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them witfe that ; diligence' as you have done into ; Irenaaus ; and I might make the very ^ sanie remarks concerning them . They sometimes express them * selves like the Arians , sometimes like the Sabellians . Now the query is > which of their ways of speaking must be reduced to the other , and
interpreted by die other ? I know no intelligible medium but what I have proposed > Dissert . 4 . Sect . 7 . With regard to the different explications of the doctrine of the Trinity , 1 am very much of your mind ; that is , it is necessary to distinguish the doctrine itself from the human explications . Lei us but suppose a divine com * munion between the Sacred Three
sufficient to answer the divine titles and characters and honours given them in Scripture , and a sufficient distinction to answer their several offices , and this is abundantly enough for our salvation ; though we be much at a loss about any farther determination .
Yet , amongst men of learning and inquiry , methinks * tis not enough to say that God is an infinite spirit , which we all confess , and that the Sacred Three are one God , which we confess also , and yet that we cannot tell whether the Sacred Three be one
infinite spirit or three infinite spirits . I would fain come something nearer to ideas , jf we content ourselves with mere sounds without ideas , we may believe any thing : but if we seek after ideas . I think we must come to this
determination , viz . that the great God is either one conscious mind or spirit , or he is three conscious minds © r spirits . JJJow I have such arguments against the latter that I cannot at present
assent to it . If therefore God be one infinite spirit , the word and Holy Ghost must either be the same whole and entire infinite spirit , with some . relative distinctions , or they must be
s ^ me really distinct principles in the o $ ie infinite spirit , and as much distinct as it is possible : now cither of these two last agrees with my way of thinking : perhaps-both these may be joined
together ; and there are some places , of scripture wherein the word and ' spjrit may be represented as the £ ame ejijjtSre godhead under relative distinctions ,, anfi other , places , of ppripture w . jiere t £ gy may be represented £ S ^ distinct principles-of agency in thes > me one godhead . ^ TbiCfie are the best idea * I can yet arrive at , after all my humble and diligent searches into these deep
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things of God : and I . think both these have teen counted orthodoxy these two hundred years . I am very sure that I can bring citations from several great writers , who have been counted very orthodox , to countenance
and support both these explications ; though of the scholastic account of generation and , procession I have no idea . Dear Sir , let us not always be content to keep these great points of our holy religion in a mysterious darkness , if it be possible to obtain ideas of what we believe . But if there be anyscrjp * ture which declares this doctrine to be
entirely unintelligible , I will then cheerfully acquiesce in the sacred determination of scripture , and submit to believe propositions without ideas . In the mean time , I shall be very elad
to receive any hints from Mr . Alexander which may give me occasion to relinquish any opinions which I have proposed : for I acknowledge I am still an inquirer into truth , and ready to learn .
You may assure yourself , Sir , in affairs that relate to your great work , and in all other Christian offices , 1 am , Sir , Your most obedient servant , I . WATTS . From the Lady Abney ' s , in Lime Street , London , April 18 , 1727-1
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Public Character of the late Rev . Joshua Toulmin , D . D . [ From the Sennpn on his death , preached at Plymouth , by the Rev . Israel Worsley , and prefixed to " Observations on the Presbyterian Societies' of England , &c . " a duodecimo volume , just published . ]
THE case of our friend , whose death we now contemplate , vyith mixed emotions of concern an 4 of 6 **^ Christian hope , furnishes a striking instance of the sufferings of an upright man in the faithful discharge of his dutv .
In order to form a proper opinion of t , he sufferings of himself , and Ql inanjr , others who wei ^ e &inli ? arked U * tfye , sa . cje fi ,, cause of , jptag *} ty . and , fl » tru , tb ,. at a period , whep tin ^ , country vy ^ s % . prepared to Up th < w j ustice or tq t ^ a ^ en tq thei r ins pired voi ^ e ^ your recollection must be carried ba ^ li al least twenty years of your lives , or perhaps a iewtrioTe . * About thatTitfl ^ a
' ¦ The pejr ^ Sto WJtiih t ^ w "V the year 17 & 2 J °
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1 § 4 Public Character qfthe \ late Rev . Joshua Touimin % DJX
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1816, page 194, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2451/page/6/
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