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V.

of the deep; When he gave to the Sea his SER M. Decree that the Waters should not pass his Commandment; when he appointed the Foundations of the Earth; Then was I by him, as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight. If it be here further inquired, how thofe Divine Attributes and Powers, which are ascribed in Scripture to the Perfon of the Son, are confiftent with the Unity of God, which is the Foundation of all Religion both natural and revealed; the Anfwer is obvi

ous;

that the Divinity afcribed to the Son, is not another, a co-ordinate Divinity; but the Power, the Majefty, the Glory of the Father, communicated and derived to the Son. Could it be affirmed that there were two or more self-originate, unbegotten, underived Principles; this would indeed destroy the Unity of God, and fundamentally fubvert the very firft Ground of Religion: But fince the Glory of the Son is not originally his own Glory, but the Glory of the Father manifested in him, and derived to him, in a manner which neither we nor Angels perhaps can presume to understand; it is manifest still, I 4

that

SER M.that the Monarchy of the Universe, is hereby preserved entire.

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nor

CONCERNING the Nature of the Holy Spirit of God, the Scripture fpeaks very little in a Metaphyfical manner; gives any encouragement to the inquifitiveness and vain Curiofity of humane Speculation. Declaring only, that he is a Divine Perfon, proceeding or being fent forth from the Father: and in other places called the Spirit of the Son, and faid to be fent forth from Him. Into the manner of his Derivation therefore, we ought not to presume to enquire; but be content with what the Scripture reveals to us, of his being in a fingular manner, in a manner which we cannot prefume to understand or explain, the Spirit of God. Only, because there have been fome in these later Ages, who have denied the Being of this Holy Spirit, and have imagined it to be nothing but a mere Power or Attribute of God; it deferves to be taken notice of, that thofe Scriptures, which speak of him as being grieved at wicked men ; as making interceffion for us, and helping our infirmities ;

as

V.

as dividing fpiritual gifts feverally, as he SER M. pleases; as fpeaking, not of himself, but what he hears or receives from the Father: thefe and numberlefs other Texts in the New Testament, do plainly declare Him to be not a mere Virtue or Power, but a real Perfon diftinct from the Father and the Son, and fent forth from Both for the perpetual Government and Direction of the Church.

THIS is what the Scripture briefly declares to us in a fpeculative manner, concerning the Nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And Happy had it been for the Church of God, if learned Men in all Ages had been content with what the Scriptures fo declare, and had never entred further into Scholaftick Speculations, from whence have arifen Endless Difputes, incurable Scepticism, and infinite Uncharitableness.

2dly, THERE is in the 2d place that which is Moral, concerning the feveral Offices of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft with relation to Us. And here the Scripture teaches us, concerning the Father, that he, being abfolutely fupreme over all, made the World by the Miniftration

.

SER M. ftration of his Son, and governs it by a V. perpetual Providence, without which not

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9, 14.

a Sparrow falls to the Ground, or a Hair of our Head perishes. That having Compaffion upon finful man, and refolving to Rom. iii. afford them the Grace of Repentance, he Joh. iv. fent his Son to take our Nature upon him, and therein to reveal his gracious Will; and delivered him up to an ignominious Death, that he might make Expiation and Reconcilement for our Sins; and raiActs v.30. fed him from the Dead by his mighty Power; and exalted him to his own right Hand; and appointed him to be the Judge of Quick and Dead; and has made all things fubject unto Him; and by him reconciles all things unto Himself, both which are in Heaven and which are in Earth and has appointed a Kingdom of eternal Happiness to them that ferve and obey him; and will destroy the wicked with an everlasting Destruction. This is the Office of the Father. Concerning the Office of the Son, the fame Scriptures declare, that he, by the Appointment of the Father, is our Saviour, Mediatour, Interceffour and Judge; that

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2 Pet i 21.

having been in the Form of God, he emp-SER M. tied himself of that Glory, and willingly took upon him the form of a fervant; and died, to make our Repentance available; and now fits at the right hand of God, to intercede for us; and governs the whole Church, according to the Will of his Father; and fearches and tries the Hearts of men at present, and will finally judge them according to their Works. Lastly, concerning the Office of the Holy Spirit, the Scripture teaches, that having been the Infpirer of the Prophets of old, testifying before-hand the Sufferings of Peti.11. Christ, and the Glory that should follow; he was afterwards fent forth in a more extraordinary manner, to be the Comforter and Director of the Apostles; to lead Joh. xiv. them into all Truth; to bring to their re- 10. membrance all things which our Lord had faid unto them; to fupport them against the Power of the World; to inftruct them what to answer to their Perfecutors; to be the great Witnefs of our Saviour's Refurrection, by working Signs and Wonders and mighty Works, by infpiring the Apoftles with the gift of Tongues, and

I

dividing

I Cor. ii.

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