Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/349

 What do  we  mean  by  the  Blessed  Trinity? By the Blessed Trinity  we  mean  one  God  in  three  divine persons. We agree  with  the  Unitarian  in  saying  that God, the  infinite  first  cause  and  supreme  Lord  of  all things must  be  one,  for  if  there  were  two  first  causes, neither would  be  first,  or  if  there  were  two  infinite supreme beings  both  would  be  finite  and  subject  to a  higher  third. Again we  agree  with  the  Trinitarians that God  is  three,  because  faith  tells  us  so. But when the  Trinitarians  say  "  there  are  three  Gods," or when  the  Unitarians  say  "  there  is  only  one  person in  God,"  we  disagree  with  both,  and  stand  halfway between  the  two  and  say  "  there  is  one  God  in three  persons." For just  as  in  myself  there  is  a  human nature  which  is  common  to  me  and  to  all  men, and a  personality  which  distinguishes  me  from  all others, so  in  God  there  is  one  divine  nature  but three distinct  personalities,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy Ghost. Oh, but  you  say,  "  I  cannot  see  how  a  thing can  be  one  and  three  at  the  same  time,  and  so  I  do not  believe  your  doctrine." Brethren, remember Our Lord's  words:  "  Blessed  are  they  who  have  not seen  and  have  believed." Faith is  a  belief  in  things unseen founded  on  the  word  of  God,  and  without faith, especially  in  the  Blessed  Trinity,  it  is  impossible to be  saved. Now as  well  might  we  attempt  to  drain the sea  drop  by  drop  into  the  palm  of  the  hand,  as introduce  an  idea  of  the  Trinity  into  our  shallow brain. But is,  therefore,  that  great  mystery  a  lie? Is our  feeble  mind  on  a  par  with  the  infinite  intelligence of  God,  the  measure  of  transcendent  truths