The doctrine of the blessed Trinity, briefly explained in a letter to a friend
         Wallis, John, 1616-1703.
      
       
         
           1690
        
      
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             The doctrine of the blessed Trinity, briefly explained in a letter to a friend
             Wallis, John, 1616-1703.
          
           20 p.
           
             Printed for Tho. Parkhurst,
             [London :
             1690]
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
             Caption title.
             Signed: John Wallis.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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           Trinity -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           DOCTRINE
           OF
           THE
           Blessed
           Trinity
           Briefly
           Explained
           ,
           In
           a
           Letter
           to
           a
           Friend
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           THE
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           
             Arrians
             ,
             Socinians
          
           ,
           or
           Anti-Trinitarians
           ,
           (
           call
           them
           as
           you
           please
           ,
           provided
           you
           call
           them
           not
           
             Orthodox
             Christians
          
           )
           in
           opposition
           to
           those
           who
           believe
           (
           according
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           )
           ,
           That
           the
           Sacred
           Trinity
           ,
           of
           
             Father
             ,
             Son
          
           ,
           and
           Holy-Ghost
           ,
           are
           so
           distinguished
           each
           from
           other
           ,
           as
           that
           the
           Father
           is
           not
           the
           Son
           ,
           or
           Holy-Ghost
           ;
           the
           Son
           not
           the
           Father
           ,
           or
           Holy-Ghost
           ;
           the
           Holy-Ghost
           not
           the
           Father
           ,
           or
           Son
           ;
           yet
           so
           United
           ,
           
           as
           that
           they
           are
           all
           
             One
             God
          
           ;
           (
           which
           ,
           in
           the
           
             Athanasian
             Creed
          
           ,
           is
           called
           
             Trinity
             in
             Unity
             ,
             and
             Unity
             in
             Trinity
          
           ;
           or
           ,
           in
           common
           speaking
           ,
           
             Three
             Persons
             and
             One
             God
          
           ;
           )
           is
           what
           you
           were
           lately
           discoursing
           with
           me
           ,
           and
           of
           which
           I
           shall
           give
           you
           some
           of
           my
           present
           Thoughts
           .
        
         
           The
           Scripture
           tells
           us
           plainly
           ,
           
             There
             are
             Three
             that
             bear
             record
             in
             Heaven
             ;
             the
             Father
             ,
             the
             Word
             ,
             and
             the
             Holy-Ghost
             :
             and
             these
             Three
             are
             One
             ,
          
           1
           Joh.
           5.
           7.
           
           And
           the
           Form
           of
           Baptism
           (
           Matt.
           28.
           19.
           
           )
           is
           ,
           
             In
             the
             name
             of
             the
             Father
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Son
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Holy-Ghost
             .
          
        
         
           And
           the
           Christian
           Church
           ,
           from
           the
           time
           of
           Christ
           and
           his
           Apostles
           downwards
           hitherto
           ,
           as
           well
           before
           as
           since
           the
           Council
           of
           Nice
           ,
           have
           ever
           held
           the
           Divinity
           of
           those
           
             Three
             Persons
          
           (
           as
           they
           are
           commonly
           called
           ;
           )
           and
           that
           these
           Three
           are
           but
           
             One
             God.
          
           And
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           so
           held
           ,
           hath
           been
           ,
           by
           divers
           ,
           sufficiently
           proved
           from
           the
           most
           ancient
           christian
           Writers
           ,
           which
           are
           now
           extant
           .
           Which
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           I
           take
           for
           granted
           ,
           as
           sufficiently
           proved
           by
           others
           ,
           without
           spending
           time
           ,
           at
           present
           ,
           to
           prove
           it
           a-new
           .
        
         
         
           That
           these
           are
           Three
           ,
           distinguished
           each
           from
           other
           ,
           is
           manifest
           :
           And
           ,
           that
           this
           Distinction
           amongst
           themselves
           ,
           is
           wont
           to
           be
           called
           Personality
           .
           By
           which
           word
           ,
           we
           mean
           ,
           that
           Distinction
           (
           what
           ever
           it
           be
           )
           whereby
           they
           are
           distinguished
           each
           from
           other
           ,
           and
           thence
           called
           
             Three
             Persons
          
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           word
           Person
           do
           not
           please
           ,
           we
           need
           not
           be
           fond
           of
           Words
           ,
           so
           the
           Thing
           be
           agreed
           :
           Yet
           is
           it
           a
           good
           Word
           ,
           and
           warranted
           by
           Scripture
           ,
           Heb.
           1.
           3.
           where
           the
           Son
           is
           called
           ,
           
             the
             express
             image
             of
             his
          
           Father's
           Person
           :
           (
           For
           so
           we
           render
           the
           Word
           Hypostasis
           ,
           which
           is
           there
           used
           ;
           and
           mean
           by
           it
           ,
           what
           I
           think
           to
           be
           there
           meant
           )
           And
           we
           have
           no
           reason
           to
           wave
           the
           Word
           ,
           since
           we
           know
           no
           better
           to
           put
           in
           the
           Place
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           be
           asked
           ,
           what
           these
           Personalities
           or
           Characteristicks
           are
           ,
           whereby
           each
           Person
           is
           distinguished
           from
           other
           ;
           I
           think
           we
           have
           little
           more
           thereof
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           than
           that
           the
           Father
           is
           said
           to
           Beget
           ;
           the
           Son
           ,
           to
           be
           Begotten
           ;
           and
           the
           Holy-Ghost
           ,
           to
           Proceed
           .
        
