152 THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY: 19. There are many other titles and characters, attributed to our Lord Jesus Christ, and that so often, and in such a manner, as seem to raise him high above the character of crea- tures, so that Ì can hardly think these titles would have been thus attributed to hits in scripture, if he had not godhead in even though he had been never so glorious, and exalted a creature. He is called the " truth;" John xiv. 6. The " Amen, the faithful and the true witness ;" Rev. iii. 14. which seems to be the name given toGod himself ; by Is. lxv. 16. where prophesying of the times of the gospel, he says, that men shall " bless them- selves in the God, " Amen," and shall swear by the God, " Amen," which we translate the " God Of truth." It is in this " Amen," in whom the nations of the earth shäuld be blessed, and by whose name they should swear, in the days of Christia- nity, when " the new heavens and earth are created ;" verse 17. Christ is called the " light," absolutely, and withoutliìnitation ; John i. 4. Now light in such an absolute way of 'expression, is one of the titles of God; 1 John i. 5. " God is light, and in híih is no darkness at all." He is called the " life ;" 1 John i. 2. " Truth and life ;" John xiv. 6. " The resurrection and the life ;" John xi. 25. and the " word of life ;" 1 Joliet 1. " Eter- nal life," verse 2. and chapter v. 20. Now the living God that has life in himself, and gives life to all things, is a glorious title and character of God, in many places of scripture. But thi§ seems so be too nearly imitated in these titles given to Christ, if he were not God. Christ is called the " word," " Who Was with God, and who was God ;" John i. 1. He was in sò close a union with the true God the Father, and so much one with him, that he may be justly called the true God ; and especially When there is ohé of the characters of true godhead immediately subjoined, viz. that oil things were made by him; Verse 3. The " word" is a fre- quent naine of Christ in the New Testament, especially in the writings of the apostle John : And some critics well skilled in Jewish and Hebrew language, have given us "a number of in- stances, where Christ is called the word of God, and word of the Lord,, in the Old 'Testament also. He is called the " living word ;" Heb. iv. 12, 13. as it Should be rendered. "The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two -edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart ; neither is there any creature that is net manifest in his sight ; but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." Which text carries something too sublime in it for any mere creature ; and yet chris- tian writers have generally explained this text, concerning our
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