THERE is nothing which a Christian can know with more comfort , or erre in with greater danger , then this great and holy mysterie of three Persons in one divine essence ; the conceit either of three substances , or of but one subsistence , is erroneous and damnable : Neither have we ( I say not any better , but ) any other Guide , to direct us with safetie to search out this mysterious Truth , but the holy Scriptures . Reason must not beare sway herein ; not because it contradicteth that , but because this transcendeth that ; where , if Reason might be admitted our Pilot , to steere our Faith in its right course , it would not be prayse-worthy to beleeve . But when Faith layeth hold on a bare Truth , which is above Reason ; now we beleeve , not because it is mani ●sted by sense , or demonstrated by Reason , but b●cause it is so taught in the holy Scriptures : This is that which maketh us happie , and our Faith commendable . As our Saviour telleth Thomas , when he was by his outward senses convinced of the Lord Christs divine power : Thomas , because thou hast seene me , thou hast beleeved ; blessed are they that have not seene , and yet have beleev●d , Joh. 20.29 . For it is a signe we take God at his word , when we beleeve a Truth , because the Scripture affirmeth it . And without doubt , the Majestie of Heaven is so farre pleased to reveale himselfe to us in his Word , as we ( clothed with corruptible bodies ) are capable of : by which we may know so much of God , as is not onely usefull for our comfort , but also needfull for our salvation . The greatest measure of this knowledge , which we can attaine in this life , is but darke , in comparison of that clearer Light which we shall enjoy in Heaven : Although even that will not be a totall comprehending of the Lords infinite Majestie , yet it will be a full apprehending , in resp●ct of our selves , who are finite creatures ; and therefore cannot know so much of an infinite God , as he himselfe knoweth of himselfe . In that place of Paul ; Then shall I know , as also I am knowne , 1 Cor. 13.12 . The word ( as ) is a note of qualitie , not of equalitie ; it intimateth a likenesse , it demonstrateth no proportion : yet we shall have such a perfect and certaine knowledge of God , as will conduce to our eternall felicitie . In the meane while , the Lord affordeth us some comfortable glimpses of his Divine Majestie ; He looketh forth upon us out of the windowes , and sheweth himselfe through the Lattesse , Cant. 2.9 . We may see Christ shining gloriously on our soules through the grates and windowes of his Word and Sacraments : The wall of our flesh hindreth the full fruition of him . We can onely by the eye of Faith see the Lord as through a Glasse , darkely , 1 Cor. 13.12 . We see him in the Ministerie of his Word , which we shall doe well , if we take heed thereunto , as unto a Light that shineth in a darke place , untill the day dawne , and the Day-starre arise in our hearts , 2 Pet. 1.19 . The Scriptures are the Light which we must looke unto , that we may steere our Faith aright in the troublesome Sea of this World , that we may not make shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience , 1 Tim. 1.18 , 19. Oh that we would consider , that in all the wayes wherein we walke , if we have not this Light to direct us , we either wander in darknesse , or are mis-led by an ignis fatuus , a mock-Light ; which if we follow , we hazard our soules , and lose our true comfort : And amongst other Truths , we shall clearely discerne ( if we looke not through the false-colouring Spectacles of Arrius ) even this Truth ; That the Sonne and Holy-Ghost are God , equall with the Father , when as the Scriptures ascribe to them such Names , Attributes , Workes , Worship , as are proper to God , and common to them with the Father .

FOr these , who have the Names of the true God in the Scriptures properly , definitively , and absolutely predicated of them , even as the Father hath , are truly God , as the Father is .

JEhovah is a Name of God , that describeth unto us his essence : It is derived of Havah , esse , to be .

First , Because the Lord alone hath essence , and being of himselfe , Isa. 44.6 .

Secondly , He it is that alone giveth life , and being to all creatures , Act. 17.25 .

Thirdly , He giveth being to his Word , and Promises , effecting what he speaketh , and performing what he promiseth , Isa. 45.2 , 3. Ezek. 5.17 .

First , This Name is proper to God alone , Psal. 83.19 . Thou whose Name alone is Jehovah : and Nehem. 9.6 . Thou art Jehovah alone . It is the incommunicable Name , Wisd. 19.21 . because it is never simply given to any but to God onely . It was called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a Name that was not to be expressed , either in regard of the Grecians , which out of want of Letters could not write it , or in respect of the Jewes , which out of superstition would not speake it .

This Name , because it could not be written in Greek , hath the force of it opened by the Holy-Ghost , Rev. 1.4 , 8. Rev. 4.8 . Rev. 11.17 . Rev. 16.15 . styling the Lord , He that is , that was , and that will be , or is to come . And that you may know he expresseth an Hebrew Name , he varieth not the Cases according to the manner of the Greekes , but speaking in the Genitive Case , he putteth this Name in the Nominative , Rev. 1.4 . according to the Hebrew forme , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. Je , the first syllable of the Name Jehovah , is a note of the time to come ; Jeheveh , He will be : Ho , a signe of the time present ; Hoveh , He that is : and Vah , a Characteristicall marke of the time past ; Havah , He was , or hath beene . This Name pointeth out the Eternitie of his Essence , that he is God from everlasting to everlasting , Psal. 90.2 . which is of himselfe , and from himselfe , a most absolute and perfect substance .