         
           If
           it
           be
           further
           asked
           ,
           what
           is
           the
           full
           import
           of
           these
           Words
           (
           which
           are
           but
           Metaphorical
           )
           ,
           and
           what
           is
           the
           adequate
           Meaning
           
           of
           them
           )
           I
           think
           we
           need
           not
           trouble
           our selves
           about
           it
           :
           For
           ,
           since
           it
           is
           a
           matter
           purely
           of
           Revelation
           (
           not
           of
           natural
           Knowledge
           ,
           )
           and
           we
           know
           no
           more
           of
           it
           than
           what
           is
           revealed
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           where
           the
           Scripture
           is
           silent
           ,
           we
           may
           be
           content
           to
           be
           ignorant
           .
           And
           we
           who
           know
           so
           little
           of
           the
           Essence
           of
           any
           thing
           ,
           especially
           of
           Spiritual
           Beings
           ,
           though
           finite
           ,
           need
           not
           think
           it
           strange
           that
           we
           are
           not
           able
           to
           comprehend
           all
           the
           Particularities
           of
           what
           concerns
           that
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Blessed
             Trinity
          
           .
        
         
           I
           know
           that
           the
           Fathers
           ,
           and
           School-men
           ,
           and
           some
           after
           them
           ,
           have
           imployed
           their
           Wits
           to
           find
           out
           some
           faint
           Resemblances
           ,
           from
           natural
           things
           ,
           whereby
           to
           express
           their
           imperfect
           Conceptions
           of
           the
           
             Sacred
             Trinity
          
           :
           But
           they
           do
           not
           pretend
           to
           give
           an
           adequate
           Account
           of
           it
           ;
           but
           only
           some
           conjectural
           Hypotheses
           ,
           rather
           of
           what
           May
           be
           ,
           than
           of
           what
           certainly
           Is.
           Nor
           need
           we
           be
           concerned
           ,
           to
           be
           curiously
           inquisitive
           into
           it
           ,
           beyond
           what
           God
           hath
           been
           pleased
           to
           reveal
           concerning
           it
           .
        
         
           That
           the
           
             Three
             Persons
          
           are
           distinguished
           ,
           is
           evident
           ;
           (
           though
           we
           do
           not
           perfectly
           understand
           what
           those
           Distinctions
           are
           :
           )
           That
           to
           each
           of
           these
           ,
           the
           Scripture
           ascribes
           Divinity
           ,
           
           is
           abundantly
           shewed
           by
           those
           who
           have
           written
           on
           this
           Subject
           :
           That
           there
           is
           but
           
             One
             God
          
           ,
           is
           agreed
           on
           all
           hands
           :
           That
           the
           Father
           is
           said
           to
           Beget
           ;
           the
           Son
           ,
           to
           be
           Begotten
           ;
           and
           the
           Holy-Ghost
           ,
           to
           Proceed
           ;
           is
           agreed
           also
           ;
           though
           we
           do
           not
           perfectly
           understand
           the
           full
           Import
           of
           these
           Words
           .
        
         
           And
           here
           we
           might
           quietly
           acquiesce
           (
           without
           troubling
           our selves
           further
           ,
           )
           did
           not
           the
           clamorous
           Socinians
           importunely
           suggest
           the
           Impossibility
           and
           Inconsistence
           of
           these
           things
           ,
           insomuch
           as
           to
           tell
           us
           ,
           That
           ,
           how
           clear
           soever
           the
           Expressions
           of
           Scripture
           be
           ,
           or
           
             can
             be
          
           ,
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           they
           will
           not
           believe
           it
           ,
           as
           being
           inconsistent
           with
           natural
           Reason
           .
           And
           therefore
           ,
           though
           they
           do
           not
           yet
           think
           fit
           to
           give
           us
           a
           bare-fac'd
           Rejection
           of
           Scripture
           ;
           yet
           they
           do
           (
           and
           must
           ,
           they
           tell
           us
           ,
           )
           put
           such
           a
           forced
           Sence
           on
           the
           words
           of
           it
           (
           be
           they
           never
           so
           plain
           )
           as
           to
           make
           them
           signify
           somewhat
           else
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           ,
           therefore
           ,
           in
           this
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           ,
           as
           in
           that
           of
           the
           
             Resurrection
             from
             the
             Dead
          
           ,
           a
           double
           Inquiry
           :
           First
           ,
           whether
           it
           be
           Possible
           ;
           and
           then
           ,
           whether
           it
           be
           True.
           And
           these
           to
           be
           argued
           (
           in
           both
           Cases
           )
           from
           a
           very
           
           different
           Topick
           :
           The
           one
           from
           Natural
           Reason
           ;
           the
           other
           from
           Revelation
           .
           Yet
           so
           ,
           that
           this
           latter
           doth
           certainly
           conclude
           the
           former
           ,
           if
           rightly
           understood
           .
           And
           though
           we
           should
           not
           be
           able
           to
           solve
           all
           Difficulties
           ;
           yet
           must
           we
           believe
           the
           thing
           ,
           if
           revealed
           ;
           unless
           we
           will
           deny
           the
           Authority
           of
           such
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           Thus
           our
           Saviour
           ,
           against
           the
           Sadducees
           ,
           who
           denied
           the
           Resurrection
           ,
           
             Matth.
             22.
             29.
             
