Chap.. z8. An Expof:tion upon the Baok of J o B. Verf. 27 357 of all things. And this is the fame truth , which is often afferted in the newTefiament and writings of the holy Apofiles, efpeci- ally in that (Col. r. 16,17.) For by himwere all things created, that are in heaven and thatare in earth, viffble and inv,Jible, whe- ther they be thrones, or dominions , orprincipallities, or powers, all things were created by him andfor him ; and be is beforeallthings, andinhim all things conffis. He is alfo called The beginning of the creationof God. (Rev.3, 14.) Not thepaflive beginning or he that was firfi created, but the ad}ive beginning or he by whom the creationwas begun. This perfonal wifdom is truly and pro- perly the only begoctenSon of God, as himfelf tefiified (fohn. 5. t 8.) therefore the Jews fought the more to kill him, not only becaufe ?raTápxtdltar be bad broken the Sabbath, but f tieú alfo thatGodwas bisfather, an're aov"for. making hitnfelf well withGod. Firti, He is Gods ownSon (Rom.8. 32.) hüs Son, not only asSocinsans fay, becaufe his conception way by the holy Gholl ; but he is the Son of Godby an eternal,,unfpeakable generation-; nor is he Secondly, The Son of God only, as theyteach, becaufe he was fet apart in a fpecial manner for the work of mediation ( John *o. 36) Say ye of bibs wham thefather bath fane-tified andfont into the world, thou blafpbemefb, becaufe Ifaid, I am the Sonof God. Nor is be called the Son of God only in the third place,becaufe of that fpecial love that God bare unto him (0ffath. 3. 17.) and loe, avoice from heaven,fling, that is my beloved Son, in whom l amwellpleafed.. Nor ishe theSon of God only in the fourth place , becaufe of his refurre&ion, inwhich be was mightily declared to be the Son of god (Rom. 1.4.) Neither fifthly, is he the Sonof Godonly, becaufe of bis high exaliation, (Rib, 5. 5.) as Socinfans grant. But Chrifi is the Son of God,becaufe begotten ofGod from everlafiing. He is the Son of God by Nature, asbeleiversare his Cons by adoption and grace,. or by the grace of adoption. HimGod law, and by bit, Clod did declare andprepare andfearcb out all things. This Doe ine of the eternity of perfonal wifdom , or that )e- fus Chrifi is the eternal Son of God, is the pillar of our Chrifiian. faith,., And-çhrifl himfcll intending to inflru t his Dircipies in this-
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