Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

this tends directly to render the be deduced from their observations: Scriptures useless; and to perplex but an insinuation more dishonourand bewilder every serious inquirer able to God and his holy word can after the way of eternal life! But hardly be imagined.

[ocr errors]

66

it is from discourses of this latter In like manner, St. Paul, when kind especially, that I shall select expressly instructing the Corinthimy proofs of the personality of the ans concerning the gifts of the Spirit, Holy Spirit. uses the strongest personal language: Our Lord promised his disciples," all these worketh that one and "that he would pray the Father, self-same Spirit, dividing to every and he should give them another man severally as he will," (1 Cor. Comforter, that he might abide with xii. 11): but are not working, dithem for ever," &c. (John, xiv. 16, viding, and willing personal acts? 17); and afterwards he added, "the or can such terms be used of a mere Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, attribute, consistently with the prewhom the Father shall send in my cision required in religious instrucname, he shall teach you all things," tions? He also speaks of the Spirit, &c. (ver. 26): and the personal as 'searching all things, yea the pronoun (εKevoç) is used in this, deep things of God" (1 Cor. ii. 10), and several other passages, espe- for he knoweth the things of "God, cially those that follow. Calling as the spirit of man knoweth the this Comforter" the Spirit of Truth, things of a man." The Holy Spirit which proceedeth from the Father," is also said to dwell in us, to lead he added," he shall testify of me,' us, to "bear witness with our spirits, &c. (John, xv. 26): and still more and to make intercession for us;" explicitly, he says, when "he cometh, whilst he that searcheth the he shall not speak of himself; but hearts, knoweth what is the mind whatsoever he shall hear, that shall of the Spirit;" which certainly imhe speak:"" he shall glorify me; plies personal distinction (Rom. for he shall receive of mine, and viii. 11, 14, 16, 26, 27). The sashall show it unto you" (John, xvi. cred historian also records several 7-15). Not to insist further on instances, in which the Holy Spirit the repeated use of the personal spoke, acted, and commanded. pronoun, which the ordinary rules" The Holy Ghost spake by the of language appropriates in such dis- mouth of David" (Acts, i. 16). courses, to a personal agent; being" The Spirit said to Philip" (Acts, sent, coming, testifying, receiving, viii. 29). The Spirit said to Peter, showing, teaching, hearing, and Arise, get thee down" (Acts, x. speaking, do undoubtedly imply per- 19, 30). The Holy Ghost said, sonal agency: and if we are required" Separate me Barnabas and Saul: to suppose the strongest rhetorical and they, being sent forth by the figures, that ever orators or poets Holy Ghost, departed" (Acts, xiii. have used, to be constantly inter- 2, 4). "It seemed good to the woven in the plainest instructions Holy Ghost" (Acts, xv. 28). "They and promises, we must infer, that were forbidden of the Holy Ghost," the language of the scripture is so-"The Spirit suffered them not" indeterminate and unusual, that no (Acts, xvi. 6, 7). Well spake certain conclusions can be drawn the Holy Ghost by Esaias," &c. from it. This indeed seems to be (Acts, xxviii. 25). To which the the inference that some interpreters language of other Scriptures acof the scripture are willing should cord; "Wherefore, as the Holy

[ocr errors]

Ghost saith" (Heb. iii. 7). "Let they are dispersed, evidently imhim hear what the Spirit saith unto plies the divine attribute of omnithe churches" (Rev. ii. 7). That presence; nor could he "search all this is the frequent phraseology of things, yea, even the deep things Scripture is undeniable: and as the of God," unless he were omniscient. sacred oracles were given to make His work of regeneration, or new us wise unto salvation; so it is evi- creation, and sanctification, require dent, that we are taught in them to omnipotence to effect it: and all think of the Holy Spirit as of an these surely are divine attributes, Agent, willing, hearing, speaking, incommunicable to any creature. acting, commanding, forbidding, re- But" if any man have not the Spirit ceiving, and executing a commission; of Christ, he is none of his" Rom. and performing a part in the great viii. 9-11): and they are strangely work of our salvation, distinct from ignorant of Christianity, who do not that of the Father, by whom, or "know that Christians are the temthat of the Son, through whom he ple of God, and that the Spirit of is given unto men. I apprehend God dwelleth in them." Of this that they who deny this doctrine, more abundant proof will be given would feel themselves embarrassed when we come to consider the ordiin familiarly using such language nary influences of the Holy Spirit. as this, concerning the Spirit, or in The very titles which are given speaking according to the oracles to this distinguished Agent in all of God in their discourses, treatises, revivals of vital godliness, confirm or devotions; at least many of them the same conclusion. He is called, deem it convenient to adopt a more by way of eminence, "the Holy literal, philosophical, or modern Spirit,' "the Spirit of Holiness," style than that of the Scriptures," the Spirit of Truth," "the Spirit lest they should mislead some of of Power," "the Spirit of Protheir unestablished disciples, or mise," ""the Spirit of Wisdom and give men reason to call their con- Knowledge," "the Comforter," sistency in question. "the Eternal Spirit." These, and When the personality of the Holy several other expressions of a similar Spirit has been proved from the nature, seem to denote both his word of God, little difficulty re-essential perfections, and the nature mains to ascertain his Deity. The or effect of his influences on our operation of the Holy Ghost in our minds; and to distinguish him from Lord's conception, rendered it all those created spirits which are proper to call him the Son of God, sent forth to minister to the heirs even in respect to his human na- of salvation. And when it is said,

