MESSIAH'S PROPER DEITY, ARGUED FROM SCRIPTURE; ALSO, HIS ATONEMENT; AND THE DIVINITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH A FEW STRICTURES ON THE WAY OF A SINNER'S ACCEPTANCE WITH GOD, AND ON SOME, UNITARIAN PUBLICATIONS. By N. DOUGLAS, PREACHER OF THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL, GLASGOW. "No weapon that is formed against Thee shall prosper, and every tongue that "shall rise against Thee in judgment Thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of "JEHOVAH's servants, and their righteousness is of me, saith JEHOVA. Cease, 'my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines ;--Faise teachers bring "in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon. hemselves swift destruction. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the "Ether. There are certain men who deny the only Lord God, even our Lord Jesus Christ." Isa. liv. 17. Prov. xix. 27. Heb. xiii. 9. 2 Pet. ii. 1. 1 John ii. 23. Jude ver. 4. GLASGOW : Printed by D. McKenzie, FOR THE AUTHOR, Sidney-Street; by whom it is Sold. 1807. Universalist Historical TO SUBSCRIBERS. As this work exceeds, by 64 pages, what was at first intended, owing to the reason assigned in the Introduction, the buyer will have 16 pages gratis, besides the blue cover, at the price of Two Shillings the copy, according to the rate of 48 pages promised for Sixpence. Every Christian, who allows the importance of the doctrines defended, will deem the above addition an advantage, as putting it in the author's power to do more justice to the subject; nor would he chuse to possess himself of that advantage to the author's material loss, that surplus having increased the expence of the impression about Eleven Pounds, besides the additional labour.-He once thought 'to have borne that loss himself; but some of the Subscribers assured him, that whoever wished to possess the publication, would frankly give the additional Sixpence, rather than he should sustain any such loss. The Extracts from a lately published Bible, and the Remarks upon them, were not intended to make any part of the publication, the author having seen that work only of late; but he thought it his duty to embrace the opportunity of warning Christians to beware of such attempts to subvert their faith. Those who are in the babit of buying late publications, cannot but observe, that the matter contained in this tract might be easily extended into volume of Six Shillings; and surely what is meant to defend our Redeemer's character, &c. thus put within the reach of the poor, who have an equal concern in the subject with the rich, cannot be deemed trivial by any, who feel their need of hie salvation, and to whom he is precious. a INTRODUCTION. THE doctrines defended in this tract are allowed, by Christians in general, to be of the very last importance in religion; and as the tenets opposed to them at present unhappily very much prevail, the publishing of it cannot be deemed intrusive, unseasonable, or supernous. Duty calls upon Christians, and especially on professed public teachers of Christianity, to contend earnestly, in the Spirit of the truth, for the faith once delivered to the saints, Jude ver. 3. To the author's certain knowledge, many valuable characters have, by means of recent publications, been much stumbled and perplexed; while others have been led warmly to espouse and disseminate the doctrines contained in them. By this means, what Christians generally believe to be the way of truth, is evil spoken of; and the all-important doctrine of our blessed Lord's proper or essential Deity, and other truths connected with it, are either called in question, or boldly denied and reviled.-For the benefit of such, and to guard others, if not wanting to themselves, from being insnared by the specious and artful reasoning to be found in such writings, this essay, in defence of such radical truths, is humbly intended, and therefore submitted to the inspection of the Public. It may be also of some service to the friends of such doctrines, in leading them to see more fully the grounds of their faith on such points; and likewise to enable them to wield in their defence, as circumstances may require, the weapons which reason and Scripture furnish for the use of Christians; in the exercise of which, the honour and interest of truth make necessary they should acquire some dexterity. In a period of public danger, when truth is attacked on various quarters, and in hazard of being suppressed by the boldness and address of assailants, on the one hand; and the timidity, indifference, or inexperience of professed friends, on the other, every Christian should aspire to be and act the true soldier; firmly determined to lay down his weapons of warfare only with the body. Let him make the trial when he pleases, he will find that the weapons of opponents are not to be resisted with straw or withes; and that it is necessary to be previously acquainted with their mode of attack, their pleas and subterfuges, in order to encounter them with success, with the very weapons which the Scriptures furnish. Here the wisdom from above is necessary to direct. It is hoped that even those, who have embraced the Unitarian system, may find their interest in the attentive perusal of this tract. They are |