V E R. 7. Epift/e to the I-I E B R E ew s. loo namely Angels, and Judges; and in that large acceptation to 6e here a feribed to the LordChrift ; fo that though he be exprefly called E.!ohim, and ó o,er yet that proves himnot tobe Godby Nature, but onlyto be fo termed in re(peeì ofhis Office, Dig- nity andAuthority ; and this is contended for by the Sociniaas. But this glof is con- trary to theperpetual ufe of the Scripture ; for no one place can be initanced in, where the name Elohim is sled abfolutely, and reltrained unto any on: perfon, wherein it Both not undeniably denote the true and only God. Magie/rates are indeed (aid tobe Elohim, inrefpedt of their Office, but no one Magiiirate was ever fo-called ; nor can a man fay without blafphemy to anyof them, Thou art Elohim, orGod. Motes an is Paid to be Elohim, a-God, but not abfolutely ; but ? Gad to Pharaoh, and ttaaran; that is, in God's (dead, doing and performing in the name of God what !Thad com- manded him, Which places Jarebi produceth inhis Comment, tocountenance this fenfe, but invain. It is then the True God that is fpoken unto in this Apffrophe, Elohim , 0 God. This being granted, Erafmua(tarts a new Interpretation of the whole words, though he feemeth not to approve of own invention : ó dt v& mad Our, It is uncertain, faith he, whether the meaning be, 7hÿ throne, O God, or God is thy thronefor ever : in the firf way, the word is an Apofiropbe to the Son, in the latter it expreffeth the Perfon ofthe Father. And this Interpretation isembraced and improved by Gratin', who granting that the word Elohim ufed abfolutely fignifieth as much as Elohe Elohim, the God ofGods, would not allow that it '(hould be fpoken ofChrift, and therefore rendersthewords,GodJhall be thyfeatfor ever, that is, (hall efablifhthee in thy Throne. And this Evafiòn is alto fixed onby adben-Ezra, from Hagaon, tC1`l s j +7' 120) God Asti efs'abliih thy throne. May men beallowed thus to thru(d in what words they pleafe into the Text, leading to another fenfe than what it fell expreffeth, there will not much be left certain in the whole Book of God. However, in this prefent in fiance, we have lightenough to rebuke the boldne(s of this attempt. For, r. The In- terpretation infifed on is contrary to all old 7ranflations, whofe languagewould bear a difference in the word, exprefling it in the Vocative Cafe, 0 God. 2. Contrary to the receivedfinfi of7ews and Chriffians ofold, and in efpecial of the7argum on the Pfalm, rendring thewords, Thy throne, 0 God, is in heaven, for ever. 3. Contrary to the conte- xture anddfign of the Apofles difcourfes, as may appear from the conlideration of the preceding Enatration of them. 4. Leaves notollerable fenfeunto the words; neither can they who embrace it declare in what fenfe God is the throne ofChriff. 5. Iscon- trary to the univerfally confiant ufe of the expreflion in Scripture; for where ever there is mentionof the Throne ofChriff, fomewhat elfe,, and not God, is intended thereby. 6. Theword fupplied by Grotius from Saadiar and Aben-Ezra, to induce a fenfe unto his Expofitiou, [fhalleffablifhl makesanewText, or leads the old utterly from the intention of the words. For whereas it cannot be faid, that God is the throne ofChritt, nor was there any need to fay, that God was for ever and ever, which two things mini take up the whole intendment of the words, ifGod the Father be fpo- ken of, the adding of, /hall efiablifh, or confirm, into the Text, gives it an arbitrary fenfe, and fuch asby the like fttggefion ofany other word, (as:ball defiroy) may be rendred quite ofanotherimportance. It isChrif then, the Son, that is fpoken to and denoted by that name Elohim, O God, asbeing the true God by Nature, though what is here affirmed ofhimbe not as God, but as the King ofhis Church and People ; as in another place, God isPaid to redeemhis Church withha own blond. Secondly, We may confiderwhat is affigned unto him, which is his Kingdom; and that isdefctibed, t. By the Infgnia regalia, the Royal Enfigns of it, namely his Throne and Scepter. a. Byits duration, it is for ever. 3. His manner of Adminiltration, it is with Righteoufnefs ; his Scepter is aScepter ofrighteoufnefl. 4. His furniture orprepa- ration for this Adminifration, he loved righteoufnefl and hated iniquity. 5. By an ad- jundh priviledge, unblion with the OilofgladneJs': Which, 6. is exemplified by a corn pardon withothers, it is fo with him, above hisfellows. The fir(dinfigneregiu,n mentioned, is his Throne, whereunto the Attribute of Per- petuity is annexed, it is for ever. And this Throne denotes the Kingdom it felf. A Throne is the feat of a King in his Kingdom, and is frequently ufed metonymically for the Kingdomit felt, and that appliedunto God and man. See Dan. 7. 9. rKing. 8. z, g. Angels indeed arc called Thrones, Col. t. rd. But that is either metaphorically only, or cite in refped of forceefpecial fervice allotted unto them; as they arc allo called K k k Prison,
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