with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing, which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God." A like history of our Saviour's nativity is in the first chapter of St. Matthew's gospel.

2. Jesus is the Son of God, upon account of the especial commission given him by the Father, and the extraordinary qualifications bestowed upon him in order to his fulfilling

it.

John x. 36," Say ye of him, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest, because I said, I am the Son of God?"

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When our Lord was baptized, "the Spirit of God descended like a dove, and rested upon him," Matt. iii. 16. Mark i. 10. Luke iii. 21, 22. And John i. 32-34, " And John bare record, saying: I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I saw, and bare record, that this is the Son of God." And ch. iii. 34, says John the Baptist again: "God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him." Is. xi. 1-3, “ And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his root. 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. And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord." Comp. Isa. xlii. 1-4. chap. Ixi. 1-3, and Matt. xii. 17, and Luke iv. 18, 19.

By virtue of this most plentiful and extraordinary communication of the Spirit," without measure," or "the indwelling of the Father's fulness in him," as the same thing is at other times expressed, or his being " in the bosom of the Father," and acquainted with all his counsels, Jesus knew the whole will of God concerning the salvation of men, and spoke the words of God with full authority, and wrought miracles of all kinds whenever he pleased, and knew the thoughts and characters of men, and things at a distance, and things to come.

3. Jesus is the Son of God, upon account of his resurrection from the dead, on the third day, to die no more. Rom. i. 3, 4, "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David, according to the

flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." And Heb. i. 6, "When he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith: And let all the angels of God worship him." Which some have understood of our Lord's coming into the world at his nativity. But more generally interpreters have understood it of our Lord's entering into his glory, and taking possession of his kingdom after his resurrection. Which brings me to another

thing.

4. Jesus is the Son of God, on account of his exaltation to God's right hand, and being invested with authority and dominion over all flesh, and constituted Judge of the world, by whom God will pass sentence upon all mankind.

John iii. 35, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." Chap. v. 21, 22, " The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son, that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father." Heb. i. 1, 2, "God-has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir" or lord "of all things." Ch. iii. 5, 6," Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant-But Christ as Son over his own house."

5. Another token of the especial love of the Father for Jesus Christ, as his own Son, is the pouring out of abundance of spiritual gifts, though in different degrees, upon his apostles, and all who believed in him, after his resurrection.

John i. 32-34," And John bare record, saying: I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove. And it abode upon him. And I knew him not. But he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me: Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining, the same is he, which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record, that this is the Son of God." Comp. Matt. iii. 11. Mark i. 8. Luke iii. 16.

John vii. 37-39, " In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood, and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. This spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified." Acts xi. 15, 16, " And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then re

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membered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost." See Acts i. 5. and ii. 1—36.

Gal. iv. 6, " And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."

some

Eph. iv. 8-11, "When he ascended up on high, he and gave gifts unto men: and he some apostles, gave prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers."

Upon all these accounts, and not only upon account of his miraculous conception and birth, is Jesus "the Son of God." The texts alleged under each particular sufficiently show that they are all justly mentioned, and that none of them ought to be omitted.

There are some expressions in St. Luke's history of our Lord's nativity of a virgin mother, which show the truth of this observation. They likewise manifestly show, that it is in respect to his humanity, and the dignity conferred upon it, that he has the title of " the Son of God." The expressions, which were partly alleged before, are exceedingly remarkable." And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end," Luke i. 33.

Upon all the fore-mentioned accounts, then, and his transcendent greatness, Jesus is "the Son of God." And all these things may be supposed to be comprehended in that expression, Heb. i. 9, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." The words are a quotation from Ps. xlv. 7, and seem to have been originally intended of Solomon, who by divine choice and designation was preferred before his brethren," 1 Chron. xxviii. 5. But they are also fitly applied to the Messiah; who has been greatly distinguished, and highly honoured above his brethren: meaning men, of whose nature he partook, Heb. ii. 14-16, or prophets, who had the Spirit in a due, but less measure, bestowed upon them.

