I believe, and worshipped him." John ix. 38. "The Apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith." Luke xvii. 5. And Thomas, when his unbelief was removed by Christ's condescension, cried out, "MY LORD AND MY GOD." John xx. 28. Yet none of them received the least reproof for mistaking the object of their worship.* It is true, the word worship is sometimes, though very rarely, used in Scripture for the respect which is due from man to man; but in the instances above-mentioned, it is used in its proper sense, because it was accompanied with a confession of faith in him who was worshipped, and an express avowal of his being the proper object of divine honour. If we compare the behaviour of the Apostles, under like circumstances, with that of our blessed Saviour, the contrast throws great light upon this matter. When the people at Lystra were going to pay divine honours. to them," they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, We also are men." Acts xiv. 14. And Peter, when Cornelius fell down at his feet and worshipped him, "took him up, saying, Stand up, I myself also am a man." Acts x. 25. It was not, therefore, "more common homage and

See also Matthew xiv. 33. xxviii. 9, and 17.

respect than the Apostles approved of," which they rejected, but such as was not due to men. The angel who was employed in giving John the emblematical history of the church, rejected with abhorrence the adoration which that disciple was about to pay him, overcome with the grandeur of the scenes he had beheld: "See thou do it not; I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus; worship God." Revelations xix. 10. If Christ, therefore, was not God, he was not only much inferior to this angel, but even to his own disciples, in his regard for the glory of God, and the due conduct of his followers. Christ, indeed, rejected the honour which the young ruler paid him; because (as appears from the history) he had no knowledge of his true character; at the same time, our Lord gave him such an answer, as would directly lead him, if he was sincere, to make the proper inquiry; for the question, "Why callest thou me good," was doubtless put to him with the same design as that proposed to the Pharisees, "How then doth David in spirit call him Lord?" to try whether they were able to account for it, and to lead them to the true knowledge of himself.

St. Paul makes the worshipping of Christ, the characteristic of a Christian; which clearly

proves that all such did worship him, and were instructed to do so by the Apostles. "Unto the church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ > our Lord, both their's and our's; Grace be unto you," &c. 1 Corinthians i. 2. It appears from the inspired history of the primitive. church, that Christians had their name not only on account of their adhering to the doctrine of Christ, but also from their worshipping him, or "calling upon his name." Thus Ananias, addressing himself to the Lord concerning Saul, says, " Here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name." Acts ix. 14. And again, in the same chapter, "all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem?" Acts v. 21. Here there can be no reason to suspect that any "common homage or respect" is meant, because the object of the respect was absent in body, and therefore calling upon him" must imply a spiritual omnipresence in the person called upon.

That our Lord Jesus Christ is the object of divine worship, in the most proper sense of the words, appears likewise from Romans

x. 13. "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved." Which passage, compared with its context, abundantly confirms the truth I am defending; it is quoted from the Prophet Joel, and is applied by the Apostle unto Christ, who is therefore the Lord over all, upon whom we are to call for salvation. "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God raised him, thou shalt be saved. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed; the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him: for, whosoever shall call upon name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?" The same person is spoken of through the whole passage, viz. the Lord Jesus, and the Apostle applies to him the words of Joel, which are applicable to none but God.

the

It is evident that St. Paul himself made Christ the object of his worship, for he prays to him as well as to the Father, in almost every Epistle, for spiritual blessings upon those to whom he writes: "Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." So he prays particularly for

the Thessalonians. "Now the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father— comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." 2 Thessalonians ii. 16, 17. And in 2 Corinthians xii. 8, 9, we have an instance of the Apostle's praying to Christ on his own account likewise. "For this I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." The blessing which the Apostle here received in answer to his prayer, was the power, strength, or grace of Christ, to whom he addressed his prayer, as the answer shows, My grace is

sufficient."

The holy martyr Stephen employed his last moments in praying to this adorable Saviour of the world. " They stoned Stephen, calling upon God,* and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Acts vii. 59.

The angels are commanded to worship

The Translators of the New Testament have intimated to us, that the word God, which they here inserted, is not in the original, by causing it to be printed in the Italic character.