Dear Brethren -- As we addressed you last year, on the divine authority of the holy scriptures, you will permit us, for the present, to call your attention to the important subject of the divinity of Jesus Christ. Although Arians and Socinians acknowledge the sacred oracles to be the rule of faith and worship, yet both deny the proper deity of Christ: the former believing Him to be super-angelic, and the latter denying that He had an existence before His conception in the womb of the virgin. To describe His relation, as Son to the Father, is as difficult as to comprehend the existence of the eternal God, in His incomprehensible nature: yet He is called God's own Son, not in a figurative, but in a proper sense. Rom. 8:32, "God spared not his own Son, etc." Therefore, the scriptures teach us, that Christ is "Emmanuel, i.e., God with us." Matt. 1 :23, as He is true man, so He is also true God; the same in substance, equal in power and glory with the Father; which is clear; first, from His names; secondly, from His attributes; thirdly, from His works; and fourthly, from His worship.

First from His names. The same divine names which are given to the Father, are applicable, also to the Son. He is called God -- "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." -- John 1 :1. "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh." -- I Tim. 3:16. "Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." -- Acts 20:28. "Herein' perceive we the love of God, that he laid down his life for us." -- I John 3:16. He is called Lord. -- "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Psa. 110:1; in a word, this is the common title through the New Testament; He is called the Lord of glory. -- I Cor. 2:8, and again He is called the LORD OF LORDS, AND KING OF KINGS. -- Rev. 19:16. It may, perhaps, be objected, that these names are applied in several parts of the scriptures to mere creatures; such as angels, magistrates, and idols of the heathen worship. But let it be observed, that when those divine names are applied to mere creatures, there is always something annexed to discover, that they are applied to them in an improper sense; and that they are not God's by nature. Thus of magistrates, "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men." -- Psa. 82:6,7. When angels are called gods, at the same time they are commanded to worship Christ. "Worship him, all ye gods." -- Psa. 97:7, compared with Heb. 1 :6, when the idols of the heathen are called gods, it is added, "they have not made the heavens and the earth; and they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens." -- Jer. 10: 11. But these divine names are applied to Christ, absolutely, without any limitation whatever; thus He is called "the only wise God" -- I Tim. 1:17. "The great God" -- Tit. 2:13, "and the true God" -- I John 5:20. The name Jehovah is God's incommunicable name: "That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth." -- Psa. 83: 18, which name is applied to Christ in several places in the Holy Bible. - See Jer. 23:6, Isaiah 40:3, 5, 25, and 45:24, 25. These passages refer to Christ; "He alone is Jehovah our righteousness." John the Baptist alluded to Christ when he said, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord (Jehovah)" -- Matt. 3:3. Christ is also the person which Isaiah calls, the King, Jehovah of hosts," in his vision. See John 12:41, again He is the Saviour, "the word hath gone forth out of his mouth, and he is Jehovah, in whom his saints have righteousness, and strength" -- that is applied to Christ as judge of all, in Rom. 13: 10, 12. Thus we find the same divine names which are applied to the Father, applied to the Son also.

Secondly, from His attributes. He is eternal as the Father. Not only before Abraham, as He tells the Jews, John 8:58, but He was in the beginning, John 1:1, hence He is Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever -- Heb. 13:8. Again, "the heavens shall wax old, as a garment -- but he shall endure, and when all things perish he is the same" -- See Psa. 102:26, 27, compared with Heb. 1: 10, 12. He is omnipresent -- when He was on earth, at the same time He was in heaven; "No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven." -- John 3:13. The promise (when He commissioned His disciples to preach and baptize) was, "Lo! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." -- Matt. 28: 19, 20: and whenever they are scattered to and fro in the earth, He dwells in and abides with them -- John 6:56. Is the Father omniscient? So is the Son. "Lord, thou knowest all things," said Peter -- John 21 :17. It is Christ who searcheth the reins, and hearts of men -- Rev. 2:23: and by Him God will judge the secrets of men -- Rom. 2:16. Surely He that knoweth the thoughts, words, and actions of all the men that have been, that are, or ever will be upon the earth, must be the omniscient God. Christ is the omnipotent God, as well as the Father; He is called the mighty God -- Isa. 9:6. He titles himself the Alpha and Omega, the Almighty -- Rev. 1 :8; and under this title the heavenly inhabitants praise Him -- Rev. 15:3. Again He is called the most high and ever blessed God; of whom, concerning the flesh, Christ came; who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen. -- Rom. 9:5: it is clear that all the divine perfections which belong to the Father, belong also to the Son, in their full extent; so that he who hath seen the Son hath seen the Father -- John 14:9. He is the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of His person -- Heb. 1 :3.

