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38 Credibilitij of the Gospel Hisloiy.
self of no reputation, taking- the form of a servant, beingmade
in the likeness of man, and found in fashion as a man,
he humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the
death of the cross :" ' Philip, ii. G, 7, 8. The same passage is
likewise found in the second book of Cyprian's'' Testimonies,
and plainly in the same sense. I have already quoted" this
passage from some Greek a^ riters, Avho interpret this text
according to the translation just given. It is likewise found
again, and plainly in the same sense, in^ Novatus, or Novatian,
as he is usually called, a Latin author, and contemporary
with St. Cyprian. Mr. Marshall translates the first
words of the passage above quoted from the third book
of Cyprian's Testimonies in this manner : That though he
was appointed to appear in the form of God, he did not
boast of his equality Avith God, but emptied himself. And
besides, Mr. Marshall has a long and judicious note upon
this citation of our author : he says, ' he cannot acquiesce in
our common construction of the words, " thought it no
robbery," &c.as if they intimated anything liketo his claiming
an equality ; because the apostle here is speaking of
our Saviour's humility and condescension, and rather represents
him as receding from his just rights, than as insisting
on them. Though he received so much honour
from his Father, and was appointed to represent his person,
yet when he came to suffer, he did not insist on his first
pretensions ; did not seem (then) to think he had any claim
to the divinity, or might assume it ; boasted not (then) of
his near alliance to the Deity ; but, instead of it, emptied
himself, behaved and acted like a person void of any such
powers. Novatian, in his book De Trinitate, cap. 17,
understands our apostle in this sense ; which I must
acknowledge, with Mr. Le Clerc, seems to me the most
natural and easy. See Mr. Le Clerc upon the place in his
Supplement to Dr. Hammond ; and Dr. Whitby, who gives
instances out of Heliodorus, wherein the words ap7ray/na
ij^H^tro, which we translate, " thinking a robbery," plainly
signify, catching at an opportunity, embracing any thing as
extremely desirable.' So writes Mr. Marshall. Mr.
Wolffs has discoursed largely of this matter, and deserves
to be consulted.
9. That passage, as was observed, is in Cyprian's books of