by saying the word was God: that he meant no more, nor no other, than that he was the word of God,' i. e. the preacher of the word of God. St. Join expressly tells his readers, that Christ's name was the word of God.' We translate it, He is called the word of God.' The Alexandrian, and other copies say, He hath been (or was) called the word of God,' which implies, that it was no new name, just then given in this vision, but before received by the Christians who entertained St. John's gospel in Asia, and well understood St. John's meaning, that he, by that name, meant a person who brought the word of God,' from God, i, e. the gospel. And it is extremely plain, that as St. John had secured his readers in the belief of the one true God through his gospel, so he also has fully secured all his readers in the same gospel in his notion of the person of Christ, by telling us who this word of God' was, viz. that he was the faithful' and 'true'-and that he was clothed with a garment dipped in blood. And that he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness' and wrath of Almighty God. These characters fully and clearly distinguish him from Almighty God; and so does his name the word of God, rightly considered; for that name (the word of God) cannot be properly the name of God.

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CHAP. XXXVIII.

The character of Jesus as Messias considered. IT is universally agreed, and I think without the least controversy, among all Christians, that Jesus Christ, which word Christ) is the same as Messias in the Hebrew language, was that very Messias prophesied of, and promised to the Jews in the Old Testa

ment.

And it is also uncontroverted among the learned and unlearned Jews, that a person under that charac

ter was expected to arise among them, which they founded chiefly upon that famous text, Deut. xviii. 15, 18. [The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet, from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me: unto him shall ye hearken. I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I command him.' See also Acts iii. 23.] And also upon other texts. This appears to be the vulgar, or commonly received notion among the Jews, from the words of the woman of Samaria discoursing with Jesus. John iv. 25, ́ I know that Messias cometh, who is called Christ: when he is come he will tell us all things. See also John i. 41. By these passages it is evident, that the Messias was to be a prophet like unto Moses; was to be raised up by Jehovah or God; and was promised to be manifested in after ages.

It is very well known, that the word Christ (i. e. Messias) is used by the writers of the New Testament, as if it were a surname of Jesus: and St. Peter alludes to it, Acts iv. 27, For of a truth thy holy child Jesus whom thou hast anointed.' Again, Acts x. 38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.'

N. B. This was St. Peter's faith with regard to the Messias, viz. that God anointed' or commissioned him by the gift of the Holy Ghost, i. e. by the spirit of prophecy and with power,' i. e. the power of working miracles, which God wrought in his favour. I wish our modern Christians were contented with Peter's faith. But this can never be expected, till men will be persuaded to lay aside human schemes of religion, and receive their persuasion and faith from the revelations of God, and from no other fountain.

The places where Jesus is represented under the character of Messias are various: too many, indeed, to be taken notice of where the case seems to be altogether without dispute. But yet I must take leave to observe, that in very many places where Jesus Christ

is mentioned conjointly with those two names, it had been more proper in our, and all translations, instead of the word Christ to have used the word Messias, as may appear in many texts; for instance.

John ix. 22, confessed that he John xvii. 3, God, and Jesus,

sias.'

The Jews had agreed, that if any (Jesus) was the Messias.'

To own thee to be the only true whom thou hast sent, to be the Mes

Acts ii. 36, Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus both Lord and Messias.'

-ix. 20, And straightway he preached Christ (the Messias) in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.'

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-22 But Saul-confounded the Jews-proving that this is the very Christ' (Messias).

-xvii. 3, Paul preached in the synagogue of the Jews, opening the scriptures, and alledging, thatthe very Jesus, whom he preached unto them, was the Christ' (the Messias).

Phil. ii. 11, And that every tongue should confess, that the Lord Jesus is the Christ (the Messias) to the glory of God the Father.'

Note, The translators in the common English version transposed the original words.

1 John v. 1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ (the Messias) is born of God.'

2 John, ver. 7 For many deceivers-confess not that Jesus Christ (Jesus the Messias) is come in the flesh.' See also 1 John iv. 2, 3.

N. B. As the word Christ is conjoined with the word Jesus, in apposition, in abundance of texts in the New Testament, so it certainly determines who that Jesus was, viz. the Christ or Messias.

In like manner, when we find in the sacred writers of the New Testament those words, God the Father, so often conjoined in their writings, we certainly must understand the word Father to be added to the word God by way of appropriation.

CHAP. XXXIX.

The Mission of Jesus Christ.

AFTER Jesus Christ had led a private life about thirty years, chiefly in Galilee, on the north of Judea, he received from God authority and power to publish a declaration of God's will and favour to mankind, called the gospel. But he did not undertake this important office or ministry by his own mere motion and inclination, but was sent by God to publish God's laws, and to set up God's spiritual kingdom in the world. This is expressly declared in a multitude of passages mentioned in the four gospels, and other parts of the New Testament. Here most of the words used by the holy writers, on this subject, will be considered.

AПAггЕДAQ. Mat. xii. 18, He (Christ) shall shew forth,' from me, 'judgment to the nations.'

Heb. ii. 12, I (Christ) will declare thy name, (O God) to my brethren.'

AПОAEIKNYMI. Acts ii. 22, Christ is said to be a manshewn forth from God, by signs, miracles, and wonders, which God wrought by him.'

AПOEтEAAQ. Matth. x. 40, He who sent me.'. And chap. xv. 24, I am sent.' See also Mark ix. 37.

Luke iv. 43, I must preach the kingdom of God, for therefore am I sent.' See also chap. ix. 48, x. 16. John iii. 17, God sent his Son-that the world might be saved.' See chap. x. 36, xi. 42, xvii. 3, 21, 25.

v. 36, The works that I do, witness that the Father hath sent me.' See chap. viii. 42, xx. 21, &alibi.

1 John iv. 9, 10. God's love was manifested, by 'sending his only-begotten Son.' EZAIIOETEAAQ. Gal. iv. 4,

See ver. 14.

When the fulness of

time came God sent forth his Son.' See ver 15.

EPXOMAI. EZEPXOMAI. John viii. 42, Christ saith of himself, I came out from God, and am now come [from God] for I came not from myself,' or by my own authority, but he (God) hath sent me.'

God.

-xiii. 3, Jesus knew that he came out' from

--xvi. 27, 28, 30, Ye have believed that I came out from God. I did come out from God. By this we believe that thou art come from God."

John xvii. 8, Christ saith of his disciples, that they knew surely that he came out from God.'

-xii. 13. The people who followed Christ to Jerusalem, acknowledge his divine mission by saying, Hosannah, Blessed, or may he be blessed, who ' comes in the name of the Lord.' See also Mat. xxi. 9, Mark xi. 9, Luke xix. 38.

ПEMÃO. John v. 30, Christ says, I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father who hath sent me.' The word is used in the same manner about twenty-four times in St. John's gospel alone.

Rom viii. 3, God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.'

COROLLARIES.

1. These texts fully shew, that Jesus Christ himself always declared, and his apostles and disciples always believed, that he came not on his own errand, but he came from, and was sent by God, to declare God's will; and he is accordingly called God's mes senger, or apostle. Heb. iii. 1.

2. That a person, whom God sent to mankind, as his messenger, to carry God's message, could not be the Most High God, who sent him: or, the same person cannot be God himself, and God's messenger

100.

3. John x. 36, He, (Christ) whom the Father sanctified and sent, cannot be the supreme God, who did sanctify and send him.

4. As Jesus Christ very often, and very strongly insisted upon his being sent from God, and declared,