the immediate operation and miraculous power of God. See Luke i. 35.

Nor may it be amiss to observe here, that in the forecited evangelists are two pedigrees of Jesus; one carrying his genealogy up to David and Abraham, the other as high as to Adam; to satisfy us of his humanity, and to show the fulfilment of the divine promises concerning the great person who was to come, and that Jesus was "the seed of the woman," who should bruise the serpent's head: "the seed of Abraham," in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed, and the "son of David," in whom the everlasting kingdom, promised to that patriarch, should be established.

Jesus likewise, being a man, experienced many dangers in the time of his infancy. Notwithstanding which his life was wonderfully preserved. Being returned safe from Egypt, Joseph and Mary settled again in Galilee, in their own city Nazareth. And it is observed by St. Luke, ii. 40, "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him." The same evangelist also, having given an account of his going with his parents to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover, when he was twelve years of age, adds, ch. ii. 51, "That he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."

It might be observed, that when our Lord appeared publicly in the world, and by his words and works showed himself to be the Messiah, he called himself "the son of man:" and they who believed in him, respectfully addressed to him in the character of "the son of David."

Through the whole course of his ministry, we perceive him to have had all the innocent infirmities of human nature. In the end he died, and was raised from the dead, in testimony to the truth of the important doctrine taught by him, and as a pattern of that resurrection, of which he assured his faithful followers.

St. Peter, preaching to the Jews at Jerusalem, soon after our Lord's resurrection and ascension, says, Acts ii. 22, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know-him God hath raised up.' St. Paul preaching at Athens says, Acts xvii. 31, "God

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hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained."

Gal. iv. 4, "When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law."

1 Tim. ii. 5, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus."

2 Tim. ii. 8, "Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David, was raised from the dead, according to my gospel."

The apostle to the Hebrews, (a great part of whose design in that epistle is, to represent the great dignity of Jesus above Moses, and as exalted highly after his resurrection, and ascension to heaven,) does as clearly and fully assert the human nature of Jesus, as any writer of the New Testament.

The argument in Heb. ii. 14-18, must be understood to imply true and perfect humanity, of soul as well as body. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same: that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil: and deliver them, who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels. But he took on him the seed of Abraham." The meaning is, for he is not the deliverer of angels, but of the seed of Abraham. "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath been tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted:" or in ch. iv. 15, “For we have not an high priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all things tempted like as we are, yet without sin." In order to be tempted like as we are, he must have been like us, having a reasonable [human] soul and [human] body.

The apostle likewise in the former part of that second chapter of the epistle to the Hebrews goes upon the supposition of the Lord Jesus being a man, ver. 5-9, "For unto the angels has he not put in subjection the world to come, of which we speak; but one in a certain place," meaning Ps. viii. "testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst

him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands. Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.- -But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man, crowned with glory and honour for the suffering of death."

Well then, they of this scheme, from these and other texts conclude Jesus to be a man, with a reasonable human soul, and human body, born of the Virgin Mary, by the especial interposition of God himself. Which leads us to the other thing, that God was with him.

That special favour and privilege is variously expressed. In the discourse of Peter at the house of Cornelius, before referred to. Acts x. 36, 38, "That word which God sent unto the children of Israel,-which was published throughout Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism, which John preached; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were possessed of the devil. For God was with him."

John the Baptist, near the conclusion of his ministry, bears this testimony to Jesus. "He whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God. For God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him," John iii. 34.

Matt. i. 22, 23, "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, A virgin shall conceive, and shall bring forth a son,

b Christ is called the Son of man, not to deny his godhead, but to express the verity of his human nature, and that he was of our stock and lineage. 'He might have been true man, though he had not come of Adam, but his human nature had been framed out of the dust of the ground, as Adam's was, or created out of nothing. "But he that sanctifieth, and they that are sanctified, are of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren," Heb. ii. 11. He would be of the mass and stock with us.' Dr. Thomas Manton upon Luke xix. 1. Vol. iv. p. 883.