All these prerogatives has God the Father, in his unsearchable wisdom, conferred upon Jesus of Nazareth, whom he chose and appointed to be the Messiah: who is also the

"seed of the woman," that should bruise the head of the serpent, Gen. iii. 15, and " the seed of Abraham," in and through whom, all the families or nations of the earth were to be blessed," Gen. xii. 3. xviii. 18. Acts iii. 25. Gal. iii. 8." The rod out of the stem of Jesse, and the branch that should grow out of his root, to whom the Gentiles would seek," Is. ix. 1-10. "Who was to restore the preserved of Israel, and was likewise given to be a light to the Gentiles, that he might be for salvation to the ends of the earth," Is. xlix. 6. or, as old Simeon said, "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of God's people Israel," Luke ii. 32. For it is a certain truth, that the grace, which has been manifested by the appearing of Jesus Christ, was from early ages purposed by the Divine Being, and foretold by his prophets, Rom. i. 1-3. Eph. i. 4. 2 Tim. i. 9, 10. 1 Pet. i. 10-12.

And how agreeable the several articles of this detail are to the scriptures of the Old Testament, must appear from texts already alleged thence. Nevertheless I shall here put together a few other texts, and some of the same more largely than hitherto quoted: not transcribing them now, but referring to them, and entreating you, if you please, to read and consider them at your leisure.

Ps. ii. 6, 7, 8, 11, 12.

Ps. xxii. throughout.

Is. xlii. 1, "Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my servant, in whom my soul delighteth." Almost the very words of the voice, that came from heaven at our Lord's baptism and transfiguration. “I have put my Spirit upon him. He shall bring forth judgment unto the Gentiles;" and what follows to the end of ver. 7.

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Is. xlix. 1-6. Compare Acts xiii. 47. and xxvi. 23. We must now be able to perceive the true character of our blessed Saviour, and the great propriety with which the apostles and evangelists speak of him.

John i. 45," Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph." And see ver. 46-50. and Acts ii. 22. "Ye men

of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles, and signs, and wonders, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know." See also ver. 36. ch. iv. 27," For of a truth, against thy holy child [rather son, or servant] Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were

gathered together." Ch. x. 38," How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power. Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. For God was with him.” Nor does our dear Redeemer disdain this title in his state of exaltation. For when he called to Saul out of heaven, and "Saul answered,-Who art thou, Lord? he said, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest," Acts xxii. 6-8. Comp. ch. ix. 5. See also ch. iii. 6, and xxvi. 9.

From all that has been said, it appears that Jesus is a man, appointed, anointed, beloved, honoured, and exalted by God above all other beings."

"Some now by "the Son of God" understand an intelligent being, or emanation, begotten by the Father, or proceeding from him, in an ineffable manner, from all eternity, and of the same essence or substance with the Father. Others thereby understand a mighty spirit, or angel, begotten or formed by the will of the Father, in time, before the creation of the world, and of a different substance from the Father; which Son of God, according to them, became incarnate; that is, united himself, either to the human nature, consisting of soul and body, or to a human body, so as to supply the place of a human soul.

But those senses of this phrase, or title, are not to be found in any of the books of the New Testament. The Jews had no notion that their Messiah ⚫ should be any thing more than mere man.' See Whitby upon Rom. ix. 5. Dr. Jortin's Discourses concerning the Christian Religion, p. 17. which indeed is well shown in the passages of ancient authors, alleged by Whitby in the place referred to.

This will lead us to the true meaning of the title, “the Son of God," in the gospels; for there many give our Lord that title, who took him to be a man especially favoured by God. This title is given to our Lord, not only by Peter in his confession, Matt. xvi. 16, and the parallel places, and John vi. 69. but also by John the Baptist, John i. 34, iii. 35, 36. by Nathanael, John i. 49. by Martha, xi. 27. and by others, Matt. xiv. 33, Luke iv. 41. Our blessed Lord likewise often takes it to himself either directly or indirectly. John iii. 17, 18, v. 25, ix. 35-37, x. 36, and xi. 4.

The case seems to be this. In the Jewish style, and the language of scripture, all good men, and all people, who are in a covenant-relation to God, are his sons, and are entitled to many blessings and privileges: but Jesus, as the Messiah, is "the Son of God," by way of eminence and distinction.

Exod. iv. 22, 23, "And thou shalt 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." Is. xliii. 6, "Bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth." See likewise Is. xlv. 11, 12, and Jer. xxxi. 9," For I am a father unto Israel; and Ephraim is my first-born." Ver. 20, "Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child?" Hos. xi. 1," When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt." To which I must add Jer. xxxi. 1, "At the same time, saith the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel. And they shall be my people." Comp. ver. 9 and 33. All which is expressed by St. Paul after this manner. vi. 18. "And I will be a father unto them; and they shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." See there also ver. 16 and 17. Accordingly, in the New Testament, the Gentiles, who received Jesus as the Christ, being brought into God's family, and into the number of his peo

2 Cor.

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