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is made nearer yet, and more dear and engaging, by 

 that entirely new distinction in the One God, re- 

 vealed to us under the different characters of Fa- 

 ther, Son, and Holy Ghost, and by the unspeakable 

 blessings we derive from their several offices and 

 operations. 



This distinction, utterly incomprehensible in it- 

 self, could never have been known to men but by 

 revelation. Nor could we have conceived it, jn any 

 Degree, had it not been discovered to us, under the 

 semblance of such relations, as are familiar among 

 men : as that of a Father arid a Son, and the Spirit 

 of a man, which is in him. And if we admit this 

 distinction at all, we must hold it to be so really 

 founded in the Divine Na'ure, that we cannot think 

 or speak of it any otherwise than as a personal dis- 

 tinction. For the Fattier, Sorr, and Holy Ghost, 

 are, in respect of one another, thus distinguished 

 through the whole language of revelation : and, in 

 respect of mankind, liicy are ever distinguished by 

 such different operations, as we distinguish human 

 persons by. So that, whatever is denoted by Father, 

 Son, and Spirit, we must either flatly reject the 

 scriptures, or else always speak and think of those 

 Three, as we do of three human persons. 



That Christ, the Second Person, had a being, be- 

 fore he was born of a virgin, is so evident from reve- 

 lation, that we can make no sense or coherence of 

 scripture, without allowing it : and there can be no 

 other purpose, in revealing all things concerning him-, 



