1

Nature or Effence: It being impoffible that there fhould be more than one Infinite. For if one hath all Perfections, another cannot have them too.

But as natural Reafon tells us, that there is neceffarily but one God, so the Scriptures do affure us, 'that in this one God there are three distinct Perfons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, who are all but one Effence in three Manners of fubfifting.

This Mystery of our Religion is shadowed out in part by the Example of the Sun the Beams and the Light. First, the Sun begetteth his own Beams, and from thence proceedeth Light. And tho' they differ from one another in their Order and Relation, yet they are not three Suns, but all one Sun.

Again, this Sacred Trinity is represented by fome Divines to be as it were, Deus intellectus, & dilectus à feipfo, i. e. God as understood and beloved by himself. The Father is as it were Deus intelligens, God understanding; the Son, the exprefs Image of the Father, is as it were Deus intellectus, God understood: The Holy Spirit, flowing and breathed as it were from the Father by the Son, is as it were Deus dilectus, God beloved.

The firft in Order of these three Divine Perfons, who is of himself alone, and not of any other, is the Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, by an eternal and ineffable Communication of his Effence. The Father of all Believers by Regeneration and Adoption, and of all Men by Creation and Providence.

And

And tho' the whole three Persons, having all but one Effence, do equally concur together in all their outward Actions, as to decree, create, redeem, and fanctify, yet Works of Power, as Creation and Providence,are more particularly attributed, and as it were appropriated unto the Father. And fo we are here taught, that of his Almighty Power, he did create all things, in the Beginning,out of nothing, by his Fiat,or Word-fpeaking, to his own Glory: And that he do's ftill fuftain and govern all things.

The Questions and Answers.·

Q. What do you mean by this awful Word,

God?

What is

meant by
the Word

A. A Being that is the Caufe of all other God. Beings.

Q. How may it be known that there is fuch a Being?

is a God.

A. By his Works. The invifible things That there of God from the Creation of the World are clearly feen, being understood by the things that are made, (even his eternal Power and Godhead.) Rom. i. 20.

Q. But tell me more fully what a Being what God

God is?

A. He is a Spirit,infinite in his Being, and in all Perfections, particularly in his Power, Wisdom, and Goodnefs, and consequently molt true, juft, and merciful to his Crea

is.

A Spirit.

Infinite in his Durasion.

And in his

Q. But to proceed more particularly, firft, Is God a Spirit?

A. Yes. God is a Spirit, and the Father of Spirits. John iv. 24. Heb. xii. 9.

Q. Is he an infinite Spirit?

A. Yes. 1 Ki. viii. 27. The Heaven, and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him.

Q. Wherein, or in what refpect is he infinite? Is he infinite in his Duration?

A. Yes. Pf. xc. 2. From Everlasting to Everlasting, thou art God.

Q. Is he infinite in his Effence?

A. Yes. Exod. iii. 14. God faid, I am Nature and that I am. I am hath fent me unto you. He Ferfections. is Being itself: Univerfal Being.

Particularly in Power,

Wisdom,

And Good.
Befs.

Q. More particularly, Is he infinite in Power? A. Yes. Mat. xix. 26. With God all things are poffible.

Q. Is he infinite in Wisdom?

A. Yes. Pf.cxlvii. 5. His Understanding is infinite.

Q: Is he infinite in Goodness?

A. Yes. For God is Love. 1 John iv. 8. And there is none good fave one, that is God. Mat. xix. 17.

Q. Are not thefe effential Attributes or Perfections of God, the fame with his Justice, Truth, Mercy, &c.?

A. Yes. They are the fame, named variously, from their various Effects and Respects to the Creatures.

Q.

لم

Q. Therefore to speak of thefe, as acting outwardly towards his Creatures, is be most Fuft and Righteous?

A. Yes. The Lord is righteous in all his Moft RighWays. Pf.cxlv. 17.

Q. Is he true and faithful

A. The Truth of the Lord endureth for ever. Pf. cxvii. 2. And Heb. vi. 18. It is impoffible for God to lye.

Q. Is he merciful and gracious?

teous.

Most True.

Moft Mer

A. Yes. Exod. xxxvii. 7. The Lord, the ciful. Lord God, merciful and gracious.

Q. Are there more Gods than one?

A. No. For though there be that are only one in called Gods, yet to us there is but one

God. 1 Cor. viii. 5, 6.

Nature.

Q. Is there more than one Perfon or Subfi- Tet more in fence in the Godhead?

A. Yes. For God faid, Let us make Man. Gen. i. 26.

bis Sub fiftence.

Q. Are there three Divine Perfons, diftinct Even three in their Subfiftences?

A. Yes. For there be three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. 1 John v. 7.

Q. How are the three Perfons diftinguished from one another?

A. They are diftinguished,

diftinct PerSons.

How they

1. By their internal Properties or Re- are diftin

lations.

guifbed.

2. By

I. By their Relations in respect to

2. By their Order.

3. By their Operation.

Q. How are they diftinguished by their Properties or Relations? Is it the Property of the one another. Father to beget the Son; i. e. not carnally but Spiritually, as when the Mind begetteth aThought; or the Sun, its refulgent Brightness?

2. By their

Order..

A. Yes. Pf. ii. 7. Thou art my Son, this Day have I begotten thee.

Q. Is it the Property of the Son to be begotten of the Father; i. e. fo to proceed from him, as to have his Nature and Image?

A. Yes. Heb. i. 3. He is the Brightness of his Glory, and the exprefs Image of his Person.

Q. Is it the Property of the Holy Ghost to be breathed or fent forth, and proceed both from

the Father and the Son?

A. Yes. John xv. 26. When the Comforter is come, whom I will fend unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he fhall testify of me.

Q. How are the three Perfons diftinguished by their Order? Is the Father the first in Order, the Sen the fecond, and the Holy Ghost the third?

A. Yes. For the Father is from none,the Son is from the Father, and the Holy Ghost is from both; as was but now fhewn.

Q. How are they diftinguished in respect to 3. By the Manner of their Operations? Do's the Father act outwardward Ope- ly from himself alone, the Son from the Father, Fations. and the Holy Ghoft from both?

their out

A. Yes.