A calm and sober enquiry concerning the possibility of a Trinity in the Godhead…

And, if that would avail any thing, I could easily produce more School-men, than one, of no small note, concurring in this sentiment that [simplicitas, si sumatur in totâ suâ amplitudine, non dicit perfectionem simplicitèr.] But I count it not worth the while.

XIII. And let it be here again observed, I speak not of this, as any certain determination, that thus things are in the Deity; but as a possible supposition of what, for ought we know, may be. If any say this gives us the Notion of a ⟨p. 34⟩compounded Deity, or of a composition in it; I only say the term, composition, seems to imply a pre-existing component that brings such things together, and supposes such and such more simple things to have pre-existed apart or separate, and to be brought afterwards together into an united state. Whereupon I peremptorily deny any Composition in the Being of God. And let any man from what hath been hitherto said or supposed, infer it, if he can. Imagine this of the Godhead, and you shall, we acknowledge, conceive most untruly, most unworthily, most injuriously of God; and what is most absolutely impossible to agree to the Divine Being. And for this Reason only, that I know of, that carries any shadow of Importance in it, many have been so apt, without the least warrant from any revelation God hath given of himself, to ascribe to him an unintelligible simplicity; apprehending they must otherwise admit a composition in his most sacred ⟨p. 35⟩Essence, i. e. the putting of things together that were separate, to make it up; which must suppose it a new production, that once was not, and from an imperfect state by the Coalition of things once severed, to have arrived to the perfection we ascribe to the Divine Being; which sort of being cannot, without the most absurd and blasphemous contradiction, ever admit to be called God. But if we suppose most perfect, essential, Power, Wisdom, Love, by original, eternal, and most natural necessity to have co-existed in that being most intimately united, tho' distinct; that seemingly important reason, will appear but a shadow, and accordingly vanish as such.