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    But Dr 4 S . thinks that the words of the parallel passage in Luke , who the Son is , who the Father is , prove that the text must be understood of knowledge of the nature and person of the Father and the Son . Cannot then the words , who the Son is , be at least as readily understood—what are his character , office , and the nature of his mission , as what are his nature and

    person ? Does not the context direct us to that interpretation ? And is not the other evidently suggested , not by the words and connexion , but by the opinion received as true , that there is some mystery respecting the person of Christ ? A judicious and learned commentator , whom we have quoted above , thus explains the words of Luke : " Who the Son is , for

    what purpose and with what power he is sent . Who the Father is , how good , how just , how wise he is , what are his plans in giving salvation to men , or at least depriving them of excuse , if they should reject it . "—J . G . Rosenmiiller , Scholia in Nov . Test . Vol . II . p . 102 .

    la the passage quoted from John x . 15 , the word know is most probably to be understood in the sense of love 9 regard with distinguishing affection , a sense derived from the Hebrew , ( see Bloomfield , Recens . Synopt . and Kuinoel in loc ., ) and the 15 th verse must be taken in connexion with the 14 th , thus : " I am the good shepherd : and I know my sheep , and am known of mine , as the Father knoweth me , and I know the Father : and I lay down my life for the sheep . " It appears , then , that Mr . Belsham ' s note gives an excellent sense , such as the connexion would seem to require , is confirmed by a fair

    consideration of the parallel passage , and is in accordance with the sentiments of the most judicious and generally approved commentators , whilst it is our author who is here chargeable with giving an unusual , far-fetched , and forced interpretation . We will now offer one or two remarks on the statements of truth which he finds included in the passages under consideration , and first as to the perfect reciprocity of the knowledge of the Father and the knowledge of Christ .

    " Is it conceivable , " asks Dr . S ., " that a wise and good teacher , conscious of no dignity above that which was strictly and merely human , would select , for the purpose of conveying what might have been expressed in plain words , language which unquestionably describes himself and the Eternal Being by equivalent and convertible terms ?"

    We answer , all Christians believe their Lord to have been conscious of a dignity not merely human , though we understand it to have been a dignity of office and powers , not of nature . Nevertheless , we insist that the meaning we ascribe to the words of Christ , could not have been well

    exsuffer , and what glory is reserved for him . Nor doth any one know the Father save the Son—the Sou only partakes in the counsels of the Father as to the manner in which he will arrange the calling of the Jews first , and then of the Gentiles . "

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    Dr . J . P . Smith's Scripture Testimony to the Messiah * 589

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1831, page 589, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2601/page/13/