LETTER IX. {200}

“There hath no temptation happened unto you, but what is common to man.”

To —

The grand adversary of God and man is compared both to a lion and a serpent: under the former character he has raged and roared against the church, in every age, and after every called and quickened believer; but, in the latter character, he has acted his worst part. In this form he assaulted Eve, and in the same he has carried on his works of darkness in this world; and, as he began by deceiving, so he will complete his work by the same.—_Rev._ xx.

Soon after the Lord had begun his work in my heart, persecution began, hell raged, satan roared; but, through mercy, the ass did not regard the crying of that driver, but was kept in search after life and truth.—_Job_, xxxix. 5, 6, 7, 8. This having no effect to deter, satan resorted to another method. This was about the time that the wretched Tom Paine published his book against the Bible; I never bought it, though thousands did; but, one day, at a friend’s house, I saw it lay, and when I was left alone I read a part of it—this produced no bad effect on my mind at that time; but, shortly afterwards, the infamous passage I had read was hurled into my mind with strange powers. It came like a dart, a fiery dart, nor could I get rid of it for some time; it came very often, and sorely distressed me. I begged of the Lord to remove it, which he did; this cured me for ever of meddling with edged tools. The Lord gave me secret power to rise superior to it; established me more than ever in the truth, and created in my mind an everlasting hatred to erroneous books. I was often entreated to read such books; but no—“A burnt child dreads the fire:” and I am always sorry to see professors so eager to read deistical publications, with a view to see the objections made to Holy Writ. “Let him that _thinketh_ he standeth, take heed, lest he fall.” This temptation was, of course, soon followed up with another, such as this—“How do you know the Bible is true?” This came from the devil, and is in the mouth of his own children to this day; and to such I seldom give an answer, except in few words. This reminds me of an infidel in a stage coach, who was letting his tongue run against God and truth, bidding defiance to any man to prove the Bible to be the Word of God: an aged plain country woman replied, “Why, I thinks as how it is the Word of God, because it says, that ‘in the last days there shall come mockers,’ and I am sure thou beest one of them.”

Many great and learned men took up their pens in defence of truth, and very ably answered the wretched scribbling Deist. I never read them, but begged of the Lord to shew me the subject himself; which he did, by leading me more clearly to understand the truth, and to see the harmony of every part of it, its doctrines and its precepts, by giving me power to feel and enjoy its consolations, and by leading me to see the reason why such characters oppose it: because it is written, “The wicked shall be turned into hell;” and “He that believeth not is condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth on him.” And, as these are awful truths, can we wonder at the opposition the Word of God meets with, from men of corrupt minds? They tell us, indeed, it is a cunningly-devised fable, a system of mere priestcraft. If a fable, who wrote it—good men, or angels? Bad men, or devils? Good men or angels could not be guilty of falsehood, in saying repeatedly, “Thus saith the Lord.” Bad men or devils would never write a book to describe their own character, reproach their own conduct, and condemn themselves to everlasting punishment.

The Lord delivered my soul from this snare, by the power of truth, and has made me a living witness, by his grace, of the authenticity of his own Word; so that I may sing—

“Precious Bible, what a treasure Does the Word of God afford! All I want, for life and pleasure, Shield, or medicine, or sword.”

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.”

“Therefore Jesus is the Lord of Hosts.”—_Isaiah_, xliii. 11.

* * * * *

_Isaiah_, xliii. 11.—“I, even I, am the Lord, and besides me there is no Saviour.”

2 _Peter_, iii. 18.—“Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”

_Then Jesus Christ is Jehovah_, _the Saviour_.

* * * * *

_Rev._ xxii. 6.—“The Lord God of the Holy Prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants things which must shortly be done.”

_Rev._ v. 16.—“I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify these things unto the churches.”

Therefore Jesus is the Lord God of the Prophets.

* * * * *

_Isaiah_, xliv. 6.—“Thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, I am the first, and I am the last, and besides me there is no God.”

_Rev._ xxii. 13.—“I (Jesus) am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

This is too plain to be denied. Christ is the King of Israel, the Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts, the first and the last.

* * * * *

_Psalm_ lxxviii. 56.—“They tempted and provoked the Most High God.”

1 Cor. x. 9.—“Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted.”

Christ must be, therefore, the Most High God.

* * * * *

_Isaiah_, xxxvii. 5.—“For thy Maker is thy husband, the Lord of Hosts is his name.”

_John_, iii. 29.—“He that hath the bride is the bridegroom.”

_Psalm_ xxiii.—“The Lord Jehovah, is my shepherd.”

_John_, x. 16.—“There shall be one fold and one shepherd.”

Christ must be the Lord of Hosts.

* * * * *

_Psalm_ c. 3.—“Know ye that the Lord he is God, we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

_John_, x. 3.—“He calleth his own sheep.”

Therefore, Christ he is the Lord God and shepherd.

* * * * *

_John_, xx. 28.—“And Thomas answered and said, my Lord and my God.”

_Romans_, ix. 5.—“Of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came; who is over all, God, blessed for ever.”

Christ is, therefore, Lord and God.

* * * * *

_Isaiah_, ix. 6.—“And his name shall be called, The Mighty God.”

_Rev._ i. 8.—“I am the Almighty.”