ture, according to the language of that "he divideth to every man Gabriel to the Virgin Mary (Luke, severally as he will;" his divine i. 35). Ananias, by "lying to the sovereignty, as well as his personal Holy Ghost, lied unto God" (Acts, volition, is declared to us. v. 3, 4). Christians are "the tem- But if distinct personality, agency, ple of God, because the Spirit of and divine perfections be in ScripGod dwelleth in them;" even "an ture ascribed also to the Father and habitation of God through the Spi- to the Son, no words seem more rit" (1 Cor. iii. 16, 17; vi. 19; exactly to express the unavoidable 2 Cor. vi. 16; Eph. ii. 22). In- inference than these, that there deed, the indwelling of the Holy are three distinct Persons in the Spirit, in all believers, wheresoever Unity of the Godhead.” The Scrip

[ocr errors]

ture most assuredly teaches us, conversant with modern treatises "that the One living and true God on these subjects, that the opposers is, in some inexplicable manner, of the doctrine no longer attempt Triune:" for he is spoken of as to support their sentiments by a One in some respects, as Three in particular examination of Scripture others. The dependence, confi- testimonies, allowing the Bible, as dence, affections, and worship pe- we have received it from our fathers, culiar to Christianity, are manifestly to be the infallible word of God; connected by an indissoluble tie, and that it ought to be interpreted with our sentiments on this respect: by the same rules, which judicious for (not to anticipate the subject of scholars employ in explaining other the ensuing Essay) how can we ancient writers. A small part of avoid grieving the Spirit, if we en- the Scripture is by them considered tertain thoughts of him infinitely to be of divine authority; and the beneath his divine dignity and ex-rest they would have us discard as cellency? doubtful, or irrational, or at most to Men may continue confidently to give it a subordinate measure of assert without proof, that the doc- attention.

trine of the Trinity is either a con- Could it be proved, that the Tritradiction in itself, or inconsistent nitarians were not Unitarians also, with the Unity of the Deity: they some ground would be gained by may inform us, that the primitive them; but we suppose, that the Christians learned it from Plato Trinity of Persons in the Deity and his followers, and so corrupted consists with the Unity of the Dithe faith by philosophy (though it vine Essence: though we pretend is a thousand times more likely, not to explain the modus of it, and that Plato borrowed his ideas from deem those to have been reprehenthose Scriptures, which were extant sible, who have attempted so to do; in his time): and they may dignify as the modus, in which any being themselves as Unitarians, as if none subsists, according to its distinct worshiped the one true God but nature and known properties, is a themselves. But we shall still have secret to the most learned naturalthe satisfaction (mingled with our ists to this present day, and probaregret at such departures from the bly will continue to be so. But if faith) to find, that they grow pro- the most common of God's works, portionably shy of the phraseology with which we are the most conof the Scripture; that they want to versant, be, in this respect, incomdiminish men's reverence for the prehensible; how can men think sacred writers; that they are con- that the modus existendi (or manner strained to adopt methods of inter- of existence) of the infinite Creator pretation, in respect of those testi- can be level to their capacities monies, which they still admit to The doctrine of the Trinity is inbe a divine revelation, that would deed a mystery: but no man hath be deemed contemptible, if employed yet shown, that it involves in it a in fixing the sense of any reputable real contradiction. Many have venclassical writer; and that they make tured to say, that it ought to be their principal appeal, not to the ranked with transubstantiation, as oracles of God, but to the oracles equally absurd. But Archbishop of human reason, or to the vague Tillotson has shown, by the most and disputed standard of antiquity. convincing arguments imaginable, It must be evident to all who are that transubstantiation includes the

