Frequently, in view of his mightiest works, he tells us that his Father is greater than himself. Now, he, who is greater than another, cannot be equal to him, at the same time. Two and two are always greater than one and one. With us it might be possible to compete with, and surpass one who was greater than ourselves, in wealth, learning, and popularity; but God’s glory is unchangeable. If the Father, who is distinct from Christ,--being one of the three persons who form the Trinity,--be greater than Christ, he is forever so. I know there are some passages, in which Christ identifies himself with God; such as “I and my Father are one.” “He who hath seen me hath seen the Father.” Let me give my experience as these passages fixed my attention. It is an undeniable fact that both the Old and New Testament were written in Oriental languages, which abound in allegorical idioms. * * * * * My own thoughts very readily suggested to me the meaning of such passages. When a plenipotentiary goes out to a foreign people, to adjust or secure political or mercantile interests for the people or king who sends him, he might very properly say that he and his king or people are one. For he speaks and acts agreeably to the instructions given him by the king or people he represents, and whatever he says and does has been put into his power. So Christ says he and his Father who sent him are one. He never did or said anything against his Father’s will, and so he convinced the world that he was the Sent--the especial viceroy of “the King eternal, immortal, and only wise,” on the earth. It is affirmed by Unitarian divines that, in order that the disciples might not misunderstand Christ, when he said he and his Father are one, he explained to them the nature of that oneness or union, by saying, that the very disciples about him were one with him and with God. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” Still it seems to me that the disciples did not have any difficulty in understanding what he meant by, “I and my Father are one;” for this is a common expression--a prevailing phrase--of Oriental lands, and they were familiar with it. When two or more persons are said to be one, it is obviously meant that they are of the same spirit, profession, culture, or will. We see in the New Testament, that simple, unadorned words of Christ puzzled the Jews more than his figures and allegories. For instance, when Christ told the sick man, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee,” behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, “This man blasphemeth.”