             Ye
             erre
          
           (
           saith
           he
           )
           
             not
             knowing
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             nor
             the
             Power
             of
             God.
          
           The
           
             Power
             of
             God
          
           ,
           if
           rightly
           understood
           ,
           was
           enough
           (
           from
           the
           Light
           of
           Reason
           )
           to
           prove
           it
           
             not
             impossible
          
           :
           But
           ,
           whether
           or
           no
           it
           
             will
             be
             so
          
           (
           which
           natural
           Reason
           could
           not
           determine
           ,
           )
           was
           to
           be
           argued
           from
           Scripture-Revelation
           .
        
         
           In
           like
           manner
           ,
           St.
           Paul
           before
           
             Agrippa
             ,
             Act.
          
           26.
           first
           argues
           the
           Possibility
           of
           it
           ;
           
             Why
             should
             it
             be
             thought
             a
             thing
             incredible
             with
             you
             ,
             that
             God
             should
             raise
             the
             Dead
             ?
          
           ver
           .
           8.
           
           For
           if
           Agrippa
           did
           believe
           the
           Creation
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           (
           as
           many
           even
           of
           the
           Heathen
           did
           ,
           from
           the
           light
           of
           Nature
           )
           he
           could
           not
           think
           it
           Impossible
           for
           that
           God
           (
           who
           had
           at
           first
           made
           all
           things
           of
           nothing
           )
           to
           recollect
           ,
           out
           of
           its
           Dust
           or
           
           Ashes
           ,
           a
           Body
           which
           once
           had
           been
           .
           But
           whether
           or
           no
           he
           would
           do
           so
           ,
           depended
           upon
           another
           Question
           ,
           to
           be
           after
           asked
           ,
           
             ver
             .
             27.
             
             King
             Agrippa
             ,
             believest
             thou
             the
             Prophets
             ?
          
           For
           this
           was
           purely
           matter
           of
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           could
           not
           otherwise
           be
           known
           :
           For
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           
             Immortality
             of
             the
             Sou●
          
           ,
           and
           a
           future
           state
           hereafter
           ,
           many
           of
           the
           Heathens
           went
           very
           far
           ,
           by
           the
           Light
           of
           Nature
           ;
           but
           as
           to
           the
           
             Resurrection
             of
             the
             Body
          
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           find
           they
           had
           any
           Sentiments
           about
           it
           (
           or
           but
           very
           faint
           ,
           if
           any
           :
           )
           And
           if
           they
           had
           ,
           it
           may
           well
           be
           supposed
           to
           be
           the
           remainder
           of
           some
           ancient
           Tradition
           from
           the
           Jews
           ,
           or
           their
           Predecessors
           .
           Nor
           do
           I
           see
           any
           foundation
           in
           Nature
           ,
           which
           should
           make
           them
           think
           of
           it
           (
           before
           it
           was
           revealed
           )
           any
           more
           ,
           than
           of
           the
           Redemption
           of
           Mankind
           by
           Christ
           ,
           (
           which
           we
           should
           never
           have
           thought
           of
           ,
           had
           not
           God
           himself
           contrived
           and
           declared
           it
           to
           us
           .
           )
           But
           ,
           when
           that
           of
           the
           Resurrection
           was
           once
           suggested
           ,
           there
           was
           no
           pretence
           of
           Reason
           to
           think
           it
           a
           thing
           Impossible
           ,
           and
           therefore
           no
           reason
           to
           doubt
           the
           Truth
           of
           it
           ,
           when
           Declared
           ,
           if
           we
           believe
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           wherein
           it
           is
           revealed
           ;
           especially
           those
           of
           the
           New
           Testament
           .
        
         
         
           It
           is
           much
           the
           same
           as
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           .
           It
           is
           a
           thing
           we
           should
           not
           have
           thought
           of
           ,
           if
           it
           had
           not
           been
           suggested
           by
           Divine
           Writers
           ;
           but
           ,
           when
           suggested
           ,
           there
           is
           nothing
           in
           natural
           Reason
           (
           that
           we
           know
           of
           ,
           or
           can
           know
           of
           )
           why
           it
           should
           be
           thought
           Impossible
           ;
           but
           whether
           or
           no
           it
           
             be
             so
          
           ,
           depends
           only
           upon
           Revelation
           .
        
         
           And
           in
           this
           case
           the
           Revelation
           seems
           so
           clear
           (
           to
           those
           who
           believe
           the
           Scriptures
           )
           that
           we
           have
           not
           reason
           to
           doubt
           of
           it
           ,
           unless
           the
           thing
           be
           found
           to
           be
           really
           Impossible
           ,
           and
           inconsistent
           with
           Reason
           .
           Nor
           do
           the
           Anti-Trinitarians
           insist
           on
           any
           other
           ground
           why
           they
           deny
           it
           ,
           save
           only
           ,
           That
           it
           seems
           to
           them
           absolutely
           Impossible
           ;
           and
           therefore
           think
           themselves
           bound
           to
           put
           another
           Sence
           on
           all
           Places
           of
           Scripture
           (
           how
           clear
           soever
           they
           be
           ,
           or
           can
           be
           )
           which
           prove
           or
           favour
           it
           .
        
