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named , which , nevertheless , thfc Gffcfck philosopher adornk \ vith the praise of virtue , aiid which under that ii £ me he recommends to the world in th& person of his catamite—oh these things you should meditate as forming the theory of virtue ; and the practice of it you
should copy , not from the sages of Greece , not from the conduct 6 f the deceivers who wilfully mislead you , but from the character of Jesus , as you have heard it described by me , and as you have seen it illustrated in my own temper and behaviour /' It may be proper to give a
summary view of this long explanation . Jesus , in the immediate prospect of death , was invested from heaven with a splendid form as a pledge and a symbol of the glory succeeding it . A
disciple regarded this divine appearance as a likely means to set aside the necessity of dying , on the part of his divine Master , and with avidity caught at it for this purpose . But Paul says that Christ did not consider his divine
form as a , thing to be arrested for avoiding death , but divested himself of this badge of his future glory , and submitted to the cruel and ignominious terrors of the cross . In opposition to those men who tatight that Christ was a man only in appearance , but
really a God froiti heaven , the apoStte asserts , that as he was a man , the likeness of meii , so he was proved by evidence to be a man , he having been actually tried , condemned and hailed
to the ctoss . He further asserts , that he was not a God , that he laid asidfe the form of God , the consequence of his divine detegatioft , that he suffered and died , and therefore could not possess the nature or essence of God . In
opposition to the Pagan heroes , whom superstitioii had made objects of idolatry , and who thus robbed Jehovah of his glory , Paul further says , that Jesu 8 , though endowed With the power of God , and once distinguished by a bright celestial form , did not for a
moment etiterttan the thought of arrogating that gidry Which is due to his Almi ghty Father alone , —that his present exaltation is an effect of the power of God and not of his own— -is
fhe reward of his obfcdlehee , and that , uastead of worshiping him , all worship should , in fcis name , be give ** to God the Fatter . K this intferptHeftfctioii be jtist , the
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cotftrofersy respecting the person of Christ , ait least as fa * as it cofic&r&s this apostle , is absolutely decided . Paul , so far from teaching the divinity , is ^ found to maintain the simple humanity , of our Lord , and that in opposition to the men who first introduced
the doctrine of his divine nature . The above passage is justly regarded as one of the strongest in favour of this doctrine , yet the author is discovered to be the strenuous champion of Un 3-tarianism , in the heart of that fortress which he is sctid to have erected in
support of the orthodox faith . This statement is worthy the attention of every Christian , and especially of Dr . Smith . The readers of the Repository will naturally look to him for its
refutation , if erroneous . If this be practicable , he has talents and learning equal to the task . On the other hand , if he think my explanation such , as cannot be refuted , he will act little consistent with that candour which
shines among the virtues of his fine and attractive character , unless hfe come forward and publicly give Tip the Apostle Paul as no longer an advocate of the divinity of Christ . J . JONES .
P . S . Mr . Rutt has thought fit to charge me ( p . 517 ) with impeaching the veracity of his friend Mr . Flower , and attempting to compensate or disguise tisat calumny under a display <* f learned research . Mr . F . more than insinuated ( p . 208 ) that I dealt unfairly witll the Greek authors on whom I
commented , and I replied in effect , ( p . 279 , ) that his word was not worthy of credit . Common sense and corn-. mon catidour require that my reply should be restricted to the allegation
which called it forth : and itiy words , therefore , must be understood to refei * to Mr . Flower ' s competence as a eritic , and not to hi £ txiottA qualities as a man . I should be gliad to fcnaw , then , in What code of morals 1 ms Mr . Rtitt
learnt , that it is " calumny" in n person iVfrdiigfully accused to hold forth his accuser as not entitled t <* belief ? What theory or practice Warf&nts him to conchidie that it fa iiittofii . stfsteht with " tfifc interests of truth , ** to assert that what is not true is' todi Worthy of fcrfedit ? Velocity fe fidelity to' trtith ; which ' rendetfe a \ 0 n 6 fttt ei * fcditaWe when attesting a fact . Thb
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Dr . J . Jones On th \ */ . P ; &teith's Ctitiqtie on Philipp . ii . 5 . 659
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Nov. 2, 1821, page 659, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2506/page/27/
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