DISSERTATION III. 261 religious honours. 5. Therefore the wholefoundation of human honours paid to this uniteti soul and body, this complex human person; lies in the intelligent nature, or the soul : So the whole foundation of religious honours paid, or payable, to this united God and man, this complex person of Christ, lies in the divine nature or godhead, though some special reasons, motives, and forms of address may be borrowed from this human nature. I know there may be a great deal of metaphysical control. versy raised to perplex this, or anyother representationof things But if we will attend to this illustration, I think it sets the whole matterof the worship of Jesus Christ, God-man; in a fair and easy light ; and yet at the same time maintains the foundation of religious worship payable to Christ to be laid in his divine na- ture. Now, if weconsider the worship of Christ as God-man and Mediator in this manner of representation, it gives anatural and easy solution to many difficulties that have been proposed. Particularly that objection derived from Johnv. 22, 23. The Father has committed all judgrizent to the Son, that all men might honour the Son, as they honour the Father. Here some have said, " It were a most absurd interpretation, that the Fa- ther has committed all judgment to my human nature, that men might honour my divine nature ; for the divine nature receives nothing hereby, and is adorable on a much higher reason, with- out it. Certainly the same subject is intended to be honoured, which is invested with authorityfrom God, viz. the Son ofman. Answer. This is granted, that it is the same subject receives authority and receives honour ; and it is no absurd interpretation to say, the Father has committed all judgment to my human na- ture being united to the divine, whichunion makes me capableof this office, that men might honour my Human nature in union with the divine, which union renders the whole complex person capable ofthis honour or adoration. Though this objection might also be answered another way, as Dr. Waterland, Defence II. Query 16. page 381. Christ is not worshipped because God committed judgment to him, but God committed it to himfor this purpose, that men might know the divinity of his person, and thereupon worship him. But in this solution of the difficulty, both the office and the worship seem to be attributed alone to the divine nature of Christ, and thereforeI rather chase the former solution. A further enquirywill arise here, " Whether the human nature of Christ shares in the divine honours that are 'paid to his person." Answer. Divine honour or worship may signify, either honour paid to a divine person, or else an acknowledgment of divine perfections. In the first sense the human nature may share in divine worship, in the second it cannot so properly. But n3
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