The True Believers̓ Defence Against Charges Preferred by Trinitarians

stood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air."-St. Paul.

But Trinitarians render the way to heaven obscure not only by a single definition, but by definitions essentially contradictory. As soon as it is admitted that the terms of salvation are not sufficiently defined in the Bible, and that men have a right to attempt an improvement of the gospel, the church is liable to be perplexed and embarrassed with as many different editions of it as there are writers. One man has the same right to claim a hearing that another has. This right has not been overlooked by Trinitarians, who have furnished us with a great variety of contradictory hypotheses, each professedly the true one.

Mr. Baxter says, "Abundance of hereticks have troubled the church with their self-devised opinions about the Trinity, and the person and nature of Christ. And I am loth to say how much many of the orthodox have troubled it also, with their self-conceited, misguided, and uncharitable zeal against those they judged hereticks."

But imitating the modesty of Mr. Baxter, I will not now press this argument.

SECTION III.

DOCTRINE OF THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST.

We do not object absolutely to the use of unscriptural phraseology, if it be employed for the sake of convenience; though it can never be essential to the creed of the true believer. We admit the phrase "Divinity of Christ," but we object to the manner in which it is often expounded. Whether Trinitarians generally explain and apply it in an intelligent manner, according to the true import of language, the reader is requested to judge for himself, after a careful and candid examination of the following exposition.

As the word "Divinity" is not in the Bible, its meaning must be sought elsewhere. According to our most approved English dictionaries, the first definition of the word Divinity is Deity, and Deity means God. Having defined the word Divinity, we may substitute for it the well known and scriptural word God. Then instead of the phrase Divinity of Christ, we shall have the phrase God of Christ. The phrase Divinity of Christ, Deity of Christ, and God of Christ, are all synonymous. It now remains only to show who the God of Christ is. Let Christ himself determine. I ascend unto my Father and to your Father, and to my God and your God."—John xx. 17. Christ here teaches us that his Divinity, or God, is his Father. We believe the Supreme Divinity to be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostles teach the same doctrine. St. Peter calls Jesus "The Christ of God."Luke ix. 20. St. Paul, addressing believers, says,

"ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's."-I Cor. iii. 23. That is, as Christians are subject to the dominion of Christ, so Christ is subject to the dominion of God.

'But

I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."-I Cor. xi. 3. That is, as the man ranks above the woman, and as Christ is superior to christians, so God is superior to Christ. That this relation of dependence was not peculiar to Christ while on earth, is evident from his acknowledging God to be his God, after he had ascended to heaven, and was seated at God's own right hand. "Him that overcometh, I will make a pillar in the temple of мY GOD, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of MÝ GOD, and the name of the city of MY GOD, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my GOD.-Rev. iii. 12. So clear is the evidence that the Godhead or Divinity of Christ is his God and Father.

According to the definition here submitted, we firmly believe and constantly preach the doctrine of the Divinity of Christ. If we differ from Trinitarians in our exposition of the phrase, we have the satisfaction of knowing that, according to our exposition of it, Christ preached no doctrine while on earth, but that of his Divinity. For he expressly said to his hearers, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." "For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.”—John vii. 16, and xii. 49. Can Trinitarians appeal to as high authority, as the example of Christ, for the doctrine they preach? Where has Christ asserted that God is three equal persons, or that he is Trinity, or Triune ?

Another definition of the word Divinity is, state of being divine, or godlike. In this sense of the word we speak of

SECTION III.

DOCTRINE OF THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST.

As the word " Divinity" is not in the Bible, its meaning must be sought elsewhere. According to our most approved English dictionaries, the first definition of the word Divinity is Deity, and Deity means God. Having defined the word Divinity, we may substitute for it the well known and scriptural word God. Then instead of the phrase Divinity of Christ, we shall have the phrase God of Christ. The phrase Divinity of Christ, Deity of Christ, and God of Christ, are all synonymous. It now remains only to show who the God of Christ is. Let Christ himself determine. "I ascend unto my Father and to your Father, and to my God and your God."-John xx. 17. Christ here teaches us that his Divinity, or God, is his Father. We believe the Supreme Divinity to be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostles teach the same doctrine. St. Peter calls Jesus "The Christ of God."Luke ix. 20. St. Paul, addressing believers, says,

"ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's.". -I Cor. iii. 23. That is, as Christians are subject to the dominion of Christ, so Christ is subject to the dominion of God. "But

I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."-I Cor. xi. 3. That is, as the man ranks above the woman, and as Christ is superior to christians, so God is superior to Christ. That this relation of dependence was not peculiar to Christ while on earth, is evident from his acknowledging God to be his God, after he had ascended to heaven, and was seated at God's own right hand. "Him that overcometh, I will make a pillar in the temple of MY GOD, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name of My GOD, and the name of the city of MY GOD, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My GOD.-Rev. iii. 12. So clear is the evidence that the Godhead or Divinity of Christ is his God and Father.

According to the definition here submitted, we firmly believe and constantly preach the doctrine of the Divinity of Christ. If we differ from Trinitarians in our exposition of the phrase, we have the satisfaction of knowing that, according to our exposition of it, Christ preached no doctrine while on earth, but that of his Divinity. For he expressly said to his hearers, "My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me." "For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak."—John vii. 16, and xii. 49. Can Trinitarians appeal to as high authority, as the example of Christ, for the doctrine they preach? Where has Christ asserted that God is three equal persons, or that he is Trinity, or Triune ?

Another definition of the word Divinity is, state of being divine, or godlike. In this sense of the word we speak of

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The True Believers̓ Defence Against Charges Preferred by Trinitarians: For ...