ΧΡΙΣΤΟΛΟΓΙΑ: OR, A DECLARATION OF THE GLORIOUS MYSTERY OF THE PERSON OF CHRIST-GOD AND MAN: WITH THE INFINITE WISDOM, LOVE, AND POWER OF GOD IN THE CONTRIVANCE AND AS A.SO, OF THE GROUNDS AND REASONS OF HIS INCARNATION; THE NATURE OF HIS MINISTRY IN HEAVEN; THE PRESENT STATE OF THE CHURCH ABOVE THEREON; AND THE USE OF HIS PERSON IN RELIGION: WITH AN ACCOUNT AND VINDICATION OF THE HONOUR, WORSHIP, FAITH, LOVE, AND OBEDIENCE DUE UNTO HIM, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”—PHIL. iii, 8, VOL. I." 1 PREFATORY NOTE. THE object of Dr Owen in this treatise is to illustrate the mystery of divine grace in the person of Christ. It bears the title, "Christologia;" but it differs considerably from modern works of the same title or character. It is not occupied with a formal induction from Scripture in proof of the supreme Godhead of the Saviour. Owen assumes the truth of this doctrine, and applies all his powers and resources to expound its relations in the Christian system, and its bearings on Christian duty and experience. Chapter I. of the work is devoted to an exposition of Matt. xvi. 16, as a warrant and basis for his inquiry respecting the person of Christ. Chapter II. contains some historical references to the opposition encountered by this doctrine in past ages. From Chapter III. to VII. inclusive, the person of Christ is exhibited as the origin of all true religion, the foundation of the divine counsels, the representation of the divine nature and will, the embodiment and sum of divine truth, and the source of divine and gracious efficacy for the salvation of the church. The faith of the Old Testament Church respecting it is illustrated in Chapter VIII. Then follows the second leading division of the treatise, in which the divine honours and obedience due to Christ, and our obligation to seek conformity to him, are urged at some length, from Chapter IX. to XV. It is followed in Chapters XVI. and XVII. with an inquiry into the divine wisdom as manifested in the person of Christ. The hypostatical union is explained, Chapter XVIII. Two more Chapters, XIX. and XX., close the work, with a dissertation on the exaltation of Christ, and the mode in which he discharges his mediatorial functions in heaven. The treatise was first published in 1679. We are not informed under what particular circumstances Owen was led to prepare it. There is internal evidence in the work itself that he laboured under a strong impression of the peril in which evangelical religion would be involved, if views of the person of Christ, either positively unsound or simply vague and defective, obtained currency in the British churches. His acquaintance with the early history of the church taught him that against this doctrine the persevering assaults of Satan had been directed; and, with sagacious foresight, he anticipated the rise of heresy on this point in England. He speaks of "woful contests" respecting it,-increasing rather than abating "unto this very day;" and intimates his conviction, in language which elucidates his main design in this work, that the only way by which they could be terminated. was to enthrone Christ anew in the hearts and consciences of men. Events ensued which justified these apprehensions of Owen. A prolonged controversy on the subject of the Trinity arose, which drew forth the works of Bull (1685), Sherlock (1690), and South (1695). In 1710, Whiston was expelled from Oxford for his Arianism. Dr S. Clarke, in 1712, published Arian views, for which he was summoned before the Convocation. Among the Presbyterian Dissenters, Pierce and Hallet (1717) became openly committed to Arianism. Dr Isaac Watts, who succeeded (1702) to the charge of the same congregation in London which had been under the care of Owen, broached the Indwelling Scheme; according to which the Father is so united to the man Christ Jesus, whose human soul preexisted his coming in the flesh, that, through this indwelling of the Godhead, he became properly God. The Christology of Owen has always been highly valued, and will be of use to all ages of the church :-" A work," says the late Dr M'Crie," which, together with its continuation, the 'Meditations on the Glory of Christ,' of all the theological works published by individuals since the Reformation, next to 'Calvin's Institutions,' we would have deemed it our highest honour to have produced.”— ED. THE PREFACE. IT is a great promise concerning the person of Christ, as he was to be given unto the church, (for he was a child born, a son given unto us, Isa. ix. 6,) that God would "lay him in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation, whereon "he that believeth shall not make haste:" Isa. xxviii. 16. Yet was it also foretold concerning him, that this precious foundation should be "for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence, to both the houses of Israel; for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;" so as that "many among them should stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken:" Isa. viii. 14, 15. According unto this promise and prediction it hath fallen out in all ages of the church; as the apostle Peter declares concerning the first of them. "Wherefore also," saith he, "it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you there(fore which believe, he is precious; but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereinto also they were appointed:" 1 Pet. ii. 6-8. Unto them that believe unto the saving of the soul, he is, he 'always hath been, precious-the sun, the rock, the life, the bread of their souls-every thing that is good, useful, amiable, desirable, here or unto eternity. In, from, and by him, is all their spiritual and eternal life, light, power, growth, consolation, and joy here; with everlasting