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time he should appear in flesh. Accordingly, as JEHOVAH cannot be rightly pronounced in the Greek tongue, it is commonly rendered LORD in the new testament, and by way of speciality given to JESUS CHRIST. "This day is born unto you a Savior, who is CHRIST the LORD: or the LORD CHRIST. The word which GoD sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, he is LORD of all. To this end Christ both died and rose, that he might be LORD both of the dead and living: and he hath on his vesture, and on his thigh, a name written, King of Kings, and LORd of LORDS."

The attentive reader will mind that it was proved at large, part I. sect, 5. That what is said of JEHOVAH in the old testament, is applied to JESUS CHRIST in the new: to which I shall only add one idea here. It was JEHOVAH that guided and governed the jewish church under the old testament, that exercised his divine paternal care about her in such a variety of compassionate and tender expressious, and indulgent methods, declaring his concern for their frequent contempt of duty and privilege,-raising up prophets in every age, who came in the name of JEHOVAH to testify against their defections, warn them of their danger,

with GOD, by attributing that to the church, which is the peculiar prerogative of Christ our Redeemer, who is "made unto us righteousness, who brought in an everlasting righteousness,-with which JEHOVAH is said to be well pleased."-The idea in the text, as it is translated, suits that church well in which there is a stock of merit supposed to be lodged, which may be purchased on conditions, to recommend her members to the favor of GOD: but the scriptures know no such church. The glory of being our righte ousness, is every where given to Christ, and so does this text. which should read thus," And he who shall call her, or, he shall be called by her, JEHOVAH, our righteousness," which is the same with the other text, and agreeable to the scope of revelation.

* Luke ii. 11. Acts x. 36. Rom. xiv. 9. Rev. xix. 16.

and endeavor to reclaim them: but all this JESUS CHRIST declares HE had done, when he sat down on the mount over against Jerusalem; and with the same sympathetic tenderness, he had often before lamented their impending fate, (which now must take place, the measure of their wickedness being filled up in shedding his innocent blood, which crowned the guilt of killing the prophets he had from time to time sent unto them, which blood should be required of that generation;) he says, "O* Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them who were sent unto you, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate," &c.

Divine wisdom is conspicuous in giving the relative name LORD, which JEHOVAH is rendered by, to JESUS CHRIST in the new testament, WHEN, he really gave being to his promises he had made under the old testament; this being the very reason for which, as he told Moses, he would make himself known by the name JEHOVAH;-and WHEN, he performed those great works he had promised in behalf of his people, by which they should know his name to be JEHOVAH. He now appears as the spirit and design of all the sacred inscriptions to which JEHOVAH is joined, which are just so many parts of the character of Christ,-the sum of all the mercy and truth promised to the fathers by JEHOVAH. And in his instructions to the churches,

* Matt. xxiii. 37.

+ Eve seems to have thought that JEHOVAH, who proclaimed the glad tiding of salvation by the seed of the woman, should be that seed himself: or, that he who was the promised seed might be called JEHOVAH. For, she supposing that her first child was the seed promised, said with exultation,-"I have gotten the MAN,

he assumes the same title under the name LORD, which he did under the name JEHOVAH. 66 I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, saith the LORD, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

And agreeable to his inferior character as a Son, the Savior, and Redeemer of men, the name LORD is joined with others, expressive of the salvation he in so great condescension came to procure. Hence he is called the LORD JESUS CHRIST, -JESUS the LORD,-CHRIST the LORD,—SAVIOR the LORD, SPIRIT the LORD. And this phraseology is not confined to the new testament, for Isaiah expresses this connection in very plain terms. 'It will trust, and not be afraid; for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and song; he also is become my salvation." JESUs, as in the original.

66

And according to every notion and acceptation of the word, he bears the name LORD in the most proper sense possible, whether we consider the appellations which imply or express LORDSHIP, or the right and foundation thereof. With

the JEHOVAH," as Gen. iv. 1. reads. Though she was mistaken in thinking that Cain, her first-born, was the promised seed; yet she cannot be supposed to have misundersood the promise itself so far, as to apply the name JEHOVAH to the seed promised, if it had no relation to it. She seems to have rather understood this divine connection better than many since, notwithstanding their having the whole of revelation to learn it from, which shews plainly, that he who made this and all other promises respecting the salvátion of men, under the character of JEHOVAH, was the efficient himself, and in the fulness of time appeared in infinite condescension as the son of man, the promised seed of the woman, compleatly fulfilling every thing that pointed at him in that humble character, and related to that salvation which he, as JEHOVAH, had promised to the church.

* Com. Rev. i. 8. iv. 8. xi. 17. with Isa. xli. 4. xliv. 6. xlviii. 12.

See page 131.
page 128.

Isa. xii. 3. See

regard to the first, he is called king, prince, master, captain, ruler, lawgiver, leader, &c. And with respect to the other, if uncontrolable power aud ability to govern, be a ground of LORDSHIP, he most justly claims the title LORD in the highest respect and also, as he created, preserves, upholds, maintains, and provides for all. If conquest gives any title to dominion, he has every right this way. If purchase or primogeniture gives a right to rule and government among men, how much more is it due to CHRIST? He planned and erected the church, instituted laws and ordinances for her government,-guards her from all enemies,-brings members into her by his power, he is the LORD, head, husband, supreme teacher, director, governor, and source of endless happiness to all her members.

This is a subject too copious and extensive to be properly discussed in a short excursion of this kind; yet from these few short hints, it is plain, that the name JEHOVAH in the old testament, and the name which answers to it in the new, are designed to instruct us in the knowledge of some relation he that bears them stands in to his church: and as I have shewed above, that the other names assumed by the Divine Being, refer to the great economy he is carrying on with respect to his church; we may safely conclude, that there is no abstract name or definition of the Supreme Being in revelation: and consequently that all the fine speculations on that head, are without foundation in scripture.

A

COMPLETE INDEX

To the different

TEXTS QUOTED

IN THE

Clear Display of the Trinity, &c. &c.

The Texts which differ from the common translation are marked * those which are more or less explained t. If the same text is some way illustrated, and differently translated, it is marked §t; and those barely cited without any distinction.

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