         
           So
           that
           the
           Controversie
           is
           now
           reduced
           to
           this
           single
           Point
           ,
           Whether
           it
           be
           Possible
           or
           
             not
             Possible
          
           :
           Whether
           it
           be
           consistent
           or
           inconsistent
           with
           Natural
           Light
           or
           Reason
           .
           (
           And
           to
           that
           point
           therefore
           I
           shall
           confine
           my
           Discourse
           .
           )
           For
           it
           seems
           agreed
           on
           all
           hands
           (
           as
           to
           those
           who
           believe
           the
           Scriptures
           )
           that
           ,
           if
           
           it
           be
           not
           Impossible
           ,
           it
           is
           sufficiently
           revealed
           .
        
         
           Now
           for
           us
           who
           understand
           so
           little
           of
           God's
           infinite
           Essence
           ,
           and
           which
           it
           is
           impossible
           for
           us
           fully
           to
           comprehend
           ,
           who
           are
           our selves
           but
           finite
           ,
           and
           mostly
           conversant
           with
           material
           Objects
           ;
           in
           so
           much
           that
           we
           cannot
           pretend
           to
           understand
           the
           Essence
           of
           our
           own
           Souls
           ;
           and
           ,
           when
           we
           attempt
           to
           explain
           it
           ,
           must
           do
           it
           rather
           by
           saying
           what
           it
           is
           not
           ,
           than
           what
           it
           is
           ;
           (
           so
           hard
           a
           matter
           is
           it
           for
           us
           to
           fix
           in
           our
           Mind
           or
           Fancy
           ,
           a
           Notion
           ,
           Idea
           ,
           or
           Conception
           of
           a
           spiritual
           Being
           ,
           which
           falls
           not
           under
           our
           Senses
           :
           )
           'T
           is
           hard
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           for
           us
           (
           who
           understand
           so
           little
           of
           a
           Spirit
           )
           to
           determine
           (
           of
           what
           God
           is
           pleased
           to
           reveal
           )
           that
           it
           is
           Impossible
           ,
           or
           inconsistent
           with
           his
           Essence
           ,
           which
           Essence
           we
           cannot
           understand
           .
        
         
           But
           what
           is
           it
           that
           is
           thus
           pretended
           to
           be
           Impossible
           ?
           'T
           is
           but
           this
           ,
           That
           
             there
             be
             Three
             Somewhats
             ,
             which
             are
             but
             One
             God
             :
          
           (
           and
           these
           Somewhats
           we
           commonly
           call
           Persons
           .
           )
           Now
           what
           Inconsistence
           is
           there
           in
           all
           this
           ?
           That
           
             Father
             ,
             Son
          
           ,
           and
           Holy-Ghost
           are
           Three
           ,
           is
           manifest
           ;
           and
           are
           in
           Scripture-Language
           distinguished
           .
           That
           there
           is
           but
           
             One
             God
          
           is
           manifest
           
           also
           ,
           and
           all
           those
           Three
           are
           this
           God
           :
           That
           the
           name
           Person
           is
           no
           incongruous
           Word
           ,
           is
           evident
           from
           Heb.
           1.
           3.
           where
           it
           is
           used
           .
           If
           it
           be
           said
           ,
           It
           doth
           not
           agree
           to
           them
           exactly
           in
           the
           same
           Sence
           in
           which
           it
           is
           commonly
           used
           amongst
           men
           ;
           we
           say
           so
           too
           ,
           nor
           doth
           any
           Word
           ,
           when
           applyed
           to
           God
           ,
           signifie
           just
           the
           same
           as
           when
           applyed
           to
           men
           ,
           but
           only
           somewhat
           analogous
           thereunto
           .
        
         
           What
           kind
           or
           degree
           of
           Distinction
           (
           according
           to
           our
           Metaphysicks
           )
           this
           is
           ,
           we
           need
           not
           be
           very
           sollicitous
           to
           enquire
           ;
           or
           ,
           whether
           in
           our
           Metaphysicks
           (
           accommodated
           to
           our
           Notions
           of
           Finite
           Beings
           )
           there
           be
           any
           Name
           for
           it
           :
           'T
           is
           enough
           for
           us
           if
           these
           Three
           may
           truly
           be
           so
           distinguished
           ,
           as
           that
           one
           be
           not
           the
           other
           ,
           and
           yet
           all
           but
           
             One
             God.
          
