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

XXVI. The Scriptures were writ for the instruction of sober learners; not for the pastime of contentious wits, that affect only to play tricks upon them. At their rate of interpreting, among whom he ranks himself, 'tis impossible any Doctrine can with certainty, be founded upon them. Take the first Chapter of St. John's Gospel for instance, and what Doctrine can be asserted in plainer words, than the Deity of Christ, in the three first Verses of that Chapter? Set any man of an ordinary, unprepossest understanding, to read them, and when he finds that by the Word is meant Jesus Christ (which themselves admit) see if he will not judge it plainly taught, that Jesus Christ is God, in the most eminent, known sense. Especially when he shall take notice of so many other Texts, that, according to their most obvious appearance, carry the same sense. But it is first, thorough mere shortness of discourse, taken for granted, and rashly concluded on, that it is absolutely ⟨p. 69⟩impossible, if the Father be God, the Son can be God too (or the Holy Ghost) upon a presumption, that we can know every thing that belongs to the Divine Nature; and what is possible to be in it, and what not; and next, there is hereupon not only a license imagined, but an obligation, and necessity, to shake Heaven and Earth, or tear that divine Word that is more stable, into a thousand pieces, or expound it to nothing, to make it comply with that forelaid presumptuous determination. Whereas if we could but bend our Minds so far to comply with the plain ducture of that revelation God hath made unto us of himself; as to apprehend that, in the most only Godhead there may be distinctions, which we particularly understand not, sufficient to found the Doctrine of a Trinity therein, and very consistent with the unity of it; we should save the divine Word, and our own Minds, from unjust torture, both at once. And our task, herein, will be the easier, that we ⟨p. 70⟩are neither concerned nor allowed to determine, that things are precisely so, or so; but only to suppose it possible that so they may be, for ought that we know. Which will I am certain not be so hard, nor so bold an undertaking, as his, who shall take upon him to prove, that any thing here supposed is impossible.

XXVI. The Scriptures were writ for the instruction of sober learners; not for the pastime of contentious wits, that affect only to play tricks upon them. At their rate of interpreting, among whom he ranks himself, 'tis impossible any Doctrine can with certainty, be founded upon them. Take the first Chapter of St. John's Gospel for instance, and what Doctrine can be asserted in plainer words, than the Deity of Christ, in the three first Verses of that Chapter? Set any man of an ordinary, unprepossest understanding, to read them, and when he finds that by the Word is meant Jesus Christ (which themselves admit) see if he will not judge it plainly taught, that Jesus Christ is God, in the most eminent, known sense. Especially when he shall take notice of so many other Texts, that, according to their most obvious appearance, carry the same sense. But it is first, thorough meer shortness of discourse, taken for granted, and rashly concluded on, that it is absolutely