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The Trinity In Unity
I often think with much sadness upon the great ignorance of professing Christians. Whether people call themselves Churchmen or dissenters, there is a deplorable want of information amongst them upon the great doctrine of revelation. I most firmly believe that if the first one hundred persons we were to meet in the streets were to be stopped, and examined upon the doctrines of the Christian religion, ninety of them would prove to be totally ignorant; and yet, is it not strange whilst there are such multitudes of churches and chapels and preachers in the land, and such throngs of people flocking into them? No; for the churches and chapels are, for the most part, like ill-conducted schools, where, first of all, the masters are not…
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Letter 1: To Silas—On The Trinity
My dear Silas, I take up my pen to invite your attention to a subject the most exalted and sublime in its nature, and the most important in its relation to the whole scheme of Redemption. The doctrine of a Trinity of Persons in the Godhead is so closely interwoven with every part of the sacred volume, and feature of Christian experience, that every new creature in Christ Jesus might be expected to admit, although he cannot comprehend it. Indeed if we determine to admit no more than we can comprehend we shall soon find ourselves on the high road to Atheism, but allowing Jehovah’s testimony of himself to be true, and attending to its influence in every Christian’s heart, we shall flee firom the…
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225 Person
PERSON An individual substance of a rational intelligent nature. Some have been offended at the term persons as applied to the Trinity, as unwarrantable. The term person, when applied to Deity, is certainly used in a sense somewhat different from that in which we apply to one another; but when it is considered that the Greek words to which it answers, are, in the New Testament, applied to the Father and Son, Heb. 1:3. 2 Cor. 4:6. and that no single term, at least, can be found more suitable, it can hardly be condemned as unscriptural and improper. There have been warm debates between the Greek and Latin churches about the words hypostasis and persona; the Latin concluding that the word hypostasis signified substance or…
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Come, Thou Almighty King
Psalm 113:1-9: "Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye…
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Book 2: Chapter 14, How Two Natures Constitute The Person Of The Mediator
This chapter contains two principal heads: I. A brief exposition of the doctrine of Christ’s two natures in one person, sec. 1–4. II. A refutation of the heresies of Servetus, which destroy the distinction of natures in Christ, and the eternity of the divine nature of the Son. Sections. 1. Proof of two natures in Christ—a human and a divine. Illustrated by analogy, from the union of body and soul. Illustration applied. 2. Proof from passages of Scripture which distinguish between the two natures. Proof from the communication of properties. 3. Proof from passages showing the union of both natures. A rule to be observed in this discussion. 4. Utility and use of the doctrine concerning the two natures. The Nestorians. The Eutychians. Both justly…
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Book 2: Chapter 13, Christ Clothed With The True Substance Of Human Nature
The heads of this chapter are, I. The orthodoxy doctrine as to the true humanity of our Saviour, proved from many passages of Scripture, sec. 1. II. Refutation of the impious objections of the Marcionites, Manichees, and similar heretics, sec. 2–4. Sections. 1. Proof of the true humanity of Christ, against the Manichees and Marcionites. 2. Impious objections of heretics further discussed. Six objections answered. 3. Other eight objections answered. 4. Other three objections answered. 1. Of the divinity of Christ, which has elsewhere been established by clear and solid proofs, I presume it were superfluous again to treat. It remains, therefore, to see how, when clothed with our flesh, he fulfilled the office of Mediator. In ancient times, the reality of his human…