dwelling in him, wrought such mighty works, who controlled the most inveterate diseases of body and of mind, who stilled the raging tempest by a word, and recalled the dead to life? shall we hesitate to call him Mighty, who was the agent, under God, of creating the world anew in righteousness, who was the medium of those extraordinary interpositions of divine power, by which the doctrines of the Gospel were confirmed, and its renovating and sanctifying influences most rapidly and widely extended among those who before were in the power of darkness? Greater than the greatest earthly conqueror, he will reign till all enemies are put under his feet, till his rule is extended over the whole earth, and hath put down all opposing authority and dominion: and by the working of that mighty power by which he is enabled to subdue all things to himself, he will summon us from the tomb, he will change these our mean bodies so that they may be of like form with his own glorious body, and award the sentence of life or condemnation. Then,' to use the triumphant language of the Apostle, will be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory,' through our Lord Jesus Christ.'

It has been supposed that the next title, Father of the Age, is founded on a peculiarity of eastern phraseology, by which they were accustomed to denote the quality of a person, by calling him the father of that quality; and this may contribute a little to shew us the force of the appellation. But it scarcely requires any such aid. It appears obviously to mean, the Head, the Introducer, of a new dispensation: and as that dispensation is to be eternal, I see no objection, as to sense, to our translating the expression, as some critics do, Father of Eternity, or Father of that which is Everlasting; for it then would signify, the Founder of an eternal dispensation. The only possible difficulty, (and that can be but little felt,) arises from the uniform representations of the New Tes tament, which point to God, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the Father of mercies and of all consolation; which direct us to his free and undeserved love and mercy, as the sole original source of all the blessings of the Gospel; which declare that he is the Father of lights, from whom proceeds every good gift; which teach us to call upon him under the delightful name of Father; which show us that He is alone in the highest sense, our Father, and represent Jesus under the endearing character of our Friend and Elder Bro

ther. But Jesus was appointed, by the all-wise counsels of God, to be the head of the new creation, and to be the chief subordinate agent in bringing about His gracious purposes, in the redemption of mankind, their deliverance from the power of sin and death. To us, (saith the great Apostle, who hath so justly represented the high dignity, and glorious agency of his exalted Lord,) there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we to him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.'*

I cannot hesitate in saying, that he who, in the first instance, refers the gracious gift of the Gospel, its delightful assurances, its plain directions, its glorious prospects, to the Son of God, does not understand the New Testament; it was our Saviour's highest aim, and indeed his greatest honour, to do the will of Him who sent him. But shall our hearts refuse the tribute of admiring affection and gratitude, to him who, though possessed of the means of attaining the highest worldly splendor, for our sakes was poor, was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief,-to him, who to execute the great work assigned him, to assure and diffuse the glad tidings of salvation, submitted unto death, even the death of the cross, and thus

*Cor. viii. 6.

became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him? Such were not the feelings of the Apostles; such be not ours; but may the words

of Peter be justly applied to us Whom having not seen, we love, in whom though now we see him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of our faith, even the salvation of our souls.”

The last appellation, Prince of Peace, would of itself afford matter for abundant reflection, but requires little illustration. The propriety of its application to our Saviour is at once obvious; whether we consider the nature, or the effects of his mission. He is that peaceful ruler, under whose laws and influence, peace is diffused on earth, as far as his rule is obeyed; who has shewn sinful man, how to make his peace with his God, and to live in peace with his brethren; and who giveth us the means of obtaining that internal tranquility and peace, which passeth all understanding, and which the world cannot take away. -To him then be glory, that glory which he received from the Father,† that glory which, before the world was, he had with God, in his all-wise counsels, in his unchangeable decrees, in his

* 1 Pet. i. 8. ↑ John xvii. 22, 24.

John xvii. 5.

sight, to whom a thousand years are as one day:" To him be glory, the exalted glory of being, (by the appointment of his God and Father, and through his pious obedience to his will,) the author of eternal salvation to all who believe and obey him: and may his kingdom extend, till every one of the rational offspring of God own his sovereignty, till all acknowledge and obey the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.f-The blessings of the Gospel, by which millions, and millions of millions, will have been led on to holiness and to happiness, originated in the free mercy of God: Jesus by his obedience unto death, obtained the glory of being the Mediator by whom they were communicated to mankind: they claim the warmest tribute of gratitude: wherever they are cordially embraced, there will be willing obedient subjects to the kingdom of truth and righteousness: Blessing, therefore, and honour, and glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.'§

+ Rev. v. 13.-See Unitarianism the Doctrine of the Gospel: 28 Ed. p. 219. To this work I beg to refer the Reader, for farther information respecting my views of those passages which are usually adduced against Unitarians in general, and especially against those who hold the simple humanity of Christ.