in) Gloriam Dei Patris, proved to be a Name of the second Perfon in the Effence, the fame as he was before he took upon him Man. Mat. iii. 17. xvii. 5. Mark i. 11. ix. 7. Luke iii. 22. ix. 35. 2 Pet. i.17. This is my beloved Son. John iii. 16. Gave his only begotten Son. John iv. 9. Sent his only-begotten Son into the World, that we might live through him. In this Senfe of the Son of God being Man, ftrictly. Mat. xxiv. 36. Of that Day and Hour knoweth no one but my Father only. Markxiii.32. Of that Day and Hour knoweth no one-neither the Son, but the Father. John x. 29. My Father which gave them me, is greater than all-xiv. 28. My Father is greater than I. Acts i. 7. The Times or the Seafons which the Father hath put in his own Power. ICor. XV. 24. When he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God. 28. Then shall the Son alfo himself be fubject. Before Christ had worked Miracles, though the Devil might hear the Voice from Heaven call him beloved Son, he could not know whether he was the Perfon thus begotten, or not; but knew what was in him, if he were; and therefore fays, If thou be the Son of God command, &c. and 'tis written fo, and fo. But, after Chrift had worked Miracles, believed,

believed, trembled, and confeffed him. Our modern Devils will allow no Evidence. After the Father by Voice, Chrift by Miracles, and the Holy Ghoft by Appearance, had given that Evidence the Scripture predicted; the Priefts and Scribes, upon his Examination, adjured him to answer whether he was, &c. as above, which they called Blafphemy. So Mat. xxvii. 43. John xix. 7. Becaufe he made himself the Son of God.

The Terms of Salvation preached then were not, believing that there were three Perfons; fo, a Son, in the Effence; or, believing, that he fhould be the Saviour, but to believe that Jefus was begotten by, fo the Son of, God; fometimes with the Addition of Name, of Chrift, &c. not now understood, or neglected. If that was believed, the Hebrew Scriptures had fettled the other, and it was not then difputed. Nay though it is certain, that fome of the two Tribes, and many of the ten Tribes, had fallen into the Error of worfhipping one Perfon, irregularly; when Jefus Chrift was manifefted, though many oppofed confeffing him, and gave their Reafons; the Priests, if they did, the Romans would take away their Places, &c. the true one that he made all their Places void: The common People,

because

because thofe Priefts would caft them out of the Synagogues; 'tis not once hinted, that ever one, nay when the very Texts which defcribe them were cited, had the Impudence, to difpute the Aleim being of the fame Effence. The Divinity, I think except once, upon this Account always calls himself the Son of Man; I fhall infert a few Inftances of what was then required. John iii. 18. Because he hath not believed on the Name of the only-begotten Son of God. v. 36. He that believeth on the Son, hath everlasting Life. ix. 35. Doft thou believe on the Son of God? It is he that talketh with thee. x. 36. Because I faid, I am the Son of God. xi. 27. I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God. xx. 31. That ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift the Son of God, and that believing ye might have Life through his Name. Acts viii. 37. I believe that Jefus Chrift is the Son of God. ix. 20. Preached Chrift that he is the Son of God. x. 38. Jefus of Nazareth-v. 43. Whosoever believeth in him, fhall receive Remiffion of Sins. xiii. 37.-raised again, faw no Corruption -through this Man-and by him all that believe are justified. xvi. 31. Believe on the Lord Jefus Chrift, and thou shalt be

faved. Rom. x. 9. If thou shalt confefs with thy Mouth the Lord Jefus, and shalt believe in thy Heart, that God raifed him from the Dead, thou shalt be faved. Gal. ii. 20. I live by the Faith of the Son of God. 1 John iii. 23. This is his Commandment, that we should believe on the Name of his Son Jefus Chrift. iv. 15. Whofoever fhall confefs that Jefus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him. v. 1. Whofoever believeth that Jefus is the Christ, is born of God. v. 5. Who is he that overcometh the World, but he that believeth that Jefus is the Son of God? v. 10. He that believeth on the Son of God, hath the Witness in himself. v. 13. That ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God. There are other Distinctions joined with Son, as well as there are to Father; the Father, my Father, our Father, your Father, &c. as I have fhewed in M. fine P. p. 74. So, though he calls himself the Son of Man, when he fays my Father; he does not mean David, nor any Man, but often Jehovah the Effence, which was the Father of him the Man: Thefe Diftinctions make great Difference, but are not to be traced now.

These Terms, in preaching, or in a Creed, were fufficient at firft; but when

the

the Knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, and the Purity of Tradition, began to be confounded, by Philo, the Rabbies, and the Hereticks, and the Truth was in Danger of being loft, there was a Neceflity to enlarge, and be more particular in the Articles of the Creeds. Muft the Devil's Agents have Liberty to break the Fences, and the Stewards of Chrift no Right to fortify them? Happy it was for all fucceeding Generations, and particularly for this, that thofe faithful Stewards, who had retained and preferved the Knowledge of those fublime Ideas, from which their Creeds are taken; recorded them, and left us them, and their excellent Liturgies, though they have been almost spoiled: The Creeds, as well as the Scriptures, in the Tranflations; and the Liturgies, in Tranflations, and by Alterations. These ori

ginal Creeds, may be explained, and proved to be perfect; but if there were fuch Men alive, they could not be made now; whatever Neceffity there may be: The Divifions in the Church, the different Policies of States, &c. would prevent it. These Men, though not inspired, deservedly will stand next in Dignity and Rank, to those who were, nay even to, the Apostles. They in the true Senfe, as John was called,

only,