said in the Old Testament. In the 51st Psalm David saith unto God, "Take not thy Holy Spirit from me." We read also, in Isa. 63. 10, "That Israel rebelled, and vexed God's Holy Spirit." The personality and eternal Deity of the Spirit, might be easily proved from the writings of Moses and the prophets; but the present object is, simply to show, that the Jewish Scriptures agree exactly with the writer of 1 John, 5. 7, respecting the three who are in heaven, and the very names which they bear. I am not under the necessity, of proceeding any further, in discussing this particular point in the general subject.

The three who bear record in heaven, with their appropriate names, are repeatedly and expressly mentioned in the New Testament. The Apostles were solemnly commissioned to baptize the christian converts in the name of each Person in the Divine essence. The phraseology of their commission has a strict accordance with the very words of the text in question. The express words now referred to, are these, "Go ye-and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." It cannot be doubted, that the Father is largely spoken of in the Scriptures-that he is in heaven, and is truly God; and so far, 1 John 5. 7, certainly agrees with the Bible in general. "The Son," who is called the "Word," in our text, is also called by that name, in several other places of the divine oracles. It is said, in the first chapter of John, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same, was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. and the life was the light of men.

This

In him was life ; account exactly

agrees with the statement of Moses, respecting the creation of all things; and the apostle John, evidently alludes

G

to that portion of the sacred history. Moses writes, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth;" and the apostle says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This apostolical assertion clearly explains the meaning of Moses, in saying," And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness;" and, "the man is become as one of us."

The Word, is one of the names of the second Person, in the eternal and ever blessed Trinity. As St. John states, he was "in the beginning with God, and was God." That this glorious Word became personally united to the man Christ Jesus, appears with great clearness, from John 1. 14. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory." In 1 John 5. 7, it is said, that this mysterious Word is now bearing record in heaven, with the Father. That this Word is a Person, and not merely a perfection or energy of the Deity, very fully appears from Rev. 19. In that portion of Scripture, the writer says, "I saw heaven opened, and hehold, a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faith-, ful and True, and in righteousness doth he judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed in a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called, The Word of God." In a subsequent verse of this chapter, it is added, " And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."

The above description can apply to no other being but the Almighty. The Word, therefore, was God, is now God, and will be God forever. In respect to the Father and Word, 1 John 5. 7, agrees perfectly with the Scrip

tures in general. We must likewise view the Holy Ghost to be a person, bearing record in heaven, as we are baptized in his name, and by a divine command, as well as in the names of the Father, and of the Son. These three are also distinctly mentioned in that inspired benediction, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all." The point under consideration, is, I think, fally evinced.

2. Is it said, in our text, that "the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, bear record in heaven?" This is in perfect harmony with the general testimony of the Holy Scriptures.

The grand truths, to which these divine Persons bear record, are, the Deity of the Son-his atonement, and the great salvation which results from these, to believers. The record of the Father, in respect to these things, is expressly mentioned in Math. 3. 16, 17. After the baptism of Jesus, we read, " And lo, the heavens were opened unto him and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Another testimony of the Father, in respect to the Son, is recorded in Math. 17. The solemn scene was displayed on the mount; and while Christ was transfigured, and Moses and Elijah appeared, the evangelist states, that a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him." We find another express witness of this nature, mentioned in John 12. 28. When Jesus was about being delivered up into the hands of his enemies, he said, "Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."

That the Word bears record in heaven, with the Father, appears from Acts 7. 56. In that passage, the dying Ste

phen says, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." The record which the Word bears in heaven, is likewise mentioned in the ninth chapter of Acts. We are informed there, that as Saul journeyed to Damascus, to execute his persecuting intentions, "suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven;" and when he had fallen "to the earth, he heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." The meaning of his communication, evidently, is, "You are opposing an infinitely glorious Being; and destroying an important cause." The Word bears a farther testimony to his own proper Deity, by proclaiming in the hearing of St. John, with a voice like the sound of a trumpet, "I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last"-"I am he that liveth, and was dead, and, behold, I am alive forever more, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Rev. 1. 2, 18.

The record which the Holy Ghost bears to the Deity of Christ, is also clearly stated in the Scriptures. This was done in his descending in the form of a dove, and resting on the head of Jesus. In respect to this, John the Baptist, testifies, "I saw the Spirit descending like a dove, and it abode upon him." The Holy Ghost bore a farther testimony from heaven, in favor of the Deity and atonement of Christ, on the day of Pentecost, by filling the house, where his apostles were sitting, with " a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind ;" and resting on their heads, as cloven tongues of fire. Acts 2. 2, 3. By his Al mighty operations, they were all inspired to pro vation through Jesus Christ, to mankind. bearing record from heaven, by awakening sanctifying and sealing the souls of mer

The Scriptures do, therefore clearly represent the Father, the Word or Son, and the Holy Ghost, as bearing record in heaven, and thus co-operating in our salvation.

Much more evidence of their united record, in and from heaven, might be easily adduced; but sufficient has been said, to shew the agreement of 1 John 5. 7, with the Holy Scriptures in general.