UESTIONS CONCEItNIN@ JESUS. established and firmly rooted in this point : For verse 31. Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe ? After all, I might observe this also concerning Martha and Mary, who were well acquainted with Jesus, and for whom he had a peculiar and special affection, as well as for Lazarus their brother John xi. 6. and he had sa far acquainted them withhis person and office, that_ they c° believed him to be the Christ, or Messiah, the Son of God, which should come into the world," verse 27. Yet neither of them speak of any faith they had, that he had power in himself to raise the dead, though .Jesus seems to have urged them to it; verse 25. The utmost faith which they express is this, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died, verses 21. and32. and verse 22. I know that even now whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Upon the whole survey of things. it appears that the disci- ples during the life of Christ had not arrived to any.firm belief of his godhead i And if at any; time they had a glimpse of his deity, it seems rather to be-under the influence of a- surprise and rapture, beyond the level of that imperfect dispensation, and be- yond the common exercise of their faith in that-day. And indeed Thomas seems to be under the power of such a divine rapture, when even after the the resurrection. of Christ he was favoured with so- sensible a Conviction,. and he cried out, John xx: 28. My Lord and my God; which is the first plain and certain .indi cation of any of the apostles believing the deity of Christ. These things will give occasion-tothree or four 'bore ques- tions, viz. Question I. " Did' the disciples' believe him then to be a mere common' man Y''. Answer. No, I think not ; -For itis very probable that they were informed of his éttraordinary conception, and his birth of the Virgin Mary his Mother, Co that he came into the world in a diviner way, and superior to other men, having God himself for the Father even of his flesh : And thus the holy thing that wcis born of the Virgin was called the Sonof God ;. Luke i. 35. It is probable also that they believed that sublime and near relation in which his soul stood to God, being the Son of God ib a superior sense to all other men, even before his incarnation ; and that he had apré-existent state, where he dwelt with God, and. whence he Prtmeforth from God when he came into this 'world; John xvi. 27, 28. Thus he Was eminently the Son of -God, as to his body and his soul. They also believed him to be the Messiah, their anointed king, and the highest and greatest of all the prophets, the Re- deemer of Israel, and their Saviour, and that in this sense also be was the-Sonof God' Theyknew him also to be endued with the Spirit of God in a most glorious and eminent degree.; or as
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