4 another; to grant which, would deftroy all ReIigiort; and Hope, and the Bible, together. It follows then;, that, if the Doêtrine of the Trinity be a true DoEirine under the Chriftian Difpenfation, it was alfo a true Doc- trine under the Patriarchal and Legal Cconomy ; and that, if it be neceltary to Faith and Salvation at this Time, it bath been equally necefïáry to Faith and Sal- vation at all Times. That the Doctrine of the Trinity is neceffarÿ to Sal- vation, can not be refelred by any who believe the Bible ,to, be of divine Authority; and therefore (as it is unneceflary to prove here what bath been fo often and fo unanfwerabl.y proved by others) t this Pofition is taken for granted. If then this Knowledge of the divine Nature be ne- cefl'ary to Salvation, it muft have been revealed by that * Wifur juftly reafons, from the Wifdom given to the firft Man, in his State of Innocence, that the Myftery of the Trinity could not be unknown to him. " For, (lays that admirable Author) it io above all Things neceffary, for the Perfeltion ofthe human Nature, to be well acquainted with what it ought to know and believe con- cerning its GOD. And it may be juflly doubted, whether he does not worthip a GOD entirely unknown, nay whether he at all wor. (hips the true GOD, who does not know and worthip him, as fub- fitting in Three Perfons. He, who reprefents GOD tohimfelf in any other Light, reprefents not GOD to himfelf, but a Phantom and Idol ofhis own Brain. Epipbanius feems to have had this Argument in View, when he thus wrote of Adam: " He was no Idolater; for " he knew GOD, the FATHER, SoN, and HOLY SPIRIT. And 60 he was a Prophet, and knew that the FATHER Paid to the Sow, " Let us make Man." --It is abfurd, continues Witfsus,. to Cup- pole .Adam ignorant, concerning his Creator, of what GOD cities not Puffer his Pollerity to be ignorant of at this Time; and the ra- ther, linee GOD created Min to be the Herald of his being and Perfections in the new World. --Excellently to this Purpofe (peaks Bali? ofSeleucia: " Notice this Exprefon: Let us make Man. The " plural Wordhints at the'Perfons of the Godhead, and prefents'us " with the Knowledge of the Trinity. The KNOWLEDGE OF IT I therefore iS CO-KVAL WITH THE CREAT, ION« Nor fhould it " feem ftrange, that it wasafterwards inculcated; lince it is one of i0 thole Things, of which Mentionwas made at the very fir/1 Crea- sa /ion." Orson. Fred. I. t. c. z. § g, &c. t_ Vide, fpeciatim, WlrsiUM in Symb. Hoof. Difftet. VI. Nature
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