Yes, happily for us, those numerous texts, which assert the unity of the Godhead, combined with others, shewing the divinity, and distinct offices, actions, and attributes, of each divine Person of the triune God, afford together, a much stronger body of evidence, than could be found inany one text, how convincing soever, or how indisputable soever its authenticity. Of these many might be adduced: a few however will, I trust, suffice, to illustrate a doctrine, which it is of such vital importance to "know," is indeed, "of God:"-and this, not by "the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

Take for instance, the following passages:"The Lord thy God is one Lord:" "Thou art Lord alone:" "There is none other God but one:" "The Father hath life in himself:" "The Lord hath made all things:" "He preserveth the souls of his saints:" "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." "The Word was God:" "And let all the angels of God worship him:""Christ died for the ungodly:" "We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins." "Why hath Satan filled thine heart, to lie to the Holy Ghost?" "Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God:" "Sanctified by the Holy Ghost:" "The Comforter which is the Holy

Ghost:" "He will guide you into all truth." "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all!"

Now surely, brethren, without farther multiplying quotations, it should be enough, to confirm the faith of "all who profess and call themselves Christians," to know that the doctrine in question, is thus revealed in the inspired Word. We profess to "walk by faith, and not by sight." O then, instead of indulging sceptical doubts, or impiously presuming to search into the hidden things of God,-let the language of our lips, and of our hearts, henceforward be, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.”

That the disputed passage in St. John's epistle, already alluded to, contains a most important truth, is beyond all possibility of doubt. The "witness" of "the Father," may be seen in the third and seventeenth chapters of St. Matthew's Gospel, where it is recorded that the Most High proclaimed by a voice from heaven, "this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased :"-that of "the Word" in St. Paul's miraculous conversion, when the voice of his Saviour declared, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest:"-Of "the Holy Ghost's" individuality, John the Baptist bare record, when he said, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven, like a dove, and it abode upon him: and that "these

three are," in very truth, "one" and the same God, we have no less authority than that of Christ himself. For, He who declared "there is none good but ONE, that is God ;"-commanded his disciples to "go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" thus clearly proving, that "the Unity in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped."

Moreover, it surely cannot be denied, that God's honour is promoted, by our believing those mysteries of his divine nature, which he hath seen fit to reveal, however far they may transcend our weak and limited comprehension. Since, the more exalted our ideas of his attributes and perfections, the more humbling will be our views of our own frailty and corruption: whilst, in proportion to our humility and self-abasement, will be our grateful sense of his all-abounding mercy and love; and the more devoutly shall we adore and praise his Holy Name, as our Creator, our Redeemer, and Sanctifier.

To be imbued with high and worthy thoughts of the Deity, should indeed be the first object of our hearts' desire. For, while, to these may be traced, the very source and origin of all true religion in the soul,-daily experience proves, that none of the devices of Satan have more fatally blinded and misled mankind, have occasioned more fanatic enthusiasm, more blasphe

mous effusions, in the name of the Spirit, than those erroneous and degrading notions of the Most High, which it is the Arch-Destroyer's ceaseless object to disseminate. Happy then, is it for us, that God, in his infinite wisdom, hath instituted and appointed holy mysteries, to awe our too-aspiring reason, and bring it into subjection; and to lead us, in deep humility, to prostrate our hearts and souls before his footstool.

Were it indeed possible for us to behold him, how inconsistent would be St. Paul's ascription of everlasting honour and glory to the “invisible," the only wise God!" Could we comprehend him, how would the same inspired Apostle declare his "judgments to be unsearchable, and his ways past finding out?" Could we hold him in the grasp of our minds, would Solomon have declared, that "the Heaven of heavens cannot contain him,"-or David, that "his understanding is infinite?" And if he were neither invisible, nor incomprehensible, nor infinite, then would he cease to be GOD. Wherefore, to deny the mysteries of the Godhead, is virtually, nothing short of absolute atheism.

Indeed, to enquire too curiously respecting them, is offering such an affront to the Majesty of Heaven, as would excite the just resentment even of a frail and fallible fellow-mortal. Were a traveller, from a remote and unknown country,

to produce authentic testimonials of having seen and visited it, would not mutual confidence and historical faith, constrain us to credit his represen

tations, however they might, in many instances, appear strange and surprising? Nay, should we not expect, that his account of things would differ widely from those with which we are familiarly acquainted;―more especially, if, previously to such communication, no intercourse whatever had subsisted between the two countries? Were a spirit permitted to return from the dead, or an angel to descend from heaven, to disclose to us the secrets of another world, (the descent, appearance, and authority of such a messenger, being once plainly attested,) should we not expect to hear of more surprising wonders than any imagination could conceive? And if our expectations were not realized, would not the disappointment naturally excite suspicion of deceit or imposture? Now, it is neither a traveller from a remote country, nor a spirit from the dead, nor an angel from heaven, but GOD Himself, from the Heaven of heavens, that condescends to speak to us, by His Holy Word;-and shall we ungratefully, impiously, refuse to hear His Voice,-refuse to believe the Great Jehovah, because some parts of his revelation are mysterious?--God forbid !

True indeed it is, that pure and exalted ideas of God, a just and saving knowledge of