A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 31 (Question 6)
SERMON XXXI.
QUESTION VI.
HOW many PERSONS are there in the God-head?
ANSWER.
THERE are THREE PERSONS in the God-head, the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY GHOST; and theſe Three are One God, the ſame in Subſtance, equal in Power and Glory.
THE Divine Alſufficiency diſplays it ſelf unto us in God's Eſſence, and Subſiſtences: The former hath been already ſpoken to; the latter now follows: Under that we conſidered his Unity, in this we are to obſerve how this … is Three. The Doctrine of a Trinity of Perſons in the Unity of the Divine Eſſence, is one of the great Myſteries of Religion, and above the Comprehenſion of humane Underſtanding; It therefore requires us to ſearch into it with Sobriety: It is an Article meerly of Faith, and we muſt reſt in the Diſcoveries which the Scripture gives us about it; not counting it our Wiſdom to be wiſe above what is written. Our buſineſs is to enquire what The Word ſaith, to believe that it is true; and Faith muſt ſilence the Upriſings of Carnal Reaſon, that asks, How can theſe things be?
THERE are Three Heads to which the Anſwer may be reduced,
1. The Diſtinction of the God-head into the Perſons in it.
2. The Names of theſe Perſons.
3. Their Unity & Parity in the God-head.
A brief reflection of theſe will help our Faith in a right Conception of this Doctrine.
Firſt, THE Diſtinction of the God-head, into the Perſons in it; This One …s Three. In the right ſtating of this, we may gather out of Scripture Theſe Concluſions,
I. THAT in the Divine Eſſence, there are certain Divine Subſiſtences. The word Subſiſtence is uſed, Heb. 1.3. tranſlated Perſon: It ſignifies a ſtanding under. Though there be but One God, yet that One God ſubſiſts in a diverſe Manner; or the Eſſence ſtands under a different reſpect to it ſelf: Though God be but One, yet He is more than One, he is Three; not Three Gods, but Three Manners of Being are in this One God. This Unity of Being and Plurality of Perſons, are plainly aſſerted in, 1 Joh. 5.7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt: and theſe three are one. That this is ſo, we are therefore to believe; How it is, though many have eſſayed to ſhadow it to us by earthly Similitudes, yet none have reached it: Humane Reaſon muſt be here ſilent and wonder: But,
II. THESE Subſiſtences are diſtinguiſhed from the Eſſence, as a relation in a being is from the being it ſelf: Joh. 1.1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. A Relation is leſs than an Eſſence, and yet it is more than a thing meerly Rational: It is True, though it be not eſſential: Things differ really when there are Two Eſſences, Rationally, when the Difference is only in our Conception: Modally or Relatively, when the Being it ſelf differs from the ſeveral reſpects that it bears: Thus a Man differs modally from himſelf conſidered as a Man, and as a Maſter, and as a Servant; which though it be but a dark reſemblance of this great Truth, yet it is ſuch as God accommodates us with: Thus then, tho' God the Father be God, yet He is not Father as he is God, but as he begets the Son: Hence theſe Relations are aſſigned to Him in the Concrete, and not in the Abſtract: He is called Father, not Fatherhood; Eph. 1.3. Bleſſed be the God & Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
III. THESE Subſiſtences are ſignificantly called Perſons: So the word Subſiſtence is tranſlated, Heb. 1.3. and that word, 2 Cor. 4.6. Face, is uſed in that Language for a Perſon; and it is very Analogous. A Perſon in our account, is an individual Subſiſtence of a Rational Being: That thing which is endowed with Reaſon, and is an Individual, is a Perſon: A Beaſt is an Individual, but without Reaſon: The Soul hath Reaſon, but it is not an Individual: Now every manner of Being makes a diſtinct Perſon in God, becauſe his Eſſence being indiviſible, muſt be in every Manner of Being.
IV. A Divine Perſon may be thus Deſcribed: It is the Divine Eſſence ſubſiſting under an Individual Relative Property.
Here three Things.
