Confutation of the Quakers, Section 3
SECT. III. The Quakers deny the Doctrine of the Trinity.
THis charge will not be denied by the Quakers, for in this they ſpeak out, and do not ſeek to conceale their opinions, they acknowledge not one God ſubſiſting in three perſons. (See Sauls errand to Damaſcus, p. 12. and the ſword of the Lord drawn, &c. p. 4. where this doctrine is called a lie by them.)
Let me therefore ſhew this to be an abominable errour contrary to the doctrine of the Scriptures, to deny three perſons ſubſiſting in one God, and prove this fundamental article of our faith againſt their cavils; This I cleare from Scripture by theſe gradations or ſteps.
1. The Scriptures ſpeak clearly that there is in the divine nature three in one, or a Trinity in Unity (whether theſe three may be called perſons, we ſhall diſcuſſe afterwards) 1 John 5.7. There be three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghoſt, and theſe three are one. Here is in this Scripture three numbred, and their ſeveral names ſet down, and yet it's ſaid, they are but one; (not only agree in one, as in the next verſe, but they are one.) See Mat. 3.16, 17. Mat. 28.19. 2 Cor. 13.14. John 14.16. Where are alſo three counted, the Father and I: (ſaith Chriſt) and the Spirit of truth, and theſe are diſtinguiſhed, the Spirit is called another. It might further be ſhewed; as, there be three numbred in Scripture, and their ſeveral names ſet down; ſo the Scripture ſpeak alſo of diſtinct properties and operations peculiar to each of theſe three, and incommunicable to other; The Father begets and not the Son; the Spirit proceeds and not the Father, &c. ſo the Sonne took fleſh, and not the Father, nor the Spirit.
II. It's moſt evident that this Trinity in Unity, or three in one is not a meer notional thing ſubſiſting in the minde and apprehenſion of man alone, but eternally ſubſiſting in the divine being it ſelf; it's a thing founded upon Scripture, as before was ſhewed, not a fiction of reaſon, it had been if there never had been any created minde to apprehend it. Nor can it be only three names given to one and the ſame perſonal being, for the Scripture gives more names then three to God, there are ten ſeveral names given to God in the Old Teſtament, as ſome obſerve, beſides thoſe in the New Teſtament, and further the Scripture counts them as diſtinct in ſubſiſtence and not only in name, John 8.17, 18. Chriſt and his Father are counted for two witneſſes, now one perſon cannot be two witneſſes, though he have two names. Nor doth this Trinity ſubſiſt in the divine nature only, as wiſdome, juſtice and goodneſſe are in God; for theſe attributes of God are no otherwiſe diſtinguiſhed then according to mans apprehenſion of them, becauſe our finite and compounded underſtandings cannot comprehend the glorious perfections of a ſingle and infinite eſſence, but by diſtinct properties or attributes, in themſelves they do not differ one from another (the ſame alſo may be ſaid of Gods decrees,) but now this diſtinction of three in one is founded in the very divine being it ſelf, as before was ſhewed. Nor yet further are we to underſtand this three in one to be only three manifeſtations of God grounded upon ſome offices or external diſpenſations to the creature in time, there hath been more manifeſtations of God to man then three ſince the creation, God was manifeſt various wayes to his people, to Moſes in the buſh, and in the mount; to Iſrael in the wilderneſſe, in the pillar of fire and cloud, to the Patriarchs, to the three children, to Daniel, to John, &c. Beſides, this diſtinction was in God from eternity, before there was any creature made to manifeſt it unto; Chriſt is the eternal Sonne of God, diſtinct from the Father eternally, and before he was made fleſh; the Spirit was diſtinguiſhed from Father and Sonne from eternity, and not only when he was manifeſted in deſcending on Chriſt in the likeneſſe of a dove, or by falling on the Apoſtles in fiery tongues. See Prov. 8.21. to 31. Mic. 5.2. Joh. 1.1, 2, 3. Joh. 17.5. Col. 1.15. Gen. 1.2. 2 Pet. 1.21. Mat. 1.20 theſe are all to be exploded as dangerous errours, and have been ever rejected by the Church.
III. Hence it will follow, that this muſt be a Trinity of perſons, or ſubſiſtances in the ſame divine being, three perſons ſubſiſting in one God, nor let any cavil at the word [perſon] for it is a Scripture word, Heb. 1.3. if they will ſtand to the received tranſlation, if any will plead the word is more properly rendred there [ſubſistence] then perſon, we will not ſtand upon that, ſo they acknowledge three ſubſiſtances in the ſame divine being, for this is all we argue for; but how vainly is it to except againſt the word [perſon] ſo commonly received amongſt the people of God, and not ſcrupled at by any, but ſuch as have erred dangerouſly in other things? what is a perſon, if we look upon the notation of the name, but per ſe una, a thing that hath a ſubſiſtence by it ſelf? or if we reſpect the definition of the thing, we underſtand no more by it, but an intelligent, compleat, incommunicable, independent ſubſiſtence; and according to our common cuſtome of ſpeech, the word perſon doth expreſſe more excellency then the word ſubſiſtence, ſingly taken, doth; the former we ever apply to a reaſonable being, the other we uſe to apply to inferiour creatures, a beaſt may be ſaid to ſubſiſt though it is no perſon.
IV. Yet is there no multiplication of the God-head, for ſtill we acknowledge one God, one ſimple undivided eſſence, Deut. 6.4. Iſa. 44.6, 8. Iſa. 45.21, 22. John 10.30 1 John 5.7.
If any ſhall object, how can theſe things be? it ſeems a contradiction for to ſay there is three perſons, and yet but one divine being, and therefore ſhall reject this doctrine becauſe they cannot comprehend it.
I anſwer, it were extreame arrogance for a poor worm to do thus, to reject what God hath clearly held forth in his Word, becauſe he cannot comprehend it; what Art or Science is there in the world, but there are many myſteries in it, that novices cannot comprehend? and can we expect to be more knowing in the things of God, that are ſo high and myſterious above the reaſon and underſtanding of man? Let ſober ſpirits count it their ſafeſt way to beleeve what is clearly revealed by God, though they cannot yet comprehend the nature of ſuch myſteries. Nevertheleſſe we do not count it a contradiction to ſay there is light, heat, and power in the Sun, and yet there are not three Suns but one; or that in the ſoul there is the vegetative, ſenſitive and rational faculties, and yet there are not three ſouls in man, but one: why ſhould it ſeem then a contradiction to believe three perſons to ſubſiſt in one only God?
Now let the Reader from hence ſee what impudence it is in theſe Quakers to call this doctrine a lie, and how dangerouſly they erre in denying the Trinity; what is this but to deny the true God, who hath manifeſted himſelf thus, to be one in three? (as before they denied the Man Chriſt, and were proved enemies to the Scriptures) this errour tends to ouerthrow all faith and Religion, and is pernicious to mens ſalvation; for, we muſt believe in God as he reveals himſelf in his Word and no otherwiſe, and worſhip and ſerve him accordingly, if we will be ſaved; It was hatched by the enemies of truth, it hath been defended on purpoſe to overthrow the perſonal Deity of Chriſt, whereby the infinite value of his merits is taken away, and to undermine the perſonality of the Spirit, which is ſo fully evidenced by the divine attributes appropriated to him in Scripture; and therefore have the pureſt Churches of Chriſt ever diſclaimed communion with ſuch as deny the doctrine of the Trinity, accounting them ſubverters of the fundamentals of Religion. And thus for this third particular.