Introduction CONTENTS. Paragraphs 1 to 8 The WORKS of God: Part 1st.-Light, Time, History, Animals, Man Part 2nd.-Life in Man, a Triune Spirit Distinct Spirits, Influences, Powers, Persons Observations on certain Texts and Opinions 186 246 247 336 THE HOLY TRINITY IN UNITY INTRODUCTION. (1.) Few pursuits are so uninviting to the generality of mankind as an attentive study of the nature and attributes of God, (2.) Such disinclination to the pursuit may probably have arisen from the supposed difficulty of carrying the finite human understanding to a clear and satisfactory comprehension of infinity;-but, is that difficulty so great as man is apt to imagine? (3.) If the inquiry be undertaken, there appear to be two chief modes of conducting it : (4.) Namely, by entering at first into an examination of the WORKS of God placed by Him within our observation; and, from the contemplation of them, to raise the mind gradually upward to a knowledge of the Creator ;-or, (5.) Secondly, by commencing with the more lofty study of the sacred writings as handed down to us in the Bible. (6.) Mankind, who have given attention to this subject, appear to have generally preferred the second of these modes of inquiry, separate from any close attention to the first; but the great truths contained in the inspired writings are often enveloped in mysterious expressions not easy to be comprehended; whence have arisen different readings and a great variety of creeds, the professors of which have ranged themselves under numerous denominations, such as Christians, Arians, Unitarians, Socinians, and others. (7.) With a view to the attainment of a full and clear comprehension of our creed, which cannot be otherwise than desirable by each of us, so far as may be practicable, the best course to pursue would probably be an union of these two modes of inquiry; beginning with an attentive examination of the WORKS OF GOD,-leading to a knowledge of the Creator himself; at the same time keeping in view the Revelations vouchsafed to us through the inspired writers. (8.) As the modern INDUCTIVE PROCESS, by experiment, observation, and inference, hath led to our knowledge of the great laws of gravitation and the movements of the heavenly bodies, with other information of the most important character, the same safe means may, not unreasonably, be expected to aid our acquirement of a more perfect knowledge of the Almighty Creator, especially if such means be conjoined with our study of the Holy Scriptures. |