Unitarian Principles Confirmed by Trinitarian Testimonies; Being Selections from the Works of Eminent Theologians Belonging to Orthodox Churches (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 edition. Excerpt: ... 4. The Trinity Of Unequal Persons Or Gods. This kiud of Trinity, to the titling of which many would object, but which appears to us strictly characteristic of it, will be found to bear & strong likeness to that of the Nicene and the Constantinopolitan Creed; but is placed separately here, because it gives a peculiar prominence to the Superiority of the Father over the Son and the Holy Ghost. It probably represents the general opinion of Christians at the present day, as well as of the fathers who flourished at or near the time when the Nicene Creed was established; though, in writing avowedly against Unitarianisui, comparatively lew would now be willing to make so express a recognition of inequality as is observable in the following extracts. We must not so far endeavor to involve ourselves in the darkness of this mystery as to deny that glory which is clearly due unto the Father; whose pre-eminence undeniably consisteth in this, that he is God, not of any other, but of himself; and that there is no other person who is God, but is God of him. It is no diminution to the Son to say he is from another, for his very name imports as much; but it were a diminution to the Father to speak so of him; and there must be some pre-eminence where there is place for derogation. What the Father is, he is from none; what the Son is, he is from him: what the first is, he giveth; what the second is, he receiveth. The first is a Father indeed by reason of his Son, but he is not God by reason of him; whereas the Son is not so only in regard of the Father, but also God by reason of the same.... This priority doth properly and naturally result from the divine paternity; so that the Son must necessarily be second unto the Father, from whom he receiveth...