1. THAT the Eſſence & Subſiſtence go together to conſtitute a Divine Perſon. Subſiſtence adds to Subſtance its Individuation, or its diſtinct Manner of Being, and conſequently it giveth Perſonality to Rational Subſtances: And we look upon God under the Notion of a Reaſonable or Intellectual Being, which is the higheſt we can aſcribe to Him.
2. THE Subſiſtences are ſo many ſeveral Relations of the God-head to it ſelf: Our Conception of them comes under the rational Head of Relation; and therefore the Names which are given to theſe Perſons in Scripture, are Names of Relation, and do directly point us to ſuch a Conception of them; and tho' a Relation in the Creature do not conſtitute a Perſon, yet ſuch Relations do hold forth ſuch Perſons in the Deity.
3. NOT a Relation alone, but a Relative Property denominates a Divine Perſon. It muſt be a particular individuating Relation; It muſt be proper to this Perſon, and diſtinguiſh Him from the other Perſons; and therefore it muſt not be that which is common to more than One: Hence tho' there be Four Relative Affections, yet not Four Perſons, becauſe One of them is common to Two of them, viz. to Breath: And tho' there be more Properties, yet they are not Relative, and ſo don't Denominate a Perſon: Thus, not to be Begotten is a Property of the Father, but it is no Relation, and ſo no Perſon. Now a Divine Perſon differs from one Created in three reſpects, 1. EVERY Created Perſon hath a diſtinct Eſſence by it ſelf; But all the Divine Perſons have one and the ſame Eſſence; Joh. 10.30. I and my Father are one. 1 Joh. 5.7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt: and theſe three are one. 2. ONE Created Perſon, hath not his … being in another, whereas theſe have, Joh. 14.10 Believeſt thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I ſpeak unto you, I ſpeak not of my ſelf: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 3. ONE Created Perſon proceeds from another in Time: But tho' here be an ext… Order, yet there is no Priority of Time or Nature▪ They were all of them together in the ſame Eternity.
V. THE Divine Perſons are Three, neither more nor leſs, and therefore we call them the Trinity: This alſo is of Revelation; the Works of Creation and Providence declare a God, but not a Trinity; But the Scripture confirms us in this.
For,
1. THERE is a Plurality in the Deity there aſſerted. Hence words of the Plural uſed to expreſs God by; called, Elo…im, Gen. 1.1. Jehovah Elo…im, Gen. 2.4. Makers, Job 35.10. Creators, Eccl. 12.1. Adon…i or Pillars, Gen. 1.26.
2. THE Word of God alſo confines this Plurality to the Number of Three: Some Footſtep of this there are in the Old Teſtament; Pſal. 33.…. By the word of the Lord were the heavens … and all the hoſt of them by the breath of his … Pſal. 67.6, 7. Then ſhall the earth yield her increaſe; and God, even our own God ſhall bleſs us. God ſhall bleſs us, and all the ends of the earth ſhall fear him. Iſa. 6.3. And one cried unto another and ſaid, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hoſts, the whole earth is full of his glory. But more clearly and poſitively is aſſerted in the New Teſtament, Matth. ….16, 17. And Jeſus when he was baptiſed, went up ſtraightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he ſaw the Spirit of God deſcending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And lo, a voice from heaven, ſaying thie is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleaſed. Matth. 28.19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoſt. 2 Cor. 13.14. The grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghoſt, be with you all. Amen. 1 Joh. 5.7. For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt —.
