word of his power. And it is He that shall bring the world to an end." Heb. i. 10, 11, 12. "Thou, Lord, in the beginning, hast laid the foundations of the earth, &c. They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure. As a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed. But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail."

But if these things are so, what shall we think of the upholding and government of the world, while Christ was in his humbled state, and while an infant, and when we are told that he was wearied with his journey, and his strength in some measure spent, only with governing the motions of his own body? Who upheld and governed the world at that time? Doubtless, it will be said, that God the Father took the world out of the hands of the Son for that time, to uphold and govern it, and returned it into his hands again at his exaltation. But, is there any ground to suppose such a mighty change as this, as to the author of the universe, that it should have such different authors of its being, and of all its properties, natural principles, motions, alterations, and events, both in bodies and all created minds, for three or four and thirty years, from what it had ever before or since? Have we any hint of such a thing? or, have we any revelation of any thing analogous? Has God ever taken the work of a creature out of its hands, according to the ordinary course of things?

§ 25. The Supreme God is doubtless distinguished by some works or other. As he must be infinitely distinguished from all other beings in his nature; so, doubtless, there are some manifestations or other of this vast superiority above all other beings. But we can have no other proper manifestations of ⚫ the divine nature, but by some effects of it. The invisible things of God are seen by the things that are made. The word of God itself is no demonstration of the superior distinguishing glory of the Supreme God, any otherwise than by his works; and that two ways: 1. As we must have the perfections first proved by his works, in order to know that his word is to be depended on. 2. As the works of God, appealed to and declared in his word, make evident that divine greatness and glory which the word of God declares. There is a difference between declaration and evidence. The word declares ; but the works are the proper evidence of what is declared.

Undoubtedly, therefore, the vastly distinguished glory of the Supreme God, is manifested by some distinguishing peculiar works of his. That the Supreme God is distinguished very remarkably and most evidently from all other beings, by some works or other, is certain by the Scripture. It is often represented, that he most plainly and greatly shows his distinguishing majesty, power, and wisdom, and vast superiority to other beings, by his works that are seen, and set in the view of the

children of men. So Psalm lxxxi. 8: "Among the gods, there is none like unto thee, neither are there any works like unto thy works ;" see, also, verse 10. Psalm lxxxix. 5, 8, 9, 10. "The heavens shall praise thy wonders:-for who in heaven can be compared to the Lord? who amongst the sons of the mighty, can be likened unto the Lord? O Lord of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee, or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea; when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them." Deut. iii. 24. What God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?" Psalm lxxii. 18. "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doth wondrous things." This is often added to the declarations of God's works, "That ye may know that I am the Lord, or that I am Jehovah." And this "That ye may know that there is none like unto me," &c. Exod. viii. 10. 22. chap. ix. 14. 16. and x. 2. and innumerable other places.

§ 26. But now, what are these distinguishing works of God? or the works by which his distinguishing dignity and glory are clearly manifested? What works are they that can be named or thought of? Is it CREATING the world? Or, is it the creating of the spiritual, intellectual world, which, undoubtedly, is an unspeakably greater work, than creating the material world? Is it PRESERVING and upholding the world? or is it GOVERNING the world? Or, is it REDEMPTION and salvation; or, at least, some particular great salvation? Was it the redemption out of Egypt, and carrying the people of Israel through the wilderness, and giving them the possession of Canaan? Or, is it the greatest work of redemption, even salvation from spiritual, total, and eternal destruction, and bringing to eternal holiness and glory? Is it conversion, regeneration, restoring a fallen, sinful creature, and making men new creatures, giving them holiness, and the image of God? or giving wisdom to the heart, the truest and greatest wisdom? Is it the conversion of the Gentile world, and renewing the whole world of mankind, as consisting of Jews and Gentiles? Or, is it conquering Satan and all the powers of darkness, and overcoming all evil, even the strongest holds of sin and Satan, all God's enemies in their united strength? Is it searching the hearts of the children of men? Is it working any particular kind of great miracles? Is it raising the dead to life, or raising all in general at the last day? Is it judging the world, angels, and men, in the last and greatest judgment? Is it bestowing on the favourites of God, both men and angels, their highest, most consummate, and eternal glory? Is it destroying the visible creation, and bringing all to their final period and consummation, and to their most perfect and eternal state? Or, are there any other works greater than these, that can be thought of, which we can find

appealed to as clearly manifesting the most peculiar and distinguishing glory of the Supreme God, in comparison of whom all other beings whatsoever are absolutely as nothing? Yet all these are ascribed to Christ.

