POSTSCRIPT.

THERE have been some warm debates lately among the wise and learned, 'Which is the greatest enthusiast, Mr. Brothers, for styling himself God Almighty's Nephew, or William Huntington, for making Christ his Executor?' and many shillings have been expended to hear this point discussed. Now, that my Reader may be at no more expense upon this important matter, I will endeavour to shew him mine opinion, and set him down contented at once with the truth of God on his side.

First, then, let it be observed that there are two distinct natures in Christ, divine and human: "I am the root and offspring of David," saith the Lord. Now the Godhead of Christ was the root that gave David his existence, his life, and being, as a man, and as a saint; the humanity of Christ was David's offspring: for want of knowing this mystery the Jews could not answer the Saviour's question, "What think ye of Christ, whose son is he? They answer, the son of David:" and he replies,

Why then doth David call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, &c. if David, in the Spirit, called him Lord, how is he his son?" Thus as God he is David's root, and David's Lord; but as man, or respecting his humanity, he is David's seed, David's son, or offspring: and thus he is Emmanuel,

God with us, or God in human nature, by incarnation.

Now, as the Spirit makes a distinction between the two natures of Christ in one person, calling the human nature man, son of man, flesh, seed of David, child born, David's offspring, &c. &c. in this sense Christ doubtless had many relations: and in covenant relationship also every one that hears his word, and keeps it, is, saith the Saviour, my mother, my sister, and my brother: yet, as God Almighty (which glorious name can be applicable to nothing but to the Godhead; and as God is one, and there is no more) and as infinite divinity can have no brothers, we may safely conclude that the omnipotent Jehovah, or the Almighty God, hath no nephews.

Now to the other momentous point in hand. Christ, as man and mediator, is appointed heir of all things: and all power in heaven and earth is given unto him: and it is clear that he is an executor in a twofold sense.

First, A covenant of peace was made between the Father and the Son; the council of peace was between them both: this is called the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us. This covenant was to be confirmed and ratified by sacrifice. "Sinofferings thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. Then, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God." And at the death of Christ the will of God was confirmed, and turned into a testament: "This is the cup of the new testament in my blood."

"For where a testament is there must also of ne-. cessity be the death of the testator," says Paul. Whatever God gave us, he gave it us in Christ Jesus; and when Christ died, he being the testator, after his death the testament was of force: and when Christ rose from the dead he became the executor of that testament (he died for sin, but rose again for our justification, Rom. iv. 25,) to see the legacies distributed to all the heirs of promise. And what are the legacies? Why, life, peace, the Holy Spirit, grace, and glory: and these he gives: "I give my sheep eternal life:" " My peace I give unto you:" "I will send you a Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever:" "The Lord will give grace, and he will give glory:" and this he will fulfil; "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom," &c. And thus the blessed executor sees all the heirs of promise in possession of the promised legacies and inheritance.

But then it may be objected, This is God's good will in Christ to us; and now, since the death of Christ, this covenant of grace is the new testament in his blood, and hands, who will, as judge of quick and dead, open this book of life, and introduce every heir of promise to the happy enjoyment of God's blessing, and of God's kingdom, in the great day: but what has this to do with man's will and testament? How can man appoint Christ to execute his will? I answer, who was Abraham's executor? he gave gifts to his sons by Keturah, and sent them away; but he left his

blessing and all that he had to Isaac. This was Abraham's will and his gift; but who executed it? I answer the Saviour did; "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundred-fold; and the Lord blessed him." The Lord was the whole and sole executor of Abraham's will.

Isaac also makes his will in favour of Jacob, and appoints the Lord to execute it: "And he smelled the smell of his raiment and blessed him, and said, God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine." And thus he says to Esau; "Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants, and with corn and wine have I sustained him." But who is to execute this, seeing that Jacob was drove from home with nothing but a staff? Why, we are informed that the Lord blessed him in Bethel, and sent him home no less than two bands; but who was this Lord? I answer, the Saviour Jesus Christ; and the faithfulness of his executor Jacob acknowledge son his death-bed; "And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac." Jacob blesses his twelve sons, tells them what shall befall them all in the latter days; he promises the sceptre to Judah, and

gives Joseph a portion of land above all his bre thren, which he was not to inherit till four hundred and fifty years after, and leaves no executor to his will but the Lord, who is ever faithful to them that trust in him. So that I have not been the only enthusiast in this business of executorship; all the antediluvian saints and patriarchs have set me the example. It is true the fool in the parable did not act this enthusiastical part; he had goods laid up for many years, and intended to take his ease, to eat, drink, and be merry at the end of the term of many years, no doubt, he intended to make his will; but that night his soul was required; and, though the Lord was not consulted about the lease of his life, nor intrusted with his personal effects, yet he interferes in the business, and therefore asks, "Whose shall these things be which thou has provided?" No doubt but he intended them to his heir at law; but we are told that the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just, not by the donation of the sinner, for sinners love sinners; not saints, for they are hated of all men; but this comes about by the sovereign disposal of Jehovah, who was so offended with Nabal for denying David a morsel of bread, that he killed him, and gave David his house, his wife, and all that he had; and he destroyed the house of Saul, and gave him that also; so that the Lord will be an executor whether we appoint him to that office or not. To be short, what is an executor? Why,