Secondly, THE Names of theſe Perſons are expreſſed; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt. Under which Names, every of which the Scripture makes mention of, is recommended to us that which is to be known of their diſtinct Perſonality; and from theſe we are to Deſcribe them, and conclude their Difference one from the other. Here then,
I. FOR their Deſcription.
1. GOD the Father is a Divine Perſon, Begetting the Son. Active Generation ſhews the Father's Manner of Subſiſting: What this Generation is, the Word of God forbids our over curious Enquiring; Iſa. 53.8. — And who ſhall declare his generation? — But this is the Father's Relative Property: It is not an Eſſential Act, for then it were common to them all; But it is Perſonal; To Beget, and not to be Begotten, belongs to the Father as He is Father, Pſal. 3.7. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath ſaid unto me, Thou art my ſon, this day have I begotten thee. Hence, tho' He is not the Fountain of the Deity, yet He is the Original of the Perſons, and the Fountain of all Bleſſedneſs: Eph. 1.3. Bleſſed be the God and Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who hath bleſſed us with all ſpiritual bleſſings in heavenly places in Christ.
2. GOD the Son is a Divine Perſon Begotten of the Father. See, Joh. 1.14. And the Word was made fleſh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) —. Heb. 1.5. For unto which of the Angels ſaid …e at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he ſhall be to me a Son. Prov. 8.24, 25. When there were no depths, I was brought forth: when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were ſettled; before the hills was I brought forth. Paſſive Generation is the Son's Manner of Subſiſting; and hence to be Begotten, and not to Beget is his Relative Property: For this reaſon he is called The Bright Image of his Father's Perſon, Heb. 1.3. The word ſignifies a derived Light: For tho' as He is God, He is of Himſelf; yet an He is Son, He is of the Father.
3. THE Holy Ghoſt is a Divine Perſon Proceeding from the Father and Son. Joh. 14.26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghoſt, whom the Father will ſend in my name, he ſhall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatſoever I have ſaid unto you. Chap. 15.26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will ſend unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth which preceedeth from the Father, he ſhall testifie of me. It is hard for us to conceive of the Difference between the Nature of the Son's Generation, and the Spirit's Proceſſion; But this the Scripture certifies us of, that as the Son is from the Father alone, ſo the Spirit is from Them Both; and for this reaſon He is not only called the Spirit of the Father, but of the Son too, Rom. 8.9. But ye are not in the fleſh, but in the Spirit, if ſo be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his. Gal. 4.6. And becauſe ye are ſons, God hath ſent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Proceſſion therefore is His Manner of Subſiſting; and His Relative Property is to Proceed from Both.
Hence.
II. THAT wherein they Differ one from the other, is eſpecially in theſe Three Things;
1. THEY Differ in the Order of their Original in the Divine Nature. And that is in one Perſons being from another; For according to their Proceſſions and Relations, ſuch is their Order; The Father is the Firſt, &c. And we may not invert this Order: The Father is not of Another, and Another is from Him; The Son is of Another, and from him together with the Father, is Another; The Holy Ghoſt is from Others, viz. The Father and Son, and from Him is not Another; which Order is not an Order of Duration, or Dignity, or Cauſality, nor Nature; But only of Original.
2. THEY differ in their Perſonal Properties. i. e. Thoſe Incommunicable Properties which belong to one Perſon, and not to any of the other: From whence it follows that one Perſon cannot be another; The Father cannot be the Son, &c. Tho' he that hath ſeen the Son, hath ſeen the Father, Joh. 14.9.
3. THEY differ in their Manner of Working: Becauſe that flows from their Manner of Subſiſting: The Father worketh of Himſelf, the Son from the Father, the Holy Ghoſt from both Father and Son, Joh. 5.19. Then anſwered Jeſus, and ſaid unto them, Verily verily I ſay unto you, the Son can do nothing of himſelf, but what he ſeeth the Father do: for what things ſoever he doeth, theſe alſo doeth the Son likewiſe. Ch. 16.13. Howbeit, when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he ſhall not ſpeak of himſelf; but whatſoever he ſhall hear, that ſhall he ſpeak: and he will ſhew you things to come.
Thirdly, THEIR Unity and Parity in the God-head.
I. THEIR Unity: They are One God, the ſame in Substance: This is evident from the Conſideration of Two Things.
1. THAT God is but One pure and individed Eſſence. That there is but One God hath been already proved; and to this Oneneſs of His belongs the Simplicity of his Eſſence, that it admits of no Diviſion; There can be no Partition made in the God-head, becauſe it hath no Parts neither potential nor actual.
