9. Thus we have all these different
assurances of the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ:—His name,
His birth, His nature, His power, His own assertion. As to the
name, I conceive that no doubt is possible. It is written, In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God St. John i. 1.. What reason can there be for
suspecting that He is not what His name indicates? And does not
this name clearly describe His nature? If a statement be
contradicted, it must be for some reason. What reason, I demand,
is there in this instance for denying that He is God? The name is
given Him, plainly and distinctly, and unqualified by any incongruous
addition which might raise a doubt. The Word, we read, which was
made flesh, was none other than God. Here is no loophole for any
such conjecture as that He has received this name as a favour or taken
it upon Himself, so possessing a titular Godhead which is not His by
nature.