A51837:169
Christs eternal existence, and the dignity of his person asserted and proved in opposition…
Christs eternal existence, and the dignity of his person asserted and proved in opposition to the doctrine of the Socinians : in several sermons on Col. I, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 verses / by the Reverend Tho. Manton.
London printed : s.n., 1685
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. That he had a being long before he was born of the Virgin, for he was in the time of the Patriarchs, as Joh. 8.48. Before Abraham was I am, to say nothing of that Godlike way speaking I am; not I was but I am, that which I now plead for, is that he was before Abraham: the words are occasioned by Christs saying that Abraham saw his day and was glad: which the Jews understood not of a Prophetical, but of a real vision, and therefore objected the impossibility, that he was not yet fifty years old and how could he see Abraham? or Abraham see him? Christ doth not answer to their ill interpretation, but showeth that their very objection contained no absurdity, if taken in their own sense; for he was not only in the time of Abraham, but long before, and so affirmeth more then that objection ⟨p. 81⟩required: The Jews thought it absurd that Christ should be in the time of Abraham, but Christ affirmeth more, and that with a strong asseveration; he was not only by the constitution of God, but really existing before Abraham: For the Predestination not only of Christ but of Abraham and all the Elect was before the foundation of the World. If in respect of special prediction, mark then what must follow, then Cyrus must be in the time of Isaiah, Josiah must be in the time of Jeroboam. The calling of the Gentiles must be in the time of Moses, for they Prophesied of these things.
1. That he had a being long before he was born of the Virgin, for he was in the time of the Patriarchs, as Ioh. 8.48. Before Abraham was I am, to say nothing of that Godlike way speaking I am; not I was but I am, that which I now plead for, is that he was before Abraham: the words are occasioned by Christs saying that Abraham saw his day and was glad: which the Jews understood not of a Prophetical, but of a real vision, and therefore objected the impossibility, that he was not yet fifty years old and how could he see Abraham? or Abraham see him? Christ doth not answer to their ill interpretation, but sheweth that their very objection contained no absurdity, if taken in their own sense; for he was not onely in the time of Abraham, but long before, and so affirmeth more then that objection ⟨p. 81⟩