A
TREATISE
ON THE
CHARACTER
OF
JESUS CHRIST,
AND ON THE
TRINITY IN UNITY OF THE GODHEAD;
WITH
QUOTATIONS FROM THE PRIMITIVE FATHERS
BY ETHAN SMITH, A. M.
PASTOR OF A CHURCH IN HOPKINTON, N. H.
But whom say ye that I am? -- Thou art the Christ.
Immanuel -- God with us
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
That ye should contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints
Because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
BOSTON:
PUBLISHED BY H. P. & C. WILLIAMS
PRINTED BY N. WILLIS.
1814.
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District of Massachusetts, to wit:
District Clerk's office.
BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the nineteenth day of April, A. D. 1814, and in the thirty-eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America, Nathaniel Willis of the said district, has deposited in this office the title of a book the right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the words following, to wit: -- "A Treatise on the Character of Jesus Christ: -- and on the Trinity in Unity of the Godhead, with Quotations from the Primitive Fathers. By Ethan Smith, A. M. Pastor of a Church in Hopkinton, N. H. " But whom say ye that I am ? Thou art the Christ. Immanuel, -- God with us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, & of the Holy Ghost. That ye should contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. Because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son." -- In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, intitled, "An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned;" and also to an act intitled "An Act supplementary to an act, intitled, An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving and etching historical and other prints."
WM. S. SHAW,
Clerk of the District of Massachusetts.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Rev. Dr. Emmons. -- "The Rev. E. Smith read to me, some time ago his Treatise on the Character of Jesus Christ, and on the Trinity. I much approved of his sentiments; and am very desirous that his piece should be published; because I think it is ably executed, and directly calculated to refute some dangerous errors, which are at the present day industriously propagated.
NATHANAEL EMMONS.
Franklin, March 30, 1814."
Rev. Dr. Griffin's. -- "I have had the pleasure of hearing the Rev. E. Smith read a considerable part of his Treatise on the Character of Jesus Christ, and on the Trinity; and am one of those, who have urged him to lay this work before the public. In my opinion it is the most ample, consistent and satisfactory exhibition of the Filiation of Christ, that I have seen. The author has evinced an extensive acquaintance with the holy scriptures, and indefatigable industry in collecting their testimony. In this age of error, I cannot but think that the publication of this work may be of essential service to the cause of truth; and do heartily wish it a general circulation, and the most distinguished success.
E. D. GRIFFIN.
Boston, March 23, 1814."
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RECOMMENDATIONS.
Rev. Dr. Morse's. -- "I have examined with attention the Rev. E. Smith's work, entitled A Treatise on the Character of Jesus Christ, and on the Trinity.
In view of the errors of the times, of those particularly which have been spreading for some time past in this region, I consider this little volume, as an excellent and very seasonable antidote to the poison of these errors. It is a work honorable to the talents, the industry, the piety, and candor of its author. Regardless of the ornaments of style, his object appears to be to exhibit in simplicity, and in a manner adapted to every capacity, what the Scriptures declare, concerning the grand, sublime, and glorious mysteries of our holy Religion, of which he treats.
The first section in this Treatise would seem a superfluous labor, proving an obvious, self evident truth, to those who do not know, that there has lately sprung up among us men, ministers of the gospel, who in their publications on
"the Filiation of Christ," have adduced the testimonies of Christ himself, and the confessions of others, that he was the Son of God, as going to prove the strange opinion which they have adopted, viz. that the person of Christ was derived from God, in the same manner, that the person of a son, is derived from a human father. As shewing very clearly that this opinion is unscriptural and absurd, this section is important.
In this publication, I consider Mr. Smith as having rendered essential service to the Christian public, and that he has merited their thanks and patronage. I earnestly wish it may be read by all on either side, who feel an interest in the existing controversy on these great and fundamental doctrines of the gospel of Christ.
JEDEDIAH MORSE.
Charlestown, April 18, 1814."
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CONTENTS.
SECTION I.
13 What was the great question concerning Jesus Christ,
after he entered his public ministry?
SECTION II.
22 On the Sonship of Christ,
SECTION III.
