An Additional Word to the Body of Divinity

p. 1An Additional Word to the body of Divinity, or Confession of Faith, added on special occasion, tending further to confirm some Truths therein; with a further discourse about the Doctrine of Election, Universal and special Grace, the power of man to believe and obey the Gospel, and about the Eternal Judgment.

Concerning God.

In which I demonstrated that God is, and that he subsisteth in Three, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Against which I find are several exceptions relating to the Person of the Son of God; the Exceptions against what I said in this matter, are as followeth,

1. That he is not the Son of God in the Divine Nature only, pag. 30. 36.

2. That he is the Son of God only, as considered in both Natures, pa. 30.

4. That as God and Man he was a Creature, pag. 31.

5. That this Creature, God and Man, Created all things, pag. 31.

6. That this word God-Man was made flesh, pag. 33.

7. That he is the Son of Man in both Natures, pag. 37.

8 That there are not three persons in the Trinity, but various titles and discoveries, &c.

THese things (I think) are all stated and cleared in the first Chapter, without all just occasion of offence; I shall not say much of the ungrounded Arguments against them, being as yet private, but what is necessary for the more full confirmation of the things as stated in that Chapter.

1. That He is not the Son of God in the divine Nature only.

My reason for this is, because the Scripture, no where (that I know) affirms him so to be; and for me or any other to affirm that p. 2which the Scripture doth not, must needs be unsound and unsafe. The Scripture, always, when it speaks of the Son of God, it is as he was in both Natures, God and Man; and hence its safe to say, that he was not the Son of God in the Divine Nature only.

That which I shall endeavour to demonstrate from Scripture, is, that he is the Son of God only, as considered in both Natures, which is the second Exception; and if this be proved, then the first is true, (viz.) If he be the Son of God in both Natures only, then he is not the Son of God in the Divine Nature only; and to prove that he is the Son of God in both Natures only, the Scripture so presents him to us, and no otherwise; and as the Scriptures presents him to us, so ought we to believe him to be, and no otherwise; but that the Scriptures do thus present Christ unto us, and no otherwise, appeareth.

p. 21. The Scriptures that speak of Christ, as in the Bosom of the Father before time, speak of him as he came forth in time, 1 Joh. 1, 2. the same word it was, that was in the beginning with God, that in time was made flesh and dwelt among us, v. 14. and his glory was seen and beheld, which was not the Divine Nature only, that only was never seen nor beheld of any, Rom 8. 29. speaking of Christ as with the Father, in his fore-knowing and electing grace to men, saith, That they were predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Son. Here the Son is considered as at the bottom of Electing grace, and this surely must be before the world was; then let us seriously consider, whether it was as God only, or as Man only. 1. Not as God only, for this the Opposers will not grant; that as the Son in the Divine Nature only, he was the First-born among many Brethren, for so he could have no Brother, then it must be as God and Man, as in time he was made manifest, and as antiently so considered by and with the Father, as the fore-knowing and predestinating Grace of God to men, though not so frequently made known by the name or title of the Son of God, till made siesh, but the word of God, 1 Joh. 1, 2. Psal. 33. 6. and Eph. 1. 4. God chose in Christ before the world was, and as Christ the Anointed, he was the Son of God, and the Son of Man: and is it possible for us to have right thoughts of Christ in this choyce, and yet to suppose him not to be in any true Scripture-sence with the Father, as Christ the Son of God and Man in this choyce? For he was not Christ in the divine Nature only, nor in human nature only; so to understand him, tends to Un christ, and so to Un-son him as truly as any notion whatsoever, Psal. 2. 6, 7. The p. 7same He, That was in the Form of God, it was, that took upon him the Form of a Servant, and was made in the likeness of Man. Where the Apostle speaks of him, as he was before, he was made flesh, and as when made flesh, and I think it was he that was, and is the Son of God, in both Natures, or else I know not of whom he speaks; not in the Humane Nature only; for so he could not be in the Form of God, and equal with him; nor in the Divine Nature only, for so he could not be in the Form of a Servant, and humble himself to Death; therefore it must be as the Son in both Natures, both before and after his Humiliation, it being the same He in both, 2 Tim. 1. 9, The Gospel grace, is that which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Then surely Christ Jesus must be so considered as with the Father before the world began, or else the grace could not be given us in him before, 1 Pet. 1. 20. Who verily was fore-ordained before the Foundation of the World, but was manifest in these last times, &c.