They are said to be of one. This denotes the union that is between them. They are of one stock and lineage, or one common parent of mankind. Hence Luke carrieth up the genealogy of Christ unto Adam, Luke ii. 38; so that he is of our kind and nature.' Manton upon Heb. ii. 11. p. 1083. Afterwards, Christ is our kinsman: not only true man, but the Son of 'man. True man he might have been, if God had created him out of nothing, ⚫ or he had brought his substance from heaven. But he is the Son of man, one descended from the loins of Adam, as we are. And so does redeem us, ❝ not only jure proprietatis, by virtue of his interest in us, as our Creator; but jure propinquitatis, by virtue of kindred, as one of our stock and lineage: as the Son of man, as well as the Son of God. For Jesus Christ, of all the kindred, was the only one that was free, and able to pay a ransom for us.' As before, p. 1084.

and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which, being interpreted, is, God with us."

Col. ii. 9," For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," or really.

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Which is much the same with what is observed by the evangelist, John i. 14, " And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory, the glory, as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

And all these expressions in the New Testament are agreeable to the descriptions of the Messiah in ancient prophecy. So Is. xi. 1, 2," And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord."

Which is the very same with what John Baptist calls "giving the Spirit without measure," John iii. 34, and the same with the Spirit's abiding on him, and remaining on him," see John i. 32, 33.

For clearing up this matter, it should be observed, that they who are of this opinion do not understand by the Son of God an intelligent spirit, equal with God the Father, and of the same substance and power, nor an angelical, or super-angelical spirit, formed before the creation of this material and visible world. But, in their apprehension, it is the man Jesus, who is the Son of God. And the Son of God, by way of eminence and distinction, or the well-beloved Son of God, and only-begotten Son of God, as they suppose, are all terms of equivalent import and meaning, denoting the Messiah.

When there came a voice from heaven, or from the most glorious Majesty, or the presence of God, saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him:" they think this to be the same as a solemn declaration, that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world, who knew, and was to reveal the will of God to others, in a more perfect manner than any of the prophets had done.

The Son of God, or the only-begotten Son of God, is the man most dear to God. He is the Christ. And the Christ, and the Son of God, are the same.

When God sent Moses back to Egypt, from whence be had fled, he was charged with this commission. Exod. iv.

22, 23," Thus shalt thou say unto Pharaoh : Thus saith the Lord; Israel is my son, even my first-born. And I say unto thee: Let my son go, that he may serve me." The children of Israel were God's chosen people, dear to him, and his special care, above all people of the earth. Israel therefore is called his son. We see a like style in some other texts. Jer. xxxi. 9, "For I am a father unto Israel. And Ephraim is my first-born." Hos. xi. 1, "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt."

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And christians, who believe in Jesus, and, through him, are brought nigh to God, are God's children and sons; John i. 12, " As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." 1 John iii. 1, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." Gal. iii, 26, " Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." But Jesus" is the Son of God," by way of eminence. He is "the first-born among many brethren," Rom. viii. 29.

How Jesus is the Son of God, has been shown formerly. I rehearse here briefly only. He is the Son of God, as he was born of a virgin, by the immediate and extraordinary interposition of the divine power. He is the Son of God, as he had the Spirit without measure, and the Father's fulness was poured out upon him; or the Deity dwelled in him. And he was afterwards declared to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead on the third day. He is the first-begotten from the dead, who died and rose again, and dies no more, but lives for ever. And he is exalted to God's right hand, being invested with authority and dominion over all flesh, and constituted judge of the world, by whom God will pass sentence upon all mankind. In these respects, as well as others, he has the pre-eminence. See Col. i. 15-19.

It may be here inquired, if Jesus were a man, with a human soul and body, how could he know all things? And how could he work so many miracles? The answer is to this purpose; "God was with him." And the Father, in him, did the works. The disciples, as is allowed, during the whole time of our Lord's abode with them here on earth, conceived of him no otherwise, than as a man, or the great prophet that was to come into the world, the Christ, who had the words of eternal life, or made the fullest revelation of the divine mind. They believed him to be a man, and See pages 367 and 372.