tendency to prejudice the profession of the Christian religion, to create in them the least doubt concerning the Truth of the Holy Scriptures, or those necessary and saving Truths contained in them."

1728. "And, dear Friends! inasmuch as the Holy Scriptures are the external means of conveying and preserving to us, an account of the things most surely to be believed, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh, and the fulfilling of the prophecies relating thereto; we therefore recommend to all Friends, especially elders in the Church, and masters of families, that they would, both by example and advice, impress on the minds of the younger, a reverent esteem of those Sacred Writings; and advise them to a frequent reading and meditating therein: and that ministers as well as elders and others, in all their preaching, writing, and conversing about the things of God, do keep to the form of sound words, or Scripture terms; and that none pretend to be wise above what is there written, and, in such pretended wisdom go about to explain the things of God, in the words which man's wisdom teaches."

1732. "We tenderly and earnestly advise and exhort all parents and masters of families, that they exert themselves in the wisdom of God, and in the strength of his love, to instruct their children and families, in the doctrines and precepts of the Christian religion contained in the Holy Scriptures; and that they excite them to the diligent reading of these Sacred Writings, which plainly set forth the miraculous conception, birth, holy life, wonderful works, blessed example, meritorious death, and glorious resurrection, ascension, and mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and to educate their children in the belief of those important truths, as well as in the belief of the inward manifestation and operation of the Spirit of God on their own minds; that they may reap the benefit and

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advantage thereof, for their own peace, and everlasting happiness, which is infinitely preferable to all other considerations. We therefore exhort, in the most earnest manner, that all be very careful in this respect; a neglect herein being, in our judgment, very blame worthy and further, where any deficiency of this sort appears, we recommend to Monthly and Quarterly Meetings, that they those whom it may concern to their duty herein." 1736. "We earnestly exhort, that ye hold fast the profession of the Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, without wavering; both in respect to his outward coming in the flesh, his sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension, mediation, and intercession at the right-hand of the Father; and to the inward manifestations of his Grace and Holy Spirit in our hearts, powerfully working in the soul of man, to the subduing every evil affection and lust, and to the purifying of our consciences from dead works, to serve the Living God; and that, through the virtue and efficacy of this most Holy Faith, ye may become strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."

1800. "There were of old, those who brought children to Christ in the days of his flesh; and now, the religious parent can breath no warmer aspiration for his tender offspring, than when he spiritually commends them to the protection of his Lord. But see, Friends, that you encourage no propensities in them, which prevent a union with Him. Restrain them, we beseech you, from associating with those whose influence and example lead away from His law; and be especially careful that you introduce not among them, publications, which are either wholly or in part repugnant to the faith as it is in Jesus."-" And finally, Friends, of every age, of every rank, we commend you to the protection of Him who died for us, and who ever liveth to make intercession for us; who is able to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him."

In the years 1730-1-2, Alexander Arscott published, in three parts, a work which he called, "Considerations relating to the present state of the Christian Religion," in which he says: "Christ, the Author of the Christian Religion, is to be considered under a two-fold character; as Man, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; and as God, in which sense He was in the beginning, before all worlds, and is called in Scripture the Word, the Wisdom, and the Power of God."

"And as what Christ did and suffered for mankind was necessary, by the appointment of God the Father, for their reconciliation to Him, notwithstanding their sins and trespasses against Him; so his presence with them, and in them, is necessary for their overcoming sin, and bringing them into a state of holiness and acceptance with Him: and this latter is as truly a part of the Christian religion as the first; and both, taken together, make up the whole, entire Christian religion."

Henry Tuke, in his treatise on the Principles of Religion, page 51, says: "The Christian Religion teaches, that, our first parents having sinned and lost the Divine Image, the fallen nature became so predominant, that it was by them transferred to their offspring but in order that man might be restored to favour, and to a state of purity, it pleased the Almighty to promise and send a Redeemer, whose sacrifice of Himself, He saw meet to accept, as the means of reconciliation and forgiveness of sins; hereby putting an end to all those sacrifices, which from the fall, or very soon after, to the time when Christ thus offered up Himself, had been adopted as the means of obtaining acceptance with God. And, though we cannot trace this practice to a Divine command, earlier than the time of Moses; yet the universal adoption of it by the religious of all ages, is a strong im

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plication that it was of Divine origin, instituted in reference to that 'one Offering, by which God hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.' "

“Thus the chief objects of the coming of Christ, evidently appear to have been :-first, by the sacrifice of Himself, to make atonement to God for us, and to become the Mediator between God and man :-secondly, by the sanctifying operation of the Holy Spirit, 'to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to bring in everlasting righteousness :—and, thirdly, by putting an end to the Legal Dispensation, and, as the apostle expresses it, 'blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,' to lead mankind to a more pure and spiritual worship of the Divine Being.

The evangelist John introduces the history of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, by a most striking testimony to his Divinity: "In the beginning was the Word; and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

"The same was in the beginning with God."

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"All things were made by Him and without Him was not any thing made that was made.”

"In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men." "He was in the World; and the world was made by Him; and the world knew Him not. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us."

Christ said of Himself: "Before Abraham was, I am." John viii. 58. And again: "I and my Father are one." John x. 30.

The apostle Paul says, 1 Tim. iii. 16: "God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." And in another place he says: "Of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came; who is over all, God blessed for ever." Rom. ix. 5. In the first chapter of Hebrews, verse 8, he quotes a passage from the Psalms,

with application to Jesus Christ: "But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God! is for ever and ever."

The prophet, speaking of his advent, says: "His Name shall be called, Wonderful, Counseller, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." Isaiah ix. 6, 7.

For the Redemption of fallen man, He condescended to be "made flesh," or "take flesh, and dwell among us ;" as it is written : "A body hast thou prepared Me." "For verily, He took not on Him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham," &c. In thus being "made flesh," or "taking flesh," with its feelings and susceptibility of suffering and of death, and in submitting to be tempted as we are, He was said to be "made like unto his brethren." Heb. ii. 17. And yet we do not, from these expressions, call his Divinity in question.

"Beware," said the apostle, "lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ; for in Him dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power." Col. ii. 8, 9, 10. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a Name which is above every name; that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil. ii. 9, 10, 11.

It is not necessary to enter into a statement of what constitutes the human character, to draw a contrast between this and the character of Jesus Christ; for though He was man, yet He was more than man: the Divine Nature essentially belonged to Him.

Thus it was said: "A body hast Thou prepared Me."