The best piece I have seen written on this subject, of a modern date, is by the rev. I. Irons, entitled, “The Cloud of Witnesses,” intended as an antidote to infidelity. I beg leave to recommend it to all I know, especially to believers, who are situated amongst the ungodly.
The next attack the enemy made on my mind, was respecting the Sacred Trinity. This temptation, more or less, assaulted me for years; sometimes in such an awful manner, that I never can describe; but I have generally noticed, that diabolical temptations hurled into the mind, have been generally levelled against one or other of the Sacred Persons in the Trinity. These temptations do not arise from the common corruptions of the human heart, although satan does, at times, stir them up; but they are, in general, sent or shot by the devil into the mind.—Such temptations are not the believer’s sin, but satan’s; although he often lays these brats at our doors.
There is a difference to be observed between our sinful nature and such temptations; the former is always with us, but the others are only visitors, and unwelcome ones, indeed—yet they have an awful tendency to distress the soul; and, perhaps, in such an intricate manner, as is impossible to relate. Hence the old question, invented by the devil, and started by men of infidel principles—“How can three be one, or one three?” Why, as it respects things in common, it is impossible—but, as it respects the adorable Trinity, I am taught to believe that there are three divine persons in one divine essence. How this can be, neither angers nor men can define; but that it is so, the Scriptures are clear. I am bound to believe it, because God hath said it, and it is at man’s peril to refuse him that speaketh from heaven. The way this temptation sometimes operated, was this:—satan made up, or drew three figures of persons on my imagination, and then asked me how these three could be one? Impossible. And so say I. Such figures, images, dolls, idols, drawn by that artful limner, cannot be one, nor one three. This temptation was aided and assisted by the popish pictures of the Trinity, an engraving of which is put as a frontispiece to Dr. Samuel Clarke’s Bible, and which I consider to be the most abominable blasphemy; one of the characters is represented as a very aged man, with a long beard; another, rather younger, receiving a sceptre; and a third, the figure of a dove: and these are called the persons in the Trinity. This is truly awful; satan himself is the author of it, and man the dupe of his satanic deceptions.
I believe but very few of God’s children escape temptation upon this subject; and I make no apology in saying, that pictures drawn by man, or painted upon our imaginations of either of the persons in the sacred Trinity, is blasphemy. The Lord delivered me again and again from this temptation, by leading my mind to what God has said of himself, who certainly is the best judge of himself. Hence the question—“To whom, then, will ye liken God, or shall I be equal, saith the Lord? To whom, then, will ye liken God, or what likeness will ye compare unto him?”
The Bible sets forth God under the emblems of fire, water, wind, or air. And what picture can ever be drawn of these, as persons? “God is a Spirit.”—“God is light.”—“God is love.”—And what are all his glorious perfections, but himself manifested in such characters? Holiness, Truth, Wisdom, Justice, Grace, Mercy, Goodness, Majesty, Eternity, Almighty, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient. And what figures can be drawn of this Sacred, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty? I trust this remark will be blest to some characters who have suffered under the same temptation. But, although it has pleased the God of Grace to reveal himself in the Oneness of the Divine Unity; so it is our mercy, yea, our salvation, that he has been pleased also to reveal himself, in his Trinity of persons, under the gracious names, and relative terms in the grand economy of our salvation.
“There are three which bear record in heaven”—the Father; the Word, (as Son of God;) and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one—not merely one person, bearing three names, but three persons—nor yet three gods, but only one in essence—three in persons, distinct in personality, names, and office—This Sacred Three bear record to the Sonship, Godhead, Divinity, and Dignity of Christ. So they also bear record to the consciences of God’s dear people—that they are the Lord’s. The record of the Father is, “Yea, I have loved thee;”—the record of the Son is, “I have redeemed thee;”—and the record of the Spirit is, “I have called thee.” It is necessary this grand point should be well understood by the Lord’s people, that they may enjoy distinct holy communion with, and give equal glory to, the adorable Author of Salvation.
It was my lot to fall in with, and to be often situated with characters who were inimical to this grand fundamental truth. Swedenborg denied the existence of the Father and the Holy Spirit. Socinians, Arians, and Sabellians, either in one form or another, deny the Godhead of Christ, and the personality of the Holy Spirit. Thus, amongst this motley group, they leave us no God at all. Many have been my conflicts with such; but the Word is so plain upon the subject, that it needs no comment, only by comparing a very few out of the many scriptures of truth, and drawing a very reasonable inference from the plainest testimony. This has been done by an excellent author, the rev. W. Jones; and the great Mr. Macgowan, in his “Twenty Letters to J. Priestly, D.D.”
I will only compare a few texts together, and you will see the beauty of truth. As:—
Isaiah, vi. 5.—“Mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts.”
John, xii. 41.—“These things said Esias, when he saw his (Christ’s) glory, and spake of him.”