2. THAT theſe Three Divine Perſons are all of them God. This alſo hath full and clear Evidence from Scripture-Teſtimony: That Perſon, to whom the Titles, Names, and Incommunicable Attributes and Works of God are aſcribed in Scripture, He is God. All theſe we ſhall find aſſerted of Each of theſe Perſons in particular.
1. CONCERNING the Father. In the Old Teſtament, Gen. 1.2. So Pſal 33.6. i. e. in reſpect of the Spirit: And in the New Teſtament, Rom. 15.6. 1. Tim. 1.2, 17. Chap. 6.15, 16. Matth. 19.17. 2. Cor. 6.18. But becauſe none but Atheiſts queſtion the Father's Deity, no more need be ſaid of that.
2. CONCERNING God the Son. The Scripture holds forth his Deity plentifully: In the Old Teſtament He is called, JEHOVAH, Gen. 18.14, 17, 20. Eternal, Pſal. 110.4. Prov. 8.12. to 31. Omnipotent, Iſa. 9.6. Judge, Gen. 18.25. The Object of Divine Worſhip, Pſal. 45.11. God from Eternity, Joh. 1.1. Bleſſed Eternally, Rom. 9.5. Creator, Heb. 1.2, 10. Eternal Governour, Ver. 8. Wrought Miracles in his own Name, Luk 5.13. Knows the Heart, Chap. 6.8. Forgiveth Sin, Matth. 9.2,—6. Col. 1.14. And is Equal with God, Phil. 2.6.
3. CONCERNING God the Holy Ghoſt. In the Old Teſtament, He Co-operates with the Father, Gen. 1.2. Creation is aſcribed to Him, Pſal. 33.6. He gives Underſtanding, Job 82 8. In the New Teſtament, Baptiſm is in his Name, Matth. 28.19. And ſo is Bleſſing, 2 Cor. …3.14. Believers Bodies are His Temple, 1 Cor. 6.19. And He Regenerates, Joh. 3.5.
HENCE therefore Every one of them poſſeſſeth the whole Divine Eſſence entirely.
II. THEIR Parity: They are Equal in Power and Glory. And this follows from the former: For if they be all the ſame God, they muſt be ſo; For God is not above or below Himſelf. Hence that, Phil. 2.6. Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. And Joh. 5.23. That all men ſhould honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. — If they are Co-eſſential, they muſt be Co-equal. And there are ſeveral Things in which this Equality appears:
1. THEY are Equal in Exiſtence; being Coexiſtent; Joh. 14.11. Believe me, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me—. They are one in another, and one is as much God as the other: Each is God of Himſelf, and not God of God: Ones Subſiſtence is not derived from another's Eſſence; For if ſo, then the Son ſhould Beget Himſelf, and the Spirit Breath Himſelf.
2. THEY are Equal in Duration. They are Co-eternal. Each is God, and God is not Older than Himſelf: Every one is from Everlaſting to Everlaſting, and there are no Ages in … nity, Joh. 1.1, 2. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The ſame was in the beginning with God. Iſa. 9.6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a ſon is given, and the government ſhall be upon his ſhoulder: and his name ſhall be called, Wonderful, Counſeller, the mighty God, the everlaſting Father, the Prince of peace.
3. THEY are Equal in Operation: All the Works of Efficiency are done by them joyntly: They are all the Works of God; flowing from the Eſſence, which they are alike concerned in: All Three made the World, Pſal. 33.6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made: and all the hoſt of them by the Breath of his mouth. Chriſt doth the ſame Works that the Father doth; Joh. 5.19. — For what things ſoever He doeth, theſ… alſo doeth the Son likewiſe.
4. THEY are Equal in Honour: Divine Honour is due to them all, and that alike; Joh. 5.23. — All men ſhould honour the Son, even … they honour the Father. — They are all to … Sought or Prayed to, to be Truſted in, to have all Divine Perfections aſcribed to them: … are beholden to them all Equally for our Salvation; and therefore, we owe each of them an Equal Acknowledgment of it.
