and character, in terms, which were very offensive to the Jews that he had, again and again, used expressions, which led them to think, that he challenged to himself prerogatives and powers, which can belong to no mere creature. He was conscious, too, that whenever they brought a charge against him for these high pretensions, instead of saying any thing to remove unreasonable jealousies on their part, his replies were always such, as actually confirmed them in the opinion, that he claimed an equality with God.-Finally he suffered and died under the imputation of making and maintaining this high claim, without ever saying a word, either to deny, or refute the charge; or, even giving a hint, that it was unjust. All this remains to be reconciled with wisdom and good sense, with integrity and honesty in the man Jesus, did he really mean to claim no other prerogatives and powers, than what he possessed in common with creatures, or with other inspired men.—Did he really mean to claim no character or powers above those of a mere creature, it seems impossible to reconcile his conduct with common honesty and integrity. We are, therefore, necessarily reduced to the dilemma, of being obliged to confess, that Jesus claimed to possess, in himself, true and real Divinity; or, that we must remain incapable of reconciling his conduct with common honesty. If we choose the former part, we must be compelled to believe, that he was really a divine person :--If the latter, that he was not an honest man, but an impostor and blasphemer.

HAVING mentioned some of the reasons, which the Jews and their rulers had, for believing that Jesus claimed a character above that of any mere creature; we may, further, consider what apprehensions, it would be natural to suppose, his disciples would have of him in this respect.

BESIDES the things, which they saw and heard, in common with the Jews, his enemies; there were many things, which passed particularly between Christ and his disciples, and frequent conversations he held with them by themselves, every way tending to impress their minds with a belief, that he claimed to possess a character infinitely above that of any mere Some of these will now be mentioned, without observing the particular order in which they took place.

creature.

On a certain occasion, Christ asked his disciples their opinion of him, saying "Whom say ye that I "am"? Peter speaking in the name of the rest of the disciples then present, as well as his own, answered an said, “Thou art the Christ the Son of the living “God. Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed "art thou, Simon-Barjona: for flesh and blood hath "not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in "heaven." On this, "He charged them, that they "should tell no man, that he was Jesus, the Christ." Matt. xvi. 15-17, 20. Christ's claiming to be the Christ, the Son of Go1, was considered, by the Jews, the same as his asserting an equality with God: And Christ never reproved, either the Jews, or his disciples, for supposing, that his professing himself to be the Son of God, was really professing, that he partook of the very essence of that God, whose Son he, so often said he was. And, when we consider the acquaintance they had with the writings of the ancient prophets, and the firm belief they had, that they were divinely inspired: we can hardly suppose otherwise, than that they expected, when Christ, the promised Messiah, should come, he would appear in a character above that of any mere creature, They had no doubt, but the second psalm was a prophecy and prediction of Christ. There, they noticed, that the Most High God tiles him his SON-That He is the LORD, whom

the julges of the earth are exhorted to serve with trembling. To them was it, also, equally clear, that the words of David, in, Ps. cx, were applicable to Christ, and only to him. And when they found that Jehovah stiled him Lord, and would send the rod of his strength out of Zion, and declare, that his people should be willing in the day of his power; what less could they suppose, than that there would be a union. between the Christ and the Lord Jehovah, which it would be blasphemous for any mere creature to claim.

Not only both friends and enemies of Christ were sensible, that the several passages, from the above mentioned psalms were applicable to their promised Messiah, the Christ; but they well knew, that it had been promised, that "unto them a child should be "born to them a Son given,-whose name should be " called, Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of peace. Isai. ix. 6. And, that the name of this Son should be Immanuel, that is God with us, Isai. vii. 14. Having these prophecies all in their hands, and being well acquainted with them, how could the enemies of Christ suppose otherwise, than that it was blasphemy in Jesus, (not believing him to be the promised Messiah,) to speak of himself as being The Christ the Son of the living God? And, how could his own disciples, who believed him to be the promised Messiah, when they confessed him to be The Christ, The Son of the living God, be supposed to profess any thing less, than a belief that he was tru ly a divine person?

BUT there were many things said by Jesus, particularly to his disciples, which it may naturally be supposed, could hardly fail of impressing them with a belief, that he claimed powers and preeminence, which are peculiar to Deity. After the death of Lazarus, when his sister Martha, understood that Jesus was

coming, she went out to meet him. In the conversation, which passed between them, on that occasion, Jesus stiles himself the resurrection and the life; and says, "he that believeth in me, though he were dead, "yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth, and believ"eth in me shall never die." John, xi. 25, 26.

SUCH was the opinion, which the disciples of Christ had of their Lord, and so great their affection for him, that the thought of his leaving them was very trying and distressing. Jesus, in his great love and tenderness, took much pains to soothe and mitigate their sorrows on so mournful an event; and, to convince them, that it was for their good, that he should ascend up from whence he came. In conversations he held with them, on this subject, such words frequently dropped from his gracious lips, as could hardly fail of impressing a conviction on their minds, that the character and powers he claimed, were above those of any mere creature. Some of these are especially worthy of notice.

CHRIST said to his disciples, "If ye had known me, "ye should have known my Father also: and from "hence forth ye know him, and have seen him. Phil"ip said unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so "long with you, and hast thou not known me, Philip? " he that hath seen me, hath seen the Father, "and how sayest thou, Shew us the Father? Believ"est thou not that I am in the Father, and the Fath-"er in me? The words that I speak unto you, I "speak not of myself; but the Father that dwelleth "in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am "in the Father, and the Father in me- -Whatsoever shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall "ask any thing in my name, I will do it." John xiv.

ye

7-11, 13, 14. Again Jesus tells them, in the same discourse, "When the Comforter is come, whom I ❝ will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit "of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he "shall testify of me." John xv. 26. Christ says, again, in the succeeding chapter, "If I go not away, "the Comforter will not come unto you: but if I "depart, I will send him unto you." Further, "when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide 66 you into all truth: for he shall not speak of "himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall "he speak and he shall shew you things to come. "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, " and shall shew it unto you. All things that the "Father hath, are mine: therefore said I, that he "shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you."

THESE things Christ said to his disciples, just before his crucifixion, to convince them, that it was best for them, and would be much to their advantage, that he should return to the Father, from whence he came; and, to support and comfort them under the melancholy prospect of his leaving them.

Not only did the disciples see and observe many things in Jesus, while he was conversant with them before his death, which had an evident tendency to impress them with a belief, at least, that he assumed to himself a character, and claimed powers, which are never to be found in a mere creature. But there were things took place, after his resurrection, which were greatly fitted to strengthen and confirm them in that belief.

On the morning of the resurrection, when the women, who visited the sepulchre, were told, by an angel, that Jesus was risen, and were directed to go, and give information to his disciples, of this joyful