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work, by which, in the fulness of time, he was manifefted to men. But if the terms, begotten, or eternal generation, be used to

denote the manner of his eternal existence in Deity, I must be filent. I believe him to be the eternal Son; I believe him to be the eternal God. And I wish not to exercise my thoughts and enquiries more than is needful, in things which are too high for me.

The fcripture, in different places, evidently applies the purport of this phrafe-I have begotten thee, to tranfactions which took place in time. This day, and particularly to two principal events.

1. His incarnation. Thus the angel to Mary, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest fhall overshadow thee; therefore alfo the holy thing which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. So the Apostle, In the fulness of time God fent forth his Son made of a woman †. And in the paffage we are next to confider, When he bringeth his first begotten into the world, he faith, and let all the angels of God worship him.

* Luke i. 35.

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+ Gal. iv. 4.

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2. His refurrection. To this purpose our text is quoted from the second pfalm. The promife which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the fame to the children, in that he hath raifed up Jefus again *; as it is alfo written in the fecond pfalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And in another place he teaches us, that he who was of the feed of David, according to the flesh, was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the refurrection from the dead †.

After all, I would remind you, that the best knowledge of the doctrine of the perfon of Chrift, that which affords life and comfort to the foul, is to be obtained, not fo much by enquiry and study on our part, as by a gracious manifestation on his part. Prayer, attention to the great Teacher, a humble perufal of the scripture, and a course of fimple obedience to his known will, are the methods which he has prescribed for our growth in grace, and in the knowledge of himself. Thus even babes are made wife; while they who are wife and prudent in their own fight, the more they endeavour to

* Acts xiii, 32, 33.

+ Rom. i. 4.

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investigate and afcertain the fenfe of fcripture, are frequently involved more and more in perplexity. He has given a promife and direction, for the encouragement of thofe who fincerely feek him. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifeft myself unto him *

This is he with whom we have to do. In and by this Son of his love, we have access by faith unto God. Unworthy and helpless in ourfelves, from hence we derive our plea; here we find a refuge; and on this we reft, and build our hope, that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son; who is fo much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they t

* John xiv. 21.

+ Heb. i. 4.1

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to that of Elijah*, that like him they have been tempted to think, they were left to ferve him alone. But God had then a faithful people, and he has fo in every age. The preaching of the gospel may be compared to a standard erected, to which they repair, and thereby become known to each other, and more expofed to the notice and obfervation of the world. But we hope there are always many, who are enlightened by his word and I Kings xix. 10.

VOL. II.

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holy Spirit, and training up in the life of faith and holiness, known and dear to God, tho' they have little advantage from public ordinances, and perhaps no opportunity of converfing with those who are like-minded with themselves. But even though the number of those who visibly profefs the gospel of the grace of God were much smaller than it is, we need not be disheartened. If our fight could pierce into the invifible world, we should be fatisfied that there are more with us than against us. And fuch a power is attributed to faith. It is the evidence of things not feen +, because it receives the teftimony of fcripture, and refts upon it, as a certainty, and a demonstration; requiring no other proof, either of doctrines or facts, than that they are contained in the fure word of God. True chriftians therefore are comforted by the affurance they have that their Saviour, the Lord of their hearts, is not fo neglected and defpifed, nor his character fo misunderftood and mifreprefented in yonder land of light, as in this dark and degenerate world. Though too many here, like Feftus, treat it as a matter of great indifference, whether Jefus 2 King's vi. 16. + Heb. xi. I.

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