USE 1. THE Doctrine of the Trinity ſhews us the Sufficiency of God for our Happineſs, all only as we are Creatures, but alſo as we are Sinners. It then may well be brought under the Head of Al-ſufficiency. As he is God all thoſe Oceans of Goodneſs are in Him, that can fi… the moſt enlarged Deſires of our Souls, and make them to run over; And as He is Three Perſons, He is ſuitable to bring poor Apoſt… Men to the Enjoyment of Communion with Himſelf in theſe inexhauſtible Treaſures of Goodneſs. The Father may be pleaſed with us, the S… can pleaſe Him, the Spirit can apply the S… Satisfaction to us: Man in Integrity might be happy in the Enjoyment of One God; … Fallen Men cannot be recovered without a Trinity.
Hence,
USE 2. BE we all Exhorted to labour after a diſtinct Knowledge of the Trinity. To move you to it Conſider,
1. THIS Knowledge is neceſſary to Salvation. One God in Three Perſons is the Object of o… Faith; and to know Him ſo, is our Life, Joh. 17.… And this is life eternal, that they might know th… the only true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom th… haſt ſent. The Knowledge of God the Father is neceſſary, Joh. 1.18. No men hath ſeen God … any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the boſom of the Father, he hath declared him. Of the Son, 1 Joh. 5.20. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true: and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jeſus Chriſt. This is the true God, and eternal life. Of the Holy Ghoſt, Rom. 8.9. But ye are not in the fleſh, but in the Spirit, if ſo be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Chriſt, he is none of his. And the Reaſon is, becauſe God heareth none but ſuch as come in the Name of Chriſt; and by the He… of the Spirit.
2. THIS Knowledge will eſtabliſh you againſt damnable Hereſies, which Carnal Reaſon hath … truded on Man: Such as thoſe of the Antetrinitarians, the Trithe…s, the Arians & S…cinians.
3. WE cannot perform True Worſhip to God without this. Divine Worſhip is due to Every one of theſe Perſons: But how ſhall They be worſhipped by us, if we do not Know them?
4. THIS Knowledge will confirm us in the Belief of the Scriptures. We know the Word of God to be True, upon Divine Teſtimony; The Word of God, is the Baſis of our Faith & Hope; It is needful then that we be confirmed in the Verity of it: And by this Knowledge we find that there are Three Witneſſes, 1 Joh. 5.7. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghoſt: and theſe three are one. And ſee Jo…. ….12,—18.
5. THIS Knowledge is neceſſary to our Communion with God. Thoſe that have true Fellowſhip with him, have it with One God in Three Perſons, 1 Joh 1.3. That which we have ſeen and heard, declare we unto you, that ye alſo may have fellowſhip with us: and truly our fellowſhip is with the Father, and with his Son Jeſus Chriſt. 2 Cor. 13.14. The grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghoſt, be with you all: Amen. It is by the Son that we come to the Father; and the Holy Ghoſt brings us to Chriſt. And if we deſire to have a right Conception of theſe things, we muſt veil Carnal Reaſon, and hearken to the Word of God, and content our ſelves with ſtudying what that reveals of this Myſtery.
USE 3. BE we alſo adviſed, if we deſire to be truly happy, to labour to make ſure of an Intereſt in this One God in Three Perſons. Let us ceaſe from vain Creatures, which can neither deliver us from Miſery, nor make us Happy: But here is all Communicable Glory to be derived to the Soul: One God in Three Perſons, is a ſufficient Portion for all Souls: If we can come to enjoy God Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, we are Bleſſed forever. Let us then aſcribe all Glory hither, and expect all Happineſs from hence; that Unity in a Trinity, from whom we derived our Being, unto whom we owe our Lives and all that we have and are, and at whoſe Hands we only can receive our Eternal Felicity.
[JUNE 17. 1690.]