           
        
         
           Now
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           Inconsistence
           or
           Impossibility
           ,
           that
           ,
           what
           in
           one
           regard
           are
           Three
           ,
           may
           in
           another
           regard
           be
           One
           ,
           is
           very
           manifest
           from
           many
           Instances
           that
           may
           be
           given
           even
           in
           Finite
           Beings
           ,
           such
           as
           we
           converse
           with
           ;
           which
           ,
           though
           they
           do
           not
           adequately
           agree
           with
           this
           of
           the
           
             Sacred
             Trinity
          
           ,
           (
           nor
           is
           it
           to
           be
           expected
           that
           they
           should
           ;
           Finite
           ,
           with
           what
           is
           Infinite
           ;
           )
           yet
           there
           is
           enough
           in
           them
           to
           shew
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           such
           Inconsistence
           as
           is
           pretended
           .
        
         
         
           I
           shall
           spare
           to
           instance
           in
           many
           Resemblances
           which
           have
           been
           given
           long
           since
           by
           Fathers
           and
           Schoolmen
           ,
           or
           by
           later
           Writers
           .
           Which
           though
           they
           are
           not
           pretended
           to
           be
           adequately
           the
           same
           with
           that
           of
           the
           
             Sacred
             Trinity
          
           ,
           (
           as
           neither
           will
           any
           thing
           else
           be
           that
           we
           can
           take
           from
           finite
           Beings
           ;
           )
           yet
           are
           they
           sufficient
           to
           shew
           that
           there
           is
           no
           Inconsistence
           in
           it
           .
           (
           Which
           is
           all
           that
           is
           here
           incumbent
           on
           us
           to
           prove
           .
           )
           I
           shall
           only
           name
           a
           few
           .
        
         
           I
           will
           begin
           with
           what
           concerns
           the
           most
           gross
           of
           Finite
           Beings
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           Material
           Bodies
           .
        
         
         
           Suppose
           we
           further
           ,
           Each
           of
           these
           Dimensions
           infinitely
           continued
           ;
           the
           Length
           infinitely
           Eastward
           and
           Westward
           ,
           the
           Breadth
           infinitely
           Northward
           and
           Southward
           ,
           the
           Heighth
           infinitely
           Upward
           and
           Downward
           :
           Here
           are
           Three
           infinite
           Dimensions
           ,
           and
           but
           One
           infinite
           Cube
           ;
           and
           these
           Three
           Dimensions
           (
           though
           distinct
           )
           are
           equal
           each
           to
           other
           (
           else
           it
           were
           not
           a
           Cube
           ;
           )
           and
           though
           we
           should
           allow
           ,
           that
           a
           Cube
           cannot
           be
           infinite
           (
           because
           a
           Body
           ,
           and
           therefore
           a
           finite
           Creature
           :
           )
           Yet
           a
           Spirit
           may
           ;
           such
           as
           is
           the
           Infinite
           God.
           And
           
           therefore
           no
           Inconsistence
           ;
           that
           there
           be
           Three
           Personalities
           (
           each
           infinite
           ,
           and
           all
           equal
           )
           ,
           and
           yet
           but
           One
           Infinite
           God
           ,
           essentially
           the
           same
           with
           those
           
             Three
             Persons
          
           .
        
         
           I
           add
           further
           ,
           That
           such
           Infinite
           Cube
           ,
           can
           therefore
           be
           but
           One
           ,
           and
           those
           Three
           Dimensions
           can
           be
           but
           Three
           ,
           (
           not
           more
           nor
           fewer
           :
           )
           For
           ,
           if
           Infinite
           as
           to
           its
           Length
           (
           Eastward
           and
           Westward
           )
           ,
           and
           as
           to
           its
           Breadth
           (
           Northward
           and
           Southward
           )
           ,
           and
           as
           to
           its
           Heighth
           (
           Upward
           and
           Downward
           )
           ;
           it
           will
           take
           up
           all
           imaginary
           space
           possible
           ,
           and
           leave
           no
           room
           either
           for
           more
           Cubes
           or
           more
           Dimensions
           :
           And
           if
           this
           infinite
           Cube
           were
           (
           and
           shall
           be
           )
           Eternally
           so
           ,
           its
           Dimensions
           also
           must
           be
           Infinite
           and
           Co-eternal
           .
        
         
           I
           say
           further
           ,
           If
           in
           this
           (
           supposed
           )
           Cube
           ,
           (
           we
           suppose
           in
           Order
           ,
           not
           in
           Time
           )
           its
           first
           Dimension
           ,
           that
           of
           Length
           ,
           as
           
             A.
             B.
          
           ,
           and
           to
           this
           Length
           be
           given
           an
           equal
           Breadth
           (
           which
           is
           the
           true
           generation
           of
           a
           Square
           )
           as
           
             C.
             D.
          
           ,
           which
           compleats
           the
           square
           Basis
           of
           this
           Cube
           ;
           and
           to
           this
           Basis
           (
           of
           Length
           and
           Breadth
           )
           be
           given
           (
           as
           by
           a
           further
           Procession
           from
           Both
           )
           an
           equal
           Heighth
           
             E.
             F.
          
           ,
           which
           compleats
           the
           Cube
           ;
           and
           all
           this
           eternally
           ,
           
