“It seems to be generally supposed, by our opponents, that the worship we pay to Christ tends to divide our hearts; and that, in proportion as we adore him, we detract from the essential glory of the Father. In this view, therefore, they reckon themselves to exercise a greater veneration for God than we. But it is worthy of notice, and particularly the serious notice of our opponents, that
“For a good work,” said they, “we stone thee not, but for that thou, being a man, makest thyself God” They very much prided themselves in their God; and, under the influence of that spirit, constantly rejected the Lord Jesus, “Thou art called a Jew, and makest thy boast of God” —” We be not born of fornication ; we have one Father, even God.” —” Give God the praise; we know-that this man is a sinner.
It was under the pretext of zeal and friendship for God that they at last put him to death as a blasphemer. But what kind of zeal was this, and in what manner did Jesus treat it “If God were your Father,” said he, “ye would love me.”—” He that is of God heareth God’s words.”—” It is my Father that honoureth me, of whom ye say that he is your God; yet ye have not known him.”—” I know you, that you have not the love of God in you.”
Again, The primitive Christians will be allowed to have loved God aright; yet they worshipped Jesus Christ. Not only did the martyr Stephen close his life by committing his departing spirit into the hands of Jesus, but it was the common practice, in primitive times, to invoke his name. “He hath authority,” said Ananias concerning Saul, to bind “all that call on thy name.”
One part of the Christian mission was to declare that “whosoever should call on the name of the Lord should be saved,” even of that Lord of whom the Gentiles had not heard. Paul addressed himself “to all that in every place called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” These modes of expression (which, if I be not greatly mistaken, always signify Divine worship) plainly inform us that it was not merely the practice of a few individuals, but of the great body of the primitive Christians, to invoke the name of Christ; nay, and that this was a mark by which they were distinguished as Christians.”
Excerpt From “The Calvinistic and Socinian Systems Examined and Compared”, 1802
Fuller, Andrew, The Works of Andrew Fuller. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth Trust, 2007.
