Ver. 3. the 17th Chapter of St. J O H N, 30 three Gods; for in the Godhead the Perlons are not feparate and divided, but only diltinguifbed by their Relative Properties, they are Coeternal, Ínfinite, and may be in one another, the Father in the Son, the Son in the Father, both in the Spirit. We are material ; and though we communicate in the fame Nature, yet we live feparate: In Ihort, the word Persan is ufed to thew, that they are not only three Ads, Offices; Attributes, Properties, Qualities, Operations, but diftinec Subfiftences, diftinguifhed from one another by their unchangeable Order of Firlt, Second, and Third ; Father, Word, and Spirit; and their incommunicable Properties of Paternity, Filiation, and Proration ; or unbegotten, begotten, and proceeding ; and by their fpecial and per; tonal manner of Operation, creating, redeeming, fan%ifying : Creation is by the Fa -. cher, Redemption by the Son, Sanflification by the Spirit. More may be laid ; but when (hall we make an end ? Let us apply it. . Z1fe, Let us biefs God, that we have fuch a compleat Objedì for our Faith ; We cari want nothing, that have Father, Son, and Spirit, the co- operation of all the Perlons for our Salvation ; that we can confider the Father in Heaven,the Son on theCrofs,and feel the Spirit in our Hearts; yea, that thewhole Godhead Ihould take up its abode, and come and converfe with us; a Cor. 13. 14. The Grace of our Lord Jesus Chrifi, the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Ghofi, be with you all. Amen. Oh what a treble Privilege is this ! Grace, Love, and Communion ; Ele&ion, Merit, and Aaual Grace. This is a Myftery, felt as well as believed We have a God to love us,a Christ to redeem us, and a Spirit to apply all to the Soul ; r Pet. 2. 3. If fo be ye have tafied that the Lord k gracious. Our Spiritual Estate ftandeth upon a Eure Bottom ; the be- ginning is from God the Father, the Difpenfation from the Son, and the Application from the Holy Ghoft. The Father's Eledting Love is ingaged' by the Merit of Christ, and conveyed by the Power of the Holy Ghoft. There was a Purpofe by the Father, the Accomplilhment was by the Son, and Exhibition is by the Spirit ; it is free in the Father, Cure in the Son, ours in the Spirit ; the Father purpofeth, the Son ratifieth, the Spirit giveth us the enjoyment of all. Oh ! let us adore the Mylterious Trinity we are not thankful enough for this glorious Discovery. Doâ. 4. That God, who is one in three Perfons, is the only true God, of - &? s3rvav 05101 thee the only true God: 1 Theft. 1. g. re turned to God from Idols, to ferve the Living and True God. All others are but Idols and falle Gods, they are not able to avenge the contempt of them that wrong them, or to lave thofe that trust in them. Gal. 4. 8. Then when ye knew not God, ye did firvice to them that by Nature were no Gods. An Idol is nothing, but what it is in the valuation and efteem of Men. Oh then, let us not look upon Religion as a meer Fancy; God is, whether we acknowledg him or no. I.lfually, in great Turns and Changes, many turn Atheifts; fome turn (port from gross Idolatry, to rat in Superstition ; others turn over, and lay afide Religion it felf, as if all were Fancy and Figment. Oh confider, a God there is; who elfe made the World? And then, Who is a God like unto the Lord our God ? Go, search abroad among the Nations. It is Come advantage fometimes to confider what a God we ferve, above the Gods of the Gentiles. God alloweth you the fearch for Settlement and Satisfaaion Jer. 6. 16. Thus faith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and fee, and ask for the old Paths, Where is the good Way ? and walk therein, and ye frail find refs for your Souls. If you will make a ferious Comparison, fee where you can anchor fafer than in Chriftianity Where can you have more comfortable fteprefentations of God, than in the Christian Religion ? And where can you have a purer Reprefentation of the Christian Religion, than in the Churches of the Proteftants ? all elfe is as unstable as Waters. Here God is reprefented as holy, yet gracious; and here you may meet with a (trill Rule of Duty, and yet belt for your Choice. Let it confirm you in your Choice; and biefs God for the Advantages of your Birth and Education : If you had been born among Heathens, you had been liable to their Darkness. The Statutes of the Lord are rights rejoicing the Heart, Pfal. 19, io. Secondly, Now we come to fpeak to the Second Ficad of Christian Marine, What is to be known concerning Jesus Christi I (hall not wandet and digress from the Cia- cumstances of the Teat,
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