H. Let me speak of the Trinity in Unity. 1. The first person in the Trinity is God the Father : he is called the first person, in respect of order, not dignity : for God the Father hath no essential perfection Avhich the other persons have not; he is not more wise, more holy, more powerful, than the other persons are ; a priority, not a superi- ority.
2. The second person in the Trinity is Jesus Christ, who is begotten of the Father before all time, Prov. viii. 23, 21, 25., " I nas set up from everhisting, from the be- ginning, or ever the earth was. When there
were no deptlis, I was brought forth ; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled ; before the hill.s, was I brought forth." Which scripture declares the eternal gene- ration of the Son of God. This second per- son in tJie Trinity, who is Jehovah, is be- come our Jesus. The scripture calls liim the branch of David, Jer. xxiii. 5., and I may call him the flower of the virgin liav- ing assumed our nature. " By him all that believe are justified," Acts xiii. 39.
3. The third person in the Trinity, is the Holy Ghost who proceeds from the Father and the Son ; his work is to illunii- nate the mind, and enkindle sacred mo- tions. The essence of the Spirit is in hea- ven, and every where ; but the influence of it is in the hearts of believers : Tiiis is that blessed Spirit who gives us the holy unc- tion, 1 John ii. 20. Though Christ merits grace for us, it is the Holy Ghost works it in us : Though Christ makes the purchase, it is the Holy Ghost makes the assurance, and seals us up to the day of redemption. Thus I have spoken of all the three persons. The Trinity of persons may be proved out of Mat. iii. 16., " Jesus, when he was bap- tized, went up straightway out of the water, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dovp, and lighting upon him ; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying. This is my heloAcd Son." Here are three names given to the three persons. He who spake with a voice from heaven, was God the Father ; he who was baptized in Jordan, was God the Son; he who descended in the likeness of a dove, was God the Holy Ghost. Thus I have shewn you the unity of essence, and the Trinity of persons.
Use \st. It confutes the Jews and the Turks, who believe only the first person in the (iodliead. This cuts asunder the si- news of our comfort. Take away tlic dis- tinction of the persons in tlie Trinity, and you overtiirow man's redemption ; for (iod the Father being offended witli man for sin, how shall lie be pacified without a me- diator ? This mediator is Clirist, lie makes our peace. And Christ having died, and shed his blood, how shall this blood be ap« plied, but by the Holy (ihost? Therefore, if there be not three persons in the God'*
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head, man's salvation cannot be wrought out ; if there be no second person in the Trinity, then there is no redeemer ; if no third person, then there is no comforter. And so the plank is taken away by which we should get to heaven.