DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9552#0543
TO THE CHRISTIAN PUBLIC.
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before the world was, and that he, not merely as a man,
before the assuming of the office of the Messiah, was
inferior to his Creator, but that he was so even after he
had been endowed with the Holy Spirit in the river of
Jordan* and with the power of performing miracles, which
is said to be a spiritual gift. Supposing he, like Adam,
lived with God before his coming into this world, (accord-
ing to the doctrines maintained by some Christians,) and
afterwards was sent to the world, in the body of Jesus,
for effecting human salvation, as John the Baptist was
esteemed to be Elijah, even this doctrine does not preclude
us from rejecting the idea of a two-fold nature of God
and man.
The Editor says, that when " he (Jesus) empited himself
of his glory, did he lay aside his divine nature, of which
his glory was merely a shadow?" and then he recommends
me to reflect for a moment, on what the term glory
implies;" understood either of praise or grandeur, it is
merely the reflection or indication of a glorious nature."
I have reflected, for some years past, and do now- seriously
reflect, on the divine nature, but I find it inconsistent
with any idea I can admit of the eternal and unchangeable
Almighty, that he should empty himself of his glory, (call
it praise or grandeur, which you like,) though for a season,
and should afterwards offer supplications for the same
glory to himself, as if another being; addressing that
other self as his own father ; since God is often declared
to have hardened the heart of men so as to disqualify
them from perceiving his glory, instead of having de-
garded himself by setting aside his own title to praise, or
the grandeur which is inherent in his nature.
The Editor adds, " If it was deserved glory, it was that
of which his nature was worthy, and the Father's giving
l9
before the world was, and that he, not merely as a man,
before the assuming of the office of the Messiah, was
inferior to his Creator, but that he was so even after he
had been endowed with the Holy Spirit in the river of
Jordan* and with the power of performing miracles, which
is said to be a spiritual gift. Supposing he, like Adam,
lived with God before his coming into this world, (accord-
ing to the doctrines maintained by some Christians,) and
afterwards was sent to the world, in the body of Jesus,
for effecting human salvation, as John the Baptist was
esteemed to be Elijah, even this doctrine does not preclude
us from rejecting the idea of a two-fold nature of God
and man.
The Editor says, that when " he (Jesus) empited himself
of his glory, did he lay aside his divine nature, of which
his glory was merely a shadow?" and then he recommends
me to reflect for a moment, on what the term glory
implies;" understood either of praise or grandeur, it is
merely the reflection or indication of a glorious nature."
I have reflected, for some years past, and do now- seriously
reflect, on the divine nature, but I find it inconsistent
with any idea I can admit of the eternal and unchangeable
Almighty, that he should empty himself of his glory, (call
it praise or grandeur, which you like,) though for a season,
and should afterwards offer supplications for the same
glory to himself, as if another being; addressing that
other self as his own father ; since God is often declared
to have hardened the heart of men so as to disqualify
them from perceiving his glory, instead of having de-
garded himself by setting aside his own title to praise, or
the grandeur which is inherent in his nature.
The Editor adds, " If it was deserved glory, it was that
of which his nature was worthy, and the Father's giving