13 - Chapter 13

CHAPTER XIII. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are one God.

TRINITARIANS are often accused of holding sentiments, which involve the idea of “three self-existent and eternal Gods.” This assertion is not fairly made, because we do not, in the- distinction we make in the, Godhead, by the term “persons” wish to convey, nor do we convey, the idea of three distinct Gods, and it is certainly unfair and illiberal to force a meaning upon our language, in respect to this subject, while we positively assert that such is not the sense in which we use the term. In the sense in which we use the term persons, no idea of a plurality of Gods is involved. While we assert the trinity of persons in the Godhead, we also believe in the unify of God. In all the confessions of faith among Trinitarians on this point, there is but one idea, and that is “ there is but one God.” We have now before us the testimony of eleven or twelve Trinitarian creeds on this point, and their united declaration is, “There is but one God.” But in what does this oneness of God consist? We say it consists of three distinctions in the Godhead, known to us. by the appellations, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and in order to distinguish them from mere attributes as one person or agent, we use the term “ person,” and apply that term to each of them. We ask any candid man if this is an acknowledgment of three Gods. The word trinity, in itself, conveys the idea we wish to convey. It will be remembered that this word is composed of the two Latin numerals, tres and unus. Tres signifies three, and unus one, and it is saying three in one. “How can three be one, and one three?” “In no way we necessarily and cheerfully -reply.”. “ How then is the doctrine of Trinity in 1 Unity to be vindicated?” In a manner that is not at all embarrassed by these questions. “ We do not maintain that the Godhead is three in the same respects that it is one, but the reverse.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is God, as we view the subject, only in connection with the Father, and Holy Spirit, and so we believe in respect tp the -Father and the Holy Spirit. The three distinctions in the Godhead, termed by us persons, are one in essence, and eternity^ and but one God. But to the law and the testimony. “Now there are divers gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are differences of administrations but the same Lord, and there are diversities of operations but the same God worketh ALL in all.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. “I and my Father are one.” John 14:8. “He that hath seen me bath seen the Father.” John 14:9. “For there are three that bare record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are ONE.” 1 John 5:7. In the first text we have just quoted^ we find that gifts are attributed to the Spirit, Administrations to the Lord Jesus Christ, and Operations to God the Father, and yet it is said that the “ same God worketh all in all.” It will still be borne in mind that Unitarians agree that the Father and Holy Ghost are one, and Jesus says: “I and my FATHER are ONE.

We think we need not multiply proofs that the essence of God, or the Godhead, is known to us in three distinctions, denominated in the Holy Wordy Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and that “ these three are one.” ’And how ’ “

“To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, One God whom we adore, Be glory, as it was, ia now, And shall be evermore.”