EVERLASTING FATHER. 183 the Nature of the MESSIAH, and therefore gives us this Name, as a Name of his Nature. He is not defcribing the Mode of his Exiftence with the FATHER and HOLY SPIRIT, but his '.Effence as true and very GOD. For this Reafon, the Application of this Name . to jefes chrl by no means militates againft the Doftrine of the Trinity, or the peculiar Relation of Chrift in that Trinity; but eftablifhcs and confirms it. For, if Chrift be the EVERLASTING FATHER, and if there is but one GOD, the Father ; then, Chrili being GOD ; that di- vine Perfon, who is eeconomically and ufually ftyled the Father, mint be of one Effence with him, or there would be two GODS. And if thefe divine Perlons be and the fame Effence, they may bear the Cha- racterof Father to all their Creatures relatively, which they do not bear to each other, confidered in the facred Effence, refpellively. Thus the LordCHRIST, though he is not theFATHER refpeaingthe Perfonality in the God- head, is very properly and juitly denominatedFATHER, and EVERLASTING FATHER, refpecting the Univerfe of Beings ; for he created them all, as well as fupports them all, by his Power. By him (lays the Apoale) were all things created that are in Heaven, and that are in Earth, vfble and invifible, whether they be Thrones or Dominions, or Principalities, or Powers; all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things conftft.* As their firft and pro- ducing Caufe, therefore, he is very truly and aridly their Father. Have we not all one Father (lays the Prophet).? Hath not GOD created us ?t This Title is applied to Chrift to denote his paternal Tendernefs for hisRedeemed; and he is Ityled the EVER - LASTING FATHER, not only becaufe he is everlafting in. his Nature, but allo becaufe that paternal Tendernefs for them fubfifted in him from everlafting. He loved them with, an everlafting Love, and hath declared his fverlafting Covenant as a Manifeítation of it. His Love e Col. i. 16. # Mal. 4:.; 10. N 4 towards
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