John.Mark.Hicks.Alexander.Campbell.Trinity.Christology

John Mark Hicks Alexander Campbell on Trinity and Christology

God Gives His sons A holy spirit THAT they may know His Will

http://johnmarkhicks.com/2013/03/18/alexander-campbell-on-trinity-and-christology/

Words translated as SPIRIT in any language is God's POWER to SPEAK His WORD. Dozens of times "God put His SPIRIT into man THAT he might understand God's Word which is His Regulating and Governing Power..

Except to the Apostles and secondarily a gift bestowed by an Apostlle was God-Sent Apostles, Prophets and Scribes who recorded the TESTIMONY of eye and ear witnesses, The Holy Spirit Paraclete named Jesus Christ the Righteous (1 John 2)------

The Holy Spirit Comforter or Advocate is to Judge sinners.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:
    for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you;
but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John 16:8 And when he is come,
        he will REPROVE the WORLD OF SIN,
        and of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and of JUDGMENT:
John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe NOT IN ME
John 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Matt. 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Rev. 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

That is because the WORLD, KOSMOS or the ECUMENICAL is the kingdom of Satan making War against the kingdom of God which is in the Heart of Baptized believer.

The Spirit of Truth Comforter revealed to the Apostles ONLY what they had been taught as Eye Witnesses.
Apostle and Preacher are both God sent and EYE witnesses.
When the Perfect Law of Liberty only GRATUITOUS ELDERS OVERSEE AND FEED.
        Elders make sure that those unable to work are FEED food.
        Elders make sure that he leads a WEEKLY SCHOOL to feed the flock with the Word Only.

Ex. 31:3 And I have filled him with the SPIRIT OF GOD,
        in WISDOM, and in UNDERSTANDING, and in UNDERSTANDING, and in all manner of workmanship,
Ex. 35:31 And he hath filled him with the SPIRIT OF GOD, in WISDOM, in UNDERSTANDING,
        and in KNOWLEDGE, and in all manner of workmanship

Job 27:3 All the while my BREATH IS IN ME,
        and the SPIRIT OF GOD IS IN MY NOSTRILS;
Job 27:4 My LIPS SHALL NOT SPEAK wickedness,
        nor my tongue utter deceit.
Job 27:5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
Job 33:4 The SPIRIT OF GOD hath made me,
        and the BREATH of the ALMIGHTY hath given me life.

AS HOLY SPIRIT PARACLETE JESUS COMES TO JUDGE THE WORLD, KOSMOS OR ECUMENICAL

Is. 4:2 In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
Is. 4:3 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem,
       shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
Is. 4:4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion,
        and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof
        by the SPIRIT OF JUDGMENT,
        and by the SPIRIT OF BURNING

THE PROPHETS DEFINE THE FUTURE REST OF MESSIAH BOTH INCLUSIVELY AND EXCLUSIVELY.

Is. 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse,
        and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
Is. 11:2 And the SPIRIT of the LORD shall rest upon him,
        the SPIRIT of WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING,
        the SPIRIT of COUNSEL and MIGHT,
        the SPIRIT of KNOWLEDGE
        and [SPIRIT] of the FEAR of the LORD;
Is. 11:3 And shall make him of quick UNDERSTANDING [h7306]in the fear of the LORD:
   and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes,
        neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

Ezek. 11:18 And they shall come thither,
        and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof
        and all the abominations thereof from thence.
Ezek. 11:19 And I will give them one heart,
        and I will PUT A NEW SPIRIT within you;
         and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh,
        and will give them an heart of flesh:
Ezek. 11:20 That they may walk in my statutes,
        and keep mine ordinances, and do them:
        and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezek. 11:21 But as for them whose heart walketh
        after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations,
        I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Luke 1:76 And thou, child,
        shalt be called the prophet of the Highest:
        for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
Luke 1:77 To give KNOWLEDGE OF SALVATION
        unto his people BY the remission of their sins,
Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God;
        whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
        to guide our feet into the way of peace.

