Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

we now the Epiftle to the Ephefians. This, alla, furnishes us with many inftances of the Apostle's writing without common fenfe, on the fuppofition of his being an Unitarian. Paffing over the Infcription and Benediction, in which, as in his other Epiftles, he ftiles himself an Apoftle of this mere man, (as Dr. Priestley thinks him) infcribes his Epistle to the faithful in him, and wishes them grace and peace from him, as well as from the Eternal God: Verfe the 3d. &c. He fpeaks of the Father as bleifing us, (viz. all the faithful) with all fpiritual bleffings in him, choofing us in him to be holy-predestinating us to the Adoption of children, making us accepted and giving us redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of fins-And then verfe 10, he proceeds as follows, That in the difpenfation of the fulness of time he might gather together. ' in one, all things in Chrift (that is, in a mere 6 man!) both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him, (mere man though he be) in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, according to the counsel of his own will, that we fhould be to the praise of his glory, who first trufted in Chrift (that is, who trufted in a mere man !') in whom ye alfo trusted (and were fo far from being condemned or blamed by God for fo doing, that) after ye believed in him, ye were fealed with the Holy Spirit of promife, which is the earnest of our inheritance'.-This mere man (veríe 20,) the Father hath fet at his own right hand, in heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but allo in' that which is to come, and hath put all things under his feet, and given him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is his N 2

body,

body, the fulness of him (viz. of the mere man !) that FILLETH ALL IN ALL!' Is there any reafon or sense in any part of this, especially in the laft claufe? How can a mere man be the head of the church univerfal, not only guiding and governing, but vitally influencing all true believers, in all nations and ages? And how could a mere man bring Jews and Gentiles nigh tơ each other by his blood, as the Apoftle obferves in the next Chapter, or be their peace, making in himself one new man? And having formed them into one body, how could he reconcile both unto God, by the cross, having flain the enmity thereby? or come from heaven, even while he remained there, and preach peace to the Gentiles, who were afar off, and to the Jews that were nigh, granting unto both access through himself (a mere man,) by one Spirit unto the Father?

Another remarkable paffage we meet with,Chap. iii. 8, Unto me, who am lefs than the leaft of all faints is this grace given that I fhould preach among the Gentiles, the unfearch*able riches of Chrift (that is, the unfearchable "riches of a mere man !) and to make all men fee what is the fellowship of the mystery, which 'from the beginning hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jefus Chrift,' viz. by a mere man, who had no exiftence, till all things had been created at least 4000 years! Such are the abfurdities which the Socinian doctrine fathers upon the difciple of Gamaliel, and of the Lord Jefus! Nay, and what is worse, makes him utter thefe abfurdities to God upon his knees, im the most folemn acts of devotion. For instance, verse 14, I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, of whom, (though a mere man!) the whole family of heaven and earth

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

is named, that Chrift (mere man as he is!) may

dwell

[ocr errors]

dwell in your hearts by faith!-that being rooted and grounded in love, ye may be able to com. prehend, with all faints, what is the breadth and length, and depth and height, and to know the love of Chrift, (that is, the love of a mere man!) which (though it be but the love of a mere man,) paffeth knowledge!-that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.' How a mere man fhould dwell in our hearts, how his love fhould pafs knowledge, and how the knowledge of it, in that degree which is attainable, should be a mean of filling us with all the fulness of God, is furely, to say the leaft, not to be conceived.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

6

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Another remarkable inftance of the abfurditý of fuppofing the Apoftle to have held the doctrine of Christ's mere humanity occurs in the next Chapter, verse 7,—17, Unto every one of us is grace given, according to the measure of the gift of Chrift (that is, the gift of a mere man!)-Wherefore he faith when he (this mere man,) ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now that he afcented, what is it? (what does it imply? but that he defcended firft into the lower parts of the earth.' Will the Socinians inform us, how a mere man, who had no existence till born in Bethlehem, and who of confequence had never been in heaven could defcend from thence? he that defcended (I fay) is the fame alfo that afcended up far above all heavens, that he (a mere man! might FILL ALL THINGS! And he (a mere man as he is!) gave Apostles and Prophets, Evangelifts, Paftors and Teachers, for the perfecting of the faints, for the edifying the body of Chrift, (that is, the body of a mere man!) till we all come in the unity of the faith, ' and knowledge of the Son of God, (the faith and knowledge of a mere man!) unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ftature of the ful

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors]

* nefs of Christ. That we may grow up into him in all things, who (though a mere man!) is the 'head, from whom the whole body, fitly joined'together and compacted, by that which every 'joint fupplieth, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love!''

6

Pafs we on to the 5th Chapter. There we meet with more inftances, and equally ftriking. Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and • (though a mere man !) hath given himself for us, (one mere man to ranfom millions!) an offering and a facrifice to God of a sweet-fmelling fa'vour.-Wherefore he faith (verse 14) Awake thou that sleepest, and arife from the dead, and• Chrift (a mere man!) fhall give thee light!' for though a mere man, he can lear and answer prayer, and give the light of life to as many as apply to him!-Verse 22 Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord, (a mere man,) for the hufband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church, and he (a mere man!) is the Saviour of the body! Therefore as the church is fubject unto Christ, fo let the wives be to their own hufbands in every thing. Hufbands love your wives, even as Chrift alfo loved the church, and (though a mere man,) himfelf for it, that he (mere man as he gave is,) might fanctify and cleanfe it, and prefent it to HIMSELF a glorious church, not having spot or • wrinkle or any fuch thing, that it should be holy and without blemish!-So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies; for no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord (viz, a mere man!) the church; for we are members of his body, of his fielh, and of his bone.'The next Chapter is exactly in the same strain : It abounds with instances of a similar kind, Servants

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

6

vants be obedient to them that are your mafters, according to the flefh,-in finglenefs of heart, as • unto Christ, (a mere man !) not with eye service es men-pleafers, but as the fervants of Chrift, (a mere man!) doing the will of God from the heart, with good will, doing fervice as to the Lord, (a mere man) and not to men! Knowing, that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the • fame fhall he receive of the Lord, (this fame mere man) whether he be bond or free. And ye mafters do the fame things unto them, forbear6 ing threatening, knowing that your mafter alfo · (a mere man!) is in heaven, neither is there reIpect of perfons with him. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, (that is, in a mere man!) and in the power of his might !-Peace "be to the brethren, and love, with faith, from "God the Father, and the Lord Jefus Christ, (that is, from the fupreme God and a mere man!) Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jefus Chrift (the mere man I fo often name) in fincerity! Wishing, Rev. Sir, that, fhould. Dr. Priestley think it worth his while to fhew us how the fundry paffages quo ed in this Letter from the Epiftles to the Galatians and Ephefians might, confiftently with common sense, be written by one who held the doctrine of Chrift's mere' humanity, he may not forget to tell us how his unwearied endeavours to degrade the Lord Jefus are consistent with loving him in fincerity,

I fubfcribe myself, &c.

LETTER

« PreviousContinue »