V. 8a.io, II, I2. Epiflie tothe' 14EBtEws. Earth, Soh. r .t,2. Col. 1.16. v, 3. of this Chapter, withfundry other places affirm the fame. For what they exaet ofMotes, did we not believe that God knew what Reve- lationof himfelfbecame that darkdifßenfation better than they, we might confider it. But yet there are even in Mofs himfelfmany, and his Expofitorr the Prophets more Tefti- monies of the Creation of theworld by the Word, that is, theSon ofGod, which have elfewhere been opened and vindicated. ws 5. Heconcludes; That the Order and Method of the Apofflea procedure do eying:, that this Creationof Heaven andEarth is not attributed unto bim. For we fee that he proves the excellencyofChri(i above Angels from bis name that he is by the wayofemineny called the Son ofGod; and then beproce eds to his adoration by Angels; and in the thirdplace, he goes on to the Kingly Honour andThrone ofGbrilf ; after which be produceth the teffimony we infff upon, and then adds the end ofthat Kingdom which Chriff now adminiffreth in the Earth ; to what end in this difcourfefhould he mention the Creation of Heaven and Earth ; when if that be omitted all the feries of the difcourfe agrees and bangs well together i' For having declared the Kingdom of Cbriff, with the continuance of his perfon for ever, he affrts an eminent effell of the Kingdom in the abolition ofHeaven andEarth, and then the end of that Kingdom it M. But this Analyfis of the Apoftles difcourfe, agreeth not to the mindof the Apoftle, or his Dzfign in the place ; nor to thePrinciples of the men that formed ir, nor is in- deed any thing but vain words, to perfwade us that the Apoftle did not fay that which be did fa), and which is written for our inftru6tion : It is not first agreeable to their own Principles ; For it placeth the naming of Chrift, the Son ofGod, andhis Ado- ration by the-Angels, as antecedent to his being railed to his Kingly Throne, both which, efpecially the latter, they conftantly make confequent unto it, and effe bsof it. Not is it at all agreeable to the Apoffles defign,which is not to provebythefeTeftimonies direli- y that Chria was exalted aboveAngels; but to thew the Dignity and Excellencyof his perfon whowas fo exalted, and how reafonable it is that it should befo ; which is eminently proved by the Tcftimonie under conuderation. For the proof of this Excellency, the Apoftle produceth thofe TeJfimonies that are given unto him in the Old Teftament; and that as to his Name,his Honour and Glory, and his Works in this place. Neither is there any Reafon of afcribing the Deffruïfion ofHeaven and Earth unto the KinglyPower of Chrift, excluding his Divine Power in their Creation ; for the Abolitionof theworld, (if fuch it istobe) or the change of it, is no left an effe6t of Infinite Power than the Creationof it ; nor loth it direfkly appertain to the Kingdom ofChrift, but by accident, as do other works of the Providence ofGod. Thefe Exceptions then being removed, before we proceed to the Interpretationof the words, we (hall fee what Evidence may be added unto what wehave alreadyof- fered from thePfaim, toevince and prove, that this whole Teffimony loth belongunto him, which werethere no other, (as there are very many) Teltimonies to this purpofe, were abundantly fufficient to determine this Controverfie. a. We have theAuthority of the Apothiefor it, afcribing it unto him ; the word And, in the beginning of the Verle relates confeffedlyunto ; but mite the Son be faith, v.8. as ifhe had Paid : but unto the Son he faith, thyThrone, 0God, is for ever and ever ; and to theSon he laid, Thou 0God, in the beginning haft founded the earth. Again, the whole Telfimony fpeaks of the fame perfon ; there being no colour of thrusting another perfon into the Text notintendedin the beginning : fo that ifanypart ofwhat is fpoken do belong toChrift, thewhole of neceflty mutt do fo. To fuppofe that in this fentence, thou haft laid theFoundationofthe earth, and thou /halt fold them up as a garment,that one perfon is understood in the firft place, another in the latter,no filch thing being intimated by the Pfalmiff or the Apoftle, is to fuppofe whatwe pleafe, that we may attain what wehavea mindunto. One perfon is here certainly and only fpokenunto ; if thisbe the Father, the words concern not Chrift at all , and the Apoftle wasdeceived inhis Allegation of them; if the Son, the whole is fpoken of him, as the Apoftle af- firms. Nor ;. Can any Reafon be aflignedwhy the lauer wordsshould be attributed to Chrill, and not the former. They fay it is becaufe God by himfhall deltroy the world, which is the thing in the fait words fpokenof; but where is it written that God 'hail deffroy the world by Chrift? If they fay in this place ; I fay then Chrift is fpoken to, and of in this place; and if fo, he is fpoken of in the first words and thouLord, or not at all; Befides, towhomdo thofedoling wordsbelong, but thou art thefame, and thy years fail not 1 If theft words are fpoken ofChrift, it isevident that all the foregoing muff be fo alto ; for his enduring the fame, and thenot failing of his years ; that is, his Eternity í2t
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