1John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him,
        and declare unto you, that GOD IS LIGHT, and in him is no darkness at al

John 12:46 I am COME A LIGHT into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

THAT. DOES NOT MEAN THAT LIGHT IS ANOTHER GOD

Col. 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness,
        and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Heb. 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn,
        which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all,
        and to the SPIRITS of just men MADE PERFECT

1Cor. 2:11 For what man knoweth the things OF a man,
        save the SPIRIT OF man which is in him?
        even so the things OF God knoweth no man,
        but the SPIRIT OF GOD.
1Cor. 2:12 Now we have received, not the SPIRIT OF the world,
       but the SPIRIT WHICH IS OF GOD
       THAT WE MIGHT KNOW THE THINGS OF GOD
       That are freely GIVEN TO US OF GOD
1Cor. 2:13 Which things also we speak,
       not in the WORDS which man’s wisdom TEACHETH,
       but which the HOLY GHOST TEACHETH
       comparing SPIRITual things with SPIRITual.

Eph. 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Eph. 1:17 That the GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
        the Father of glory, may give unto you
       the SPIRIT OF WISDOM and REVELATION
       KNOWLEDGE of him:
Eph. 1:18 The eyes of your UNDERSTANDING being ENLIGHTENED;
        That ye may know what is the hope of his calling,
        and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph. 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward WHO BELIEVE,
        according to the working of his mighty power,

ENLIGHTENED: g5461. φωτίζω photizo, fo-tid´-zo; from 5457; to shed rays, i.e. to shine or (transitively) to brighten up (literally or figuratively): — enlighten, illuminate, (bring to, give) light, make to see.
g5457. φῶς phos, foce; from an obsolete φάω phao (to shine or make manifest, especially by rays; compare 5316, 5346); luminousness (in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative): — fire, light.

g5316. φαίνω phaino, fah´-ee-no; prolongation for the base of 5457; to lighten (shine), i.e. show (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative): — appear, seem, be seen, shine, x think.

Eph. 2:1 ¶ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins

Trinity as "Necessary" Fact by Alexander Campbell

John Mark Hicks: Nancy Koester’s The History of Christianity in the United States (Fortress, 2007) is my current supplementary text in my undergraudate Stone-Campbell Movement course at Lipscomb University. I use it to provide the American context for Stone-Campbell history.

I was surprised to read this sentence in the book (p. 61): ”[Alexander Campbell] also rejected the doctrine of Trinity because he did not find it in the Bible.” She would have been more accurate if she had written that he rejected the term “Trinity,” but Campbell did not reject the theological idea of the triunity of the Christian God.

For example, in a series entitled “Elementary Views,” Campbell summarizes what he thinks is the heart of the Christian faith (Millennial Harbinger [July 1854] 367):

One Jehovah in three personalities,
and one Mediator in three offices
constitute the true faith and the true religion of the Christian Church, or the Reign of Heaven

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Campbell on the Trinity Alexander Campbell: “I object to the doctrine of the Trinity not because it is contrary to reason or revelation, but because of the metaphysical technicalities, the unintelligible jargon, the unmeaning language of the orthodox creeds on this subject, and the interminable war of words without ideas to which this word Trinity has given birth.” (Millennial Harbinger, 1833, p. 155)
This doctrine of Trinity actually was of late vintage. Although some church fathers created rogue formulations of God as a “Trinity” in the second and third centuries, the official formulation of the doctrine of Trinity that so many of us Christians know about was not created until those church fathers called “the three Cappadocians did so in the 370s. It was then made official by the Roman Catholic Church at its Council of Constantinople in 381. A creed was drafted that used the Nicene Creed of 325 as a framework and incorporated this new teaching of “the doctrine of the Trinity.” Interestingly, it was not called that in the creed. When the Roman Catholic Church adopted the Nicene Creed in 325, that creed was widely rejected by many Christians for decades. It stated that Jesus was “very God of very God,” meaning Jesus was fully God even though he was “begotten” by One who was fully God, viz., the Father. Church father Origen had crafted a theology to explain this begottenness called “eternal generation.” The Arian Controversy that had precipitated the Nicene Council had claimed that Jesus was not eternal but that he had a beginning prior to creation as the Logos-Son. Origen said Jesus was eternal yet also begotten or generated, which seems an oxymoron. The Nicene Creed endorsed eternal generation by declaring Jesus as “very God of very God.”