           (
           for
           such
           is
           the
           Cube
           supposed
           to
           be
           ,
           )
           here
           is
           a
           fair
           Resemblance
           (
           if
           we
           may
           
             parvis
             componere
             magna
          
           )
           of
           the
           Father
           ,
           (
           as
           the
           Fountain
           or
           Original
           ;
           )
           of
           the
           Son
           ,
           (
           as
           generated
           of
           him
           from
           all
           Eternity
           ;
           )
           and
           of
           the
           Holy-Ghost
           ,
           (
           as
           eternally
           Proceeding
           from
           Both
           :
           )
           And
           all
           this
           without
           any
           Inconsistence
           .
           This
           
             longum
             ,
             latum
             ,
             profundum
          
           ,
           (
           Long
           ,
           Broad
           ,
           and
           Tall
           ,
           )
           is
           but
           One
           Cube
           ;
           of
           
             Three
             Dimensions
          
           ,
           and
           yet
           but
           
             One
             Body
          
           :
           And
           this
           
             Father
             ,
             Son
          
           ,
           and
           
             Holy-Ghost
             ;
             Three
             Persons
          
           ,
           and
           yet
           but
           
             One
             God.
          
           And
           as
           ,
           there
           ,
           the
           Dimensions
           are
           not
           (
           in
           the
           Abstract
           )
           predicated
           or
           affirmed
           each
           of
           other
           ,
           or
           the
           Cube
           of
           either
           ,
           (
           the
           Length
           is
           not
           the
           Breadth
           or
           Heighth
           ,
           nor
           either
           of
           these
           a
           Cube
           ;
           )
           but
           (
           in
           the
           Concrete
           )
           Cube
           is
           affirmed
           of
           all
           ;
           this
           
             longum
             ,
             latum
             ,
             profundum
          
           ,
           is
           a
           Cube
           ,
           and
           the
           
             same
             Cube
          
           :
           So
           here
           ,
           (
           in
           the
           Abstract
           )
           the
           Personality
           of
           the
           Father
           is
           not
           that
           of
           the
           Son
           ,
           nor
           either
           of
           these
           that
           of
           the
           Holy-Ghost
           ,
           nor
           the
           Deity
           or
           Godhead
           any
           of
           these
           ;
           but
           (
           in
           the
           Concrete
           )
           though
           the
           Personalities
           are
           not
           ,
           yet
           the
           Persons
           are
           ,
           each
           of
           them
           God
           and
           the
           
             same
             God.
          
           
        
         
           If
           it
           be
           objected
           ,
           that
           those
           Concretes
           are
           Affirmed
           or
           Predicated
           each
           of
           other
           ;
           (
           that
           
           longum
           is
           also
           latum
           and
           profundum
           ,
           (
           this
           Long
           is
           Broad
           and
           Tall
           ;
           )
           but
           not
           so
           here
           ,
           the
           Father
           is
           not
           the
           Son
           or
           Holy-Ghost
           :
           I
           answer
           ,
           That
           ,
           if
           the
           words
           be
           rightly
           considered
           ,
           the
           Analogy
           holds
           here
           also
           :
           For
           when
           we
           say
           ,
           this
           Long
           is
           Broad
           and
           Tall
           (
           where
           Cube
           or
           Body
           is
           understood
           )
           the
           full
           meaning
           is
           plainly
           thus
           ;
           This
           Body
           ,
           which
           ,
           as
           to
           one
           Dimension
           (
           that
           of
           Length
           )
           ,
           is
           said
           to
           be
           a
           long
           Body
           ,
           is
           the
           same
           Body
           ,
           which
           ,
           as
           to
           another
           Dimension
           (
           that
           of
           Breadth
           )
           ,
           is
           said
           to
           be
           a
           broad
           Body
           ,
           and
           which
           ,
           as
           to
           a
           third
           Dimension
           (
           that
           of
           Heighth
           )
           ,
           is
           said
           to
           be
           a
           tall
           Body
           .
           So
           here
           ,
           That
           God
           ,
           which
           (
           as
           to
           one
           Personality
           )
           is
           
             God
             the
             Father
          
           ,
           is
           the
           same
           God
           ,
           which
           (
           as
           to
           another
           Personality
           )
           is
           
             God
             the
             Son
          
           ,
           and
           which
           (
           as
           to
           a
           third
           Personality
           )
           is
           
             God
             the
             Holy-Ghost
          
           .
           So
           the
           Analogy
           holds
           every
           way
           ,
           nor
           is
           there
           any
           Inconsistence
           in
           either
           Case
           .
        
         
           I
           proceed
           to
           the
           Consideration
           of
           somewhat
           more
           Spiritual
           ,
           and
           less
           Material
           than
           that
           of
           a
           Body
           locally
           extended
           .
        
         
           Suppose
           we
           then
           a
           Created
           Angel
           ,
           or
           Humane
           Soul
           :
           at
           least
           if
           those
           who
           deny
           the
           
             Blessed
             Trinity
          
           will
           allow
           that
           there
           are
           such
           Beings
           ;
           but
           if
           they
           be
           Sadducees
           ,
           who
           do
           not
           
           acknowledge
           either
           Angel
           or
           Spirit
           ,
           or
           that
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           are
           the
           word
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           testifie
           both
           ,
           (
           which
           I
           doubt
           is
           the
           case
           of
           some
           of
           them
           )
           let
           them
           speak
           out
           ,
           that
           so
           we
           may
           know
           whom
           we
           have
           to
           deal
           with
           ;
           and
           not
           pretend
           to
           nibble
           only
           at
           the
           
