Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-02-20
'fut the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
tOriginal ]
THE TRINITY.

eacn OF LneSe IraRW IL ueuoullHaIlou. LII
a number of particulars, the majority, per-
haps, of these denominations, hold the same
fundamental principles; but differ from each
other in what may be regarded as the non es-
sentials in religion. Or to speak with more
exactness, these denominations Of Christians
do not differ about religion proper but about
the traditions of men. On the other hand,
there are denominational differences concern
ing the fundamental principles of the Christ
ian religion. Of those which differ from
each other, none are more diametrically op.
posed to each other than Trinitarians and
Unitarians. 1t is very probable that the ad-
vocates of these two systems of theology do
not always understand each other fully.
Making all due allowance for misconception,
we hazard nothing in saying that Trinitarians
and Unitarians separate at the very threshold
of religion. -
1t may be proper to remark that neither
the word trinity nor unity, are found in the
Scriptures, in the sense in which they are
used by theological writers. The same is
true concerning the derivatives, Trinitarian
and Unitarian. 1t depends entirely upon
circumstances, whether we are, upon this
ground, to condemn these words or not. If
the word trinity or unity convey, correctly,
to our minds, 9 Bible.taught truth, then we
need not hesitate to accept and use them un-
til better words are devised. ......
ro,,,,,al nyooooI
to define what.is meant by these words. Trim
ity is designed, by those who announce them
selves as Trinitarians, to mean that there are
three persons in the divine essence. In other
words, Tlnitarians believe that there is only
one God; but that this one God exists in
three persons. Unitarians hold that there is
only one person in the divine essence. 1t
may not be out of place to add that Trinita
rians do not materially differ from each other
on the subject of three persons in the god
head, whilst there is great diversity of opin-
ion among Unitarians respecting the unity OF
the godhead. ts.23, .~.a.EE5E
1t will be manifest to any rejecting mind,
that the arguments, either for or against the
trinity, must be drawn directly from the Bible
We have no other source from which we can
learn, with certainty, anything about the d.
vine essence. We dare not: conclude that
what is true concerning creatures, must also
be true concerning the Creator.
The doctrine held by Tranitarians is, as al
ready stated, that there is only one God, but
that there are three persons in the god.head.
If his doctrine is taught in the Scriptures,
then it is true; and whether we may be able
to understand it or not, we are called upon to
believe it. If the doctrine Of the trinity, as
already stated, is not taught.in the Scriptures,
then it is our duty, at least to withhold from
it our assent
By god-head, as generally used by Trinita.
rians, is meant the divine neessence. By person,
as used in connection with this subject, the
idea is designed to be conveyed that in the
divine essence, there are three intelligent
agents. each of which may, with propriety,
be said to will and act, and each of which is
capable of addressing or being addressed by
either or both of the other two This being
the case, the personal prououns l, thou and
he, may be used with propriety by each OF
these three intelligent agents. Either one
may use I when speaking of himself; thou
when speaking to either of the other two and
he when speaking to one about the other two.
We may now proceed to adduee the Scrip.
tural proof of this doctrine. Before doing
this, however, it may be stated that there is
in the pagan systems of antiquity, some cor
roborative evidence that the doctrine of the
trinity formed one of the fundamental truths
of the primitive religion of the human family.
1t was taught by some of the ancient magi
that the divinity existed in a first, second and
third mind. This, by itself, is not very intel
ligible; but when the properties Of the first,
second and third mind are explained, the
whole is easily comprehended. The "6rst
mind say they, "is super. essential in itself,
and the principle of all essence the second is
the 6lial mind generated BY the first the
third is the efficient wisdom and power of the
other two" We need not inquire from what
source, or at what time, these facts we're
learned. 1t is scarcely conceivable that they
were cleaned from the Scriptures, and yet they
are very Scriptural, as we will soon see. The
Egyptians regarded their divinity, Troth, as
"thrice great" Seneca, in his "Consolatio ad
Helviam," makes use of language which, if it
does not show that he had at least some knowl-
edge of the trinity, it is difficult to say what
it does mean. Wequote it, literally transla.
ted: "This event was brought about, believe
me, by him, whoever hs was, who formed all
things whether the God who controls all
things, or the incorporeal Reason, the artificer
of those stupendeus works, or by the Divine
Spirit, which is diffused with equal energy
through all things, the least as well as the
greatest" ..r....-
1t is not claimed that the doctrine that
there are three persons in the godhead is
clearly set forth by these quotations from
heather sages7 Notwithstanding. this con.
cession, it may still be claimed that some OF
the heather were not, by any means, Unita-
rians.
The first verse in the Bible seems to teach
the doctrine of the trinity. At least, the
language is such as to convey to the mind the
idea that there are either more Gods than
one, or that there are more persons than one
in the divine essence. The following is the
language: "In the beginning God created"
In the original Hebrew, the word WHICH is
translated "God," is in the plural number.
Translated literally, the sentence would read
thus: "In the beginning Gods created"
Again, we find similar language frequently in
the Scriptures. The 20th verse Of the lst
chapter of Genesis, may be cited: "God Git
orally Gods) said, let us make man in our
image, after our likeness" The reader who
has no knowledge of the Scriptures and of
the unity of God as taught in the Scriptures,
WOULD no doubt, conclude that this language
of Genesis teaches the existence of more
Gods than one. Those who are we'll acqualnt-
ed with the Scriptures, know that they teach
most plainly and with great positiveness, that
there is but one God. Such being the case,