ページの画像
PDF
ePub

Holy Spirit, who should come in his name, as one who should exercise infinite power and goodness: who should guide his people into all the truth; and "reprove the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment." He never speaks of the Holy Ghost as a being inferior to God. And when he says of himself, "My Father is greater than I," he evidently has respect to his human nature, in distinction from the divine. Otherwise he must be guilty of a palpable contradiction, in saying "I and the Father are one;" and in demanding equal honour with the Father.

Again; The doctrine of the Trinity clearly results from the distinct and separate evidence of the divinity of Christ, and of the Holy Ghost. These two persons being proved to be divine, the great doctrine of the Trinity follows, and is established. That Christ is God, is evident, not only from his own declarations, but from the testimony of others divinely inspired. "Thy Maker is thine husband," says the evangelical prophet, "the Lord of hosts is his name, and thy Redeemer, the God of the whole earth shall he be called.' The plain meaning is that he is the Deity. He is said to be the root and the offspring of David." In prophecy, he is called IMMANUEL, God with us. Beyond a doubt, he was revealed to Abraham and the patriarchs, to Moses and the prophets, as well as to the antediluvians, as the Lord their God. He was the Angel of the church in the wilderness; and when the people provoked and tempted their God in the wilderness, the Apostle calls it tempting Christ. "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents." Concerning God's providential care of his people in the wilderness, it is said, "the angel of his presence (Christ) saved them, and in his love, and in his pity, he redeemed them, and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old." Thus evident is the divinity of Christ from the old testament. From the new testament we may calculate for equal, if not for greater evidence. Here we read, that he is the " brightness of God's glory, and the express image of his person, upholding all things by the word of his power." "In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. "" "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Such are the direct testimonies of

[ocr errors]

By him

Christ's divinity; and these testimonies are confirmed by his mighty works. To him is ascribed the creation of the world. "All things were made by him." were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him." He is also the God of providence; for "by him all things consist. "The miracles of Christ, are also a strong attestation of his divinity. These works of infinite power and mercy were wrought in his own name, and by his own authority; and for the express purposes of supporting, not only his doctrines, but his claims to real and proper divinity. All divine attrrbutes, as well as works are ascribed to him, in the scriptures; and these attributes have been abundantly displayed. Nothing has failed, of all that is considered as evidence of his divinity.

Respecting the distinct personality and divinity of the Holy Spirit, we may observe, that to him belonged, and still belong, the great works of regeneration and sanctification. Those who are the subjects of regenerating grace, are said to be born of the Spirit: they are also expressly said to be born of God. The Spirit, therefore, is God. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." "But holy men of old, spake as they were moved, by the Holy Ghost." The inspiration of the Holy Ghost, therefore, is the inspiration of God. Baptism is in the name of the Holy Ghost, as well as in that of the Father and the Son. The Holy Ghost is therefore, equally with the others, a divine person. The three constitute one and the same God. Why hath Satan filled thine heart, to lie unto the Holy Ghost?" said Peter to Ananias, "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." The Holy Ghost is, therefore, the true God. To him also, are the attributes and works of God ascribed. In the resurrection of Christ, he was said to be quickened by the Spirit. When the miracles of Christ were blasphemously imputed to the power of Beelzebub; it was the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and was the unpardonable sin. By the power of the Holy Ghost, therefore, miracles were wrought. Evidence is not wanting, to prove the divinity of the Holy Ghost. Having proved distinctly and separately, that Christ and the Holy Spirit are God, equally

66

with the Father, there ought not to remain the least doubt, respecting the Trinity in Unity of the Godhead.

Another observation, tending to confirm the doctrine of the Trinity, and at the same time to impress on our minds its infinite importance, is this, that if the doctrine be denied, and if it prove untrue, the whole gospel scheme is subverted. For if this article of faith be groundless, there remains no foundation for the covenant of redemption, nor for the work of redemption; no foundation for an atonement, or mediation between a righteous God, and sinful men; no foundation for any sanctifying operation upon the hearts of sinners; no foundation for grace or peace, pardon or christian hope. Mysterious or offensive as the doctrine of the Trinity may appear to be, it is evidently the basis of the christian scheme. And whoever denies it, must deny, not only the doctrines of grace, through the atoning blood of Christ; but also the necessity of God's executing the penalty of his law, either in time or in eternity. We may, on the whole, as well deny the being of a God, as deny his Trinity in unity. For there is no other God revealed to us in the holy scriptures; and the scriptures are the only source of light on this great subject. The Apostle John considers it as, not only antichristian, but atheistical, to deny this doctrine.