Thus, the doctrine of the Trinity came from three men, and it was ratified by a church council. No one had ever heard of it before. The word “Trinity” was not in the Bible. And many distinguished Trinitarian scholars today admit that this doctrine is not in the Bible, meaning it is not expressly taught therein; rather, they concede it is a mere deduction of the Bible. Yet the apostle Paul wrote to his apostolic associate Timothy, “Whoever . . . does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions” (1 Timothy 6.3-5). That is what happened in years following if you believe the recent preeminent history book of this period. It is written by Philip Jenkins, entitled Jesus Wars, and published by HarperOne. Or read the caustic book about Athanasius, the foremost defender of the Nicene Creed, written by the mathematician, scientist, and discoverer of gravity–Sir Isaac Newton. These books are eye-openers about the un-Christian behavior of the people who were responsible for establishing the Trinity doctrine that is not expressly taught in the Bible.

But the proper philosophy of man, indicated in his origin, constitution and destiny, is an essential preliminary to a rational disposition and development of this theme. The first question, then, necessarily is, What is man? He is neither an angel nor an animal. He has a body, a soul and a spirit. He has a trinity of natures in one personality. While Jehovah has a trinity of personalities in one nature,

[230] man has a trinity of natures in one personality. He has an animal nature, an intellectual nature and a moral nature.

Hence the prayer of the greatest apostle and ambassador of heaven was, "May God sanctify you wholly"--in body, soul and spirit. These are not two, but, three, entities, and these three are in every human being. Man has an animal body, an animal soul and a rational spirit. Two of these are earthly and temporal--one is spiritual and eternal. He is, therefore, not improperly called a microcosm, a miniature embodiment of universal nature, or of the Divine creation.

Another translation:

"The Son of God is the Word of the Father in thought and actuality. By him and through him all things were made, the Father and the Son being one. Since the Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son by the unity and power of the Spirit,

"the Mind and Word of the Father is the Son of God.

"And if, in your exceedingly great wisdom, it occurs to you to inquire what is meant by `the Son,' I will tell you briefly: He is the first- begotten of the Father, not as having been produced,

for from the beginning God had the Word in himself, God being eternal mind and eternally rational, but as coming forth to be the model and energizing force of all material things" (Athanagoras, 177 AD, Plea for the Christians 10:2-4).

Walter Scott, Christian Baptist, Feb 1827, defines Spirit According to the Greek language

"Again--Some will say, What does the expression Holy Spirit mean? Well, in scripture
it stands first for God the Holy Spirit,
and secondly for the holy mind or spirit of a believer--

or illustration, take Peter's words to Ananias,
"Why has Satan tempted you to lie to the Holy Spirit;
you have not lied to men, but to God," (the Holy Spirit.)

And the Saviour says, How much more will your heavenly Father give a holy spirit (as it should be translated) to those that ask him. Again--Praying in a holy spirit. Again--Paul says he approved himself God's servant "by knowledge, by long sufferings, by kindness, by a holy spirit'" by a mind innocent of the love of gain, or commerce, or sensuality.

"How then the expression stands for both God the Holy Spirit, and for a believer's spirit made holy by him.

"I shall now answer, from scripture, the following questions.--When do we know that we are born of the Spirit?
.   I answer, when we know that our spirits are holy.

But it will be asked again, when do we know this?
   I reply, when we behold our minds
   producing the fruits of a holy spirit.

No historic trinitarian called God a person: Paul Tillich says that would be heresy. They used the word PERSONAE or masks which says that the ONE God made Himself known in different ways. If God spoke from a burning bush that was His instrumental means or source of sound; but, the burning bush is not a member of the God Family (from whence The Family of God to replace Church of Christ).

1Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is
       but one God, the Father, of whom are all things,
        and we IN him;
and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things,
        and we BY him.

Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all,
        who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
1Timothy 2:5 For there is one God,
        and one mediator between God and men,
        the man Christ Jesus;
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:
        the devils also believe, and tremble.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is EXPEDIENT for you that I go away:
      for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you;
but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
John 16:8 And when he is come,
        he will REPROVE the WORLD OF SIN,
        and of RIGHTEOUSNESS, and of JUDGMENT:
John 16:9 Of sin, because they believe NOT IN ME
John 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
John 16:11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

       Is. 11:4 BUT with righteousness shall he judge the poor,
       and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth:
       and he shall smite the earth with the ROD OF HIS MOUTH
       and with the BREATH [SPIRIT] of His LIPS of his shall he slay the wicked.

