Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 464

426

Defense of an Essay, &c.

AUG.

was given, Dr. Legge quotes a passage from the first chapter of Ro- mans, which appears to me to show in the plainest manner the incorrectness of his views of the character of the word God. I commence the quotation a few lines above those quoted by Dr. Legge. "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them (marg. or, to them); for God hath showed it unto them: (for the invisible things of him from the creation are clearly seen, being un- derstood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead); so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darken- ed. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corrup- tible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts and creeping things;" and "changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever, Amen.” With the same view, on p. 36 of his Argument, he quotes the words of St. Paul in I. Cor. viii. 5, 6; "For though there be that are called gods whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many and lords many), but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." On this he remarks; "Nothing can be plainer to my mind, from this passage, than that the apostle dealt with dɛog as a relative term, having its proper signification, and expressing a rela- tion, of which the one party could only be the Supreme Being, of whom are all things and we by him, and from whom therefore it could never be diverted, excepting by the depravity of men, and a falsehood imposed upon themselves. And this is the signification of the term, and thus it is dealt with throughout the Scriptures. Jehovah says, 'There is no God' i. e. no Supreme Ruler, 'beside me.' "

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It would consume too much time to examine closely both of these passages; we shall therefore take the first one quoted by Dr. Legge, merely remarking on the latter, that if the words "God” and “ Father," in the sentence "one God, the Father, are both so clearly relative terms in Dr. Legge's view, that nothing can be plainer to his mind, we should like to know what construction he can possibly put on what is commonly called the orthodox statement of the doctrine of the Trinity?

In examining the first passage quoted, that from Rom. i. 19, we shall merely give the views of a few eminent commentators, and leave Dr. Legge to answer them if, after reading their views, it still continues