CONCERNING THE PERSONALITY OF THE SON.

Having considered the character of the Word, which the second person bears; proved his Deity, and inquired into his Sonship, I proceed, IV. To establish his divine and distinct personality. The definition of a person agrees with him. He is an individual that subsists of himself, lives, wills, and understands. He has life in himself, and is the author of life in others. He has a will distinct from his Father’s, though not opposite to it; and knows his Father as perfectly as his Father knows him. To go about to prove Christ to be a person, and a distinct person from the Father, and the Holy Ghost, is just such another undertaking, as to prove that there is such a glorious and luminous body as the fun, when it shines at noon day, and we are encompassed with its dazzling beams and light. To give the whole proof of this truth in its utmost compass would be to transcribe great part of the New Testament, where it is to be met with in almost every verse and line. I’ll just give some few hints: 1. All those ( John 1:14,18. and 3:16. Romans 8:3,32. with many others.) scriptures which speak of Christ as the Son of God, as his own Son, and his only begotten Son, show him to be a person, and a distinct one. Was he not a person, he could not properly be said to be begotten; and if he is a Son, he must be distinct from him whose Son he is, and by whom he is begotten. As it is the distinctive personal character of the Father to beget, so it is the distinctive personal character of the Son to be begotten. As the Son and Spirit are never said to beget, so it is never said of the Father, or of the Holy Ghost, that they are begotten. 2. All those ( Proverbs 8:30. John 1:1. 1 John 1:2.) scriptures which declare that Christ was with God the Father, and was as one brought up with him, and the like, plainly bespeak his distinct Personality; for he must be a person to be with another; and he must be distinct from him with whom he is. He cannot properly be said to be with himself; nor is there any reason to conclude, that this is the sense of those scriptures. 3. All those ( Proverbs 8:22,23. John 6:37 and 10:28. Ephesians 1:3. 2 Timothy 1:9. Isaiah 48:16.) scriptures which assert that he was let up from everlasting, as the covenant-head, and Mediator; and that all the persons of the elect, with all blessings and grace for them, were put into his hands as such, confirm this truth. He must be a person, and not a mere name or character, or he could not be said to be let up, and to have all the elect of God, with all spiritual blessings for them, given unto him; and he must be a distinct person from him who set him up, and entrusted him with all those persons and things. 4. All those ( Galatians 4:4. 1 John 4:9,10,14) scriptures which assure us that he was sent in the fullness of time, to be the Savior of sinners, are so many proofs of his distinct Personality. Was he not a person, he could not be lent; and he must be distinct from him, or them, by whom he is lent. He that fends, and he that is lent, cannot be the fame person; or else it must be said, that he sent himself. 5. All those scriptures ( Ephesians 5:2. Hebrews 9:14. Revelation 5:9. Romans 5:10) which speak of his satisfaction and sacrifice; as when he is laid to offer up himself to God, to redeem us to God by his blood, and to reconcile us to him by his death, show his distinct Personality. Was he not a person, he could not be laid to do all this. And he must be distinct from him, to whom he offered himself, and to whom he redeemed and reconciled his people. Surely it will not be proper to say, that he offered up himself to himself; or made satisfaction for the sins of his people to himself. 6. All those scriptures ( John 20:17. Hebrews 1:3.) which speak of his ascension to heaven, and his session at God’s right hand, are full and clear testimonies of this truth. He must be a Person distinct from his God, and our God, from his Father, and our Father, to whom he ascended; and cannot be the same person with him, at whose right hand he sits. 7. All those scriptures ( Hebrews 9:24. and 7:25. 1 John 2:1.), which speak of his advocacy, intercession, and mediation, confirm the same. For surely he cannot be laid to be an advocate with himself, to make intercession with himself, or to mediate with himself on the behalf of his people.