DISSERTATION VII.. 375 the Word. and Spirit, considered as mere distinctions in the divine nature. Yet as the scripture frequentlyspeaks in this figurative Way, and the great God, who indited 'it, foreknew that multitude's of christian readers would be ready to form personal ideas under his own inspired words; I cannot think it a matter of so great importance, as that we would change all our usual forms of po= pular discourse on this subject. The scriptural representations,' are, doubtless, sufficiently adapted both to instruct and incite us to perform all our necessary duties to the Father, Son, and Spi- rit, as our Creator, our Redeemer, and our Sanctifier ; and it is on these depend our peace and pardon, and our hopes of ever- lasting happiness. And if these are well secured, let not terms and phrases engage the fury and contention of those who profess the. gospel of peace. He that " dotes about vain questions, and strifes of words, incurs the censure of the Apostle, that he is proud, knowing nothing. This is the way to stir up envy, strife and railings, with evil surmises, and perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds," 1 Tim. vi. 4. It is time for christians to have done with all these: It is time for us to seek the truth in love, and to " follow after the things which make for peace, and the things whereby one may edify another." Rom. xiv. 19. We be- lieve in God the Father our Creator, in the Son our Redeemer, and in the eternal Spirit our Sanctifier. Let us glorify the Fa- ther, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, by all due honours, unfeign- ed obedience, and everlasting praise. Amen. DISSERTATION VII. Of the Distinction of Persons in the Divine Nature; or, a humble Essay, to illustrate the Doctrine of the Trinity, viz. three Persons and one God. SECTION I.The Introduction.* WHILE I am discoursing on the sublime article of the sa- cred Trinity, I would always endeavour to maintain the just distinction between the general doctrine itself, and the parti- cular modes of explication ; and therefore I would first mention what I call the scriptural doctrine. By what I have delivered in the foregoing dissertations I bave in some measure anticipated the design of this, though this was written before those. Yet since this dissertation exhibits the ideas of the sacred three, viz. the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, in a closer.connexion and mutual respect to each other, and gives a more simultaneous view of my scheme of explication, I thought it not improper to place it here, that I might lay the better foundation for an answer to those objections which have been made against the doctrine of the Trinity.
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