170 THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. the Son, the Father; nor either of these the HolyGhost. 'Thus far the serious plain christian, may venture into this awful mys- tery of the blessed Trinity." But as these reverend authors, in the following words, do not by any means advise the unlearned and private christian to search farther, so I cannot see any great necessity that he should. PROF. XVI.Yet it is our Duty to believe thegeneral Doctrine of the Trinity, viz. that these Three personal Agents, Fa- ther, Son, and Spirit, have real Communion in one God- head, althoughwe cannotfindout the precise wayandman- ner of explaining it. I would have it observed here, that I do not absolutely de- termine the sacred doctrine of the Trinity to be incapable of all explications : For though many past attempts may have been weak and insufficient, yet it does not follow that all future at- tempts shall be so too. Who can assure us that God will never give to any favourite christian, the happy turn of thought, that may lead him, as by an easy clue, into the knowledge of this rays-, tery ? Daniel foretels, that towards the latter end of the world, many shall run to andfro, and knowledge shall be increased; Dan. xii. 4. By a mutual commerce of the sentiments of men of learning and piety, and by the assistance of the divine Spirit, there may be some glorious spark of light cast upon this obscure article of faith, which former ages despaired of : Even as the great Sir Isaac Newton in our age has traced the nature, bulk, and motions of the heavenly bodies, beyond what all former ages knew, or what men on earth could ever have hoped for. But suppose this sacred doctrine, as to the manner of it, could never be explained by us, or to us in this present mortal state, yet all the cavils of our adversaries hitherto have never been able to prove, that this doctrine itself, free from all hu- man additions and incumbrances, is really impossible ; and therefore we are bound to believe this article, so far as God has plainly and evidently revealed it, though it should be to us inexplicable. There is, I confess, a certain pride in the mind of man, that is ready to resist divine truth, if it does not lie level to our understanding, submit to our reasonings, and come within the compass of our clear and comprehensive ideas It was this cri- minal pride, that has tempted someof the Socinian writers to say, that if the doctrines of the divinity and satisfaction of Christ were never so plainly expressed in scripture, yet they would not assent to them in the literal sense, becsnse theycould not under- stand them, or because, according to the judgment of their rea- son, it could not be approved. Therefore they are wont to twist
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