Morning, Trinity Sunday, May 29, 1831.

SERMON XLIX.

ON THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY.

[FIRST SERMON.]

For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these Three are One.-1 JOHN V. 7.

In the sixth verse we read, "This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood." Blood to atone-water to cleanse. The number seven in scripture appears to be symbolic of perfection; seven days; seven years; seventy times seven years; seven angels; seven churches; seven candlesticks; seven plagues. So also the number three is symbolical of the perfections of the Redeemer. Isaiah walked three years barefoot for a sign to Egypt; the number three was used as a sign in the dreams of the chief butler and baker

of Pharaoh. Moses asked of Pharaoh to go three days' journey in the wilderness; the Israelites travelled three days until they found water; they were three days to prepare themselves for the delivering of the law; the ark travelled three days until it came to a resting place; three days they were preparing to cross the river Jordan; three days Esther put on her royal apparel; in three days Hezekiah was told he should go up to the house of the Lord. Our Saviour was laid in the grave three days; and on the third day he arose.

The doctrine of the Trinity is of the first importance. Socinians and Arians are more removed from Christianity than the Devil : "there are Three that bear record in heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these Three are One."

The first observation I shall make is, THAT THERE IS ONE GOD. It is from revelation alone that we learn this truth-"Hear, Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord." As soon as we believe the testimony of God concerning himself, every thing proves its truth. How can two eternities, two infinities exist? Having believed this truth as revealed, then we

1 Deut. vi. 4.

peruse aright the volume of nature; every thing presents God to us; God has a sceptre and a throne in every particle of matter.

I observe, secondly, that there is in one essence, a plurality; and this I believe, because God tells me so. We are not to reason upon this truth before we believe; but to believe and then to reason; the triumph of our holy religion is dependent upon this principle; "in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." In the Hebrew, a plural noun with a verb in the singular number.

Again God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." The passage in Gen. iii. 22, should be translated-' Behold the man was like one of us.' We find in this and other passages one person in Jehovah, addressing another, "The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Read also the following verses of this Psalm. To presume to think of comprehending the Trinity is madness and folly. We can comprehend nothing fully: an angel even cannot comprehend a particle of matter. He cannot comprehend creative power.

I observe, thirdly, that the plurality in the Deity is Three-Three Persons. The word

1 Psalm cx.

person has been objected to; but it is a good word; the best that could have been selected to express the true idea to our comprehensions: we read of the personal acts of the ThreeThree in one essence; this is objected to, because vain man would be wise, but cannot comprehend it: if illustration may be suggested we have it in the flame-light, heat, and motion. By the prism we discover that every ray of light is composed of or involves three primary colours-three yet one; if this Trinity in Unity exists in the objects of the natural world, what presumption is it to say, that it cannot exist in the spiritual world; that God cannot be three in person, yet one in essence. The Saviour quoting Isaiah, says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me." 1 Here we have three persons. After the Saviour's baptism the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." 2 Here again we have a trinity of persons appealing to the senses of men in proof of their spiritual existence.

Fourthly, I observe, that the Three Persons in Jehovah are, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. "Who hath ascended up into heaven, or de

1 Isaiah Ixi. 1.

2 Matt. iii. 17.

1

scended? Who hath gathered the winds in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?" Compare this with “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 2 All parental and filial relationships amongst us must be discarded for ever in attempting to understand the relationship between the Father and the Son. Paternity, sonship, and procession, are personifying perfections of God-not attributes-they are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, irrespective of all covenant engagements.

Fifthly, I would observe, they are Three in one sense, and One in another; it is impossible that any finite being should be three in one, at one and the same time.

Sixthly, it is obvious that the Trinity does not infringe upon the essential oneness of Deity. Jehovah is essentially and necessarily Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is a most important subject; if we have any religion at all, it must be through the inspiration of the Trinity; he who does not worship the Trinity in Unity, does not worship any God. We never can

1 Prov. xxx. 4.

2 Matt.. xxviii 19.