Is it not a pity, sir, that this surprising instance of condescension for the very purpose of redeeming us from the wrath to come, should be converted into an argument against his essential dignity! If it be asked, What is it then which is ascribed to the divinity of Christ, if his miracles and works are ordinarily ascribed to the Father, or to the Holy Spirit; and of what use was it? I answer: It gave value and virtue to all he did and suffered. Thus he is represented as 'by himself' purging our sins -The blood of Jesus Christ,' his Son,' cleanseth us from all sin-We have a great high priest, who is passed into the heavens, Jesus' the Son of God.' Heb. i. 3. iv. 14. 1 John i. 7.

You mention some other passages: as, God was manifest in the flesh;' by which, I suppose, you would understand the Father, or the Deity, without distinction of persons. But who was it that was seen of angels, believed on in the world, and received up into glory?' Was this the Father?-Frequent mention has also been made of Col. ii. 9. In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;' as though it was not the second person in the Godhead only that assumed human nature, but the Godhead itself. To this I answer: If the passage refer to the constitution of the person of Christ, which to me is doubtful, it may without any force be understood of every perfection of the divine nature dwelling in him, in common with the Father. To interpret it of the Godhead, without distinction of persons, is to contradict the whole tenor of the new testament. 'God sent forth his Son, made of a woman-The Word that was with God, and who was God, even that Eternal Life that was with the Father, was made flesh, or manifested to us.' Gal. iv. 4. John i. 1, 14. 1 John i. 2.

God being in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, has no relation, I apprehend, to the constitution of Christ's person, but to the exercise of mercy through his atonement. Thus it is that God in Christ, or for Christ's sake, is said to have forgiven us. Ephes. iv. 32.

POWER AND INFLUENCE OF TRUTH.

Query. WHAT is the true meaning of those parts of the new testament, which declare the gospel to have a powerful operation in the souls of men, especially in believers? See Rom. i. 16. 1 Cor. i. 18, 24. 1 Thes. ii. 13. And is the power of the gospel in any sense to be distinguished from the power and influence of the Holy Spirit; or are they always connected; or do both include one and the same divine operation?

Answer. That the gospel of Christ has an influence on the souls of men, cannot be denied: as a means it is naturally adapted to this end. Even where it is not cordially believed, it is often known to operate powerfully upon the mind and conscience. It is natural to suppose that it should do so: the human mind is so formed, as that words, whether spoken or written, should influence it. We cannot read or hear a discourse of any kind, if it be interesting, without being more or less affected by it; and it would be very surprising if the gospel, which implies our being utterly undone, and relates to our everlasting wellbeing, should be the only subject in nature which should have no effect upon us. The gospel also being indited by the Holy Spirit, the influence which it has upon the minds of men is ascribed to him. It was in this way, that is, by the preaching of Noah, that the Spirit of Jehovah'strove' with the antediluvians. It was in this way that he was 'resisted' by the Israelites; that is, they resisted the messages which the Holy Spirit sent to them by Moses and the prophets. Hence the expressive language in the confession recorded in Nehemiah ix. 30. Many years didst thou testify against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets.' Also the pointed address of Stephen,

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to those who rejected the gospel of Christ, in Acts vii. 51. 'Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.' This, for ought I can conceive, may with propriety be called the common operation of the grace of God.

As the gospel has an effect upon the minds and consciences even of many who do not cordially believe it, much more does it influence those who do. In them it works effectually, transforming them into its own likeness. 1 Thess. ii. 13. Their hearts are cast into it as into a mould, and all its sacred principles become to them principles of action. The grace, the wisdom, the purity, the justice, and the glory of it, powerfully subdues, melts, and attracts their hearts to love and obedience. The power of God had often been exerted by various means, and to various ends. Thunder and smoke, blackness and darkness and tempest, as displayed on mount Sinai, were the power of God unto conviction. Overwhelming floods, and devouring flames, in the case of the old world, of Sodom and Gomorrha, were the power of God unto destruction. Nor were these means better adapted to their ends, than is the gospel to be the power of God unto salvation. It has ever pleased God by this means, weak and despised as it is in the account of men, 'to save them that believe. This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.'

The above is offered as an answer to the former part of the question. But it is enquired, "Is the power of the gospel upon believers, in any sense to be distinguished from the power and influence of the Holy Spirit?"

That the power of the gospel in the hearts of believers, is the power of the Holy Spirit, is admitted. All that the gospel effects is to be attributed to the Holy Spirit, who works by it as a means. It is called the sword of the Spirit, Ephes. vi. 17; its influence therefore is as much the influence of the Spirit, as that of a sword is of the hand that wields it. That obedience to the truth by

which our souls are purified, is 'through the Spirit.' 1 Pet. i. 22. Indeed all the means, whether ordinances or providences, or whatever is rendered subservient to the sanctification and salvation of the souls of men, are under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The influence therefore which they have to these ends, is reckoned his influence. But it does not follow from hence, that "the power of the gospel is in no sense to be distinguished from the power of the Holy Spirit; or that the one is always connected with the other; or that they both necessarily, and in all cases, include one and the same divine operation." The contrary of each of these positions appears to be the truth. The passages already adduced, speak of the influence of the word upon those, and those only, who believe: and then the question is, How is it that a sinner is brought to believe?

The word of God cannot, in the nature of things, operate effectually till it is believed; and how is this brought about? Here is the difficulty. Belief, it may be said, in other cases is induced by evidence. This is true; and if the hearts of men were not utterly averse from the gospel, its own evidence, without any supernatural interposition, would be sufficient to render every one who heard it a believer. But they are averse; and we all know that evidence, be it ever so clear, will make but little impression upon a mind infected with prejudice. The scriptures speak of 'sanctification of the Spirit, and the belief of the truth,' as distinct things; and as if the one was antecedent to the other. 2 Thess. ii. 13. They also tell us that 'the Lord opened the heart of Lydia, and she attended to the things which were spoken by Paul.' We are said to believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead.' Ephes. i. 19, 20. It would not require more power to believe the gospel than any other system of truth, if the heart were but in harmony with it: but as it is not, it becomes necessary that a new bias of heart should be given as a preparative to knowing or embracing it. The

scriptures not only speak of knowledge as the means of promoting a holy temper of heart, but of a holy temper as the foundation of true knowledge. 'I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord.' Jer. xxiv. 7.

If it be objected, that 'faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God:' I answer, that faith must have an object, or it cannot exist. The word of God is the objective cause of faith; but it does not follow from hence, that it is its sole or compulsive cause. Eating cometh by food, and food by the blessing of God upon the earth. Food may be said to be the objective cause of a man's eating, seeing he could not have eaten without food; but it does not therefore follow, that food was the impulsive or sole cause of his eating; for had he not been blessed with an appetite, he would not have eaten, though surrounded by food in the greatest plenty.

If it be farther objected, that we can form no rational idea of the influence of the Holy Spirit, any otherwise than as through the medium of the word: I answer, we can form no idea of the influence of the Holy Spirit at all, either with or without the word, but merely of its effects. We may indeed form an idea of the influence of truth upon our minds, but we cannot conceive how a divine influence accompanies it. Nor is it necessary that we should, any more than that we should comprehend 'the way of the Spirit,' in the quickening and formation of our animal nature, in order to be satisfied that we are the creatures of God. It is sufficient for us, that we are conscious of certain effects, and are taught in the scriptures to ascribe them to a divine cause.