/SERMONXLW. 13 it is he tends his Holy Spirit to enlighten, sanctify, andcomfort us, and to prepare us for heaven. The Son is represented as sent by the Father into this world, to take our flesh andblood upon him, that he might die to redeem us : He becomes our Prophet, our Priest, and our King, to complete our salvation : He scuds the Holy Spirit, from theFa- , ther, to dwell in his people. The Holy Spirit is represented as sent, by the Father and the Son, to confirm the truth of the gospel, to guide us into all truth; to change our sinful natures into holiness, and to witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God: He is expressly called a Witnesser, and a Comforter, or Advocate. XVI. Upan the whole it appears, that there is, and there must be, some real union and communion in godhead between the sacred Three, thé Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to answer and support the divine names, titles and attributes, &c. which are ascribed to them all ? And, there is, and theremust be, some sufficient distinction between them, to sustain these distinct personal characters and, offices, and to answer to these distinct representations of scripture : Though how far this oneness of godhead, and this personal distinction extend', may not be easy for us, to find out exactly, and to describe to the understanding and satisfaction of our fellow- christians. This is that very question, which has so much difficulty in it to answer : This has been the hard problem of christianity, in almost all ages, how to reconcile and adjust this article: This hasbeen the solemn labour of our several schemes and hypothe- ses, wherein some oT us would be glad to arrive at clearer con- ceptions, by a further search of the holy scriptures. But among the many attempts that have been made to adjust this matter, there is not one which is universally approved. XVII. Though perhaps, we may not find, nor determine clearly and precisely, how far the sacred Three are the sameas to their oneness of godhead, nor how far they are different, as to their distinct personal character,; yet it is our duty to honour them, according to the revelation which scripture hath made ; that is, we must pay all ofthem divine honours, since they have communion in godhead ; and we must transact our impòrtant affairs of salvation with them according to their distinct offices, as our Father, our Saviour, and our Sanctifier. Thus I have given a plain scriptural account of the doctrine of the Trinity, without entering intothose particular explications, whereby, Trinitarian writers have unhappily divided themselves into several contending parties. And I have done my endeavour to express what appears to be the first, the most plain, and
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=