Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/187

Rh That there is a divine trinity, consisting of father, son, and holy ghost, is manifestly declared in the word, and particularly in these passages, The angel said unto Mary, the shall come upon thee, and the  shall overshadow thee, wherefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called, Luke i. 35. Here mention is made of three, viz. the highest, (who is God the father) the holy ghost, and the son of God; ''When Jesus was baptized, lo! the heavens were opened, and John saw the descending like a dove, and lighting upon him, and lo! a voice from heaven saying, this is, in whom I am well pleased'', Matt. iii. 16, 17. Mark i. 10, 11. John i. 32. It is still more evidently declared in these words of the Lord to his disciples, Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of, and of , and of , Matt, xxviii. 19. And in these words of John, There are three that bear witness in heaven,, 1st Epist. Chap. v. 7. To this may be added the farther evidence arising from the circumstance of our Lord's praying to his father, and speaking of him, and with him, and declaring that he would send the holy ghost, which also he did. The apostles also, in their epistles, make frequent mention of the father, the son, and the holy ghost. Hence then it is evident that there is a divine trinity, consisting of father, son, and holy ghost.

But in what sense this trinity is to be understood, whether as consisting of three Gods, who in essence, and consequently in name, are one God; or