             Athanasian
             Creed
          
           ,
           or
           some
           Expressions
           therein
           ,
           while
           the
           quarrel
           is
           indeed
           at
           somewhat
           higher
           ,
           (
           though
           ,
           
             ad
             amoliendam
             invidiam
          
           ,
           they
           think
           fit
           to
           dissemble
           it
           ,
           )
           and
           that
           they
           do
           but
           faintly
           believe
           (
           if
           at
           all
           )
           that
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           )
           are
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           the
           Doctrines
           therein
           contained
           to
           be
           such
           .
           And
           we
           have
           reason
           to
           suspect
           it
           ,
           when
           they
           spare
           not
           to
           let
           us
           know
           ,
           that
           ,
           were
           this
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           therein
           delivered
           in
           Words
           as
           express
           as
           could
           be
           ,
           they
           would
           not
           believe
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           suppose
           we
           ,
           (
           what
           they
           would
           seem
           to
           grant
           ,
           and
           what
           I
           am
           so
           charitable
           as
           to
           think
           divers
           of
           them
           do
           believe
           )
           That
           there
           are
           Spiritual
           Beings
           ,
           such
           as
           Angels
           and
           the
           Souls
           of
           Men
           ;
           and
           that
           these
           Spiritual
           Beings
           are
           endued
           with
           Knowledge
           (
           or
           Wisdom
           )
           and
           Force
           (
           or
           an
           executive
           Power
           )
           to
           act
           according
           to
           that
           Knowledge
           .
           That
           there
           is
           some
           such
           thing
           ,
           at
           least
           in
           Man
           ,
           (
           whether
           Body
           
           or
           Soul
           )
           they
           cannot
           but
           acknowledge
           ;
           for
           themselves
           be
           ,
           and
           know
           ,
           and
           do
           .
           And
           though
           we
           cannot
           fully
           comprehend
           ,
           much
           less
           express
           in
           Words
           ,
           how
           all
           this
           is
           so
           ;
           (
           for
           we
           are
           here
           at
           a
           loss
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           in
           higher
           things
           :
           )
           Yet
           ,
           
             that
             it
             is
          
           ,
           they
           cannot
           deny
           ,
           though
           they
           do
           not
           know
           How.
           
        
         
           Now
           ,
           to
           Be
           ,
           and
           to
           Know
           ,
           and
           to
           Do
           ,
           are
           certainly
           distinct
           each
           from
           other
           ,
           (
           though
           perhaps
           we
           are
           not
           all
           agreed
           ,
           of
           what
           kind
           ,
           or
           in
           what
           degree
           this
           Distinction
           is
           :
           )
           
             To
             be
          
           is
           not
           the
           same
           as
           
             to
             know
          
           ,
           for
           that
           may
           be
           were
           this
           is
           not
           ;
           and
           
             to
             do
          
           is
           (
           for
           the
           same
           reason
           )
           somewhat
           different
           from
           both
           those
           ,
           for
           a
           Man
           may
           Be
           and
           may
           Know
           what
           he
           doth
           not
           Do
           ;
           yet
           't
           is
           one
           and
           the
           same
           Soul
           (
           at
           least
           one
           and
           the
           same
           Man
           )
           which
           Is
           ,
           and
           Knows
           ,
           and
           Does
           .
           There
           is
           therefore
           no
           Impossibility
           or
           Inconsistence
           in
           it
           ,
           That
           what
           in
           one
           regard
           are
           Three
           ,
           may
           in
           another
           regard
           be
           One.
           Thus
           in
           the
           
             Sacred
             Trinity
          
           ,
           if
           we
           conceive
           of
           the
           Father
           as
           the
           Original
           or
           First
           Person
           ,
           who
           begets
           the
           Son
           ;
           the
           Son
           as
           the
           Wisdom
           of
           the
           
             Father
             ,
             begotten
          
           of
           Him
           ;
           and
           the
           Holy-Ghost
           as
           the
           Spirit
           of
           the
           Father
           and
           the
           Son
           ,
           as
           proceeding
           from
           Both
           ,
           and
           yet
           the
           same
           God
           with
           both
           ;
           (
           or
           what
           other
           Distinction
           
           there
           may
           be
           of
           these
           
             Three
             Persons
          
           ,
           who
           are
           but
           
             One
             God
          
           ,
           that
           we
           do
           not
           know
           ;
           )
           there
           is
           no
           Inconsistence
           in
           it
           ,
           that
           these
           Three
           may
           be
           
             One
             ;
             Three
          
           in
           one
           regard
           ,
           and
           One
           in
           another
           .
        
         
           I
           might
           shew
           the
           same
           as
           to
           the
           
             Understanding
             ,
             Will
          
           ,
           and
           Meaning
           ,
           which
           are
           all
           the
           same
           Soul
           :
           And
           the
           known
           Metaphysical
           Terms
           of
           
             Unum
             ,
             Verum
             ,
             Bonum
          
           ,
           which
           are
           all
           but
           the
           same
           Ens.
           And
           many
           other
           Instances
           of
           like
           Nature
           .
        
