XV.

John XIV. 11. I am in the Father, and the Father IN ME.

Compare this with the foregoing Article.

XVI.

2 Cor. V. 20. We are ambaffadors for CHRIST, as though GOD did BESEECH you by us. We PRAY you IN CHRISTS STEAD be ye reconciled

to GOD.

The usefulness of this text to our present fubject, lies in these words" In Chrift's stead "we pray, as though God did befeech" where the interchanging of the Names God and Chrift, fhews the fame perfon to be entitled to both.

XVII.

1 John V. 20. We are in him that is true, even in his Son JESUS CHRIST: THIS is the TRUE GOD and eternal

life.

XVIII.

Col. II. 8, 9. Beware left any man fpoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after CHRIST; for in HIM DWELLETH ALL THE FULNESS of the GODHEAD BODILY.

The Apostle forefaw, that a thing calling itfelf Philofophy would fet all its engines at work to destroy the notion of Christ's true and absolute Divinity -"For in him (fays he) dwelleth "all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Philofophy "will dispute this: and undertake to demonstrate the contrary. But if you liften to such vain deceit, it will overthrow your faith, and Spoil you for a disciple of Jefus Chrift: therefore"Beware."

XIX.

WORD WAS GOD.

John I. 1. The word was God.

XX.

Ifai. IX. 6. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the Government fhall be upon his Shoulder and his name fhall be

:

called wonderfull, Counseller, the MIGHTY GOD, the EVERLASTING FA

THER.

XXI.

fer.XXIII. 6. This is the Name whereby he shall be called, the Lord (JEHOVAH) our Righteousness.

XXII.

Ifai. II. 17, 18. The LORD ALONE fhall be EXALTED in that day: and the IDOLS he shall utterly abolish.

Idolatry is the reverfe, and direct oppofite "to Chriflianity (or, the day of Christ.) To destroy this, was the great end of Christ's coming "into the world. -But except he were God, C

"the

"the very and eternal God, of one Subftance with "the Father, his Religion would be so far from deftroying Idolatry, that it would only be a "more refined and dangerous fpecies of it. The "Prophet therefore, concludes all, that fo he might acquit the worship of Chrift from all charge of Idolatry, with this pofitive affertion; "that it would prove the most effectual means "of putting an end to all falfe and Idolatrous "Worship: The Idols he shall utterly abolish. "The like conclufion we meet with in the A

"postle St. John; who having affirmed that Jefus Chrift is the true God and eternal life, im"mediately fubjoins and clofes all with this ad"vice-Little Children, keep yourselves from " IDOLS."

This Remark is taken from the first Volume of an Effay upon the proper Leffons; written, as I am told, by a Gentleman of the Laity. There needs no Apology for fetting it down; it being of good use in the subject I am upon. And it also gives me an occafion of returning thanks to the pious and learned Author of that excellent work, not for myself only, but for many fincere friends to the religion of Chrift and the Church of England, among whom his labours are not without their fruit; and I am confident they will not be without their reward: but the Author must be con

tent

tent to wait for it, till Wisdom fhall be juftified of

all ber Children.

XXIII.

Rev. I. 8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending faith the LORD, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the ALMIGHTY.

If the Reader will be pleased to examine the 13th and 17th verfes of this Chapter, it will appear that this 8th verfe was undoubtedly spoken from the mouth of Chrift: who therefore has a just title to every name and attribute expreffed in it; and among the reft, to that of the Almighty.

Origen, who certainly was no Arian, though often represented as fuch, by fome, who would be pleased to have the vote of fo celebrated a genius, has the following observation "Now "that you may know the Omnipotence of the "Father and the Son to be one and the fame as "HE is ONE and the SAME GOD and "LORD with the FATHER, hear what St. John has faid in the Revelation - These things faith the Lord, which is, and which was, and C 2 which