I call on those who have, in some measure, believed the Trinity of Divine Persons, to consider, what majestic glory is in this name, I AM THAT I AM, when we remember that it belongs equally, in its full emphasis, to Three distinct persons. Low ideas of the Godhead itself, make the doctrine of the Trinity insipid and empty, to many who speculatively believe it. But, in proportion as our ideas of the Divine Essence are raised and expanded, so will our admiration and delight be increased, while we contemplate the Father, Son, and Spirit as each of them infinitely glorious in the possession of this wonderful abyss of perfection. Thus, the beams of divine glory come upon our minds with accumulated force; and all that is glorious and excellent in the Divine Essence, appears unspeakably more so, while we think that, as the inspired writer asserts, "There are Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these Three are One."
Hosea 4:6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge
In a short time there will (we have reason to fear) remain but two kinds of persons among us, either those who think not at all, or those whose imaginations are active indeed, but continually evil. Of these latter it may be said, "Their foolish heart was darkened." Of the principles, I do not say of the detail, of political science, a sound theology is the only sure and steady basis. Now we trace the operations by which a destruction so extended in its consequences has been effected. The master-spring of every principle which can permanently secure the stability of a people is the fear and knowledge of Almighty God. The first operation of a principle of atheism, and perhaps one of the most formidable in its consequences, is that which leads political men to conceive of Christianity as a mere auxiliary to the State. Religion was not instituted (in the Divine council I mean) for the purpose of society and government, but society and government for the purposes of religion. As a...
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