§ 27. The creation of the world in general, is often spoken of as the peculiar work of the Supreme God; a work wherein he manifests his glory as supreme, and distinguished from all other beings: Rom. i. 16, 20." "Because that which may be known of God, is manifest in them. For God hath shown it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things which are made, even his eternal power and godhead." Doubtless, it is the Supreme God who is here spoken of. And what godhead is clearly to be seen by the creation of the world, but the supreme Godhead? And what can that invisible glory and power of this God be, but that by which he is distinguished from other beings, and may be known to be what he is? It is said, "that which may be known of God, is clearly manifest by his works." But, doubtless, one thing, and infinitely the most important, that may be known of God, is his supreme dignity and glory, that glory which he has as Supreme God. But if the creation of the world be not a work peculiar to him, how are these things so clearly manifested by his work? The work of creation is spoken of as one of the great wonders done by Him, who is God of gods, and Lord of lords, who alone doeth great wonders; as in Psal. cxxxvi. 2-9: "O give thanks unto the God of gods. O give thanks to the Lord of lords. To him who alone doeth great wonders. To him that by wisdom made the heavens. To him that stretched out the earth over the waters. To him that made great lights,-the Sun to rule by day," &c. This is the work of the Supreme God, which he wrought alone, Job ix. 8. "Which alone spreadeth out the heavens." And 2 Kings xix. 15. "O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: Thou hast made heaven and earth." 1 Chron. xvi. 24, 25, 26. "Declare his glory among the Heathen, his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised. He is also to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: But the Lord made the heavens."-Isaiah xl. 25, 26. "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things." How plain is How plain is it here, that creating the world is spoken of as a work of the Supreme God, most evidently showing, that none is like him, or to be compared to him? So verse 12, compared with verse 18. God asserts the creation of the world, to be his work, so as to deny any associate, or instrument ; VOL. VII.

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as in Isaiah xliv. 24. "Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am Jehovah, that maketh all things, that stretcheth forth the heavens alone, that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself." Isaiah xiv. 5—7. "I am Jehovah, and there is none else; there is no God besides me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is none else; I form the light and create darkness." Verse 12. “I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens." Verse 18. "Thus saith Jehovah, that created the heavens, God himself, that formed the earth, and made it." Verse 21. "I am Jehovah, and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me." Yet these works are applied to Christ.

§ 28. God's creating the world, is used as an argument, to show the nations of the world the reasonableness of forsaking all other gods, and worshipping the One true God only. Rev. xiv. 7.Saying, with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him, and worship him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (See, also, Acts xiv. 15. and Rev. x. 6.)-The work of creation is spoken of as the distinguishing work of the Supreme, only Living, and True God, showing him to be alone worthy to be worshipped; as in Jer. x. 6-12. "Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O Lord; Thou art great, and thy name is great in might. Who would not fear thee, O king of nations? for to thee doth it appertain. Jehovah is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King. Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. He hath made the earth by his power; He hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavensby his discretion."

$29. But the creation of the world is ascribed to JESUS CHRIST, in John i. 3. Col. i. 16. Heb. i. 10. It is ascribed to him as being done by his power, as the work of his hands, Heb. i. 10. And his work in such a manner, as to be a proper manifestation of his greatness and glory; and so as to show him to be God, John i. 1-3. Is the creation of the spiritual, intelligent world, consisting of angels, and the souls of men, and the world of glory, a peculiar work of the Supreme God? Doubtless it is so. Neh. ix. 6. "Thou, even Thou, art Lord alone. Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host: And the host of heaven worshippeth Thee." Psalm civ. 4. "Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." And the creation of the spiritual and intelligent world, in every part of it, is also ascribed to Christ.

For it is said, John i. 3. without him, was not any thing made that was made." And to him is expressly ascribed the creation of the invisible world, and of the angels in particular, even the very highest and most exalted of them; and all the most glorious things in the invisible heaven, the highest and most glorious part of the creation of God. Col. i. 16. “ By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible," (these include the invisible things on earth, as well as in heaven, even the souls of men ;) "whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him."

"The world was made by him, and,

"Lift

§ 30. Preserving the creation, is spoken of as the work of the One only Jehovah, Neh. ix. 6. Thou, even Thou, art Jehovah alone. Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host; the earth, and all things that are therein; and Thou preservest them all." Isaiah xl. 26. up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number. He calleth them all by names, by the greatness of his might; for that he is strong in power, not one faileth." Job xii. 7-10. “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; who knoweth not in all these, that the hand of Jehovah hath made this? in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." See, also, Psalm xxxvi. 6, 7.

But the preservation of the creation is also ascribed to Christ; Heb. i. 3. "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power." Colos. i. 17. "By him all things

consist."

§ 31. Governing the creation, is another thing often spoken of as the peculiar work of God; as in Isaiah xl. 21. to the end. There, governing the world, is the manifest peculiar work of him to whom none is like, and none equal. And, in Isaiah xlv. 1-13, governing the world, bringing to pass revolutions in nations, &c., are spoken of as the peculiar works of Him who is Jehovah alone. See 2 Chron. xxix. 11, 12; and Psalm xxii. 28; xlvii. 2, &c. But Christ is often, in the New Testament, spoken of as the Governor of the world, is prayed to as such, and spoken of as He whose will disposes all

events.

Sitting as king in heaven, having his throne there, and goerning the universe for the salvation of his people, are spoken of as peculiar to the supreme God. But, how often and eminently are these things ascribed to Christ! His having his throne in heaven; being exalted far above all heavens; thrones, dominions, &c., being made subject to him; being made head over all things to the church, &c.