N04855:83
Some select cases resolved. Specially, tending to the right ordering of the heart, that…
Some select cases resolved. Specially, tending to the right ordering of the heart, that we may comfortably walk with God in our general and particular callings: &c. In a letter to a pious friend in England. / By Thomas Shepard, M.A. Formerly of Emmanuel-College in Cambridge in England: afterward Minister of Cambridge in New-England. ; Corrected by four several editions.
Boston: printed by Rogers and Fowle, 1747
Case 3: CASE. III. Of conceiving aright of the Holy Trinity.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. Hence it follows, that when Christ addresseth himself to the Father as Father in Scripture, it is not because He is either a diverse or greater God than the Holy Ghost, but it is for two other reasons.
1. Because the Father as Father, received primarily the wrong that sin did against his work of creation: For the Father being the first person in order and creation, the first transient act as (election and reprobation were the first immanent); hence this work is attributed chiefly to God the Father, in respect of our orderly apprehension: and hence man sinning then when he was only made, this is chiefly attributed to be against the Father, because his work appeared to be chiefly there; and not against the Son, for his work chiefly appears in redemption, he being the second Person, and this the second main and wonderful work; neither against the Holy Ghost, for his work chiefly appears to us in application, being the third Person, and this the third main act that ever God will do, or show forth to the world in this life. Hence God the Father receiving to our apprehension, the wrong in creation by sin, He is the Person that is to be satisfied, and not the Holy Ghost. And ⟨p. 21⟩hence Jesus Christ, in all his prayers has a most special eye to Him, and not to the Holy Ghost (as Holy Ghost) because He came into the world, by his death, and intercession, and strong cries to satisfy God the Father, and not God the Holy Ghost as a third Person. And hence it is said, 1. John 2.1, 2. If any sin, we have an Advocate with God the Father, (not God the Holy Ghost) because He was, to our apprehension, the Person wronged: and hence we are, after sins committed, chiefly to eye the Father in our prayers, and to go to him for pardon with our Advocate with us; because to whom offence is chiefly offered, from him chiefly pardon and reconciliation is to be expected.
1. Because the Father as Father, received primarily the wrong that sin did against his work of creation: For the Father being the first person in order and creation, the first transcient act as (election and reprobation were the first immanent); hence this work is atributed chiefly to God the Father, in respect of our orderly apprehension: and hence man sinning then when he was only made, this is chiefly attributed to be against the Father, because his work appeared to be chiefly there; and not against the Son, for his work chiefly appears in redemption, he being the second Person, and this the second main and wonderful work; neither against the Holy Ghost, for his work chiefly appears to us in application, being the third Person, and this the third main act that ever God will do, or show forth to the world in this life. Hence God the Father receiving to our apprehension, the wrong in creation by sin, He is the Person that is to be satisfied, and not the Holy Ghost. And