DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9552#0529
■God is described as self-existent, having proceeded from
none ; but the Son, on the contrary, is represented as
proceeding from the Father. Here even the orthodox
amongst Christians ascribe the attribute of self-existence
to the Father of the universe alone.
In my Second Appeal I observed, that "the sun,
although he is the most powerful and most splendid of
all known created beings, has yet no claim to be con-
sidered identical in nature with God, who has given to the
sun all the heat," &c. ; to which the Editor replies,
" What is the sun to his Maker ?"—I wish he had also
added, "but that which a son and creature is to his
Father and Creator ?" When he again inquires, saying,
"If the sun has no claim to Godhead, has its Maker
none ?" (alluding to Christ,) he might have recollected
that neither the sun nor Jesus has ever arrogated to
himself Godhead, but that it is their worshippers that
have advanced doctrines ascribing Godhead and infinite
perfection to these finite objects. Notwithstanding that
we daily witness the power of the glorious sun in
bringing into life, and preserving to maturity an infinite
variety of vegetable and animal objects, yet our gratitude
and admiration recognize in him only a being instrument-
al in the hands of God. and we offer worship and duty
to him alone who has given to the sun all the light and
animating warmth which he sheds on our globe. On
the same ground, whether we understand from scriptural
authority, that the supreme Deitv made through Jesus
Christ all the things belonging to the Christian disnensa-
tion. or everything relating to this visible world, (as
interpreted by the worshippers of Jesus, ) we must not,
in either case, osteem him as the supreme Deity, in
none ; but the Son, on the contrary, is represented as
proceeding from the Father. Here even the orthodox
amongst Christians ascribe the attribute of self-existence
to the Father of the universe alone.
In my Second Appeal I observed, that "the sun,
although he is the most powerful and most splendid of
all known created beings, has yet no claim to be con-
sidered identical in nature with God, who has given to the
sun all the heat," &c. ; to which the Editor replies,
" What is the sun to his Maker ?"—I wish he had also
added, "but that which a son and creature is to his
Father and Creator ?" When he again inquires, saying,
"If the sun has no claim to Godhead, has its Maker
none ?" (alluding to Christ,) he might have recollected
that neither the sun nor Jesus has ever arrogated to
himself Godhead, but that it is their worshippers that
have advanced doctrines ascribing Godhead and infinite
perfection to these finite objects. Notwithstanding that
we daily witness the power of the glorious sun in
bringing into life, and preserving to maturity an infinite
variety of vegetable and animal objects, yet our gratitude
and admiration recognize in him only a being instrument-
al in the hands of God. and we offer worship and duty
to him alone who has given to the sun all the light and
animating warmth which he sheds on our globe. On
the same ground, whether we understand from scriptural
authority, that the supreme Deitv made through Jesus
Christ all the things belonging to the Christian disnensa-
tion. or everything relating to this visible world, (as
interpreted by the worshippers of Jesus, ) we must not,
in either case, osteem him as the supreme Deity, in