2.26 27. It was revealed to him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see Death before he had seen the Lords Christ and that this Son of the Virgin Mary was he Simeon was informed by the same Holy Spirit as may be collected from his Action and Profession * v. 28 29 30. For he then in the Temple took this Son of the Virgin Mary up in his Arms and Blessed God saying Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace according to thy word i. e. promise by the Holy Ghost for mine Eyes have seen thy Salvation the Person in whom Salvation is appointed This very Descent of the Holy Ghost upon our Saviour at his Baptism is called by St. Paul * 1 Cor. 2.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Demonstration of the Spirit a Testimony given by God from Heaven intimating and confirming the Verity of Christ's God-head a Demonstration for the Holy Ghost then Demonstrated to John and others that he who was then Baptized was the Son of God I might have argued the Testimony of the Holy Ghost from the Prophecies of the Old Testament for as saith the Apostle †2 Pet. 1.21 The Prophecies came not by the Will of Man Men undertook not this office of their own Heads nor did they deliver their own fancies and perswasions for Prophecies But Holy Men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost as they were inspired and instructed by the Holy Spirit of God therefore they that deny the Deity of Jesus Christ would do well to take heed unto the sure word of Prophecy given by the Spirit of God and there they will find most ample Declarations that he who should be Born of the Virgin Mary was God as well as Man The gift of the Holy Ghost was the effect of Christ's promise the Time and Place of his coming was expresly assign'd by Christ * Luke 24.49 Tarry ye at Jerusalem till ye be endued with power from on High John Baptized his Disciples with Water but †Acts 1.4 5. Christ promised to Baptize his Disciples with the Holy Ghost and commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but there to wait for the completion of the promise and accordingly in the place and at the time we find the Holy Ghost was plentifully poured forth upon them †* Acts 2.1 2 3. When the day of Pentecost was fully come the Apostles were all with one accord in one place viz. in an upper Room of the Temple where they constantly performed their Devotions and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost Farther the Holy Ghost did Testifie