, 1877-02-18

Yf&A HSSs +A@"-N"
n the Editor af The Tribune.
.,tuurroox. Mich, Feb. l4.-1n search Of truth
,Nsn,tnral]y attracted by the article, What
ls.r+h,n The Word Of God gives us a solu-
esI.o1hIs question, but it requires more or
.tnar to ascertain what the Bible does
- It's doctrines, scattered over so many
=. c.nnot be learned at glance TO facilf-
.nr search men have written catech;sms
N.,rendiums. These are often accepted Us
n sr;ient truths, or of equal authority with
e 1hIe. especially If supported bY an array Of
s..sgrs and thus become rather an obstacle
r. 5n assistant to the seeker OF truth.
Smuch for an Introduction: Inc artlcle re-
IN shoyc attempts to tell Us what God is.
~. .-s tol1 He is one III essence, doctrine well
.s,r.d by Bible testimony, hut there follows
s.ne, that He is one in person, doctrine
~ r.nuot be reconcilcd with the teachings OF
~ Rble. To show this is the Object OF the
.1seut articIe-
+ foe.king, God frequently makes use OF the
MI not rs at editor IN his paper, but to lndi-
r. the pluralitv OF persons IN the Deity.
.1aur tie ms$y passages will cite few:
* rs make man in our image Gen, l., :233)
.Stbod the man is become IS one OF us -
;sr nj. 93,: Il Let us 70 down and there con-
.S,n the1r language {Gen., ri, r. Sumer-
- ~ psssarcs prove triplicity not Of essential
r;.1rles. but Of persons. Isaiah xiii. refers
scjnet}y to the Lord, the Savior, and the Holy
s7a The angel announced to Mary: The
a5r Ghost shall come upon thee, and
- newer Of the Hi4hest shall oyershadow
a.t:tbercfore also that holy thing which shall
bhrc Of thee shall be called the Son OF God "
LII, i, 81. Here we fiEd again reference to
,r4 persocs-
VIM Christ was baptized Is the spirit Of God
bxsaded like dove and lighted upon Him.
lido voice from heaven saying: This Is Mv
kaFeA Son, iu WHOM. l am well pleased. -
ih:1 commanded His disciples to baptlzc - in
t,t name Of tI1e Father, and Of the Son, aud OF
4 Holy Ghost-n and vet clearer is the pas
ust: "There are three that hear re:olu III
itsrrn, the Father. the Word, aud the Holy
tha, ind these three arc one" THESE pas
me speak for themselves. Who can reconcile
tam 10 Swedenborg's doctrincs
lhe three persons are distinct The Son OK
cd says: There is another tha. bearctn wit
rs d Nc And the Father Himself, which
kh sent Me, hath borne witness q Me-" No
* sends himself. No one can be his own son
atk uHn father. Father anu son must DC two
distinct persons. Again, Christ says: ~ Will
u.y tn. Farbcr, and He shall give YOU another
tnfuter. even the Spirit Ut Truth" Here'
sn xe ind tic mention Of tie Father IS a dls'
III person, and Christ calls the Spirit another
Cmimter,-a person distinct from the Father
.ai TIC Son. Or this Comforter Christ speaks
stke7: But when the Comforter is come,
VIM will send unto you from the Father,
tn The Spirit OF truth, which proccedcth from
ID Father.'' Here VIC observe that dc who
Eoceeds from the Father, and is sent, is sep
r1:e pc.sun frum the onc who SENDS him "
tn shom He proceeds.
nor does this doctrine conflict With reason, as
Eue nrge. The common objection is this
Hax can God be three, and yet DC but ones It
senerslly overlooked that wc can speak u
as N essence and as person. Hc,ce the
rrasoning Is ilicorcevt which concludes. because
ed Is one In Essence. that He is one in person.
ABEL ANDERSON.