3SS THE ARIAN INVITED TO ORTIIÒDOX FAITR. 'Condescension to our human ideas. It is hard, if not impossi- ble, for us, in some cases, to say infallibly, thatthis or that is true concerning God the Father, his Word, or his Spirit, be- cause it is true concerning creature's ; that this or that cannot be true concerning God the Father, his Word, or his Spirit, 'be- Cause, perhaps, it cannot be true concerning creatures; for the Most exalted ranks of creatures that we know, are very poor imperfect shadows of the'Creator. I cannot think it reasonable, indeed, to interpret the natural divine attributes; or perfections, such as knowledge, power, goodness, so entirely in an analogical sense, as that ingenious . author, the archbishop of Dublin* has done, because our com- mon ideas of these words, knowledge, power, goodness, are more applicable to the divine nature in an univocal sense : Yet this sacreddoctrine of three personalities relating to one divine essence, may with much better reason be explained or construed in this analogical manner, since our common ideas of Fattier, Word, Spirit, person, are not so applicable thereto in an uni- vocal signification. 1 am well assured, that if such analogical explications be allowable in any part of theology, the doctrine of the Trinity lays the best claim to it. I add further also, that every scheme and explication of this Sacred doctrine amongst the real or modal Trinitarians, which bath had any manner of claim to orthodoxy does suppose the divine essence to have something in it that is not univocal to our ideas of a spirit : The most orthodox explainers are all forcedto represent the distinctions of persons in the godhead, as some- thing for which there is no perfectparallel in created spirits, and are forced to recur to analogical ideas, and analogical language. Now if it be so, then who shall determine what differences and distinctions may be found in a nature or essence so infinitely superior to all our thoughts, so much unknown, and so incom- prehensible? And, why may not the blessed God represent these distinctions in his own nature, in a way of personality, br as threedistinct persons, supposing that such a representation will easily lead the bulk of mankind into such conceptions of his economical transactions with us, as are fit to engage them to adore, worship, trust in, and love their Creator, their Re- deemer, and their Sanctifier ? All these duties we may practise by the;influence of scriptural revelation, without a philosophical or univocal idea of what the.great God .is in his own sublime, abstruse, and unsearchable essence. " God is great, and .we know him not." Thousands of saints and martyrs have gone to heaven with triumph by the practice of these duties, under the influence of a humble faith, without further philosophical en- quiries. 'Dr. Viritliam'8ing.
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