Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-09

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sible as trinity of persons in unity
of essence. We admit the former as
matter of knowledge, or at least as a
matter Of universal consent. There is
no reason, them why we should not
admit the latter upon evidence. One
is as incomprehensible as the other.
I apprehend that the source of diff
ficulty in receiving the doctrine of the
trinity, lies in the fact that most the
ologians who undertake to explain Me
doctrine, are so afraid of stepping be
yond the line of rigid orthodoxy and
incuring the accusation of making
three Gods, that in their extreme
caution, they utterly destroy the per
sonal distinction, and compound the
three persons into one personality
rendering the doctrine unbelievable
and absurd. Now, casting such fear
aside, | do not hesitate to say, that if
there be a trinity, then there is a
aense in which it is perfectly correct
to hold the distinct existence OF
three Gods. 1.-THE Father is divine
person and the Son is a person and the
! Holy Ghost a person, then there are
necessarily three Gods; but only one
Divinity or Godhead. Any other
view Of the Trinity is absurd, and can
not be accepted by the human reason,
and from the logical consequences OF
| this position / do not shrink.
! What an abundant provision, my
| Christian brethren, does this doctrine
make for the salvation of mani How
broad, how solid and how smooth the
highway it lays for Gods redeemed to
walk in by faith. Far back in the in
calculable depths of eternity, i'm
measurable ages before the beginning
was, there dWelt the absolute, I'M
I'derived and coexistent Three in unity
of essence, in harmony of conscious
ness and thought, in likeness of per-
fections, in infnitudes of mental love
and mutually complacent bliss. In
concordant and instantaneous counsel
eternal purposes were formed, and ar
rangements made whose execution
spanned the stretch of ages too long
to be measured by the fight of years,
At length when almost endless cycles
brought the beginning nigh, the
Father-for by this name the three
agreed He should be called and known
to creatures-assumed the place OF
precedence Of glorious rest assigned
him. assigned" for it was not his
OF right or by essential nature, for in
essential nature and in right the three
were equal land then He broke the
silence with great words of truth and
goodness, fixed and immutable
My place it is hencoforth to sit upon
the throne of absolute dominion, to
be pavilioned in aveil of light so brill
liant and intense that to the creature
sight it shall appears wall Of darkness
high and inaccessible; mine to be &C
knowledged as the basis of all life and
being, to hold the scales of everlast-
ing justice, and receive the prayers
and praises of all created things, Of
adoring angels in the light and sinners
in world of woe; and Thou who
from eternity hast been my indepen
dent, self-existent and almighty equal
but to-day in mutual counsel OF us
three and by immutable agreement
hast become my only son forever, the
brightness of my gloryAnd the express
image of my person. The beginning
| hath arrived. the hour hath come
when Thou shalt take Thy place upon
creations throne, aud by the word oil
Thine omnipotence call into being
multitudes Of angels. Then let Thy
word of power hang in the depths OF
space the countless hosts of worlds
and sons with each of which we
have a purpose. But on the
earth, according as our counsels
have decreed, create thou man,
ofSearthy body and organic frame, but
with soul immortal that shall bear
our image; and in foreknowledge OF
mans fall and utter ruin, but in fore
determination of his full redemption
and eternal life | swear-nor of this
earth is there repentance, because it is
the full decision of our triple wills
conjoined in changeless and unbegin
ming UNITY swear and will not re-
pcnt, Thou art a priest forever, and
when the appointed time hath come
Thou shalt put on Thy priestly robes, a
body shalt Thou take unto Thyself,
then through the eternal spirit, on the
altar built of righteousness and peace
Thou shalt offer up Thyself sacrifice
to me; / swear Thy blood shall cleanse
the foulest soul, shall wash away the
deepest stains of guilt and make
atonement for the chief of sinner
and for all. Nor shall Thy priestly
work stop here; but after Thou hast
borne away the sins of all the world,
and buried them forever from Ny
sight, then Thou shalt ascend to Me
and stand before My throne to plead
for sinners: and with solemn oath
pledge My being that Thine interces-
siOns shall not fail. Until the earth
and heavens pass away Thou shalt not
present the prayer of any heart before
My mercy seat that | will not accept
nd honor, nor ever plead the cause
Of any soul and l not save that soul; /
set Thee in the nights Of everlasting
power to make and rule creation; set
Thee on the holy hill of Zion to pur-
chase with Thy blood Thy church
and lead her up to glory. | set Thee
IN the holy place Of My most Holy
Presence to bid the worst of sinners
come and welcome to Ny home and
heart.
And Thou who art henceforth called
the Holy Ghost, our coequal and CO.
eternal fellow, who in and by Thyself
forever hast existed, and hast lived by
Thine inherent powers of self exist
snt life, but who by our triune agree
ment and decree, shalt henceforth
proceed from us, the Father and the
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