Thirdly, from His works, of old Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Thine hands; which words are expressly applied -- Heb.1 :10: "AII things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." -- John 1 :3. "By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" -- Col. 1 :16. As the creation of the world was by Christ, so the preservation of it, is by Him; for "by him all things consist" -- Col. 1: 17. "And he upholdeth all things by the word of his power" -- Heb.1 :3. Further, the raising the dead at the last day, is Christ's work, "I will raise him up at the last day" -- John 6:54. And in like manner He quickens the dead soul, in the work of regeneration: "the dead shall heat the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live." -- John 5:25: hence He is called the life of His saints; and what is their life, but Christ living in them? Gal. 2:20. The miracles which He wrought, and those which His disciples wrought in His name, being seen and acknowledged, even by His enemies, to be genuine, were all demonstrative proofs of His divinity.

Fourthly, from His worship. He is with the Father equally the object of religious worship, of prayer -- Lord Jesus (said dying Stephen), receive my spirit; Acts 7:59. The primitive Christians are denominated, they that, in every place, call upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. He is also the object of praise. "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy," etc., Rev. 5:9. And again verse 12, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." He is, in like manner, praised by the saints on earth: "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." -- Jude 25. There are also many other assertions of praise to Christ, such as those in I Peter 3: 18, I Tim. 6:15,16; and 1 :17. He is also the object of divine faith, equally with the Father -- "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me" -- John 14: 1. I know whom I have believed (or, as in the margin, trusted) and am persuaded that which I have committed unto Him against that day. Christ is the object of our supreme love, which is proper only to be given to God. "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." -- Eph. 6:24. Again, "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." -- I Cor. 16:22. To worship a mere creature, however exalted, is idolatry; as religious worship is due to God alone. See Matt. 4: 10.

Seeing then that the same divine names, attributes, works, and worship which are ascribed to the Father, are also ascribed to the Son; it necessarily follows, that He is the true God: the same in substance, equal in power and glory with the Father, "in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." -- Col. 2:9. Observe the gradation in the words, "the Godhead; the fulness of the God-head; the Godhead bodily dwelleth in him." All the perfections of the divine nature belong unto Him.

Although in respect to His human nature, His Father was greater than He, and as mediator He was the Father's servant; who was sent into the world by Him, to finish the work of our redemption; yet, in respect to His divine nature, at the same time He and His Father were one -- John 10:30; not one person, but one essence, one God. "He was in the Father, and the Father in Him:" so that He which had seen the Son, had seen the Father also - John 14:9, 10.

When the Jews, from these expressions, concluded that He had made himself equal with God, He does not contradict the inference which they draw, which He would, certainly, had it been false. The apostle observes, that, He being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to equal with God. -- Phil. 2:6. Yet, Oh, amazing grace! He made himself of no reputation, and humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Let us, therefore, rejoice, brethren, In our divine Redeemer; His divinity is an everlasting source of comfort His church. Hearken and hear Him say, Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed, neither be confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame; (it follows) thy Maker thy husband, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, The God of the whole earth, shall be called -- Isa. 54:4, 5. Christ therefore, by the shedding of His blood hath procured a pardon to the chief of sinners. His power is omnipotent, and will subdue our most stubborn lusts, and support us under our sorest trials, in the accomplishment of His promises, made to His dear people. His fulness is the fulness of God, and can supply our greatest wants. Permit us then, brethren, to remind your union is with a divine person, and let us be cautious never to debase our heavenly birth; being bought with the precious blood of Christ. Let us remember, we are not our own, but the Lord's, and strive to glorify Him in our bodies, and our spirits which are His. Oh! let us be encouraged to trust in the mighty God, the captain of our salvation, and king in Zion! And proclaim Him as our Ruler, by walking in His statutes and ordinances.

May we be followers of God, even of Christ, as dear children, and walk in love; until we arrive at the summit of everlasting happiness and glory, is the prayer of us all. Brethren, pray for us. -- Adieu.

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[From William Fristoe, The History of the Ketocton Baptist Association, 1766 - 1808, 1808, pp. 58-61. The grammar and spelling are unchanged. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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