05.29. Clear evidence of the Godhead subsisting
Clear evidence of the Godhead subsisting in
three persons.
1. The Old Testament plainly holds forth a plurality of persons in the Godhead, Genesis 1:26. ’ God said, let us make man in our own image, after our likeness ;’ Genesis 3:12. ’ And the Lord God said, Behold the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil.’ This cannot be understood of angels : for man is said to be created after the image of God, but never after the image of angels ; and the temptation was, ’ Ye shall be as gods,’ not as angels. Nor must it be conceived, that God speaks so after the manner of kings ; for that way of speaking is used rather to note modesty than royalty. But when God speaks so as to discover most of his royalty, He speaks in the singular number, as in the giving of the law, ’ I am the Lord thy God.’ This trinity of persons is also not obscurely mentioned in Psalms 33:6. ’ By the word of’ the Lord, or JEHOVAH, were the heavens made ; and all the host of them, by the breath, or spirit, of his mouth.’ Here is mention made of Jehovah the Word and the Spirit, as jointly acting in the work of creation. Accordingly we find, that ’ all things were made by the Word,’ John 1:3. and that ’ the Spirit garnished the heavens,’ Job 26:13. Nay, a Trinity of persons is mentioned, Isa. lxiii. where, besides that the Lord, or Jehovah, is three times spoken of, Isaiah 43:7. we read of ` the angel of his presence,’ which denotes two persons and ` his Spirit,’ ver. 9, 10. So that it evidently appears, that the doctrine of the Trinity was revealed under the Old Testament.
2. The New Testament most plainly teaches this doctrine.
(1) I begin with the text, where it is expressly asserted, There are three that bear record, &c. Here arc three witnesses, and therefore three persons. Not three names of one person : for if a person have ever so many names, he is still but one witness. Not three Gods, but one.
(2.) In the baptism of Christ, Matthew 3:16-17. mention is made of the Father speaking with an audible voice, the Son in the human nature baptized by John, and the Holy Ghost appearing in the shape of a dove ; plainly importing three Divine persons.
(3.) This appears from our baptism, Matthew 28:19. ’ Go ye and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.’ Observe the words, in the name, not names ; which denotes, that these three are one God : and yet they are distinctly reckoned three in number, and so are three distinct persons.
(4.) It appears from the apostolical benediction, where all blessings are sought from the three persons distinctly mentioned, 2 Corinthians 13:14. ’ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.’