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manifold, but one) it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly y.

X. The fupreme Judge, by which all controverfies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private fpirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest; can be no other but the holy Spirit fpeaking in the fcripture z.

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CHAP. II. Of God, and of the Holy Trinity.

HERE is but one only a, living and true God b, who is infinite in being and perfection c, a moft pure fpi

written for our learning; that we through patience and comfort of the fcriptures might have hope,

IX. y 2 Pet i. 20. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. v. 21. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God fpake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. A&s xv.15 And to this agree the words of the prophets, as it is written, v. 16. After this I will return, and, will build again the tabernacle of David which is fallen down, and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will fet it up.

X, z Mat. xxii. 29. Jefus anfwered and faid unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the fcriptures, nor the power of God. v. 31. But as touching the refurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was fpoken unto you by God, faying, Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation of the Apoftles and pro-. phets, Jefus Chrift himself being the chief corner-stone. With Acts xxviii. 25. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word,

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Well fpake the Holy Ghoft by Efaias the prophet unto our fathers.

I. a Deut. vi. 4. Hear, O Ifrael, the Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. viii. 4. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in facrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. v. 6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jefus Chrift, by whom are all things, and we by him.

bi Theff. i. 9. For they themfelves fhew of us, what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols, to ferve the living and true God. Jer. x. 10. But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlafting King.

c Job. xi. 7. Canft thou by fearching find out God? can't thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? v. 8. It is as high as heaven, what canft thou do? deeper than hell, what canft thou know? v. 9. The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the fea.

Job

rit d, invifible e, without body, parts f, or paffions g, immutable b, immenfe i, eternal k, incomprehenfible 1, Almighty m, moft wife n, moft holy o, most free

Job xxvi. 14. Lo, thefe are parts of his ways, but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand? d John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, muft worship him in fpirit and in truth.

e 1 Tim. i. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invifible, the only wife God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

f Deut. iv. 15. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourfelves (for ye faw no manner of fimilitude on the day that the Lord fpake unto you in Horeb, out of the midst of the fire) v. 16. Left ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the fimilitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female. John iv. 24. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, muft worship him in fpirit and in truth. With Luke xxiv. 39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myfelf: handle me, and fee, for a fpirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye fee me have.

g Acts xiv. 11. And when the people faw what Paul had done, they lift up their voices, faying in the fpeech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. v. 15. And faying, Sirs, why do you thefe things? We alfo are men of like paffions with you, and preach unto you that ye fhould turn from thefe vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and earth, and the fea, and all things that are therein.

h James i. 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableefs, neither fhadow of turning.

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p, moft Mal. iii. 6. For I am the Lord, I change not: therefore ye fons of Jacob are not confumed.

ii Kings viii. 27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much lefs this house that I have builded? Jer. xxiii. 23. Am I a God at hand, faith the Lord, and not a God afar off? v. 24. Can any hide himself in fecret places, that I fhall not fee him? faith the Lord: do not I fill heaven and earth? faith the Lord.

k Pfal. xc. 2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadft formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlafting thou art God. 1 Tim. i. 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wife God, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

/ Pfal. cxlv. 3. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatnefs is unfearchable,

m Gen. xvii. 1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God: walk before me, and be thou perfect. Rev. iv. 8. And the four beafts had each of them fix wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and they reft not day and night, faying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is

to come.

Rom. xvi. 27. To God only wife, be glory through Jesus Christ, for ever. Amen.

o Ifa. vi. 3. And one cried unto another, and faid, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hofts, the whole earth

p, moft abfolute q, working all things according to the counfel of his own immutable and most righteous will r, for his own glory; most loving t, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodnefs and truth, forgiving iniquity, tranfgreffion and fin v; the rewarder of them that diligently feek him w; and withal most just and terrible in his judgments x, hating all fin and who will by no means clear the guilty z.

