third Persons in the Trinity, in reply to the particular Unitarian articles upon those points, I propose to bring forward, from both parts of the Bible, the arguments which particularly affect that branch of the question. All which I shall now endeavour to shew, is, that the Deity was revealed by the Prophets, (though not always in express terms,) and was understood by the Jewish nation, as consisting of more than one Person.

It is a very striking circumstance, a circumstance which infidelity itself must allow to have great weight, that to a people whose propensity to idolatry was strong even up to the captivity; to that people, the God who declared himself so jealous of his Unity, revealed himself nevertheless by his -Prophets under a plural name. It cannot be imputed to inadvertency that they used such a mode of expression; and when we consider the strong tendency of the Jews to Polytheism, and the heavy vengeance denounced, and often inflicted on them for it, we cannot suppose that language in which was conveyed, even that which might

possibly be considered to give an appearance of sanction to that vice, would be employed by such persons, if they could have avoided the use of ith. We cannot account for it, except by admitting that a plural name was peculiarly adapted to their and our God, Jehovah.

That a plural name was commonly employed, is manifest in the original language of the Scriptures; and even in our own translation the plural form of speech frequently occurs, though one particular word, which ought to have been rendered Gods, in the plural, is commonly translated into the singular, God. For an instance, we need to look no farther than the third word in the book of Genesis, the very opening of the Law. "In the be

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ginning Gods created the heavens and "the earth;" and the same plural word is

h Lord Bolingbroke, whose object is well known, actually argued thus: "When God proceeds to the cre❝ation of man, he calls in other beings to co-operate "with him, and make man in his and their image. This "seems to lay a foundation for polytheism, &c." Lord Bolingbroke's Works, iii. 300.

אלהים

repeatedly used in the same manner. This very argument is upon record, as having been strongly urged by a converted Jew* to his brethren. "Why else," says he, "is that frequent mention of God, by "nouns of the plural number; as in Gen. "i. 1. where the word Elohim, which is "rendered God, is of the plural number? "Which demonstrates as evidently as may "be, that there are several Persons partak

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ing of the Divine nature and essence."

In our own authorised version, though it is not guarded with that precision which would have been employed, had Unitarianism, and not Popery, been the prevailing error of the times in which it was made; yet, in our own version, abundant instances may be shewn of the use of the plural number in speaking of God. "God said, "Let us make man in our image," &c. ❝m The Lord God said, Behold the man is "become as one of us, "&c. Again, in the prophecy of Isaiah, "n I heard the voice

k John Xeres. See Jones's Catholic Doctrine of the Trinity, iii. 1.

I Gen. i. 26.

m Gen. iii. 22.

n Isaiah vi. 8.

"of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, "and who will go for us?" &c. It is to no purpose to multiply such instances, which might easily be done. Let any one search for himself, and he will easily find abundant satisfaction. This only ought to be observed; that the expression here put in the mouth of God, cannot be understood as if he were speaking to the angels, as has been asserted by the Unitarians. For where do we find that God takes counsel of them, as to what he shall do, or what he shall forbear. "Who hath known "the mind of the Lord, or who hath been "his counsellor?" The expression can be understood and explained intelligibly only by admitting, that one Person of the Trinity here speaks to another. For as to the style which kings on earth now use, wherein the plural number is employed in speaking only of one; (and this also has been suggested as accounting for the plural name in the Scripture;) as to that style, it must be shewn that they used it in

• Isaiah xl. 13.

the days of Moses at the very least, in order to prove any thing thereby: that objection therefore falls to the ground.

In the fourth chapter of the Prophet Daniel there is another striking mention of a plurality of Persons in the Godhead, where "a Watcher and a Holy One" is stated to come down in the Prophet's vision, and to pass judgment on Nebuchadnezzar, which is declared to be done "by "the decree of the Watchers, and the de"mand of the word of the Holy Ones." What Holy Ones can these be who pass decrees in heaven upon the kings of the earth? What but the King of kings in his Trinity of Persons? The same expression is continued through the next chapter also. "They took his glory from him," &c.

the

I will mention only a few more out of very many texts, which shew that the name and power of the Lord are applied indifferently to more than one Person in the Old Testament. "The Lord said "unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right

P Dan. v. 20.

q Psalm xc. 1.