40 Further remarks relative to the Sonship of Christ,
SECTION IV.
56 No benefit results from a supposed derivation of Christ s Divinity.
SECTION V.
60 Proper Divinity is infinitely incapable of dervation.
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SECTION VI.
70 Jesus Christ is God underived.
SECTION VII.
141 Jesus Christ has a human soul as well as body.
SECTION VIII.
156 The Godhead consists of Trinity in Unity.
SECTION IX.
202 Testimonies of the primitive Fathers, in favor of the doctrine of a
Trinity in Unity in the Godhead, and of the proper Divinity of Christ.
230 Conclusion.
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P R E F A C E.
IT is the remark of an eminent man, that "Divinity consists in speaking with the scripture; and in going no further." By this rule I hope I shall strictly proceed, in discussing the deep and interesting subject of this treatise. The subject is a matter of mere Revelation. To this then, we ought to repair, and to abide by the decision there found. The mode of the divine existence is, of all things, the most mysterious and sublime. And of all subjects, it demands the most solemn awe, self-diffidence, and humble reliance on the dictates of Revelation. Learn what the Bible says upon that subject, and the point is gained. This is all that man can do. It is not only vain, but impious to object to the point thus decided, because unfathomable depths of mystery attend it.
The universe is full of mystery. Man is of yesterday, and knows nothing. If he have learned enough to take an intelligent survey of God's works, he is confounded wherever he turns his eyes. He looks
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at immensity of space, and is lost in wonder. He contemplates the planetary system, and the starry heavens, with amazement. On earth he finds a world of objects, each one of which is attended with insolvable questions; not excepting the smallest insect. After man's highest improvements in philosophy and science, he has learned only to feel, most exquisitely, that his knowledge is as nothing. Unexplored regions of wonder glimmer upon his astonished sight.
Many objections occur to men, less informed, relative to subjects proposed, which they deem unanswerable, or conclusive against the proposed point; but which objections, on better information, they find to be of no weight. Let many persons be informed, that there are thousands of people on the other side of the earth, directly opposite to us, with their feet towards ours, and their heads directly the other way; who yet feel themselves on the top of the globe, and think we are beneath them; and the account appears to these illiterate hearers impossible. They will make objections against it, which appear to them unanswerable; but at which the man of real information smiles.
How vain then, are the objections, made by worms of the dust, against what God has revealed of himself! Who can comprehend the infinite, eternal independent Jehovah? "Canst thou by searching find out God? -- It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than hell; what canst thou know?" "The world by wisdom knew not God." "The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." We are confounded, when we think of rational,
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spiritual essences. How infinitely more so, when we think of the eternal, independent, omnipotent, omniscient Spirit! We are lost in an ocean, without a bottom, or a shore! What shall direct our faith in such a case? The Word, the unerring Word of God! This is the only compass, the only polar star, on such an ocean. What God informs of himself is to be received with humble, adoring, faith; though the subject exceed our comprehension, as far as God is above man. Not a word of cavil, or unbelief should escape the lip, or be conceived in the heart.
Man is blessed with three sources of information; his senses, reason, and faith, or Revelation. Those rise above each other. The senses furnish materials for reason; and reason discovers the need and evidence of Revelation. But faith alone embraces the sublime dictates of Revelation. Reason judges, where the senses cannot perceive. And faith embraces what reason cannot suggest, much less comprehend. Sense and reason read the language of Revelation; and then must wait for faith adoringly to embrace what God suggests. Reason is never to be impertinent in her objections, or questions, when God speaks. This is leaving her province, and committing herself to the ocean of infidelity. Here is the fatal charybdis, which has ingulfed millions in skepticism and ruin.
Relative to the doctrine of the Divinity of Christ, of his Sonship, and of the Trinity in Unity of the Godhead, Revelation is our only guide. Find the plainest language of the Bible upon these points, and there we will hold; let whatever objections or
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difficulties seem to attend. Where reason fails, let faith adore! My object in this Treatise is to ascertain the true sense of the sacred Oracles upon the subjects proposed; compaing spiritual things with spiritual.
THE AUTHOR.
Hopkinton, Feb. 12th, 1812.
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