* * * * *

I might here fill a volume of immense size, to prove the same fact; but when God gives a man up to satanic delusion, he generally mounts the scorner’s chair; sets his tongue against the heavens, and endeavours to bring down the Almighty to his proud carnal reasonings.

“Thus fools rush in, where angels fear to tread.”

But, whilst so many are endeavouring to dethrone the glorious persons in the Trinity, or to degrade them, other fools have set up _many_; one in particular, whom I once wrote against, in “Zion’s Controversy:” this poor creature insists upon it that every separate perfection in Jehovah is a god. There was also a sect of people in the beginning of the sixteenth century, called Familists, who held the notion that every believer was an _Emanuel_—was really God; that Christians, were _Christed_ into _Christ_, and _Godded_ into _God_. Such stupid ideas have neither scripture reason nor common sense in them; but I suppose by the bye, this doctrine was advanced to degrade the essential and eternal Godhead of Christ, as modern Sabellians do, though very high Calvinists in some other points—yet maintain the idea that the Father communicates his Godhead to Christ; and why not to his people? Why not, indeed? Both are Christ-degrading errors. May the Lord deliver his people from them; while conceited, empty-talking, _all-knowing_ professors fall into those ditches, out of which nothing short of superabounding mercy, in a miraculous way, can deliver them. “Fear, and the pit, and the snare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth; and it shalt come to pass, that he who flieth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and whoso cometh up out of the pit shall fall into the snare; for the windows from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth do shake.”—_Isaiah_ xxiii.

Being delivered from this awful snare, satan harrassed my mind, concerning the personality and Godhead of the ever-blessed Holy Spirit. Here I was much troubled, but the Lord has promised to be the profitable teacher of his people.—“I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit, and leadeth thee in the way thou shouldest go.” I bless his name for all his teachings, although it has been under some very painful experiences; above all, that he has led me to the acknowledgement (_not comprehension_) of the mystery of God—the Holy Ghost—and of the Father, and of Christ.—_Colossians_ ii.

That the Holy Spirit is God, one of the Divine _Three_ in the unity of the Godhead, is evident, by comparing Scripture with Scripture. I am very sensible that his work upon the heart is infinitely of greater importance than a thousand bare notions of the subject, however clear; but it is a mercy to have our loins girt with truth, the armour of righteousness on the right hand, and on the left; and while the enemies of God are attempting to degrade his Sacred Majesty, his Adorable Person, and some weak Christians stagger at the subject, it is our duty (being delivered from such God-dishonouring conduct), to contend earnestly for the faith, once delivered to the saints.

I am not writing a body of divinity. I have not abilities for that; but only stating those truths which are dear to my heart, and producing a few out of the many Scriptures, to prove the Godhead of the Saviour and the ever-blessed Holy Spirit. A few must suffice here.

_John_, iii. 6.—“That which is born of the Spirit.”

1 _John_, v. 4.—“Whatsoever is born of God.”

Here the spiritual birth is attributed to the _Spirit_—to _God_.

Therefore the Holy Spirit is God.

* * * * *

_Acts_, xiii. 2.—“The Holy Ghost said,—separate _me_ Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto _I_ have called them.”

_Heb._ v. 4.—“No man taketh this honour to himself, but he that is called of _God_.”

Therefore the Spirit is God.

* * * * *

_Matt._ ix. 38.—“Pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that _he_ will send forth labourers into _his_ harvest.”

_Acts_, xiii. 4.—“So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost.”

This proves the Holy Ghost is the Lord of his harvest.

* * * * *

_Luke_, ii. 16.—“And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord Christ.”

Verse 28.—“And he blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to _thy Word_.”

This Word was the Word of the Holy Ghost, and is _God_ and _Lord_, to be blessed and praised.

* * * * *

_John_, xiv. 17.—“_He_, the Spirit of Truth, dwelleth in you, and shall be in you.”

1 _Cor._ xiv. 25.—“_God_ is in you, of a truth.”

2 _Tim._ iii. 14.—“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.”

2 _Peter_, xxi.—“Holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

_John_, iv. 41.—“It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of _God_.”

1 _Cor._ ii. 13.—“Not in the word, which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth.”

_Acts_, v. 3.—“Why hath satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?”

Verse 4.—“Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto _God_.”

1 _Cor._ iii. 16.—“The temple of _God_ is holy, which temple are ye.”

1 _Cor._ vi. 19.—“Know ye not that your bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost?”

_Deut._ vi. 14.—“Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”

_Acts_, v. 9.—“How is it, that ye have agreed to tempt the spirit of the Lord?”

_Matt._ xix. 17.—“There is none good but one, that is God.”

_Psalm_ clxxiii. 10.—“Thy Spirit is good; lead me.”

* * * * *

I might mention many more, with a vast many proofs of this sublime doctrine, but I trust you will be led to read them in the Scriptures, with a grace-taught eye, and rejoice in the truth, as you discover and feel it. I must close this long letter with this verse—

“God is a name my soul adores, Th’ Almighty Three, th’ Eternal One: Nature and grace, with all their powers, Confess the Infinite Unknown.”

I wish you were in possession of the excellent Jones on the “Catholic Doctrine of the Trinity.”

Yours, J. C.