ON THE OTHER HAND--YOU NEVER READ IT?
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMFORTER Speaks only to the God Sent Apostles and secondarily through prophets and SCRIBES to record the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ. No preacher can ethically speak anything not in the NOTARIZED WILL.

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?
      the WORDS that I speak unto you I speak not of myself:
      but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me:
     or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

John 14:15 IF ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you ANOTHER COMFORTER
      that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:17 EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH;
       whom the WORLD CANNOT receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:
       but ye KNOW HIM; for he dwelleth with you, AND SHALL BE IN YOU
John 14:18 will not leave you comfortless: I will come to YOU.
John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more;
     but YE SEE me: because I live, ye shall live also.
John 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, AND I IN YOU

John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father,
       EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH; , which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
John 15:27 And YE also shall bear witness, BECAUSE ye have been with me from the beginning.

John said that if you reject Father-Son you are an ANTI-Christ

First Person	Second Person	Third Person
Father, King	Son, Prince	Mother, Queen
	Triad of Babylon
Nimrod	Tammuz	Semeramis
Shamash	Sin	Ishtar
El IluGod	Ea, earth	Enlil air, breath, spirit
	Triad of Canaanite's
Baal	Astarte, Ashtoreth	Molok, Phoenician
	Triad of Hittite
Mitra	Varuna	Indra
	Triad of Backslidden Israel
EL/Yah	Tammuz/Baal	Ashtoreth/Shekhina
	Triad of Egypt
Oriris	Horus	Isis
	Triad of Greece
Zeus	Apollo	Athena
	Triad of India
Brahma	Vishnu	Shiva
	Triad of Rome
Jupiter	Mars	Venus
	Triad or Trinity of Roman Catholicism
Father	Son	Spirit-Mother
Jehovah	Jesus	Dove - Has always been the Mother Goddess symbol. Mary has been elevated to CO-Savior with Christ.

"O Lord God of Israel, who dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the
God, even thou alone, thou hast made heaven and earth. Hear, O Israel—Jehovah our Aleim
is one Jehovah 2 —the Lord our God is one Lord." "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,
which wast, and art, and art to come." "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God
Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou king of saints." "Who shall not fear thee, O Lord,
and glorify thy name, for thou only art holy," "He is the Rock, his work is perfect;

172 THE MILLENNIAL HARBINGER ABRIDGED Tzidekenu — Jehovah our righteousness. (Jer. xxiii. 16, and xxxiii. 16.) These are approbated and recognized by Calmet.

Now, in the Christian development of the long promised, foretold, and typified salvation,
        Jehovah is manifested in three distinct personalities
          \_ in reference to human redemption.

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Mark 12:29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is,
        Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

1Corinthians 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth,
        (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
        1Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him;
        and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Paul wants EVERYONE to be silent when the Word is PREACHED by being READ:

1Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved,
        and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Timothy 2:5 For there is one God,
        and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

In creation, providence, or moral government, there was no need for any other development of God than those given in these declarations or manifestations

But in the emergency of man's redemption, there was a necessity for a new revelation of Jehovah, Elohim, as our Jehovah in distinct personalities. Of these there are three now named — The Father, the Word, the Spirit. The Word became flesh, and dwelt in our humanity. The Spirit became the Holy Guest, or Ghost, and ever dwells in the true church — the mystical body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Campbell did not say Jehovah in three PERSONS but three personalities. The NAME (singular) of Father, Son and Spirit is Jesus Christ in whose name Peter commanded baptism. Father, Son and Spirit are never NAMES of three separate persons meaning "people.""

"God so loved the world as to send his Son," possessing the Holy Spirit without measure or limit. He became Incarnate, and dwelt on earth. He formed and educated a school of apostles. On the eve of his ascension, he promised, on his return to his native heaven, to send to them his Holy Spirit, to be their Guest, their teacher, and their help, in erecting his kingdom or church.

