inan.

There was a council held among the divine persons about the creation of "Let us," says the Father to the Son, "make man in our image, after our likeness ;" and the Holy Ghost was breathed into him, who formed his soul, and quickened him. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him." In those words, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness," a plurality of persons appear; but in the last text, "So God made man in his own image," the unity of the Divine Essence is preserved; the first account being in the plural number, and the last in the singular.

In the government of the world the Trinity appears to be equally concerned. This may be seen in the king of Babylon's visions: "I saw in the visions of my head, upon my bed; and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven," Dan. iv. 13. This is in the singular number. "This matter (says Daniel) is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the Holy Ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most

High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will," Dan. iv. 17. I know that many are of opinion that these watchers are angels; but that cannot be; for the decree is called the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the words of the Holy Ones; but angels are not of God's council, nor have they any hand in making God's decrees. "Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord; or, being his counsellor, hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him?" Isa. xl. 13, 14. What is called the decree of the Watchers and of the Holy Ones, is explained by the prophet. "This is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king,” Dan. iv. 24. Besides, though the angels are holy creatures, yet three of them cannot be emphatically called, "the Holy Ones," for there are twenty thousand of holy angels, and there are holy souls in heaven, and holy saints on earth. But God in three persons is the fountain of holiness. Nor need we wonder at the Trinity being called Watchers, seeing God the Father, Son,

and Spirit, watch over all the saints. He that keepeth thee will not slumber -"Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep," Psalm cxxi. 3. And, unless the Lord keep the city of Zion, all other watchmen wake but in vain. Thus do the Holy Trinity work jointly together, and their distinct personality is seen in all their glorious works; and so it will further appear in every branch of the work of salvation.

As in the mission and commission of Christ "From the time that it was, there am I and now the Lord God and his Spirit hath sent me," Isa. xlviii. 16. Here is Christ who is the ME that is sent, and the Lord God and his Spirit which sent him. If a trinity of names is meant, and not persons, as a wise man observes, it should have been worded thus: "And now I myself, and myself, have sent myself." This prophecy had its accomplishment just before Christ entered on his ministry, at his baptism. Christ was upon the earth, the Holy Ghost descending in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, saying,

"Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased." These are the Lord God and his Spirit sending Christ forth, and bearing their testimony both to his sonship and to his appointment.

Salvation also is ascribed to all the three persons, who are equally concerned in it. The Father speaks thus: "But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God; and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, nor by horses, nor by horsemen," Hosea. i. 7. Thus the Father bears testimony to his only-begotten Son, and tells us that he is the Lord God by whom he saves us; and we believe him, not doubting but God is a faithful and true witness, and must be a better judge of of his own Son, and what he is, than all the Arians and Socinians in the world. God the Father saves us by the Lord our God, who is the Son; hence he is called "Jesus, because he shall save his people from their sins," Matt. i. 21. Nor is the Holy Ghost excluded from the work of salvation; for the Father, who tells us that he will have mercy

upon the house of Judah, tells us also how his mercy shall come to us, even by the Holy Spirit-"But according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost," Tit. iii. 5. Thus are all the three divine persons engaged in our salvation. Hence we read of wells, more wells than one, in which salvation is to be had "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation," Isa. xii. 3.

Again, an empty name cannot write or bear record. How does a fictitious name appear in a court of law, when there is no person to be found that bears that name, or is called by it? "But there are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one," 1 John v. 7,8. And this is not a trinity of names accommodated to the making of a covenant, as some suppose; for a name cannot be a father nor a son. So, likewise, if there be but one person in the Trinity, there cannot be either a Son or a Father; he that denies either, denies both. "He is antichrist that