THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. The subject of the following Essay is of great, it might be said, of unparalleled importance. It points out evidence of the divinity of the Lord Jesus, to which the religious publick are in a great measure strangers. It shows how the existence of One God, revealed to Abraham and his successors, hath become an established article of belief in so large a portion of the human race, and is shortly to be acknowledged by the whole. It indicates the very gradual process by which the deity of the Redeemer came to be believed by his Apostles, and the methods, (direct, in the case of Jews, and in teaching Gentiles, wisely graduated,) by which they imparted that sublime and soul-supporting truth to perishing men. It shows what was the great animating principle of Christian piety in the early centuries; how afterward it faded, without entirely vanishing, and has not yet been fully restored to the Church. It points out what it is expected will prove, in other hands, the fundamental principle of a new reformation; in which the object sought by the author in his "Appeal in favour of Ecclesiastical Unity," published in Nov. 1844, will by the power of truth, and the gracious influence of the Almighty, at length he gained, and the world attracted to its Redeemer. The appearance of the book may seem ill to correspond with these impressions of the importance of its subject. The writer pleads in excuse that he is compelled to publish entirely on his own responsibility, and was unable to give his thoughts a more expensive dress. The type is perhaps smaller than would have been chosen if it had been known at first what range of subjects it would compre hend. It was first planned as a single article, [E] in the "Appendix”. to the "Appeal" above named. It was then intended to consist chiefly. of what stands here as Section iii, with some introductory statements, and a few hints of some quarters where evidence of the chief positions. might be found by a diligent inquirer. The promise to print that section was hastily added to p. 33 of the Appeal, when passing through the press; and led, as was stated in the Preface, to the composition of the present Essay. The successive enlargements of the plan are noticed here at p. 818. It has been printed at different periods; namely pp. 185-272 between Jan, 1.and Aug. 1. 1837; pp. 273-408: between Sep. 1837, and July, 1838; to p. 472 before Sep. 1842; pp. 473--648 between Nov. 1. 1846, and May 1. 1847. and pp. 649--736 between Dec. 1848 and Jan. 1851. These dates may account for some slight references to time, once or twice. A portion of the impression is paged and marked as APPENDIX E to the Appeal: another portion, is printed as a separate publication. But in each set of copies the number of the corresponding page in the other set, is denoted by the number at the foot of every page. Once or twice in the middle of a page a reference number belonging to the first set has by mistake been retained in the second; an oversight which need not perplex the reader, and which it is hoped he will excuse. In the popular theology even of evangelical, fruitful, and studious Christians, in Britain and on the Continent, there are serious defects, which this Essay is intended to point out and prove, and also in some humble measure to supply. In the Second Century some truths were believed to be of great importance, and are conspicuous in the pages of Justin and Irenæus, which at present occupy a very inferiour place, if any at all, in the minds either of theological professors or of the Christian publick. The diligence and learning of the Oxford Tractarians has been expended on the revival of what is worthless in the writings of the Fathers; while they have neglected the precious deposits of apostolical doctrine, which slipped out of view in the Fifth century, and although gradually returning since the Reformation, have not heretofore been established on their proper Scriptural evidence. It was on that evidence, and not by any guidance of the Fathers, or other authors, that the present writer was brought to receive what is now presented for the examination of the reader. The steps by which he was conducted to these views are related in the First Section of the following Essay: and when in May 1825, he made a publick avowal of the recent enlargement of his belief, he had not read for six years a page of any of the Fathers, except Cyprian, and one or two of the works of Augustine. It was from the Scripture, and the SCRIPTURE ONLY, that he learned them; and it is on Scriptural evidence alone, not metaphysical or patristick, that the reader is asked to receive them. The numerous references to the Fathers in Section xvii, and elsewhere, are given, not to strengthen the evidence, but to show how it was that truths once held so important, came in the lapse of ages to be obscured and lost. Introductory Statement of circumstances which led to this inquiry- style and graduation of the Old Testament-avowal of sentiments on christian unity-question suggested by Dr. John Owen-papers ... Contents of three papers published in the year 1827-origin of the terms Christ and Son of God-Zion pp. 189-192 SECTION III. The higher meaning of the word Christ deduced from the history of the Ark-ignorance of the Lord's omnipresence-the arkcelestial sanctuary-ark in obscurity-the ark honoured in David's time-the term 'Anointed-Zadok-the phrase walk beforeno mortal king then-divine titles adopted from common use-conclusion. Use of Psalm ii. 7. by the apostles-temporal seusc of Psalm ii. correspondence of the two Jerusalems-conclusion confirmed pp. 193-205 SECTION IV. Examination of the four Gospels for the meaning of the titles 'Christ,' 'Son of God'—His being the Messiah never made a secret-higher sense of Christ-Son of God-accounted a divine title by the Jews-Luke i. 35-two senses of 'Son of God'-publick entry into Jerusalem-trials and crucifixion-divine son underrated- 'Christ' equivalent to the Son of God'-Holy one of God— Holy one' and 'Son of God' the same-Christ,' 'holy one,' and 'Son' mean the same person-first storm-policy of the demons-effects on the disciples-second storm. ... pp. 206-223 SECTION V. The facts which disclosed the Saviour's divinity reviewed in the order of time-ministry of John-the first year of the Redeemer's · ministry-second year of the Redeemer's ministry-third and last year of the Lord's ministry--last half year of the Redeemer's ministry last week of the Redeemer's ministry-the Lord's death and resurrection-difficulty of expecting the Lord's death while believing his divinity-Thomas's previous state of mind-the resurrection of Jesus a proof of his divinity-Thomas's confessionreview-the Old Testament must be searched. pp. 223-236 SECTION VL Divine manifestations to the patriarchs--call of Abram. B. C. 1921 -covenant of the second person-manifestations made to Jacobdivine names used by Jacob-the divine plurality permanently taught--Note to Section VI. pp. 236-248 SECTION VIL Manifestations of the Son of God, from the time of Moses to that of Samuel-call of Moses B. C. 1491-cloudy pillar-Jah-Sinai covenant-S. covenant made by both persons-indications of divine plurality at the time-the scene at Sinai-benign manifestation at Sinai all subsequent manifestations made by the Christ-in God unity with plurality—divine paternity—the name Jah—pillar of cloud seen no more-the ark-the divine captain-Lord of Hosts-Shiloh and the heavenly sanctuary, the Shekinah not constant―ancient notion of tutelary divinities-apostacies of Israel -appearances of the divine angel-use of these appearances— 1st and 2nd series of them compared. pp. 248-263 ... SECTION VIII. The publick religion, from Samuel to Solomon-the future restoration of the ark provided for-dread of the ark-regard to the Ark by David's ancestors-David's early regard to the divine angel and his ark-the Lord marching with Israel to battle removals of the tabernacle and ark-the Second person celebrated in Ps. lxviii.the wars in David's reign-the ark under a military pavilionbeneficent object of David's victories-the name Jah frequently used from David's time- a new title, "Son of God"—it implied approximation to the Israelites-reference to the future incarnation-matrimonial relation between Jah and Israel-forty-fifth psalm-piety improved and extended under. David-two centres of worship-no visible manifestation-the angel seen during the |