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in many Instances, we cannot pretend to be competent Judges. In thefe Things the wifeft Men, left merely to their own Judgment and Reason, cannot be abfolutely depended upon. Their Reafonings and Decifions may prove defective, even where they feem most plaufible, through the Narrowness of their Views, and for Want of knowing fome Circumftances or other relating to thofe Subjects, which, if known, would make them judge otherwise than they have done. But, when we have a folid Affurance that the Perfon who deཔས་ livereth Doctrines and Laws relating to thefe important Matters comes from God, and is extraordinarily fent and infpired by him, the Word he delivereth comes with a quite different and far fuperior Power. Here is fomething in which the human Mind may furely acquiefce.

Though therefore our Lord Jefus had only appeared in the Character that belongeth to every true Prophet, who is really fent from God; his Doctrine must come with far greater Force and Authority, and muft make a deeper Impreffion on the Hearts of thofe that receive him as fuch, than if taught by an uninfpired Man, or Body of Men, however wife and learned.

But, Secondly, It fhould be farther confidered, that our Lord Jefus Chrift appear

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ed in a far higher Character than that of a common Prophet; he taught with a peculiar Kind of Authority proper to himself, and far tranfcending any other that ever bore the prophetical Character; which gave his Inftructions and Precepts, his Promifes and Threatenings, a Force and Dignity that no other ever had. It is obferved concerning Mofes, that there was not a Prophet in Ifrael, like unto Mofes, whom the Lord knew Face to Face. Deut, xxxiv. 10, i. e. to whom he imparted his Will in a familiar and immediate Manner, and in a more excellent Way, than he did to the other Prophets; as appeareth by comparing this with what is faid, Numb. xii. 6, 7, 8. And accordingly the Children of Ifrael fhewed always a diftinguifhing Regard to Mofes, as of eminent Authority above all the other Prophets, and as not only a Prophet, but a Lawgiver. In which Respects The bore a Refemblance to our Lord Jefus Chrift, but with this Difference, that Chrift was vefted with an Authority far fuperior to that of Mofes, and which demandeth a peculiar Attention and Regard. For, as it is expreffed, Heb. iii. 5, 6, Mofes verily was faithful in all his Houfe as a Servant :But Chrift as a Son over his own House. He reprefenteth himself as the only begotten Son of God; the Son of God not B 4 merely

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merely in that Senfe, in which good Men, or earthly Magiftrates, or Adam, who was immediately created by God, without the Intervention of a natural Parent, or the bleffed Angels, are fometimes called the Sons of God; but in an eminent and appropriated Senfe, in which no other is fo, and which importeth a tranfcendent and unequalled Dignity. And therefore he mentions it as the most aftonishing Inftance. of the Divine Grace and Goodnefs toward Mankind, that God fo loved the World, that be gave his only begotten Son. John iii. 16. Any one that is acquainted with the New Teftament cannot but obferve, that he all along fpeaketh of God as his Father, in fuch a Strain of Intimacy and Nearness, and joineth himself to him, in such a Manner, as no other Prophet, nor Mofes himfelf, ever did, and which indeed would not have become the moft glorious Angels, though of the highest Order of created Beings. What a wonderful Dignity breathes in thofe Declarations of his?-The Father worketh hitherto, and I work. What Things foever he doeth, thefe alfo doeth the Son likewife. For the Father loveth the Son, and fheweth bim all Things, that himself doeth. John iv. 17, 19, 20. As the Father knoweth me, even fo know 1 the Father. John x. 15. All Things are delivered unto me of my

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ther, and no Man knoweth the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any Man the Father, fave the Son, and be to whomsoever the Son will reveal bim. Matt. xi. 27. Speaking of his Sheep, that hear his Voice and follow him, he faith, My Father which gave them me is greater than all: And none fhall be able to pluck them out of my Father's Hand. I and my Father are one. John x. 29, 30. When Philip faid, Lord, fhew us the. Father, and it fufficeth us, Jefus faith unto him, Have I been fo long with you, and yet haft thou not known Philip? He that bath feen me, hath feen the Father, and bow fayeft thou then, Shew us the Father? Believeft thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? John xiv. 8, 9, 10. What a Grandeur is there in that Way of fpeaking to his Difciples, Let not your Hearts be troubled: Ye believe in God, believe alfo in me. John xiv. 1. If a Man love me, be will keep my Words: And my Father will love him, and we (i. e. my Father and I) will come unto him, and make our Abode with him. Ver. 23. And again, All Things that the Father hath are mine, therefore faid I, that He (i. e. the Holy Ghoft) hall take of mine, and shall fhew it unto you. John xvi. 15. He declares, That, as the Father bath Life in himself, fo bath be given to the Son to have Life in bimfelf. John v. 26. Finally, he reprefent

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eth it as the Father's Will, that all Men fhould honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. John v. 23. And now upon reviewing thefe feveral Paffages, to which many others might be added, did ever any Prophet, the most highly favoured of God, exprefs himself after this Sort? Is there not fomething in this Manner of speaking that leadeth us to regard him as a Person of unparalleled Divine Dignity, and to whom no other was ever equal? And it is to be obferved, that not only doth he express himself in this wonderful Strain in his Difcourfes to Men, to the Jews, and to his own Disciples, but even in his immediate Addreffes to God. Remarkable to this Purpofe is that Prayer of his which is recorded in fohn xvii. What a Majesty may be obferved in it, becoming his Nearness to the Father, yet ftill preferving a proper Subordination to him! His Prayer is of as peculiar a Kind, as his Character, and as the Dignity of his Perfon. There appeareth in it not only the most ardent Love to God, and Zeal for his Glory, and the most unparalleled Benevolence to his Difciples and to Mankind; but there is an inimitable Dignity, a Divine Grandeur and Solemnity in it, becoming the Son of God infinitely dear to the Father, and which would have become no other: Father, the Hour is

come

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