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givenesses, though we have rebelled against him. And therefore we ought rather to say, Lord, what is man that thou shouldst magnify him, and that thou shouldst set thine heart upon him; and that thou shouldst visit him every morning, and try him every moment!

CHAPTER IV.

Concerning the Redemption of Man by Jesus Christ the Son of God, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost.

GOD THE FATHER HATH REDEEMED US BY HIS

SON.

I WHEN the fulness of the time was come, God our Father, and our Redeemer, who is also in a more particular and extraordinary manner the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, sent forth his Son to be the Saviour of the world.

2 In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world to be the propitiation for our sins, that we might live through him; and that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

3 God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.

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was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them: for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell, and by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

'The Father loved the Son, and gave all things into his hand. And he spake the words of God; for God gave not the Spirit by measure unto him.

'God anointed him with the Holy Ghost and with power; and he was approved of God by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by him.

3

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, and by wicked hands being crucified and slain, God hath raised up. And that same Jesus who was thus crucified, God hath made both Lord and Christ; and him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to his people, and forgiveness of sins.

4 And he hath set him at his own right hand, in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.

'The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. For it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To whom the Father hath given power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as the Father hath given him.

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Jesus having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, the Father sent him in his name, that we might be justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the spirit of our God.

2 Thus hath God visited and redeemed his people, as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began; and hath performed the mercy promised to our fathers, and remembered his holy covenant, that he would grant unto us; that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us, and chosen us in him before the foundation of the world; and predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved; and wherein he hath abounded towards us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself; that in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him.

THE NATURE OF CHRIST.

CHRIST IS GOD.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word

1 Acts ii. 32. 33.

70. 72, 73, 74, 75. i. 1. 3.

John xiv. 26. 1 Cor. vi. 11.

3 Eph. i. 3, 4, 5, 6. 8, 9, 10.

2 Luke i. 68.

4 John

was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

1 Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all; the one Lord, by whom are all things, and we by him; who is over all, God blessed for ever. By whom also God made the worlds.

2

By him 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.

3 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist who upholdeth all things by the word of his power.

+ This is the beloved Son of God in whom he is well pleased; the only-begotten of the Father; who proceeded forth and came from God; the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person; in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

5

As the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.

6 He and his Father are one. He is in the Father, and the Father in him. All things that the Father hath are his; and what things soever the Father doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

7

" He said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

8 He is the first and the last: it is he that liveth,

Rom. ix. 5.

Heb. i. 2. 4. Matt. iii. 17. 5 John v. 26.

1 Acts x. 36. 1 Cor. viii. 6. i. 16. 3 Col. i. 17. Heb. i. 3. John viii. 42. Heb. i. 3. Col. ii. 9. x. 30. John xiv. 11. John xvi. 15.

John v. 19.

2 Col. John i. 14. 6 John 7 John v. 18.

and was dead, and behold he is alive for evermore; Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. For thus saith God unto the Son, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

1

Great is the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

2 Jesus knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man; for he knew what was in man. He knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And when any reasoned within themselves, he perceived their thoughts. For it is he that searcheth the reins and hearts.

3 We are sure that he knew all things; and by this we believe that he came from God.

All power was given unto him in heaven and in earth; and the works that he did bare witness of him; for the winds and the sea obeyed him. With authority and power he commanded the unclean spirits, and they obeyed him. And there were also many other wonderful things that Jesus did, which none other man did.

5

He had power on earth to forgive sins; and who can forgive sins but God only?

6

As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

And he gave his disciples power and authority over all devils and unclean spirits, to cast them out;

1 Col. ii 2, 3.

Luke v. 22. Rev. ii. 23.

2 John ii. 24, 25. John vi. 64. Mark ii. 8.
3 John xvi. 30.
4 Matt. xxviii.

18. John v. 36. Matt. viii. 27. Luke iv. 36. Mark i. 27. John xxi.

25.

Matt. xxi. 15.

John v. 21.

5 Matt. ix. 6. Mark ii. 7.

John xv. 24.

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