DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9552#0157
TO THE CHRISTIAN PUBLIC.
127
and high, should be in reality considered inferior to that
other ? Surely, therefore, those who believe God to be
Supreme, possessing the perfection of all attributes, in-
dependently of all other beings, must necessarily deny the
identity of Christ with God : as the sun, although he is
the most powerful and most splendid of all known created
things, the greatest immediate source of life and enjoy-
ment in this world, has yet no claim to be considered
identical in nature with God, who has given to the sun
all the light and animating warmth which he sheds on our
globe. To effect a material change without the aid of
physical means, is a power peculiar to God ; yet we find
this power exercised by several of the prophets on whom
the gifts of miracles was bestowed. Besides, it is evident
from the first chapter of Genesis, that in the beginning of
the creation God bestowed on man his own likeness, and
sovereignty over all living creatures. Was not his own
likeness and that dominion peculiar to God, before man-
kind were made partakers of them ? Did God then deify
man by such mark of distinction ?
The following passages, I presume, suffice to illustrate
the entire dependence of the Son on God, and his infer-
iority and subjection to, and his living by, him. St. John,
ch. x. ver. 17 and 18 : " Therefore doth my Father love
me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself I
have power to lay it down, and I have "power to take it,
again. This commandment have I received of my Father T
Ch. xii. ver. 49 : " For I have not spoken of myself; but
the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment' what I
should say, and what I should speak." Ch. xiv. ver 31 :
" But that the world may kaow that I love the Father,
127
and high, should be in reality considered inferior to that
other ? Surely, therefore, those who believe God to be
Supreme, possessing the perfection of all attributes, in-
dependently of all other beings, must necessarily deny the
identity of Christ with God : as the sun, although he is
the most powerful and most splendid of all known created
things, the greatest immediate source of life and enjoy-
ment in this world, has yet no claim to be considered
identical in nature with God, who has given to the sun
all the light and animating warmth which he sheds on our
globe. To effect a material change without the aid of
physical means, is a power peculiar to God ; yet we find
this power exercised by several of the prophets on whom
the gifts of miracles was bestowed. Besides, it is evident
from the first chapter of Genesis, that in the beginning of
the creation God bestowed on man his own likeness, and
sovereignty over all living creatures. Was not his own
likeness and that dominion peculiar to God, before man-
kind were made partakers of them ? Did God then deify
man by such mark of distinction ?
The following passages, I presume, suffice to illustrate
the entire dependence of the Son on God, and his infer-
iority and subjection to, and his living by, him. St. John,
ch. x. ver. 17 and 18 : " Therefore doth my Father love
me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself I
have power to lay it down, and I have "power to take it,
again. This commandment have I received of my Father T
Ch. xii. ver. 49 : " For I have not spoken of myself; but
the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment' what I
should say, and what I should speak." Ch. xiv. ver 31 :
" But that the world may kaow that I love the Father,