Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/42

38 that, instead of the name Jehovah, he took that of Lord, and instead of Father, that of Son. For this reason, and because it was not lawful for the Jews to pronounce the word Jehovah, whenever any passage of the Old Testament, containing the name, is referred to in the New, instead of Jehovah, the term Lord is substituted; evidently implying, that the latter is tantamount to the former, yet with this additional signification, that the title of Lord is used to denote Jehovah in the Humanity, or God Incarnate. But another reason may also be stated, why the name Jehovah is no where used in the Gospels, and even why the appellation Lord, it's direct substitute, does not always distinguish Jesus, he being frequently called Master and Christ, as well as Lord. During his abode in the world, or before his glorification, though he was indeed Jehovah in the Humanity, yet he was not in all respects Jehovah as to the Humanity: for in the first state he was still subject to the infirmities derived from the mother; but in the last he was wholly exempt from every thing of the kind. Again, in the first state he more particularly sustained the character of divine truth; and on this account he is often called Christ and Master, these expressions having more immediate reference to divine truth, than to divine good. But on his becoming one with the Father, even as to the Humanity, that is, on his entering upon the entire character of divine good, which is superior to that of divine truth, (John xiv. 28.) as was the case fully after his resurrection, the title of Lord is then more uniformly ascribed to him by his disciples, and most emphatically by Thomas, who in the ardour of his faith exclaims, "My Lord and my God!" John xx. 28.

In confirmation of the sentiments above expressed first, in respect to the danger of profanation, which