SERMON IV.

THE DIVINITY OF CHRIST.

JOHN v. part of 20, 21.

This is the true God and eternal life. Little children keep yourselves from idols.

If we would read the Scriptures profitably, my brethren, we must read them humbly. They who bring a proud, presumptuous spirit to the study of God's Word, usually overlook or reject plain truths and, seeking to be wise above what is written, and meddling with things too high for them, they involve themselves in perplexity and error, and frequently end in scepticism or downright infidelity..

Nor is the mischief arising from such a spirit confined to those who indulge it. It affords occasion to the enemies of the truth to misrepresent and cavil at the truth itself. Moreover, it gives men

who are careless about religion, a pretext for wholly neglecting the doctrinal parts of Christianity, and encouraging others to do the same. Because some have gone too far, they choose altogether to stand still; and would have that set down to the credit of their humility which really springs from their indifference. And,-what is still more to be lamented, even really humble and soberminded Christians are too often deterred from the right and useful consideration of Scriptural doctrines, by seeing others plunge themselves into unfathomable depths.

This has been too much the case with regard to the DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. Because rash and curious enquirers, not contenting themselves with what is plainly revealed on this subject, have been bold enough to deny what they cannot comprehend, to reject what they cannot explain, and to represent that as contrary to reason which is only above reason-it is to be feared that the importance of this fundamental Article of our Faith has

by too many persons been overlooked. And because there are speculative points connected with it which surpass our understanding, they have left too much out of view those which are plain and practical.

The Doctrine in question, as maintained by our Church, 1 need scarcely remind you, is this-that there is ONE GOD," of whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things;" Infinite, Eternal, Incomprehensible, Immutable; yet subsisting in three distinct and equal Persons, as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; each of whom, by himself, is God, yet so that there are not three Gods, but one God; a Trinity of Persons in the Unity of the Godhead; not (as is sometimes artfully and absurdly represented) three and one in the same sense, but three in one sense, and one in another; three Persons, one God.*

It is confessedly difficult to speak with precision on a subject so much above our comprehension as every thing relative to the Divine subsistence necessarily must: be. It may not be amiss, however, to remark that the word "person" is here not used in its popular sense, as, for instance, when we speak of "meeting," or seeing, three persons.

Now, to ascertain whether this doctrine be right or not, what is the course which sound reason teaches us to pursue? Surely, not to begin by puzzling ourselves with such questions as, "how can these things be?" but to go at once to the Bible. "What saith the Scripture?" ought to be the first question: and a man of plain understanding, who believes the Bible to be the Word of God, will be satisfied with what he finds expressly affirmed there. No difficulties which may arise in his mind as to points which are not revealed, will affect his belief of matters which are revealed. His ignorance on some points will not affect the certainty of others. Nor will he, if he follow the dictates of sober reason and common sense, aban

The defectiveness of our language compels us to employ such terms as most nearly express our ideas in speaking on this subject. The doctrine before us may perhaps be not incorrectly expressed thus: " that there are in the Godhead three Agents, to each of whom distinct personal acts are ascribed; Agents so distinct as that some things may be af. 'firmed of each which cannot be affirmed of the other two; and yet so identified as together to constitute one .God."

don what he does know on account of something else which he does not know. Now, in reading the Bible, he meets with such passages as the following: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is ONE LORD." "Is there A GOD BESIDE ME? yea, there is NO GOD." "There

is ONE GOD, and none other but He."* Nothing can be plainer than such declarations; and, accordingly, he does not for a moment doubt the truth of them. He settles it in his mind, as a fixed principle of his religious belief, that there is but one God. As he proceeds in the Sacred Volume, however, he finds the Name of God, and the Titles and Attributes of Deity, given to three several Persons, to each of whom distinct and appropriate acts, offices and relations are assigned.† One of these Persons he perceives to be designated by the ap-

• Deut. vi. 4.-Isa. xliv., 8.-Mark xii. 32.

† c. g. Is. xlviii. 12, 16.-Zech. ii. 8-11-John xv. 26. Gal, iv. 6.Is. ix. 6. Matt. i. 23.-Rom. ix. 5.1 Tim. iii. 16.Tit. ii. 13.-Mic. v. 2.-Matt. xi. 27.-John iii. 13, and xxi. 17.-Rev. i. 8.-Acts v. 3, 4.-1 Cor. ii. 10, 11, and xii.. 4, 5, 6, 11. Heb. ix. 14.