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ESSAYS, &c.

The Superiority of Divine to Human Testimony.

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THE HE importance of any subject may most commonly be gathered, from the solemnity which those speak with, who are interested therein. Thus among men (by the testimony of that word which is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart), "an oath for confirmation is to them an end of ail strife." Heb. vi. 16. mortals, are serious things.

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Oaths in the mouths of

They should be spoken with the greatest solemnity, and not without having the greatest reverence, and the most holy fear of God before our eyes: they should not be made " by "Heaven, for it is God's throne: nor by the "earth, for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusa"lem, for it is the city of the great king, Nei

ther (it is added) shalt thou swear by thy head, "because thou canst not make one hair white or "black." The communication of a christian should be, "yea, yea; nay, nay;" nor should incredulity towards his testimony, nor disregard to his word among his fellow creatures, tempt him to depart from such godly simplicity and plainness of speech; "for whatsoever is more than these, cometh of

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"evil." Matt. v. 34-37. And even when his authority is disputed, he should with faith, and an humble mind, commit himself, "to him who judgeth righteously." 1 Pet. ii. 23. and who will finally avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them.” Luke xviii. 7. But with God it is different, who cannot (as being above all) appeal to any above himself: nor need he appeal to his own immutability and honor for his own sake, but for the satisfaction of those on whom he has deigned to exercise the greatest compassion and the tenderest love; even for those, for whose sake he gave up his own dear Son to die for their sins. And for their sakes, “because " he could swear by no greater, he swear by himself;" the purpose of which was that he might ex

press himself, willing, more abundantly to shew "unto the heirs of promise, the immutability of "his counsel," which he therefore "confirmed

by an oath" and the gracious intent of which was, that "we might have a strong consolation, "who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope "set before us." Heb. vi. 13-17, 18, 19. “O "the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God; how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out." Rom. xi. 33.-O the matchless love and wisdom of God in his glorious dealings for the good of the children of men!

But these glorious dealings for our good must be

displayed to us, in a way suitable to, and guarding from every imputation the divine honour. And as no man could see the face of God, even for the purpose of receiving unmerited favor, and live; so it became necessary to have a Mediator, possessing the character of both God and man. And this has our great Mediator Christ Jesus possessed. In virtue of his essential divinity as eternal God, "having “neither beginning of days, nor end of life," Heb. vii. 3. he possessed the divine character in all its inimitable, glorious, and unspotted perfections; and through his human nature, assumed entirely for our good, he possessed all the properties, passions, and inclinations of man, as far as he could assume them without partaking of our sin. And so far did he subunit to be enveloped with the human nature, that he "was in all points tempted like as

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we are, yet without sin," Heb. iv. 15; and for this express purpose," that he might be a merciful "and faithful high priest in things pertaining to "God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the

people." Heb. ii. 17. And in this double capacity, Christ is at once "a just God, and a Sa"viour." Isa. xlv. 21.

Possessing then every adorable property which man can or ought to admire in a supreme Being, he possessed also divine and unerring wisdom, and that in the following ways and particulars.

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