always liable, and from which the most careful is not perfectly free. Several publications have appeared of late, some particularly by Dr. Kaye, the Bishop of Lincoln, the object of which is to discover Trinitarian orthodoxy in the early fathers, beginning with Justin Martyr; but by no means by a fair investigation, to trace the exact opinions of the different writers, and those of their times, so far as they occasionally hint at or mention them. Such works are really of very little value to an honest enquirer. Their object is not to discover the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, but to advocate a system. I would therefore humbly suggest that all rational and enlightened Christians should afford due encouragement to every attempt to ascertain the real state of the Christian doctrine during the four first centuries. From the original sources, much curious information may be obtained on many other questions besides the doctrines of the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, and the Vicarious Atonement. This field is extensive, and capable of profitable cultivation. "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few: Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."

Higher Broughton, Manchester.

"IN the beginning."-This expression means the commencement of some period, or definite portion of time. It is not in any sense applicable to eternity, because that is absolutely without beginning, as well as without end; and consequently this word, according to its scriptural, no less than ordinary, use, has no relation to eternity.

This much-disputed phraseology always refers to

Mark i. 1: "In the begin

some definite period of time; and that time is either specifically expressed or clearly implied in the context and the nature of the subject. As an instance of the former kind, I refer to Ephes. iii. 9: "And to make all men see, what is the economy of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things." * ning of the gospel of Jesus Christ:”—that is, specifically, the commencement of our Saviour's public ministry. Consult also Phil. iv. 15. Matth. xxiv. 21. 2 Peter iii. 4. In the following instances the meaning of "in, at, or from the beginning," is implied, and the definite term referred to is to be discovered from the context and the nature of the circumstances. 1 John iii. 11: "This is the message that ye had from the beginning, that ye should love one another." John xv. 27. “And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." By necessary inference, "from the beginning" in these places means, the commencement of the intercourse between the two parties mentioned. The parallel to our text, namely 1 John i. 1, may appear disputable; but an expression which occurs subsequently, (v. 3)-" that which we have seen and heard"—is definite enough, and implies a specific limitation. Isa. xlviii. 16. "I have not spoken in secret from the beginning :" that is, from the time I began to speak. Let the reader consult also Matt. xix. 8, Isa. i. 26, Acts xi. 15. "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning," [ agx7] that is, when it first fell

* I have followed the reading of Griesbach.

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on us. We might refer to numerous additional instances, but we deem the foregoing sufficient."

The period, to which, "in the beginning" refers in the clause under consideration, appears to be sufficiently specified by what is said in v. 3rd. "All things were made through him." What other time can this be supposed to mean than the creation of the world? The different particulars, which are afterwards predicated of the word in verses 4, 10, 11, &c., refer to the beneficent interference of the Almighty, in the course of his providence and his special dealings with his creatures, "at sundry times and in divers manners," on behalf of the human race; as we shall endeavour to explain in the Commentary on those verses respectively.

"Was the word."-The word is an expression, which designates God himself, not indeed as simply an apellation or name of his Being, as JEHOVAH, or the LORD GOD, but as a characteristic designation of him as performing his operations and accomplishing his purposes by a word being spoken-a mere command: or, to attempt an explanation in other words,-"The word" is an expression by which we understand, not the name of God usually appropriated to signify his personal existence, but his peculiar energy and operation as the Creator and Governor of all things. All effects originating from Him are produced by His word or command alone.

In the account of the creation given by Moses, the expression used for the creative influence of the Deity

* See Appendix, Note I.