lEBM. XIL THE SCALE OF BLESSEDNESS. 219 The Father is so intimately near the Son and Spirit, that no finite or created natures or unions can give ajust resemblance of it. We talk of the union of the sun,and .his beams, of a tree and its branches : But these are but poor images, and faint shadows of this mystery, though they are some of the best that I know. The union ofthe soul and body, is, in my esteem, still farther from the point, because their natures are so widely different. Irk vain we search through all the creation to find a con- plete similitude of the Creator. And in vain may we run through all the parts and powers of nature and art, to seek a full resemblance of the mutual propensity and love of the blessed Three to- wards each other. Mathematicians talk indeed of the perpetual tendencies, and infinite approximations of two or more lines in the same surface, which yet never can entirely concur in one line : And ifwe should say that the three persons of the Trinity, by mutual in-dwelling and love, approach each other infinitely in one divine na- ture, and yet lose not their distinct personality; it would be but an obscure account of this sublime mystery. But this we are sure of; that for three divine persons to be so inconceivablynear one another in the original and eter- nal spring of love, goodness, and pleasure, must pro- duce infinite delight. In order tos illustrate_ the . happi- ness of the sacred Three, may we not suppose something of society necessary to the perfection of happiness in all intellectual nature ? To know, and be known, to love; and to be beloved, are, perhaps, such essential, ingredi- ents of. complete felicity, that it cannot subsist without them : And it may be doubted whether such mutual knowledge and love, as seems requisite for this end, can be found in a nature absolutely simple in all respects, May we not then suppose that some distinctions in the divine being are of eternal necessity, in order to com- plete the blessedness of godhead ? Such a distinction as may admit, as a great man expresses it, of delicious. society, " We, for our parts, cannot but herebyhave in our minds a more gustful idea of a blessed state, than we can conceive in mere eternal solitude." And if this be true, . then the three differences, which: lv call personal distinctions, in the nature of God, are,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=