"Who

is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father."

Finally, it is absurd for people to call themselves christians, while they deny the doctrine of the Trinity. Do any think it impossible that there should be three distinct persons in one divine being or essence? let them consider, that it belongs not to them to determine what is possible, and what is impossible with God; and especially in the mode of his existence. Were it not a matter of fact, in the mode of man's existence in this world, that a mortal body is connected with an immortal soul; the thing would have been thought impossible. But the Trinity in unity of the Godhead as really exists, as the union of soul and body. Since the truth of the scriptures is demonstrated, we are bound to credit their testimony concerning the unity and Trinity of God, as fully as we credit our own observation and experience, with regard to the mysterious union of soul and body in man.

True it is, that the doctrine of the Trinity is an article of faith; and is neither an article of intuitive knowledge, nor of demonstration, by the power of human reasoning. But do any despise the idea of implicit faith in the known testimony of God? If so, then let them calculate to live and die in darkness. The boundaries of human knowledge are very narrow. Little can be known of God, but by divine instruction; and still less can be comprehended, even by the best instruction. If we be truly humble and candid, and consider well the scantiness of all human attainments; we shall meet with no insuperable difficulty in embracing, and relying upon the all important doctrine of the Trinity in Unity of the Godhead.

On this branch of the system of divine truth, a few remarks and inferences are suggested.

1. Since the doctrine before us is a profound mystery, discoverable only by divine revelation, it is doubtless vain, and even criminal, for us to attempt any further explanation of it, than is clearly given us in the holy scriptures. In doing this, we darken counsel, by words without knowledge. Whatever is necessary, or even useful to be known on this, and all divine subjects, is doubtless clearly revealed; and to attempt any further investigation is indicative of a vain curiosity, and a proud heart.

2. Since, in this one instance, we are required to embrace and confide in a profound mystery; let it be no objection to any of the remaining doctrines of the system of truth, that they are mysterious. Pitiful indeed would be a system of divinity, comprehensible by worms of the dust! Let no one indulge the absurd idea, that mystery and absurdity are synonymous terms. Great is the mys tery of gravitation, by which ponderous bodies fall to the earth, rather than move in any other direction. But is gravitation an absurdity? Great is the mystery of the rise of vapor, soon to fall again in showers of rain, or quantities of snow. But the facts exist, and the wisdom of the philosopher is baffled. Yet no one complains of absurdity. How happens it, that mankind can patiently admit of mysteries in every thing but Theology? But if we speak of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; and of divine agency, divine government and grace; all is pronounced absurdity. In this there is utterly a fault, and a want of candour.

66

3. Since so many deny the doctrine of the Trinity, it is a solemn and awful consideration, that to deny it, is a great and fatal error, a damnable heresy! In the denial of this doctrine, men deny the Lord that bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction." From scripture it is evident, that those who understandingly reject the doctrine of the sacred Trinity, and of course, the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ, and atonement by his blood, are on fatal ground. The evidence is clear, that they subvert the whole gospel scheme, and seek to be justified by their good works, and not by the grace of God.

[ocr errors]

4. From the view which has been taken of the doctrine of the Trinity in unity of the Godhead, it appears to be very far from being a subject of mere speculation, or a matter of indifference. It is a cardinal, and fundamental doctrine of the gospel. Salvation on bible ground is never to be expected, but by the atonement and merit of Jesus Christ. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." No one, who properly regards the sacred oracles, can think it uncharitable or illiberal, to consider the antitrinitarian doctrine as an antichristian doctrine. "He is antichrist," says the beloved John, "who denieth the Father and the Son." Can there be any hope of the salvation of antichrists? By no means. And, by nature, all are antichrists. All, therefore, before they can see the kingdom of God, must be converted to Christ. They must be converted to the doctrine of the Trinity, before they can cease to be antichrists. They must acknowledge the Son of God, as one with the Father. "And we know, that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true: and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."....AMEN.

10000

ESSAY V.`

The work of Creation.

HAVING attended to the evidence of the being of God, of his inspiration of the scriptures, of his natural and moral

« 前へ次へ »