CHAPTER VI.

THE ETERNAL SONSHIP OF OUR LORD CONSIDERED

IN ITS CONNEXION WITH FUNDAMENTAL EVAN-

GELICAL TRUTH. 356.

SECTION I.-PRINCIPLES INVOLVED IN THE CONTROVERSY,

356.

The different modes of reasoning employed, 356-This distinction

involves several important principles, 357-A theological opinion

derived from the testimony of Scripture alone is preferable to

one inferred from independent reasoning.-Evidence is more in-

telligible than abstract argumentation-more accessible to the

mass of mankind, 358-Revelation supposes incapacity and ig-

norance. Strong presumption in favour of opinions upheld

solely by revelation.—The parties employing this mode of inves-

tigation are safe, 359-Not so those who admit an extra-scrip-

tural test of theological truth.-Such an admission is fatal to the

equitable examination of the word of God.-This an evil of great

extent, 360-as may be illustrated from our present subject.-

Moral as well as doctrinal danger in such a mode of inquiry, 361

-A degree of indifference to the general correctness of their

readers on the person of Christ to be found among the rejecters

of the Eternal Sonship, 362-A literal sense is to be preferred to

a figurative, 365-The latter is always ambiguous.—In the pre-

sent controversy the advocates of our Lord's divine Sonship

maintain the former.-Two cases of exception admitted, 366-

but neither appropriate here.-Mischiefs resulting from a main-

tenance of the figurative exposition in this instance, 368.

NOTE (R). The figurative expositions of the title "Son of God,"

and its equivalents, wanting in force and appropriateness, 371.

Examples adduced, 371—An objection met, 372.

SECTION II.-THE DEITY OF CHRIST, 374.

Our Lord's divine Sonship said to be allied to Arianism, 374—In

the reasonings by which it is upheld, it is at the utmost distance

from Arianism—and were these fully adopted, all fatal error on

the person of Christ would be at an end.-Arianism precisely

contradicted by the simple affirmation of a true Eternal Sonship,

375-Those who bring this charge judge of others by the ope-

ration of their own minds.-The eternal filiation the great

bulwark of our Lord's Deity, 376-A son is identical in nature

with the father-and he who is eternal cannot but be God.-It is

argued by the Socinians that the Divinity of Christ is rarely

spoken of in the New Testament, 377-But if "Son of God" is

a divine title, nothing can be more incorrect.-Let this latter be

denied, however, and the Deity of our Lord loses its main evi-

dence, 378-The great scriptural proof that Christ is God is that

he is Son of God, 379.

SECTION III.-The DoctriNE OF THE TRINITY, 381.

The baptismal commission compared with the Jewish form of bene-

diction, 381-The singular noun name in each case indicates the

exclusive divinity of the titles which it comprises.-The purpose

of Christian baptism, 382-Hence "Son" is a divine title.-It is

important to preserve the ideas of distinction and relation in the

Trinity, 383-In abandoning the divine Sonship, we give up the

only scriptural terms in which these are conveyed.-Hence the

danger on the one hand of Sabellianism, 384-and on the other

of Tritheism.-A dilemma, 385-The subordination in the

Trinity, 387-this must result either in Arianism, or in the ad-

mission of an inferiority of relation, 389-which latter is the

principle of the doctrine before us.-Summary, 390.

NOTE (S). Paternity and Filiation in the Godhead precisely

correlative, 392.

Several expositions of the title "Son" considered with reference to

this canon, 392.

SECTION IV.-THE WORK of Human REDEMPTION, 394.

Preliminary remarks, 394-The divine filiation illustrates the
beneficence of Christ in the work of redemption, 395-and the
love of the Father especially, 396-The Son's dignity-the en-
dearment of his relation to the Father, 397-The unworthiness
of the objects of his beneficence.-The sorrow actually inflicted
on the Son, 398-Evidence of the divine purity-no casualty of
the redeeming work, 399-Hence the most powerful confirm-
ation of the Christian's trust in God,-and the most efficient
example of the spirit of sacrifice, 400-These the impressions
evidently contemplated in Scripture, 401-but these wholly de-
pendent upon the divine Sonship of our Lord.-Reasons for the
appointment of the Son to his position in the economy of re-
demption, 402-The Son was the Creator, therefore he under-

took the new creation-the second Adam, 403-the model of the

new creature, 404-Hence the faithful are called sons of God-

He is brought near to us, and we as sons of God are made like to

him, 405-The completion of this assimilation is the consumma-

tion of the Christian's honour, 406-The evil of unbelief, 407.