most palpable contradictions; and Nor can I doubt, but that the Deity that we have the evidence of our of Christ hath been fully proved in eyes, feeling, and taste, that what the seventh and eighth Essays. we receive in the Lord's Supper is And if these two points have been bread, and not the body of a man; established on Scriptural authority, whereas we have only the testimony all that can be said against the docof our eyes, that the words, "This trine of the Trinity on other grounds, is my body," are in the Scriptures. only suggests these questions:-Is Now this is intelligible to the mean- the human intellect, or the infinite est capacity, fairly made out, and understanding of God, most comperfectly unanswerable: but who petent to determine on the incomever attempted thus to prove the prehensible mysteries of the Divine doctrine of the Trinity to be self- Nature? Shall we abide by the contradictory? Or what testimony language of inspiration, or give it up of our senses, or demonstrated pro- for that of human reason? But what position, does it contradict? Yet, is faith? Is it not a disposition to till this be shown, it is neither fair, say, "let God be true, and every nor convincing, to exclaim against man a liar?" For "the testimony it as contradictory, absurd, irra- of God is sure, and giveth wisdom tional, &c. to the simple." If the Scriptures Indeed, it may be easy to say be incontestably proved to be the that Three and One cannot be the word of God, by unanswerable exsame; and then to show, that the ternal and internal evidences; absurd tenet which they would per- a man shall dare to say, suade men that we hold, is self- allow such a doctrine as that of the contradictory: but if we may not Trinity to be contained in it, is quote the much contested text (1 enough to impeach its divine auJohn v. 7, 8) as an authority, we thority;" it amounts only to this, may surely use it as expressing our that he is so wise in his own eyes, sentiments: "There are three that so leans to his own understanding, bear record in heaven, the Father, and is so fond of his own sentiments, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and that he is determined not to be conthese Three are one;" three Per- vinced by any testimony, human or sons, the masculine being used; divine. one Being, the neuter being substi- In addition to the general argututed. Now let any man in logical ment for the doctrine in question, form prove if he can, that these which has been considered, it may words involve a real contradiction: be proper to consider a few remarkbut till this is done, let no man mis-able passages of Scripture, in which take confident assertion for demon- the Father, the Son, and the Holy stration. Ghost are mentioned together, or

and

"that to

I cannot but hope, that the pre-jointly addressed in the same act ceding concise arguments have fully of worship. When our Lord was shown, that the sacred writers spoke baptized, the Father, by a voice as strong language, concerning the from heaven, declared him to be Personality and Deity of the Holy his beloved Son, and publicly sealed Spirit, as even the Nicene Fathers: his appointment to the mediatorial though they did not use such illus-office; of which he solemnly actrations, explanations, distinctions, cepted, and on which he then enor definitions, as the latter unhap-tered. And the Holy Spirit, depily employed in the controversy.scending visibly, under the emble

matic representation of a dove, monies: if all things belonging to lighted upon him, as through him the Father, belong to Christ also, to be communicated to all his true his Deity must be allowed: and disciples; thus the Three Persons thus the three persons in the Triin the sacred Trinity, evidently acted nity are here pointed out to our according to the parts sustained by observation. The apostolic benethem in the great work of man's diction (2 Cor. xiii. 14), refers to salvation. But the appointed form the One Name in which Christians of Christian baptism is far more are baptized; and leads our thoughts conclusive, "Baptize them into the to the form of blessing appointed in name" (not names) " of the Father, the law (Numb. vi. 24—26); in and of the Son, and of the Holy which benedictions were pronounced Ghost." By baptism we declare on the people with a threefold repeour dependence on, and devoted-tition of the name of Jehovah, as ness to him in whose name we are well as to the adorations of the baptized; and it implies one of the heavenly hosts, "Holy, holy, holy, most solemn acts of worship that is the Lord," &c. (Isaiah vi. 3; we can perform. Would it not then Rev. iv. 8.) Now this benediction greatly tend to mislead us, if a mere is in reality a prayer in behalf of creature, and an attribute, were the Corinthians, for all the blessjoined with the One True God in ings of salvation; and these are this ordinance? Upon the Trini- sought from the Lord Jesus, and tarian system it is extremely pro- from the Holy Spirit, as well as per: but that man must surely have from God the Father. To this acvery lax notions of the peculiar ho- cords the address of the Apostle nour due to God, which he will not John to the seven churches in Asia, give to another, who can think it in which he wishes, or prays, for consistent with the doctrine of our grace and peace to them, from the opponents. This form of baptism eternal Father, from the seven Spifully warrants the excellent doxology rits before the throne, and from the of our Church, "Glory be to the Lord Jesus, &c. (Rev. i. 4—6.) Father, to the Son, and to the Holy According to the emblematic style Ghost," &c. and it is worthy of of this book, the Holy Spirit, with observation, that ancient Antitrini- reference to his manifold gifts and tarians attempted to improve our graces, and to the seven churches Lord's words, saying, "In the name in Asia, is spoken of as the seven of the Father, and through the Son, Spirits, &c.: but we cannot doubt and by, or in the Holy Ghost:" of the meaning, nor can we imagine, which, joined with modern attempts that any created spirits would have to show the form to be non-essential been thus joined with the eternal to baptism, &c., constitutes a full God, in such an evident act of adoproof that the argument is of great ration.

force, even in the opinion of our I shall close the present Essay opponents. When our Lord says by observing, that the subject before (John xvi. 13-15), "The Spiritus is of the greatest importance. of Truth,-He shall glorify me,-all Either Trinitarians, or Antitrinitathat the Father hath are mine," &c.; rians, are idolaters; for they cannot he establishes the doctrine of the both worship that God who reveals Trinity. The personality, and con- himself to us in Scripture; but one sequently the Deity of the Spirit, of them must substitute an imahas been proved from many testi- ginary being in his place. It is not

« ForrigeFortsæt »