034 THE GLORY OE' CHRIST AS GOD-MAN. To conclude this last set of arguments on this subject, I beg leave briefly to recapitulate them in this manner. There are many dark and difficult texts of scripture which have puzzled interpreters in several ages, and which have hung heavy upon the various schemes that support the doctrine of the deity of Christ. Now suppose there could be one single clue found out, which leads us into such a solution of all these difficulties, and such an interpretation of these scriptures, which has the following advantagesattending it, viz. I. Which gives the most natural and obvious, and literal sense; so that every common reader that had no pre- conceived notions or schemes of thought, would readily run into at the very hearing of it.-2. Whichputs learned men to no trouble of figures and metaphors, such as " prolepses ;" that is, speaking of things before they are done; or " catachreses ;" that is, cal- ling the eternal God, without actual union to human nature, a man, or an angel, or a messenger, a captain, &c.-3. Which is most consistent with, and most agreeable to all other parts of the word of God, both in the Old Testament and in the New, and renders the exposition of many other texts easier and plainer thanbefore, and sets the several parts of scripture in a beautiful harmony :-4. Which interferes with no particular scheme of divinity, nor makes any alterations in the important articles of our faith : And thus it does not widen the common differences of the several parties of christians, but freely allows each of them their own sentiments in the common controversies of reli- gion : And yet,-5. Which assists us to answer the objections of our opponents against the divinity of our blessed Saviour, and also allures them to embrace the truth : -6. Which aggrandizes the personal glories of our Lord Jesus Christ, and raises his condescension and his love to most amazing degrees:-7. Which spreads a new lustre over the whole gospel of Christ, and the 'various transactions recorded in the word of God. I say, suppose such a single clue were found out to lead us into the understanding of theholy scripture in such a manner as I have described, I would humbly ask, whether it does not bid fair for the truth of the gospel, and the very meaning of the sa- cred writers ? And whether it has not sufficient forceand allure- ment in it to invite our assent ? Such is the doctrine of the pre- existence of the human soul of. Christ. SECT. VI.Objections answered. When any doctrine has been proved by sufficient force of argument, theremaybe still various difficulties that remain to perplex it. But if those difficulties are not of equal force or evidence with the arguments that have been before produced for the support of it, we may reasonably give our assent to the doc-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=