sus, "Shall I present my highest gratitude-the supreme homage of my lips and my heart to any besides the Father?" his Master will reiterate the sublime behest, "Pay religious service to Jehovah alone." If, not satisfied with the express affirmation of Jesus, that prayer and praise are to be offered up only to Him who is the God of the Jews and the Father of all;-if he again draw near to the Saviour, and say, "Shall I present my petitions to thee? Shall I request thy personal aid, in the hour of doubt, of difficulty, or of distress?"—his divine Master will reply, through the teachings of the Gospel: "Ye shall ask me nothing.-Whatsoever ye shall ASK THE FATHER in my name, HE WILL GIVE IT YOU,'

(3) The Angels, and other Attendants on the Birth of Jesus, offered up Praise to One Divine Being distinct from Christ.

28. Luke ii. 13, 14: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace, good will toward men.

29. Luke ii. 20: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

30. Luke ii. 28-32: Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

(4) The Witnesses of Christ's Miracles, the Objects of his Benevolence, and other pious Jews, glorified and praised God--the Being who had conferred on him Divine Power.

31. Matt. ix. 8: When the multitudes saw [it], they marvelled, and glorified God, WHO HAD GIVEN SUCH POWER UNTO MEN.-Par. Pas. Mark ii. 12. Luke v. 26. 32. Matt. xv. 31: The multitude wondered when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see, and they glorified the God of Israel.

33. Luke vii. 16: And there came a fear on all; and they

glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen

up among us; and, That God hath visited his people. 34. Luke xvii. 15-18: And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned "back, and with a loud voice glorified God; and fell down on [his] face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus, answering, said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where [are] the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

35. Luke xviii. 43: And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw [it], gave praise unto God.-See chap. v. 25; xiii. 13; xix. 37, 38.

36. John iv. 19-22: Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews.

37. John xi. 21, 22: Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever THOU WILT ASK OF GOD, God will give [it] thee.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE TWO PRECEDING PAGES.

In most of these portions of the evangelical narratives, the term Father does not occur. But, if regard be had to the context, and to the general tenor of Scripture, there can be no doubt that the Being addressed in the language of praise was considered by the worshippers as distinct from Jesus Christ, and superior to him.

Indeed, it is scarcely conceivable, that the shepherds who joined the angelic host in praising God for the glorious prospect of universal peace and good will, should have adored, as the infinite Jehovah,-whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain,—that frail and helpless babe which they had just seen lying in a manger. It is incredible, that the witnesses of Christ's miracles, and the recipients of his benevolent energies,-who were, like the rest of their countrymen, distinguished for their belief in the unity of the God of Israel,--should have offered up their most ardent gratitude to three divine persons, spiritual, immortal, and unchangeable. It is in the highest degree improbable, that the followers of the Lord Jesus, many of whom had observed the profound piety which characterized his words and his actions, should have paid religious worship to him who required the assistance of the Sovereign of the universe to conduct him in the trying scenes of his godlike ministry.

But all conjecture apart: None of these individuals-if we judge from the gospel-histories-ever paid religious worship to the Trinity; not one of them ever adored God the Son, or God the Holy Ghost. Though they had wit

nessed the most astonishing results of divine power in the miracles of Christ, they never once conceived that the visible agent who performed them was himself the invisible, the eternal, the omnipresent, and omnipotent God. They considered him merely as the Messenger or Prophet of the Most High-as one who could not have done the miracles which he wrought, unless God had been with him. Some of the devout Jews did, indeed, thank Jesus for the benevolent exertions of the power which his Father had bestowed on him; others, by falling at his feet, or worshipping him, paid him those marks of respect which were usually given to persons of high authority in Palestine, and other eastern nations; but their religious homage, and their supreme gratitude, they restricted to that Being to whom Christ himself prayed-to the one God of Israel, whom they acknowledged as the Source of that "wonderful power" whose effects they had witnessed.

That the God of the Jews was he whom Jesus called by the endearing name of Father, we cannot have any reasonable doubt; for our Lord himself has clearly established the fact. "Believe me," said he to the Samaritan woman, "the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: WE KNOW WHAT WE WORSHIP; for salvation is of the Jews."

(5) The Apostles, and other Primitive Disciples of Christ, paid Religious Homage to the Father only.

38. Acts iv. 24-30: They (the apostles) lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou [art] God, who hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea; grant... that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

39. Acts xxiv. 14: But this I (Paul) confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.

........ Wakefield.

obтw λarρεvw, so pay I religious service... 40. Rom. i. 8-10: I thank my God, through Jesus Christ,

for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; making request to come unto you.

....

& λarрevw εv тỤ пvεvμari pov, to whom my mind payeth its religious service.............. Wakefield. 41. Rom. vii. 25: I thank God, through Jesus Christ our

Lord.

42. Rom. xv. 5, 6: Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another, according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind [and] one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

τον Θεον και πατερα του Κυρίου ἡμων Ιησου Χριστου

the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.-Hammond, Whitby (Com.), Scarlett; S. Clarke, Wakefield, Haynes, Carpenter, Eyre, S. Sharpe, and Imp. Ver.

43. Rom. xvi. 27: To God only wise, [be] glory, through Jesus Christ, for ever.-See p. 21, No. 18.

44. 1 Cor. i. 4: I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.

45. 1 Cor. xv. 57: But thanks [be] to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

46. 2 Cor. i. 3: Blessed [be] God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.

ὁ Θεός και πατηρ του Κυριου ήμων Ιησου Χριστου

the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.-Hammond, Macknight, Carlile, Eyre; Locke, S. Clarke, Wakefield, Belsham, Carpenter, S. Sharpe