4 came down from heaven.3 He was therefore with the Father and in heaven, before his birth. He existed before John the baptist; and before Abraham himself.5 He was the Lord of David, and the living Redeemer of Job. He was with God in glory before the foundation of the world the " Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last;" "9 his "goings forth have been from of old from everlasting." ""1 He is the Son of God, "the only-begotten of the Father," begotten before any thing was created. He is the power and wisdom of God the Word by whom God acts and in whom he is made manifest to his creatures. He is the " image of the invisible God," 5 "the express image of his person (or substance.)"6 He was "in the form of God" and "thought it not robbery to be equal with God"—one with the Father, and therefore himself God. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."9 "All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." "1 "The world was made by him." 2 God made the worlds by his Son.3 By the Son 66 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."4 By him also" all things consist.” 5 He upholds all things "by the word of his power;" and he is himself unchangeable"the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."7 He was "that eternal life which was with the Father."8 "In him was life, and the life was the light of men; "9 he was "the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." He preached by his Spirit to the world before the flood. He inspired the prophets who spake concerning himself.3 He was the spiritual rock, who miraculously supplied the wants of the Israelites *-the leader whom they tempted to their own destruction.5 When the law was delivered from mount Sinai, his "voice shook the earth."6 We have abundant reasons for identifying him with the "Angel of the covenant," who conversed with Abraham,7 received the vows 1 John i, 3. 2 John i, 10. 6 Heb. i, 3. of Jacob, and "redeemed" him "from all evil;"9 revealed himself to Moses in the burning bush ;1 led the Israelites through the desert, in a cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night; appeared to Joshua, in the character of the captain of the Lord's host; 3 drove out the Canaanites from the land of promise; and was manifested in his divine character and glory to Isaiah,5 Ezekiel,6 Daniel,7 Amos,3 and Zechariah. He was the ever present helper and governor of God's people, the object of their fear, their love, and their allegiance. In him was the name of his Father; he was arrayed in the attributes of God.1 He acted and spake on behalf of Jehovah, and was Jehovah.2 In the fulness of time-at the precise date, in the very place, of the nation, tribe, and family, predicted by the prophets, the "Word was made flesh" 3. "made of a woman, made under the law."4 "As the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same."5 He was clothed with a human body and a human soul, and having before been God only, he now became 8 Gen. xxxi, 11-13. 9 Gen. xlviii, 16. God and man. 8 "God was manifest in the flesh." He was conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary,1 and his name was called "Emmanuel, God with us,' "2 Then did the shepherds hear the angel saying "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people, for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord." "3 Before Jesus commenced his ministry, came John the Baptist, than whom there had arisen no greater prophet,"4 to usher in the coming of "the Highest,' "5 to prepare "the way of the LORD." He pointed out Jesus to the people, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God. which taketh away the sin of the world."7 9 After receiving the Holy Ghost, and after being confessed of the Father as his "beloved Son,' ,"8 Jesus commenced his ministry, which burst forth with matchless power and brightness. He promulgated the purest code of morality ever listened to by the ear of man; he brought life and immortality to light. through the gospel."1 He developed the moral government of God, and the responsibility of man, and unveiled the awful secrets of eternity. On more private occasions he 8 Heb. ii, 14-18. 1 Luke i, 35. 3 Luke ii, 11. 5 Luke i, 76. 9 1 Tim. iii, 16. 2 Matt. i, 23. 4 Matt. xi, 11. 6 Luke iii, 4. declared those mysterious doctrines of atonement and regeneration,3 which were afterwards to be proclaimed by his inspired apostles, to the whole world. The ministry of Jesus was accompanied by wonderful works, wrought by the power of the Spirit of God, and by his own power. These miracles, were for the most part, public in their performance, sudden in their operation, and marvellously great in their effects. While our Lord was on earth, abundant evidence was afforded both of his humanity and of his deity. On the one hand, he lay a helpless infant in the manger; increased in wisdom and stature as he advanced in years; performed the laborious functions of a minister; was tempted by Satan; thought, wept, spake, and prayed, like ourselves; was afflicted, insulted, tormented, and finally expired on the cross and was consigned to the grave, a corpse. On the other hand, he searched the hearts and knew the secret thoughts of his hearers; reversed the order of nature; controuled the stormy elements; raised the dead to life; asserted his equality and union with the Father; and accepted those honours which were due to God alone. When Thomas "answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God," Jesus approved his confession of faith, and said, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed." 3 John iii. 4 John v, 19-23. x, 30. 5 John xx, 29. |