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is full of his glory, Rey.iv.8. (See letter m immediately foregoing.)

p Pfal. cxv. 3. But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatfoever he pleaseth,

q Exod. iii. 14. And God faid unto Mofes, I AM THAT I AM: And he faid, Thus fhalt thou fay unto the children of Ifrael, I AM hath fent me unto you.

r Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predeflinated according to the purpose of him, who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Rom. xi. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

#1 John iv. 8. He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love. v. 16. And we have known and be lieved the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.

v Exod. xxxiv. 6. And the Lord paffed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-fuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, v. 7. Keeping mercy for thoufands, forgiving iniquity and tranfgreffion, and fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; vifiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and

II. God

upon the childrens children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

w Heb. xi. 6. But without faith it is impoffible to please him: for he that cometh to God, muft believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently feek him.

x Neh.ix. 32. Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy; let not all the trouble feem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our Kings, on our princes, and on our priefts, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, fince the time of the kings of Affyria, unto this day. v. 33. Howbeit, thou art just in all that is brought upon us: for thou haft done right, but we have done wickedly.

y Pfal. v. 5. The foolish shall not ftand in thy fight: thou hateft all workers of inquity. v. 6. Thou shalt destroy them that fpeak leafing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

z Nahumi, 2. God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth, the Lord revengeth and is furious, the Lord will take vengeance on his adverfaries, and he referveth wrath. for his enemies. v. 3. The Lord is flow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind, and in the ftorm, and the clouds are

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II. God hath all life a, glory b, goodness c, bleffedness d, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-fufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made e, nor deriving any glory from them f,but only manifefting his own glory,in, by, unto, and upon them: he is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things g; and hath most fovereign dominion over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever himself pleaseth b. In his fight all things are open and manifefti; his know

the duft of his feet. Exod. xxxiv. 7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and tranfgreffion, and fin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; vifiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the childrens children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

II. a John v. 26. For as the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.

b Acts vii. 2. And he faid, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken, The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mefopotamia, before he dwelt in Char

ran.

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c Pfal. cxix. 68. Thou art good, and doeft good, teach me thy ftatutes. d 1 Tim. vi. 15. Which in his times he shall shew, who is the bleffed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, Rom. ix. 5. Whofe are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God bleffed for ever. Amen.

e Acts xvii. 24. God that made the world, and all things therein, feeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands: v. 25. Neither is worshipped with mens hands, as though he needed any thing, feeing he giveth to all life and breath, and all things. f Job xxii. 2. Can a man be

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fitable unto God, as he that is wife may be profitable unto himself? v. 3. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makeft thy ways perfect?

g Rom. xi. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

h Rev. iv. 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power: for thou haft created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created. 1 Tim. vi. 15. (See letter d'immediately foregoing.) Dan. iv. 25. That they fhaft drive thee from men, and thy dwelling fhall be with the beafts of the field, and they fhall make thee to eat grafs as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times fhall pafs over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomfoever he will. v. 35. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doth ac cording to his will in the army heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or fay unto him, What doest thou?

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i Heb. iv. 13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifeft in his fight but all things are naked

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Chap. II. knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature k, so as nothing is to him contingent or uncertain l. He is most holy in all his counfels, in all his works, and in all his commands m. To him is due from angels and men, and every other creature, whatfoever worship, fervice, or obedience he is pleafed to require of them n.

III. In the unity of the Godhead there be three perfons, of one fubftance, power and eternity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoft o. The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding: The Son is eternally begotten of the Father p, the Holy Ghost eternally

and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

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all that are in them, heard I, saying, bleffing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto him that fitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. v. 14. And the four beafts faid, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

k Rom. xi. 33. O the depth of the riches, both of the wifdom and knowledge of God! how unfearchable are his judgments, and his ways paft finding out! v. 34. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, or who hath been his counfellor? Pfal. cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, III. 1 John v. 7. For there are and of great power: his understand-three that bear record in heaven, the ing is infinite.

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m Pfal.cxlv. 17. The Lord is righ teous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. Rom. vii. 12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and juft, and good.

n Rev. v. 12. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was flain, to receive power, and riches, and wifdom, and ftrength, and honour, and glory, and bleffing. v. 13. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and fuch as are in the fea, and

Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoft: and thefe three are one : Mat. iii. 16. And Jefus, when he was baptized, went up ftraightway out of the water and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he faw the Spirit of God defcending like a dove, and lighting upon him. v. 17. And lo, a voice from heaven, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord Jefus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghoft, be with you all. Amen.

p John i. 14. And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Fa

ther)

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