REMNANTS OF TIME. SO% But I acknowledge my darkness still. I want to have this won- derful doctrine of the all- sufftcience of thy Son and Spirit, for these divine works, made a little plainer. May not thy humble creature be permitted to know what share they can have in thy deity ? Is it a vain and sinful curiosity to desire to have this arti- cle set in such a light, as may not diminish the eternal glory of the unity of the true God, nor of the supremacy of Thee the Father of all. Hadst thou informed me, gracious Father, in any place of thy word, that this divine doctrine is not to be understood by men, and yet they were required to believe it, I would have sub- dued all my curiosity to faith, and submitted my wandering and doubtful imaginations, as far as it was possible, to the holy and wise determinations of thy word. But I cannot find thou hast any where forbid me to understand it, or to make these enqui- ries. My conscience is the best natural light thou hast put within me, and since thou hast given me the scriptures, my own con -, science bids me search the scriptures, to find out truth and eter- nal life. It bids me try all things, and hold fast that which is good. And thy own word, by the saine expressions, encourages this holy practice. I have, therefore, been long searching into this divine doctrine, that I may pay thee due honour with understanding. Sure I ought to know the God whom I wor- ship, whether he be one pure and simple being, or whether thou art a threefold deity, consisting of the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit. Dear and blessed God, hadst thou been pleased, in any one plain scripture, to have informed me which of the different opi- nions about the holy Trinity, among the contending parties of christians, had been true, thou knowest with how much zeal, satisfaction, and joy my unbiassed heart would have opened itself to receive and embrace the divine discovery. Hadst thou told me plainly, in any single text, that the Father, Son, and holy Spirit, are three real distinct Persons in thy divine nature, I liad never suffered myself to be bewildered in so many doubts, nor embarrassed with so many strong fears of assenting to the mere inventions of men, instead of divine doctrine ; but I should have humbly and immediately accepted thy words, so far as it was pos- sible for me to understand them as the only rule of my faith ? Or, hadst thou been pleased so tq express and include this proposition in the several scattered parts of thy book, from whence my reason and conscience might with ease find out, and with certainty infer this doctrine, I should have joyfully employed all my reasoning powers, with their utmost skill and activity, to flave. found out this inference, and ingrafted it into my soul. Thou bast taught me, holy Father, by thy prophets, that the way of holiness in the times of the gospel, or under the kingdom of 1111=01mv k 2
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