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vinced in the midst of persecutions, and at the approach of violent, or natural, death, that it was the "sure testimony of God." It is also most wonderful, that at the reformation from Popery, when every part of Christianity, as corrupted by Papists and others, was examined and reexamined, with the most acute, patient, and diligent investigation, by men of no ordinary talents and learning, many of whom sealed their testimony in the flames, and others lived in constant expectation of the same martyrdom; when numberless ancient, and in that view venerable, notions and practices were abolished, asantichristian; that they, I say, at this crisis, should, without one exception, as to a collective body, have retained the doctrine of the Trinity in their creeds, articles, and liturgies. This is indeed wonderful, if it be not the doctrine of scripture. That they should also persist in recommending this faith, with their dying lips, to their surviving friends: that this should, especially, have been the case with those who spent their lives in studying the scriptures! That all the labours of able, zealous, and learned Socinians, as well as the sneers and sarcasms of avowed infidels, should have effected so very little comparatively in opposition to it, and that little by no means permanent: and that, in every age, the men who have most zealously aimed to effect the conversion of idolaters, in every part of the globe, to the worship of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the wicked from the errors of their ways, should have held, as ESSENTIAL to Christianity, the doctrine of the Trinity: these things are indeed won

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derful, most wonderful, absolutely unaccountable : and, if they were not capable of such proof as excludes doubt, they would be perfectly incredible. If this be not the doctrine of the prophets, and of the apostles of Jesus Christ, this fact is indeed more wonderful than any of the miracles recorded in scripture; or any other well attested fact in universal history.

If the writer may be permitted to speak of himself, after such a venerable company, he would say; that, before he had, with any proportionable degree of seriousness and diligence, studied the scriptures, he was a Socinian; and could have retailed all the ordinary objections to the doctrine of the Trinity, and the other doctrines which depend on it, with sufficient plausibility and confidence, and with an assumed air of superior discernment: but by searching the scriptures with great assiduity, and by prayer for that wisdom, which God has promised to those who seek wisdom from him, as one in most deep concern about the salvation of his own soul; with little aid from Trinitarian writers, and none from preachers; after much opposition of heart to the doctrine, he became, in about two years, a decided Trinitarian. This has been stated in 'The Force of Truth,' which has now been published more than thirty-six years. All these years have been employed almost exclusively, in searching and explaining the scriptures, from the pulpit and the press: and, at this day, his assurance that the doctrine of the Trinity is the clear testimony of God in his holy oracles, is even stronger than ever. He, indeed, finds no

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capacity of doubting the doctrine, except on the supposition, that the scriptures are not the word of God.

P. 135. 1. 17. ' A father is above the son,' &c. -Not in nature certainly; but merely as the senior and superior relation; the same nature being common to both.

P. 136. 1. 12. 'The gentiles to know that his ' name is not three, but ONE.'-Every zealot for a sect, or a sentiment, is ready to say, 'Ere long all will be of my opinion:' but, I do not read in the prophets, that 'God will cause the gentiles to 'know, that his name is not three but ONE.' Christians, however, have no objection to the position : Baptize them in the name" (not names) "the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy "Ghost." Certainly three names do not imply three persons. Marcus Tullius Cicero, Caius Julius Cæsar; each three names of the same man :

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but we have no objection to three persons. Our doctrine is, Three persons and one God

Here Mr. C. closes: but, before I close, I must take some notice of his OMISSIONS. He has never, as it has before been observed, brought forward the question, Whether it was predicted that the Messiah should be a Priest, or not? He has not stated whether the predicted Messiah was to die, or not; probably he thinks that he will not. But, supposing him to die, whether he would die a natural or a violent death: if a violent death, in

what manner, and by whom, and what the event would be; whether as a sacrifice for sin, or not. Mr. C. must know that Christians lay very great stress on each of these particulars; and they consider certain parts of the Old Testament as most explicitly and undeniably predicting them, even to minuteness; in short, that all the prophets " testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and "the glory which should follow."

It has indeed been publicly asserted, and it remains, I believe, uncontradicted, that-the Jews are forbidden by their Rabbies to read the fiftythird chapter of Isaiah. If this be not true, it should be publicly contradicted.

Whatever were the motives of these, and other similar omissions, by Mr. C.; I must not conclude my answer without bringing forward, in a compendious manner, the substance of the prophecies of the Old Testament, on the following points.

I. Concerning the reception, with which the Messiah would meet from the nation of Israel.

II. Concerning his violent death, and that kind of death by which he would be cut off; with the special end and design of his crucifixion. And,

III. Concerning his resurrection, and subsequent glory; and the kingdom which he, as risen and ascended, would establish, preserve, and extend through the whole earth; to endure till the end of the world.

I. Concerning the reception, with which the Messiah would meet from the nation of Israel.

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Thus we read in Isaiah: "Listen, O isles unto

me, and hearken, ye people from far: The Lord "hath called me from the womb: from the bowels " of my mother hath he made mention of my " name. And he hath made my mouth like a "sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he "hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his " quiver hath he hid me; and said unto me, Thou "art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be "glorified." It is plain, that the Messiah is intended in this prophecy; for the particulars specified in it never met, nor can meet, in any other person: and he may be called ISRAEL, in the same way as he is called "the seed of Abra" ham," being "the GLORY of his people Israel; " the Head of that body which, with the Head, is "the Israel of God:" and as having, like Jacob, when he received the name of Israel, wrestled with God, and prevailed for the blessing. 1 But an individual, and not the nation, must be intended; or the whole which follows in the context will be destitute of meaning.-" Then I said, I " have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength " for nought, and in vain ; yet surely my judg"ment is with the Lord, and my work with my "God. And now, saith the Lord that formed "thee from the womb to be his servant, to bring "Jacob again to him; Though Israel be not "gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of "the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. "And he said, It is a light thing, that thou " shouldest be my servant, to raise up the tribes

1 Comp. Hos. xii. 3,4. Heb. v. 7.

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