32 DIVINE NATURE to honour, worship, fear God for himself; that is, on the account of what he is himself: Where the divine nature is, there is the true, proper, formal object of religious worship, and where that is not, it is idolatry to ascribe it to, or exercise it towards any. And this God instructs us in, in all those places where he pro- claims his name, and describes his eternal excellencies, and that either absolutely, or in comparison with other things. All is that we may know him to be such aone, as is to be worshipped and glorified for himself; or his own sake. Sect. 3.Secondly; " The revelation that God is a pleased to make of himself unto us, gives the rule 0 and measure of all religious worship and obedience." His being, absolutely, considered, as comprehending in it all infinitely divine perfections, is the formal reason of our worship; but this worship is to be directed, guid- ed, regulated by the revelation he makes of that being, and of those excellencies unto us. This is the end of divine revelation; namely, to direct us in paying that homagewhich is due unto the divine nature. I speak not now only of positive institutions, which are the free effects of the will of God, depending originally and sole- ly on revelation, and which therefore have been various and actually changed. But this is that which I intend. Look what way soever God manifesteth his being and properties unto us, by his works or his word, our wor- ship consisteth in a due application of our souls unto him according to that manifestation of himself. Sect. 4.Thirdly; God hails revealed or manifested himselfas three in one; and therefore, as such is to be worshipped and glorified by us; that is as three distinct persons, subsisting in the same infinitely holy one un- divided essence. This principle might be, and had not that labour been obviated, ought to have been here at large confirmed, it being that which the whole ensuing discourse doth pre- suppose and lean upon. And, in truth, I fear that the failing of some mens profession begins with their relinquishment of this foundation. It is now evident unto all, that here hath been the fatal miscarriage of those poor deluded souls amongst us whom they call Quakers. And it is altogether in vain to deal with them about other particulars, whilst they are carried away with infidelity from this foundation. Convince any of them of the doctrine of the Trinity, and all the rest of their imaginationsvanish into smoke: AND PERSONALITY ON And I wish it were so with them only. 'There are o- thers, and those not a few, who either reject the doe- trine of it as false, or despise it as unintelligible, or ne- glect it as useless or of no great importance. I know this ulcer lies hid in the minds of many, and cannot but expect when it will break out, and cover the whole bo- dy with its defilements, whereof they are members. But these things are left to the care of Jesus Christ. The reason why I shall not in this place insist profes- sedly on the confirmation and vindication of this funda- mental truth, is because I have done it elsewhere, as having more than once publiclycast my mite into this sanctuary of the Lord; for winch, and the like services, wherein 1 stand indebted unto the gospel, I have met with that reward which I did always expect. For the present, 1 shall only say; that on this supposition that God bath revealed himself as three in one; he is in all our worship of hint so to be considered. And there- fore in our initiation into the profession and practice of the worship of God according to the gospel, weare in our baptism engaged to it, In the name ofthe I&tlze the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Mattis. xxviii: 19. This is the foundation of our doing all things that Christ commands us, ver. 20. Unto this service we are so- lemnly dedicated, namely, of God, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as they are each of them equally par- ticipant of the same divine nature. Sect. 5. Fourthly; ,. These persons are so distinct. " in their peculiarsubsistence, that distinct actings and iz operations are ascribed unto them." And these act- ings are of two sorts; (1.) Ad intra, which are those internal acts in one person, whereof another person is the object. And these acts ad invicemor intra, are na- tural and necessary, inseparable front the being and existence of God. So the Father knows the Son, and loveth him, and the Son seeth, knoweth, and loveth the Father. In these mutual actings, one person is the object of the knowledge and love of the other, John iii. 35. ,z The Father loveth the Son, and bath given all things into his hand, chap. v. 20. The Father loveth the Son, Matth. xi. 27. No man knoweth rl the Son but the Father, neither knoweth any man " the Father save the Son, John vi. 46. None bath "seen the Father save he which is of God, he bath " seen the Father." This mutual knowledge and lave of the Father and Son is expressed at large, Prov. viii,
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