Page:A Compendium of the Chief Doctrines of the True Christian Religion.djvu/201

Rh expected from that council, and from the others that succeeded it, which divided the divinity in like manner into three persons, and placed an incarnate God, in subordination to them, on their footstool? For they removed the head of the church from its body, in consequence of climbing up some other way, that is, they passed by Jesus Christ, and climbed up to God the father, as to a distinct person, with only the mention of Christ's merits in their mouths, as an inducement for the father to have mercy on them, believing that by this means they should receive instantaneous justification with all it's attendant graces, as the remission of sins, renovation, sanctification, regeneration, and salvation, and all this without any medium of reception on the part of man.

That the apostolic church had no idea of a trinity of persons, or of three persons existing from eternity, is evident from the of that church, which is called, where it is said, I believe in God the father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord, who was conceived by the holy ghost, born of the virgin Mary, &c. and I believe in the holy ghost. Here is no mention made of any son born from eternity, but of a son conceived by the holy ghost, and born of the virgin Mary; the composers of that creed having learnt from the apostles, that Jesus Christ was the true God, 1 John v. 21. and that in him dwelleth all the fulness of the godhead bodily. Coloss. ii. 9, and that the apostles preached faith in him, Acts xx. 21, and that He hath all power in heaven and in earth, Matt, xxviii. 18.

What dependence is to be placed on councils, whilst they do not immediately approach the God of the church? Is not the church the Lord's body, and he its head? And what is a body without a head, or a body on which are set three heads, each forming purposes,