Theological Works

“ gotten of his Father before all worlds”--begotten into the
office of man's Redeemer—why said to be “God of God”-
explained by Ignatius—“ Light of Light," properly “Lumen
ex Luce”--the clause "

begotten not made” descriptive of
our Saviour's incarnation-as “ of one substance with the Fa-

“ther"

Page.

" ther” is of his divinity-elucidated by Tertullian-Anathe-

ma of the Nicene Council against those who should say—“be-

“fore he was begotten, he was not.”

33–44

LETTER VI.

Athanasius thought favourable to “ Eternal Generation”-also

Theodoret of Cyrus—and Pope Gelasius-Athanasius, as quo-

ted by Beza, contradicts hiinself-modern writers-Drs. Bull

and Felton contradict one another—well-founded opinion of

Hilary of Poictiers respecting the real Deity of Jesus Christ. 44-54 ,

LETTER VII.

Opinion of Photinus Bishop of Firmium not favourable to “ Eter-

“ nal Generation”-jarring accounts of his condemnation-

something like the doctrine of “ Eternal Generation” appear-

ing in the fourth century-little heard of in the five following

centuries-occupied with disputes about other matters.

55-63

LETTER VIII.

“ Eternal Generation” supported by the authority of the Ro-

mish Church—not much noticed by the Reformers—how re-

ceived in Scotland and England--adopted by the Westminster

Assembly-how explained by Bishop Pearson and Mr Reeves. 64–79

LETTER IX.

Dangerous consequences of the doctrine of “ Eternal Genera-

« tion"--Subordination, and hence inferiority in Deity-

how insisted on by Dr. Bull--bis thesis considered, that

« God the Father, even according to his divinity, is greater

“ than the Son”—this, the opinion of Dr. Samuel Clarke-

controverted by Dr. Brown, Bishop of Cork and Ross—and

by Dr. John Edwards of Cambridge--and Dr. Bennet of Col-

chester-asserting, that the scriptures nowhere mention any

derivation, or subordination in the Trinity.

72-90

LETTER X.

Introduction of the term “ Eternal Generation" owing to three

causes~ 1. The Platonic Philosophy—improving on the sys-

tem of generated Deities--2. The translation of the Hebrew

scriptures into Greek-instances produced of its deviating

from the original--3. The much misunderstood doctrine of

Angels."

. . 91-100

LETTER XI.

Application of the arguments and facts already adduced-influ-

ence

Page.

ence of the Platonic Philosophy on Justin Martyr-shameful

panegyric on Socrates by Mr. Reeves-generation in, or of

Deity, peculiar to the Platonic school of Alexandria-hence

the doctrine of inferiority in Deity, espoused by Dr. Bull-

borrowed from Clemens Alexandrinus-and, though without

proof, said to be adopted by others.

101-116

LETTER XII.

Objectionable assertions respecting the eternal filiation of the

Logos-supposed Creed of Gregory Thaumaturgus speaks of

the Son as God, but never of the Father of God-Dr. Allix

confounds the terms Word and Son-great mistakes about

angelic Appearances-leading to the mistaken idea of sub-

ordination in Deity-conveyed in some parts of the Septua-

gint Translation.

117_131

LETTER XIII.

Drs. Bull and Allix, great adınirers of Philo the Jew-as he was

of Plato's philosophy-Objectionable passages in Dr. Scott's
“ Christian Life”—particularly what he says of the “mini-
"stry of the Holy Ghost”-how improper to place angels, as

ministering spirits, in the same scale with the Holy Ghost the

Comforter,

132-143

LETTER XIV.

The Author's apology for differing in opinion from so many

learned men-allows his just share of merit to Athanasius,

but cannot go all the lengths in bis praise that some have gone

--thinks the language of Ignatius entitled to as much respect

as that of Athanasius-offers two observations on the testi-

mony of the Fathers," as necessary to be attended to, 143-152

LETTER XV.

Information afforded by scripture on this fundamental doctrine