New Testament, to establish a Trinity in the God-head; such as the baptism of the Saviour, where the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, are certainly introduced; and that passage in John xv. 26, in which Christ promises to send the Comforter unto his disciples, from the Father. These passages are conclusive in proof of three persons; but they do not, so clearly as those which have been cited, exhibit these persons as real distinctions in one God. And we have before expressed our design of resting this doctrine, not so much on the multitude of texts, as the strength and clearness of a few.

Let us now review our proofs, and draw,. for the present, to a conclusion. The point. thus far attempted to be made out, is, that the one God exists, by a distinction of three persons, wherein one is as much represented to be the Supreme God as another; and that these persons are the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. In proof of it, we have adduced those Scriptures, such as our text, where God speaks of himself in the plural number; those, where God is distinguished from God, as when the Lord rained, upon Sodom and Gomorrah, fire and brimstone from the Lord, out of heaven ;" and those acts of Jehovah, such as the liberation of Israel from

Egypt, in which three persons are found engaged, each performing divine works, and called in many instances, one Jehovah. From the New Testament have also been produced, the formula of the baptismal service, and the Apostolick benediction; in each of which, these persons are worshipped with equal honour: the passage concerning the diversities of their gifts, in Corinthians, which gifts are nevertheless ascribed to one God and, finally, the remarkable passage of 1 John v. 7, which absolutely asserts our doctrine, and is not to be set aside, either by glosses, or by calling in question its authenticity. These proofs do appear to me to establish the doctrine of a Trinity, so far as we have yet considered it; but these are, by no means, all. Every proof which we have yet to offer in favour of the divine character of Jesus Christ, and all that shall appear for giving the same honour to the Holy Spirit, are also proofs of a Trinity; for, if it shall be made to appear, that either of these do truly and properly possess the supreme nature of God, it will be still more certain, that there is a real distinction in the God-head.

But we pause here for the present, and in begging your patient attention to the whole of this great subject, we have only to suggest

again the important relation it holds to all that is solemn, and all that is valuable to us. If God, my brethren, is never rightly worshipped, but when he is worshipped in spirit and in truth; if he has been pleased to reveal himself as existing in a Trinity of persons, and if he has connected that mode of his existence, with all that is precious and consolatory in the hope of our salvation, who shall be able to count the consequence of understanding him properly! Who shall sufficiently fear the danger of a mistake on this. subject!

The subject has also increasing consequence, from the character of the age in which we live. As the doctrine of the Trinity has always been more or less assailed, since the fourth century of the church's history; so it seems likely, from the character of our times, still to be called in question. Without a special provision for the trial, I tremble to anticipate what yet may be the state of some of our children, or children's children, from an opposition to this doctrine.

When the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord will undoubtedly lift up a standard against him; but this is not to be expected, unless his people are prepared for it; and one way of being prepared is, more

and more to make ourselves acquainted with the truth; and more and more to cleave to the simple and unquestioned teachings of the holy scriptures. Such an importance do I view this subject as having, with the rising generation especially, that were I now a youth, I should think no degree of attention too great to devote to this study. I would commit all the scriptures relating to the doctrine in question; I would abide by them in all their simplicity, and I would pour forth my prayers to Father, Son, and sacred Spirit, as all holy men have done before us, for the grace, illumination and strengthening, which should establish me in it firmly.

Finally: How glorious a Being must that be who has thus revealed his mode of existence ! The perfection, the mystery, the adaptedness to our hopes of such an existence, ought all to fill us with admiration. We ought to worship, while we pause here, and cry out, Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, my Lord and my God!

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