salvation hereafter. By him alone do they desire, expect, and obtain deliverance from that woful apostasy from God, which is accompanied with--which containeth in it virtually and meritoriously whatever is evil, noxious, and destructive unto our nature, and which, without relief, will issue in eternal misery. By him are they brought into the nearest cognation, alliance, and friendship with God, the firmest union unto him, and the most holy communion with him, that our finite natures are capable of, and so conducted unto the eternal enjoyment of him. For in him "shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory;" (Isa. xlv. 25;) for "Israel shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation;" they "shall not be ashamed nor confounded, world without end:" verse 17. On these and the like accounts, the principal design of their whole lives unto whom he is thus precious, is to acquaint themselves with him the mystery of the wisdom, grace, and love of God, in his person and mediation, as revealed unto us in the Scripture, which is "life eternal;" (John xvii. 3 ;)-to trust in him, and unto him, as to all the everlasting concernments of their souls-to love and honour him with all their hearts-to endeavour after conformity to him, in all those characters of divine goodness and holiness which are represented unto them in him. In these things consist the soul, life, power, beauty, and efficacy of the Christian religion; without which, whatever outward ornaments may be put upon its exercise, it is but a useless, lifeless carcass. The whole of this design is expressed in these heavenly words of the apostle : (Phil. iii. 8-12 :) "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus." This is a divine expression of that frame of heart-of that design--which is predominant and efficacious in them unto whom Christ is precious. But, on the other hand, (according unto the fore-mentioned pre diction,) as he hath been a sure foundation unto all that believe, so he hath in like manner been "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence unto them that stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." There is nothing in him— nothing wherein he is concerned-nothing of him, his person, his natures, his office, his grace, his love, his power, his authority, his relation unto the church-but it hath been unto many a stone of stumbling and rock of offence. Concerning these things have been all the woful contests which have fallen out and been managed among those that outwardly have made profession of the Christian. religion. And the contentions about them do rather increase than abate, unto this very day; the dismal fruits whereof the world} groaneth under, and is no longer able to bear. For, as the opposition unto the Lord Christ in these things, by men of perverse minds, hath ruined their own souls-as having dashed themselves in pieces against this everlasting rock-so in conjunction with other lusts and interests of the carnal minds of men, it hath filled the world itself with blood and confusion. The re-enthroning of the Person, Spirit, Grace, and Authority of Christ, in the hearts and consciences of men, is the only way whereby an end may be put unto these woful conflicts. But this is not to be expected in any degree of perfection amongst them who stumble at this stone of offence, whereunto they were appointed; though in the issue he will herein also send forth judgment unto victory, and all the meek of the earth shall follow after it. In the meantime, as those unto whom he is thus a rock of offence-in his person, his spirit, his grace, his office, and authority--are diligent and restless (in their various ways and forms, in lesser or higher degrees, in secret artifices, or open contradictions unto any or all of them, under various pretences, and for divers ends, even secular advantages some of them, which the craft of Satan hath prepared for the ensnaring of them) in all ways of opposition unto his glory; so it is the highest duty of them unto whom he is precious, whose principal design is to be found built on him as the sure foundation, as to hold the truth concerning him, (his person, spirit, grace, office, and authority,) and to abound in all duties of faith, love, trust, honour, and delight in him-so also to declare his excellency, to plead the cause of his glory, to vindicate his honour, and to witness him the only rest and reward of the souls of men, as they are called and have opportunity. This, and no other, is the design of the ensuing treatise; wherein, as all things fall unspeakably short of the glory, excellency, and sublimity of the subject treated of, (for no mind can conceive, no tongue can express, the real substantial glory of them,) so there is no doubt but that in all the parts of it there is a reflection of failings and imperfections, from the weakness of its author. But yet I must say with confidence, that in the whole, that eternal truth of God concerning the mystery of his wisdom, love, grace, and power, in the person and mediation of Christ, with our duties towards himself therein, even the Father, Son, and eternal Spirit, is pleaded and vindicated, which shall never be shaken by the utmost endeavours and oppositions of the gates of hell. And in the acknowledgment of the truth concerning these things consists, in an especial manner, that faith which was the life and glory of the primitive church, which they earnestly contended for, wherein and whereby they were victorious against all the troops of stumbling adversaries by whom it was assaulted. In giving testimony hereunto, they loved not their lives unto the death, but poured out their blood like water, under all the pagan persecutions, which had no other design but to cast them down and separate them from |