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

But as natural Reason tells us, that there is necessarily but one God, so the Scriptures do assure us, 'that in this one God there are three distinct Persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, who are all but one Effence in three Manners of subsisting.

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 some Divines to be as it were, Deus intellectus, & dilectus à seipfo, i. e. God as understood and beloved by himself. The Father is as it were Deus intelligens, God understanding; the Son, the express 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 first in Order of these three Divine Perfons, who is of himself alone, and not of any other, is the Father of our Lord Jesus 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 sanctify, yet Works of Power, as Creation and Providence, are more particularly attributed, and as it were appropriated unto the Father. And so 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-speaking, to his own Glory: And that he do's still sustain and govern all things.

The Questions and Answers. Q. What do you mean by this awful Word, what is

meant by the Word

God?
A. A Being that is the Cause of all other God.
Beings.

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

A. By his Works. The invisible things That there

of God from the Creation of the World are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, (even his eternal Power and Godhead.) Rom. i. 20.

is a God.

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 Goodness, and consequently most true, just, and merciful to his Crea

tures.

But

is.

1

A Spirit.

Infinite in his Durazion.

And in bis

Q. But to proceed more particularly, first, 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 respect 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 said, I am Nature and that I am. I am hath sent me unto you. He is Being itself: Universal Being.

Ferfections,

Particular

ly in Power,

Wisdom,

And Good. ness.

Q. More particularly, Is he infinite in Power ?

A. Yes. Mat. xix. 26. With God all things

are possible.

Q. Is he infinite in Wisdom?

A. Yes. Ps. 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 these essential Attributes or Perfections of God, the fame with his Justice, Truth, Mercy, &c.?

:

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

Q.

Q. Therefore to speak of these, as acting outwardly towards his Creatures, is be most

Just and Righteous ?

A. Yes. The Lord is righteous in all his Most Righ

Ways. Ps. cxlv. 17.

Q. Is he true and faithful

A. The Truth of the Lord endureth for

ever. Ps. cxvii. 2. And Heb. vi. 18. It is • impossible for God to lye.

seous.

Most True.

Moft Mer

Q. Is he merciful and gracious?
A. Yes. Exod. xxxvii. 7. The Lord, the ciful.

Lord God, merciful and gracious.

Q. Are there more Gods than one ?

Nature.

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.

Q. Is there more than one Person or SubfiStence in the Godhead ?

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

Tet more in

bis Subfiftence.

Q. Are there three Divine Persons, distinct Even three in their Subsistences ?

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 Persons diftinguished from one another?

A. They are distinguished,

distinct PerSons.

1. By their internal Properties or Re- are diftin

How they

I. By their Relations in

Q. How are they distinguished by their Prorefpest to perties 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 a Thought; 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. so 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 express Image of his Perfon.

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 send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.

Q. How are the three Persons distinguished by their Order? Is the Father the first in Order, the Son the second, 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 shewn.

3. By the Q. How are they distinguished in respect to Manner of their Operations? Do's the Father act outwardhard ope- ly from himself alone, the Son from the Father, Rations. and the Holy Ghost from both?

4