         
           But
           we
           hold
           (
           it
           will
           be
           said
           )
           a
           greater
           Distinction
           (
           than
           that
           of
           
             Unum
             ,
             Verum
             ,
             Bonum
          
           )
           between
           the
           
             Three
             Persons
          
           in
           the
           
             Sacred
             Trinity
          
           .
           Be
           it
           so
           .
           (
           But
           what
           that
           greater
           Distinction
           is
           ,
           we
           do
           not
           pretend
           to
           comprehend
           .
           )
           However
           ,
           it
           is
           from
           all
           these
           Instances
           evident
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           no
           Impossibility
           ,
           or
           Inconsistence
           with
           Reason
           ,
           that
           what
           in
           one
           regard
           are
           Three
           ,
           may
           in
           another
           Regard
           be
           One.
           Which
           is
           what
           we
           undertook
           to
           shew
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           that
           not
           any
           ,
           nor
           all
           of
           these
           Instances
           ,
           nor
           any
           of
           those
           given
           by
           other
           Learned
           Mendo
           adequately
           express
           the
           Distinction
           and
           Unity
           of
           the
           Persons
           in
           the
           
             Sacred
             Trinity
          
           ,
           (
           for
           neither
           hath
           God
           distinctly
           declared
           it
           to
           us
           ,
           
           nor
           are
           we
           able
           fully
           to
           comprehend
           it
           ,
           nor
           is
           it
           necessary
           for
           us
           to
           know
           .
           )
           But
           because
           we
           do
           not
           know
           a
           
             How
             the
             bones
             grow
             in
             the
             womb
             of
             her
             that
             is
             with
             child
             ,
          
           shall
           we
           therefore
           say
           they
           do
           not
           grow
           there
           ?
           Or
           ,
           because
           b
           
             We
             cannot
             by
             searching
             find
             out
             God
             ,
          
           because
           
             we
             cannot
             find
             out
             the
             Almighty
             to
             perfection
             ,
          
           shall
           we
           therefore
           say
           ,
           things
           
             cannot
             be
          
           ,
           when
           God
           says
           they
           are
           ,
           only
           because
           we
           know
           not
           How
           ?
           If
           God
           say
           ,
           c
           
             These
             Three
             are
             One
          
           ?
           shall
           we
           say
           ,
           they
           are
           not
           ?
           If
           God
           say
           ,
           d
           
             The
             word
             was
             God
          
           ,
           and
           ,
           
             The
             word
             was
             made
             Flesh
          
           ,
           shall
           we
           say
           ,
           Not
           so
           ,
           only
           becaue
           we
           cannot
           tell
           How
           ?
           It
           is
           safer
           to
           say
           It
           is
           ,
           when
           God
           says
           It
           is
           ,
           though
           we
           know
           not
           (
           in
           particular
           )
           How
           it
           is
           .
           Especially
           when
           there
           be
           so
           many
           Instances
           in
           Nature
           ,
           to
           shew
           it
           not
           to
           be
           Impossible
           or
           Inconsistent
           with
           Reason
           .
           The
           thing
           is
           sufficiently
           revealed
           to
           those
           who
           are
           willing
           to
           be
           taught
           ,
           and
           e
           
             receive
             the
             truth
             in
             the
             love
             of
             it
             .
          
           (
           Nor
           is
           it
           denyed
           ,
           by
           those
           who
           gainsay
           it
           ,
           but
           that
           ,
           if
           the
           thing
           be
           possible
           ,
           it
           is
           sufficiently
           revealed
           ;
           there
           being
           no
           other
           Exception
           made
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Revelation
           ,
           but
           the
           Impossibility
           of
           
           the
           thing
           .
           )
           f
           
             But
             if
             any
             man
             list
             to
             be
             contentious
             ,
          
           and
           to
           g
           
             quarrel
             about
             words
          
           ,
           it
           is
           no
           wonder
           if
           h
           
             hearing
             they
             do
             hear
             and
             not
             understand
          
           ;
           and
           that
           God
           i
           
             give
             them
             over
             to
             believe
             a
             lye
             ,
          
           who
           do
           not
           
             love
             the
             truth
          
           .
           But
           k
           
             the
             humble
             he
             will
             teach
             his
             way
             .
          
           And
           ,
           while
           we
           be
           so
           ,
           we
           be
           safe
           .
        
         
           
             
               August
               11.
               1690.
               
            
          
           
             Yours
             ,
             
               Iohn
               Wallis
            
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A67385-e10
           
             a
             Eccles.
             11
             ▪
             5.
             
          
           
             b
             Job
             11.
             7.
             
          
           
             c
             1
             Joh.
             5.
             7.
             
          
           
             d
             Joh.
             1.
             1
             ,
             14.
             
          
           
             e
             2
             Thess.
             2.
             10.
             
          
           
             f
             1
             Cor.
             11.
             16.
             
             Rom.
             2.
             8.
             
          
           
             g
             2
             Tim.
             6.
             4.
             
             Tit.
             3.
             9.
             
          
           
             h
             Act.
             28.
             28.
             
             Matth.
             13.
             13.
             
          
           
             i
             2
             Thess.
             2.
             10
             ,
             11.
             
             Rom.
             1.
             21
             ,
             28.
             
          
           
             k
             Psal.
             25.
             9.