Omnipotence. — Luke i., 35 ; Rom. viii., 11.
35. What agency in the external world do the Scriptures ascribe to him ?
Creation. — Gen. i., 2 ; Job xxvi., 13 ; Ps. civ., 30. The power of working miracles. — Matt, xii., 28 ; 1 Cor. xii., 9-11.
36. Hoio is his supreme divinity established by what the Scriptures teach of his agency in redemption ?
He is declared to be the immediate agent in regeneration, John iii., 6 ; Titus iii., 5 ; and in the resurrection of our bodies,
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Horn. viii., 11. His agency in the generation of Christ's human nature, in his resurrection, and in the inspiration of the Scriptures, were exertions of his divine power in preparing the redemption which he now applies.
37. How can such expressions as, u he shall not speak of him- self/' be reconciled with his divinity ?
This and other similar expressions are to be understood as referring to the official work of the Spirit ; just as the Son is said in his official character to be sent by and to be subordinate to the Father. The object of the Holy Ghost, in his official work in the hearts of men, is not to reveal the relations of his own per- son to the other persons of the Godhead, but simply to reveal the mediatorial character and work of Christ.
IV. The Scriptures directly teach a trinity of persons in one Godhead.
38. How is this trinity of persons directly taught in the for- mula of baptism ?
Baptism in the name of God implies the recognition of God's divine authority, his covenant engagement to give us eternal life, and our engagement to render him divine worship and obedience. Christians are baptized thus into covenant relation with three persons distinctly named in order. The language necessarily im- plies that each name represents a person. The nature of the sacrament proves that each person must be divine. — See Matt, xxviii., 19.
39. How is this doctrine directly taught in the formula of the apostolical benediction 1
See 2 Cor. xiii., 14. We have here distinctly named three per- sons, and each communicating a separate blessing, according to his own order and manner of operation. The benevolence of the Father in designing, the grace of the Son in the acquisition, the communion of the Holy Ghost in the application of salvation. These are three distinct personal names, three distinct modes of personal agency, and each equally divine.
142 THE HOLY TRINITY.
40. What evidence is afforded by the narrative of Christ's baptism ?
See Matt, iii., 13-17. Here also we have presented to us three persons distinctly named and described as severally acting, each after his own order. The Father speaking from heaven, the Spirit descending like a dove and lighting upon Christ, Christ acknowl- edged as the beloved Son of God ascending from the water.
41. State the argument from John xv., 26, and the context.
In this passage again we have three persons severally named at the same time, and their relative action affirmed. The Son is the person speaking of the Father and the Spirit, and claiming for himself the right of sending the Spirit. The Father is the person from whom the Spirit proceeds. Of the Spirit the Son says that "he will come/' "he will be sent," "he proceedeth," "he will testify."
42. What is the state of the evidence with regard to the gen- uineness of 1 John v., 7 ?
I have not room in which to present a synopsis of the argu- ment for and against the genuineness of the disputed clause which could be of any value. — See Home's Intro., Yol. IV., Part II., chapter iv., section 5.
It will suffice to say —
1st. The disputed clause is as follows, including part of the eighth verse : "in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost ; and these three are one. And there are three that bear ivitness in earth."
2d. Learned and pious men are divided in their opinions as to the preponderance of the evidence ; the weight of opinion inclining against the genuineness of the clause.
3d. The doctrine taught is so scriptural, and the grammatical and logical connection of the clause with the rest of the passage is so intimate, that for the purpose of edification, in the present state of our knowledge, the clause ought to be retained, although for the purpose of establishing doctrine, it ought not to be relied upon.
4th. The rejection of this passage does in no degree lessen
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the irresistible weight of evidence of the truth of the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity which the Scriptures afford.
43. What passages in the Old Testament imply the existence of more than one person in the Godhead ?
Mark the use of the plural in the following passages. — Gen. i., 26 ; iii.j 22 ; xi., 7 ; Isa. vi., 8. Compare the three-fold repe- tition of the name Jehovah (Num. vi., 24-26) with the apostoli- cal benediction. — 2 Cor. xiii., 14. Mark also in Isa. vi., 3, the threefold repetition of the ascription of holiness.