CHAPTER VII.

THE CONSENT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TO THE

DOCTRINE OF THE ETERNAL SONSHIP OF CHRIST,

408.

SECTION I.-THE NATURE AND VALUE OF THE EVIDENCE

TO CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE DERIVED FROM ECCLESIASTICAL AN-

TIQUITY, 408.

Introduction, 408-Chronological distribution.-No authority

claimed for the opinions of the ante-Nicene fathers, 409-with

their evidence alone we have to do.-The earlier fathers the least

liable to corruption, 410-Innovation subsequently prevented by

the mutual jealousies of the more prosperous churches.-The

concurrent testimony of the ante-Nicene fathers unexceptionable,

411-The importance of the doctrine not necessary to be here

investigated.

NOTE (T). On the "Historical Sketch of the Controversy," &c. 412.

The article thus entitled annexed to an anonymous memoir of Dr.
A. Clarke, 142-Specimens of the writer's injustice-ignorance
-errors, 413-and false doctrine.

SECTION II.-TESTIMONIES FROM THE APOSTOLIC PERIOD,

414.

Citations from Barnabas, 414-Hermas, 416-Ignatius, 417-The

Martyrdom of Polycarp, 420-The Syriac version of the New

Testament, 421.

SECTION III.-TESTIMONIES OF THE ANTE-NICENE PERIOD,

DOWN TO THE END OF THE SECOND CENTURY, 422.

Introduction, 422-Justin Martyr, 423-Tatian, 429-Athena-

goras-Irenæus, 430-Theophilus Antioch., 435-Clemens Alex-

and.-Lucian Samosat., 438.

SECTION IV.-TESTIMONIES FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE

THIRD CENTURY TO THE COUNCIL OF NICE, 440.

Tertullian, 440-Hippolytus, 443—Origen, 444—Gregory Thau-

maturg., 450-Dionysius Alexand.-Cyprian, 453-The council

of Carthage, 454-Novatian-Dionysius Roman., 457-The

council of Antioch, 458-Theognostus-Methodius, 459-Lac-

tantius-Summary, 461.

SECTION V.-TESTIMONY FROM ANCIENT CREEDS, 463.

Preliminary remarks, 463-The Roman Creed, 465-The Creed

of Aquileia-of Irenæus, 467-The Creeds of Tertullian, 469-

The Creed of Origen, 470-Supposititious Creed of Origen, 471-

The Creed of Gregory Thaumaturgus-of the council of Antioch,

475-of the Apostolical Constitutions-of Lucian Martyr, 476—of

Antioch, 477-of Alexandria, 478-of Jerusalem-of Cæsarea,

479-The Nicene Creed-its History-variations from that of

Cæsarea, 480-Extract from Eusebius's letter to the church of

Cæsarea, 481-from the Epistle of Athanasius to the Bishops of

Africa, 483-The Creed of St. Basil, 484-The Creeds of Epipha-

nius, 485-The Creed of Constantinople, 486-The Athanasian

Creed, 487-Te Deum.-Hence we gather that the Eternal Son-

ship of Christ has been believed from the times of the Apostles,

488-it was employed for the suppression of the heresies of the

Patripassians, 489-Paul of Samosata-Arius-and Photinus.-

The present mode of investigation common to literature in

general, 490-To impugn the judgment of the catholic church

were to reflect on the providence of God, 492-No objection to

the testimonies of the fathers that they were neither biblical

critics nor philosophers.-Conclusion, 493.

NOTE (U). Extracts from modern Confessions of Faith, &c., 495.

The Augsburgh Confession, 495-The Confession of Saxony-of

Wirtemburg-of Frederick Count Palatine, &c.-The Helvetic

Confession-The Gallican Confession-The Belgic Confession,

496-The Czengerine Confession-The second Article of the

English Church-The Confession of the Church of Scotland, and

the Assembly's larger Catechism.

PASSAGES OF SCRIPTURE QUOTED

LIST OF AUTHORS

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497

504