Theological Works: To which is Prefixed Biographical Memoir of the Author - John Skinner - Google Books

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CONTENTS OF THIS VOLUME.

BIOGRAPHICAL Memoir-containing an account of the Life,

Studies, Writings, Correspondence, and Character of the

LETTERS-addressed to Candidates for Holy Orders in the

Episcopal Church of Scotland.

Christian belief of ONE, SUPREME, SELF-EXISTENT ESSENCE

--not deducible from reason, or the light of nature-taught

by revelation-shewing a TRINITY of Persons in JEHovah—

different opinions respecting their mode of existence.

Doctrine of Eternal Generation-on what founded-how ex-

plained-by Dr. Bull-finding fault with a saying of Tertul-

lian, and calling it a "monstrous effatum."

Title" Son of God"-how to be understood-not of his Deity

-as we never say, Father of God-how St. John introduces

the only begotten of the Father-the primitive Fathers appealed

to-Ignatius speaks of Christ as BEGOTTEN, and not Begotten

-contradicted by Drs. Bull and Waterland-Eternal Genera-

tion neither the language, nor doctrine of Ignatius.

The Apostolical Constitutions not friendly to Eternal Genera-

tion-neither the COUNCIL of NICE-the Greek language not

sufficiently expressive of the distinctive energy of the Hebrew.

Nicene Creed farther considered-meaning of the clause "be-

"gotten of his Father before all worlds"-begotten into the

office of man's Redeemer-why said to be "God of God”—

explained by Ignatius-" Light of Light," properly "Lumen

"ex Luce"-the clause "begotten not made" descriptive of

our Saviour's incarnation-as "of one substance with the Fa-

iii-ccxiv

7-15

15-26

27-33

"ther" is of his divinity-elucidated by Tertullian-Anathe-

ma of the Nicene Council against those who should say—“ be-

"fore he was begotten, he was not.”

Athanasius thought favourable to "Eternal Generation”—also

Theodoret of Cyrus-and Pope Gelasius-Athanasius, as quo-

ted by Beza, contradicts himself-modern writers-Drs. Bull

and Felton contradict one another-well-founded opinion of

Hilary of Poictiers respecting the real Deity of Jesus Christ.

Opinion of Photinus Bishop of Firmium not favourable to "Eter-

"nal Generation"-jarring accounts of his condemnation—

something like the doctrine of "Eternal Generation" appear-

ing in the fourth century-little heard of in the five following

centuries-occupied with disputes about other matters.

Dangerous consequences of the doctrine of " Eternal Genera-

"tion"-Subordination, and hence inferiority in Deity-

how insisted on by Dr. Bull-his thesis considered, that

"God the Father, even according to his divinity, is greater

"than the Son"-this, the opinion of Dr. Samuel Clarke-

controverted by Dr. Brown, Bishop of Cork and Ross-and

by Dr. John Edwards of Cambridge-and Dr. Bennet of Col-

chester-asserting, that the scriptures nowhere mention any

derivation, or subordination in the Trinity.

Introduction of the term "Eternal Generation" owing to three

causes-1. The Platonic Philosophy-improving on the sys-

tem of generated Deities-2. The translation of the Hebrew

scriptures into Greek-instances produced of its deviating.

from the original--3. The much misunderstood doctrine of

"Eternal Generation" supported by the authority of the Ro-

mish Church-not much noticed by the Reformers-how re-

ceived in Scotland and England-adopted by the Westminster

Assembly-how explained by Bishop Pearson and Mr Reeves. 64-72

Application of the arguments and facts already adduced-influ-

ence of the Platonic Philosophy on Justin Martyr-shameful

panegyric on Socrates by Mr. Reeves-generation in, or of

Deity, peculiar to the Platonic school of Alexandria-hence

the doctrine of inferiority in Deity, espoused by Dr. Bull-

borrowed from Clemens Alexandrinus—and, though without

proof, said to be adopted by others.

Objectionable assertions respecting the eternal filiation of the

Logos-supposed Creed of Gregory Thaumaturgus speaks of

the Son as God, but never of the Father of God-Dr. Allix

confounds the terms Word and Son-great mistakes about

angelic Appearances-leading to the mistaken idea of sub-

ordination in Deity-conveyed in some parts of the Septua-

gint Translation.

Drs. Bull and Allix, great admirers of Philo the Jew—as he was

of Plato's philosophy-Objectionable passages in Dr. Scott's

"Christian Life"-particularly what he says of the "mini-

"stry of the Holy Ghost"-how improper to place angels, as

ministering spirits, in the same scale with the Holy Ghost the

The Author's apology for differing in opinion from so many

learned men-allows his just share of merit to Athanasius,

but cannot go all the lengths in his praise that some have gone

—thinks the language of Ignatius entitled to as much respect

as that of Athanasius-offers two observations on "the testi-

"mony of the Fathers," as necessary to be attended to,

Information afforded by scripture on this fundamental doctrine

of a TRINITY IN UNITY-the Bible presents us with two em-

phatical words, JEHOVAH, and ALEIM, the former denoting

the self-existence, or self-essence of Deity-the latter the rela-

tion in which he has revealed himself to man-peculiar charac-

ter of the name JEHOVAH-not properly translated LORD-

the word ALEIM properly defined-expressive of a peculiar

relation to man-not rightly translated GOD.

Mistakes of Dr. Clarke, from not attending to the meaning of
the Hebrew titles ALEIM, and JEHOVAH-appearance to A-
braham of the adorable THREE in ONE-the Three ALEIM
in One JEHOVAH,

How the TRINITY is revealed in the Hebrew scriptures-with-

out any allusion to "generation," "filiation," "sonship,"

&c.--other two words explained, ADONI, and ALUE-both

restrictively applied to CHRIST the redeeming Person-the

former expressive of his dominion, lordship, or authority-

the latter pointing him out as the one bound, or engaged by

oath to the work of man's redemption.

The redeeming One thus represented—as Jehovah, he EXISTS ;

as Adoni, he ACTS; as Alue, he SUFFERS-no mention made

of him as secondary, or inferior-the word for Heavens SHE-

MIM plural, and said to declare the glory of God-how they

exhibit a Trinity-various representations of this doctrine-

no precedency, or postcedency to be understood by the terms.

"first," "second," and "third" Persons.

The plan of the "Divine Oeconomy" clearly laid down in the

164-172

Objections considered-any appearance of subordination remo-

ved by a proper view of the divine aconomy-Dr. Bull's mis-

taken idea of the divine Monarchy considered--no danger of

Tritheism to be apprehended from a right view of the THREE

in JEHOVAH-three ALEIM, but not three Gods.

Great importance of the true meaning of the scripture titles of

JEHOVAH, and ALEIM-a Trinity of ALEIM, or Confederates

in One JEHOVAH-peculiar shares of office to all the Three-

no subordination, or inferiority, but what arises from the œco-,

nomy of these offices-this economical distinction at last to

cease, when Jehovah shall be ALL in ALL.

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