THE TRINITJ. 409 



Scripture character of a triune God, you will perceive 

 that there is yet a third exquisite adaptation of the nature 

 of man to the nature of the Deity ; what indeed we 

 might expect, when \^e consider for what purpose and 

 in whose image man was originally created. The sub- 

 ject far exceeds the limits to which 1 am restricted, but 

 I must attempt giving you a brief outline of my meaning : 

 In all true philosophy, God is regarded as the first 

 cause of all things, and as uncaused himself. Necessarily, 

 then, he must have existed from eternity, while every- 

 thing else must have legun to exist; and ere that 

 beginning, He must have existed an eternity alone. But 

 is this, His eternity of solitude, to be regarded as the 

 womb of Deity, in which, though His thoughts might 

 be employed (I am acquainted with only the language 

 of earth), His affections lay dormant? Surely not. Who 

 can think of a God of infinite goodness existing for an 

 eternity without love ! But love requires an object, and 

 God existed alone. Yes, but when we feel that the 

 ill-conceived God of the philosopher must so circum- 

 stanced have been a solitary being, we know that the 

 God of the Christian existed in the society of Himself, 

 regarding the Son and the Spirit with an infinite 

 love, and infinitely beloved by them. Is there not 

 something wonderfully pleasing in this view of the 

 character of God, something that harmonizes with our 

 nature and all its affections of love, friendship, brotherly 

 affection, filial attachment, and paternal regard? And 

 then to think that all the persons of the adorable God- 

 head are interested in us, and perform a part in our 

 Redemption ! The Father willed that the Son should 

 be sent, the Son became man and died for us, and by 

 the Spirit is the sacrifice made effectual to us and our 

 hearts prepared. It is surely no marvel that angels 



