A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer

2. It may be ascribed to God personally: And so the first Person is called God the Father; and that either with relation to Christ, or to us.

(1.) With relation to Christ, as the Son of God: So the first Person is called the Father, as he is the Fountain of the Deity, communicating to and with him the Divine Essence. Psal. 2. 7. Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. The personal Property of the Father, is to beget; and of the Son, to be begotten. There is an eternal Now, wherein God is said to beget him. Thus he may be called the Father of Christ, as he is the second Person; now, as Incarnate and Mediator. Tho God be Christ's Father, as second ⟨p. 77⟩Person; yet they are all equal in Power, Dignity, and Glory: But as Mediator, God is his Father in another respect. So it is said, John 14. 28. My Father is greater than I: Not as God, for so he was equal: He thought it no Robbery to be equal with God. Phil. 2. 6. But greater than I, that is, consider him as Man and Mediator, in the state of his Humiliation: For it is notable to consider upon what occasion Christ speaks these Words: If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father; for my Father is greater than I: That is, You admire me, and prize my Company exceedingly, because you see the Power which I put forth in the Miracles which I do; ye would rejoice, if you understood it aright; He is infinitely more glorious, than I appear in this State of Abasement and Humiliation. Thus with respect to Christ, God, the first Person, may be called the Father.

(1.) With relation to Christ, as the Son of God: So the first Person is called the Father, as he is the Fountain of the Deity, communicating to and with him the Divine Essence. Psal. 2. 7