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
and Born a-new changed from evil to good But this Son of whom I am speaking was neither by Creation Adoption nor Regeneration but by Eternal Generation out of himself in which respect God hath no Son but this and therefore he is called The Son of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Discriminatively †Joh. 1.18 The onely begotten Son of God of which Generation I presume not to make any Declaration for I see not how we can understand farther of this Mystery than that it is the Communication of the Divine Essence or Personality or both by the Father by which he hath Begotten the Son but the Manner how we shall never understand while we are in these Houses of Clay Christ is called ‖ Luk. 1.35 The Son of God by which words is meant that he took not his beginning when he was Born of the Virgin Mary but that he was the Eternal Son of God that he was True God as the Father is and bath the same Nature Essence Will and Power with him and because this Truth was so opposed by the Arrians a Council of 318 Bishops Assembled at Nice and Expounded this Article of our Faith in Larger Terms as you may Read in your Common-Prayer-Books I Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Nicene the onely Begotten Son of God Begotten of his Father before all Worlds God of God Very God of very God Begotten not Made c. When St. Peter had made his Confession of Faith †Matt. 16.16 Acknowledging Christ to be the Son of the Living God it is worthy our Serious Observation that not onely was this Confession made the Standard of Faith by those words * Vers 18. Vpon this Rock will I Build my Church but our Saviour did also declare that the Knowledge of this Great Truth came to Peter from above †Vers 17. Flesh and Blood hath not revealed this unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven From whence it is obvious to a very ordinary capacity that if the Virgin Mary's Son had been the Son of God no other way but by Eminency in respect of the Excellent Gifts that were in him there had been no occasion for this Revelation from Heaven seeing that those Gifts and Graces were sufficient to testifie this this Revelation therefore amply declares his Filiation or Sonship to be of a more Transcendent Nature He was a Son by Real and Eternal Generation he was a Son Consubstantial with the Father the thing Begotten being of the same Essence and Substance with that which Begets it and for this cause our Saviour Averr'd * John 10.30 I and the Father are one Vnum not Vnus not one in Will but in Nature he is not onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Like Being but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same Substance Thus hath it appear'd that the Names Ascribed to the Son of the Virgin Mary as Jesus Christ Emanuel The Word the Son of God do all Assert and Prove his Deity Our next undertaking was to show that the Properties of the Deity are attributed to him from whence his Deity will necessarily be Inferr'd There are not properly speaking any Attributes Properties or Qualifications in God because whatsoever is in God is God but in compliance to the capacity of our shallow Understandings they are admitted and here the Caution takes place that we should not account these Properties parts of the Divine Essence because that every Property is really his very whole Essence as for Instance the Wisdom of God is no other but the Wise God the Mercy of God includes the Merciful God c. The use of these Properties or Attributes is to declare and set forth unto us the Essence of God I have already manifested the Eternity of Jesus Christ and shall distinctly speak next of his Immense Power Wisdom Mercy and Goodness discernible in those Great Works of Creation and Redemption I shall not so confine my self to those but that in handling I shall give you such light into his other Attributes that you may thereby gather a clear Manifestation of his Deity I. The Work of Creation is ascribed to Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary To Create is to make something out of nothing to doe which requires an Infinite and Uncontroulable Power such as can no where be found but in God St. John brings this as a farther Proof of the Deity of Christ whom he had called the Word * Joh. 1.3 All things were made by him as if he had said The Word or Jesus Christ whom he meant by the Word was certainly God for he made all things and without him was not any thing made which was made This was so manifest and withal so full a Proof of his Assertion that he reinforces it ‖ Vers 10. The World was made by him and the World knew him not It is sad that the Generality of Men did not formerly nor will not latterly take notice of him in the Capacity of a Creator That this Jesus Christ when he lay in the Bosom of his Father was a Principal Coagent or Efficient with the Father and the Holy Ghost in the Work of Creation Solomon declares it for †Prov. 8.22 23 c. Christ is there called the Wisdom of the Father by whom the World and all things were made For all Interpreters not excusing Arrius himself agree that these Words of the Wise Man were spoken concerning Christ but being intended to oppose the Deity of Christ that Arch Heretick though he had not the Impudence to deny the words to be spoken of Christ yet such was his Perverseness that he Corrupted the Text and for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He Possessed me Verse 22d he Read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He Created me and so Blasphemously from his own Corrupted Text Argued That Christ was no more than a Creature We have great need to look well to our Bibles to Read Mark Learn and Inwardly Digest the Sound Doctrine thereof because there are too many in the World besides those of Rome who could they get all our Bibles into their hands would soon Teach them to speak a strange Language The Apostle St. Paul does as plainly Ascribe the Creation to Jesus Christ * Col. 1.16 For by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him All things both those that are the Subject of our Sight as the Corporeal and those whose Nature and Spiritual Being as Angels and the Souls of Men submits not to Mortal Intuition That which most chiefly makes for our Present Purpose is to declare That this Creator was Jesus Christ the Son of the Virgin Mary and this is Justified †by calling him v. 15. That Created the Image of God and the First-born of every Creature and ‖ he is stiled v. 18. The
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