16. And now, although we have found the
sense of Scripture, as we understand it, in harmony with the
conclusions of ordinary reason, the two agreeing that equality is
incompatible either with diversity or with isolation, yet we must seek
a fresh support for our contention from actual words of our Lord.
For only so can we check that licence of arbitrary interpretation
whereby these bold traducers of the faith would even venture to cavil
at the Lord’s solemn self-revelation. His answer to the
Jews was this:—The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He
seeth the Father do; for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth
the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth Him
all things that Himself doeth; and He will shew Him greater works than
these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raiseth up the dead
and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. For
the Father judgeth no man, but hath given all judgment to the Son, that
all may honour the Son even as they honour the Father. He that
honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent
Him St. John v. 19–22.. The course of our argument, as I
had shaped it in my mind, required that each several point of the
debate should be handled singly; that, since we had been taught that
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God in name, in birth, in
nature, in power, in self-revelation, our demonstration of the faith
should establish each successive point in that order. But His
birth is a barrier to such a treatment of the question; for a
consideration of it includes a consideration of His name and nature and
power and self-revelation. For His birth involves all these, and
they are His by the fact that He is born. And thus our argument
concerning His birth has taken such a course that it is impossible for
us to keep these other matters back for separate discussion in their
turn.