Secondly , Although this Name Jehovah is a Name of Gods Essence , and is alwayes used Singularly , and never Plurally , as Elohim and Adonai are ; ( which are Names of God in regard of his Personalitie , or Subsistence , and the Lord styleth himselfe one Jehovah , Deut. 6.4 . but never one Elohim ) yet the ancient Jewes before Christ , did note the mysterie of the Trinitie , in their expositions of this Name , by twelve , and by fortie and two Letters , which they called Sem Hamphoras . Father , Sonne , and Holy-Ghost , was their exposition of this Name by twelve Letters , in Hebrew : And the Father is God , the Sonne is God , and the Holy-Ghost is God , three in one , and one in three , is their exposition of that Name by fortie and two Letters ; it being written likewise with so many , as R. Judas Nagid . R. Hacadosh , R. Moses Ben Mammon , and others observe : Adding moreover , that this mysterie was to be kept secret untill the comming of the Messias who should more clearely reveale it ; R. Hacadosh in Galarazeia . Yea , they were so Catechized in the mysterie of the Trinitie , that , as P. Fagius observeth on Exod. 28. they collected this mysterie out of this Name ; which , although it was called Tetragrammaton , or the Name of foure Letters , yet ( say they ) there were but three sorts of Letters in it : ( י Jod ) signified the Father , who was the beginning of all things ; ( ן Vau ) is a conjunction copulative , and denoted the third Person ; ( ה He ) signified the Sonne of God : And they affirme , this Letter is doubled , to demonstrate both Natures of the Messiah . These , and the like observations , you may see in the learned Workes of the much admired and ever to be honoured , Mornaeus de verit . Christ . Relig. P. Calat . and others , who have sufficiently proved , that the ancienter Doctors of the Jewes beleeved this mysterie ; albeit their latter Rabbins , in opposition to the Lord Jesus , doe oppose it . And surely , the Jewes in Christs time were acquainted with this Truth , in that they accuse Christ of Blasphemie , when as he said he was the Sonne of God , Joh. 10.33 . First , because he being but a man , as they thought , yet made himselfe God , Joh. 10.33 . Secondly , because he made himselfe ( as they rightly concluded ) equall with God , when as they said , God was his Father , Joh. 5.18 . They not denying , that there was a Sonne of God , which was equall with the Father ; but denying him to be that Word , and Sonne of God ; blaspheming him whom they accused of Blasphemie , Mark . 14.64 , 65. Joh. 19.7 . And that the Holy-Ghost was knowne to them , is evident , Mat. 1.20 . where the Angel telleth Joseph , that Mary was with Child by the Holy-Ghost . And John Baptist speaking of Christ , saith , He shall baptize you with the Holy-Ghost , and with fire , Mat. 3.10 . In vaine had he spoken to them of the Holy-Ghost , of whom they had not heard of before . That place , Act. 19.2 . where the Disciples had not heard whether there were an Holy-Ghost , it cannot be so understood , as if they were ignorant of his Person , but of the gifts of Tongues , and Prophesying by him : for first , being Disciples , they were baptized in the Name of the Father , the Sonne , and the Holy-Ghost : secondly , when the Holy-Ghost is used Personally , he is pointed out with one , if not with two Articles , in the Originall ; whereas when the word is used metonymically , for his Gifts and Graces , you have usually no Article in the Greek prefixed , as in this and divers other places . Thirdly , you have the same expression used by the Evangelist John . Joh. 7.39 . The Holy-Ghost was not : He was in Person before , he was as touching sanctifying Graces before ; but he was not yet poured forth on the Disciples ( as Joel prophesied , Joel 2.28 . ) in gifts of Tongues , and miraculous operations .

Thirdly , This incommunicable and essentiall Name of God is sometimes used Personally , and is then ascribed either to tho Father , or to the Sonne , or to the Holy-Ghost : for ,

First , the Father is Jehovah , Gen. 19.24 . The Lord rained fire and brimstone from the Lord ; where you have the Sonne executing Judgement from Jehovah his Father : and Zach. 3.2 . The Lord said to Satan , The Lord rebuke thee : where one , that is Jehovah , speaketh of another Jehovah ; namely , Christ speaketh of his Father : and Psal. 2.2 . The Kings of the earth stand up against the Lord , and against his Anointed .

Secondly , the Sonne is Jehovah , as in the two afore-cited places , Gen. 19.24 . Zach. 3.2 . where the Sonne is stiled Jehovah , even as the Father is . Isa. 25.9 . This is the Lord , we have waited for him , who also did swallow up death in victorie , Isa. 25.8 . which was the Lord Jesus , 1 Cor. 15. in whom that Prophesie was fulfilled . John Baptist is to prepare the way of Jehovah , Isa. 40.3 . which was the way of the Lord Christ , Mark . 1.2 , 3 , 4. Luk. 1.76 . It was the Lord Jesus , who was valued at thirtie pieces of silver , Mat. 27.9 . whom Zacharie calleth Jehovah , Zach. 11.13 . I will save them by the Lord their God , Hos. 1.7 . A Prophesie fulfilled in Christ , who is the Lord our righteousnesse , Jer. 23.6 . Six times , Zach. 12. is he called Jehovah ; which , that it was Christ of whom the Prophet speaketh , is cleare , Zach. 12.10 . They shall lo●ke upon me whom they have pierced : which John , a faithfull eye-witnesse , sheweth it was fulfilled in Christ , Joh. 19.34 , 35. and as a true interpreter , affirmeth , that this Prophesie was spoken of him , Joh. 19.37 . He it was , that appeared to the Patriarchs and Saints in the Old Testament , Act. 7.30 , 32. who was then oft called Jehovah , Exod. 3. Gen. 18. Judg. 6. Exod. 13.22 . who is likewise stiled an Angel of the Lord , Exod. 14.19 . who oft tooke the name of an Angel , but never the nature of an Angel , Heb. 2.16 . he being no created Angel , Heb. 1.13 . but the uncreated Angel of the Covenant , Mal. 3.1 . The Mediator betweene God and us , Zach. 2.10 , 11. Jehovah promiseth to dwell among us , which was the Word , who was made flesh , and dwelt among us , Joh. 1.14 . who is our God , and we are his people .