of the Divine Essence, eternally, immensely, and immutably. And this exercise at once supports and confirms the communication of the Divine Essence and perfections, by one mode of distinct personality, to constitute another; and by these two, to constitute a third; so that the life, intelligence, and efficiency of the moral excellence of the Divine Essence, as necessarily possessing activity, energy, and operation, conspire, in one united effort, to support, prove, and demonstrate the doctrine of the Trinity. Upon these two corner-stones, like Jachin and Boaz in Solomon's temple, we venture to rest the doctrine of the Trinity, without fear of it being overthrown, by fair reasoning and argument.*

See Note U. on the preceding Proposition.

A

VIEW OF THE DOCTRINE

FOUNDED UPON

REVELATION.

SOME ARGUMENTS SHOWING THAT REASON MAY BE APPLIED TO THIS DOCTRINE, AS WELL AS TO OTHER DOCTRINES TAUGHT BY REVELATION.

HAVING traced the views of the Trinity by the light of reason and demonstration, and shewed that the doctrine is capable of rational investigation, and that reasoning may be applied to it with the greatest safety, and the fairest conclusions, we come now to pursue the plan proposed, and to prove the same doctrine by Revelation. And we think this joint attempt both fair and warrantable, notwithstanding revelation of itself affords sufficient evidence, and satisfactory proof, to those who admit the plenary inspiration of Scripture. To those who do not, no satisfactory reasoning can be founded on the sacred text. Hence both the necessity and propriety of the foregoing Propositions. And as every reader

Y A

knows that reason cannot be deprived of its place in such discussions, it is hoped the attempt will be considered as contributing to establish the most momentous of all subjects upon an unshaken foundation, and reduce all parties to an amicable agreement in their fundamental views of the subject.

After this controversy shall become more cool and dispassionate, truth will speak for itself, and harmony will prevail in the sentiments of those who receive revelation. If reason can be applied to this doctrine, why may it not as well to others intimately connected with revelation? Every reader knows, that, notwithstanding a future state is only clearly known by revelation, no one doubts the lawfulness of the attempt to prove a future state by the light of nature. The reason

ing of Butler's Analogy, has been long and deservedly received by every denomination. Thus the thing has been done, and that too with success, and very general approbation. It is equally certain, that many attempts have been very successfully made to compare the law of nature with the revealed moral law; and a harmony has been discovered, both striking and conclusive: And revelation has lost nothing by the attempt, but, on the contrary, has been very considerably strengthened by it. If these things be so, where is the impropriety of attempting to investigate the doctrine of the Trinity by the light of nature,

and supporting all fair conclusions drawn from that investigation, by the irresistible and invincible aid of revelation?

If it be lawful to prove the existence of the Divine Being by arguments from the effect to the cause, without the help of Scripture, (and this has often been done with the greatest success ;) may it not be as lawful to explore the personality of the Divine Essence, by the assistance and direction of the divine perfections, which is the only method of argument we have followed?And if the doctrine of the Trinity be proved in this way, is it not lawful?

The doctrine of the atonement has also been attempted in this way: and why may not the doctrine of the Trinity? We shall, therefore, presume to support the foregoing Propositions with all the light and strength of revelation.And this we shall do by the language of Scripture, and by general tradition: from which the doctrine will be supported and rested upon an immoveable foundation.

2

PROPOSITION XXI.

PROVING THE DOCTRINE FROM THE PERFECTION OF KNOWLEDGE IN WHICH MAN WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED--AND FROM THE knowledge of LETTERS REVEALED TO HIM.

[The Scriptures a true and infallible guide-Conjectures of many philosophers unsupported—The Scriptures lead us to conclude that man was created in full perfection; and if so, he must have had the knowledge of letters— A view of letters before the art of printing-The affinity of the primitive alphabets to one another-They are all from one source-The Hebrew alphabet the original of all others-A view of the difference between the symbolic and imitative alphabets—A brief view of the Chinese and Sanscrit characters-Conjectural reasons for the construction of an imitative alphabet-The invention of an alphabet impossible to men-An example from the mathematician Taquet-No nation ever laid claim to the invention-They all refer them to a divine original-Proof that they really are the gift of God to man-The human mind thinks by the medium of language—Adam held intercourse with his Creator by the medium of speech---A view of the first fifteen verses of the third chapter of Genesis---Language, and the knowledge of letters, were both the gift of God to Adam--The vast utility of the alphabet---Examples of this--The same language traced from Adam to Moses--Language, and the institutions of religion, keep connected together---Examples.]