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No man knoweth

ther." The comparison is not here made between the human and the divine nature of Christ; there can be no pretence for this. We here find a regular gradation from man to God. this day, no, nor the angels of heaven, nor the Son of God, but the Father only. The rank of the Son is above that of the angels, and must refer to him in his most exalted character. In this character he knew not the day. The declaration is made in the same form in which Christ speaks of sitting in judg ment on the human race, and no intimation is giv en that the assertion is limited. To suppose then, under these circumstances, that Jesus knew not the day as man, but knew it as a divine person, is to suppose an equivocation altogether unworthy of an instructer of truth and righteousness. What should we think of the veracity of a man who, having one eye defective, should direct a sound organ to an object clearly within his vision; and then, without any qualification, and on a subject, too, the most important, should solemnly declare that he did not see this object-mentally meaning that he did not see it with the defective eye, though he had a clear sight of it with that which was perfect?

Reflecting, my Christian brethren, on the voluntary mission of our Saviour, and on his sufferings and death in the execution of his benevolent design to deliver us from the pollutions of sin, and to redeem us from the empire of death, let us, grateful for his mediation, imbibe his spirit, and adorn our lives with the virtues of his religion. At his second appearing, may we be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.

SERMON III.

THE HUMANITARIAN AND ARIAN DOCTRINE RESPECTING THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST.

JOHN viii. 58.

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am.

UNITARIAN Christians of the present day may be divided into two classes. One of these believe that our Saviour existed prior to his appearance on earth; the other maintain that he was merely a man, chosen by God to be his distinguished Prophet to his brethren of the human family; to whom the spirit of inspiration was given without measure; and who was invested with power from on high to qualify him to be the great agent in accomplishing the purposes of divine mercy in the salvation of sinners.

The Humanitarian doctrine is the most simple, and approaches nearest to the methods which God has usually adopted for the moral instruction and improvement of the world of mankind. Jesus was born of a woman, he lived as a man liveth, and died as men die. Jesus is spoken of as a man, where the inspired writer contrasts the effects of the apos

tacy with the benefits resulting from the mediation of Christ." For since by man came death, by inan came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." The dispensation which preceded the gospel was founded by a man; and the desponding language of the apostles of Jesus, at his crucifixion, make it apparent that, during his life, they supposed him to have been a mere man; and after his resurrection they no where express the surprise which they must have felt, on the discovery of the existence and rank which their Lord held in heaven before his advent into our world. Peter, in the first sermon he preached, and which was delivered at the moment of the descent of the Holy Ghost, speaks in the following manner of his divine Master-" Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus, a man approved of God among you by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you." St. Paul, when addressing the philosophers of Athens respecting God, the doctrine of repentance, the resurrection, and the final judgment, adopts the following language "God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." Our view thus far favours the Humanitarian scheme. I candidly acknowledge that many texts found in the New Testament are difficult to be reconciled with any other doctrine; and I as freely express an opinion, that, by this doctrine, no revealed truth is lessened in its author

ity, no law is weakened in its force, nor is any promise diminished in its influence. Our Christian faith and hope rest not on the metaphysical character of our Saviour, but on the evidence he produced of a divine commission to state the conditions of acceptance with God, and to give an assurance of eternal life to all who obey him. But the sacred writers are ever consistent with themselves, and consistent with each other. We may not from a given number of texts form an hypothesis, and force all other parts of scripture to support it. This would be to impose a meaning on the inspired writers, and not to take a meaning from them. There are many passages of the New Testament which it would be very difficult for me, in consistency with the established rules of language, to accommodate to the Humanitarian scheme; and can we, without doing violence to the general representation of the evangelists and apostles, respecting the character and office, the agency and death, the exaltation and government of Christ, make these comport with the supposition that Christ was a mere man ?

Arians hold that Jesus Christ, a created being, existed in heaven before his appearance on earth; that in an appropriate sense he is the Son of God, the brightness of his Father's glory and the express image of his person; that God appointed him to be the Mediator of a covenant of grace and mercy; that in conformity to this appointment, Christ commenced his ministry with men; established the conditions of pardon and salvation; taught the truths pertaining to life eternal; sct an

example of obedience to all his disciples; yielded himself to the death of the cross; arose from the dead, and, ascending to heaven, was invested with power to superintend the moral concerns of our world; and finally to raise the human race from the grave, and confer and inflict on them the retributions of a righteous judgment.

The difference between a being of underived existence, and one whose existence is derived, is infinite. This distinction should ever be made between God and his Son, Christ our Saviour.Though Arians admit that Jesus Christ is exalted in rank, and possessed of power to carry into effect the high purposes above mentioned; yet they hold that this exalted existence was derived from God; that the power to execute the commission of Mediator is derived power; and that the merciful and benevolent design accomplished by the ministry of the Saviour had its origin in the goodness of the one living and true God. On God, therefore, our minds should rest as the original author of all blessings, and as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The character and station of Christ I shall now endeavour to discuss under the following propositions.

1. The proof from scripture, that our Saviour existed in heaven before his appearance on earth.

2. The proof from scripture, that the appearance of our Saviour on earth was an act of humiliation and debasement.

3. The power and majesty which the scriptures attribute to Christ, in carrying into execution the

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