The Name of that "another Comforter" says John is Jesus Christ the Righteous: Jesus was changed into His Spirit form and received the promise or ASSIGNMENT or office of The Holy Spirit which is the personified Mind of God.

such as creation, No one prior to H. Leo Boles (at least publically proposed) at DLC ever presentented a "trinity" composed of 3 independent persons ranked 1, 2, 3 each having unique talent for THEIR disposition.

H. Leo Boles: The Godhead is thus composed of three coeternal and coequal persons; they are the same in nature and essence (basic stuff), but are different, (discrete, dissimilar, diverse) personalities (selfhood as a human).
Boles, H. Leo, The Holy Spirit, Gospel Advocate, P. 20-21 (Each is fitted for different roles.)

Their Standing (status or rank) is always first, second and third. P. 20.
The Divine Family... suggests the close relation that exists between the members of the Godhead, and also that they constitute a family (clan, kith, lineage, race);
it suggest that they are closely related, that they are akin. (relatives, same lineage, same tribe) This term expresses an interest in each other and a cooperation (teamwork, collaboration, partnership) in activities. P. 21

Nashville School of Preaching and the Holy Spirit

Repudiated by:

For thus saith

the Lord (Jehovah)

that created the heavens;

God (Elohim) himself that

formed the earth and

made it; he hath

established it, he

created it not in vain,

he formed it to be inhabited:

I am the Lord (Jehovah); and there is none else. Isaiah 45:18

He hath made the earth by his power,
he hath established the world by his wisdom,
and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding. Jer 51:15
When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens;
and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth:
he maketh lightnings with rain,
and bringeth forth the wind (spirit) out of his treasures. Jer 51:16

Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. Jer 51:17

John Calvin on Genesis 1

"God." Moses has it Elohim, a noun of the plural number. Whence the inference is drawn, that the three Persons of the Godhead are here noted; but since, as a proof of so great a matter, it appears to me to have little solidity, will not insist upon the word; but rather caution readers to beware of violent glosses of this, kind.

"They think that they have testimony against the Asians, to prove the Deity of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

"but in the meantime they involve themselves in the error of Sabellius, because Moses afterwards subjoins that the Elohim had spoken, and that the holy Spirit of the Elohim rested upon the waters.

26. "Let us make man." Although the tense here used is the future, all must acknowledge that this is the language of one apparently deliberating. Hitherto God has been introduced simply as commanding; now, when he approaches the most excellent of all his works, he enters into consultation. For more notes on the Holy Spirit - Mind connection Click Here.

God certainly might here command by his bare word what he wished to be done:
but he chose to give this tribute to the excellency of man,
that he would, in a manner, enter into consultation concerning his creation.

But since the Lord needs no other counsellor, there can be no doubt that he consulted with himself. [For our notes on the Holy Spirit as Counsellor Click Here.]

Christians, therefore, properly contend, from this testimony, that there exists a plurality of Persons (personae in the church Fathers) in the Godhead.

God summons no foreign counsellor; hence we infer that he

finds within himself something distinct; as, in truth,
his eternal wisdom and power reside within him.

Smith Abstracts 625 
We shall follow up this subject in a series of papers, on all the great elements, facts and documents in the true Christology, and under the true Christocracy of the Messianic dispensation.

The doctrine of the "Trinity," as it is called, though really of Grecian or Roman origin,
is regarded as number one of the true orthodoxy of polemic theology.

On this account alone we give it precedence. It is neither historically nor philosophically, neither philologically nor Christologically, the first in order. But polemically and ecclesiastically it is of primordial conspicuity, and has been so for ages.

The Hebrew Cabolists. or Tradilionists of the Jews, with their cabala, or traditions, of which they were veritable doctors or teachers, laid the foundation for the most ancient heresies. The Essenes allegorized the Mosaic law and institutions into a species of spiritualism, resembling not a little the Shaking Quakers of modern date. They are still more harmless than the more orthodox Pharisees, or the more latitudinarian Sadducees.

By reprobating this speculative theology, we save the labor of many volumes, and, in the meantime, the careful reading of the Holy and Divine Oracles furnishes us with a full and satisfactory statement of Jehovah — a compound, according to Rabbinical literature, of Jaii, the essence, and Havaii. existing — "The Always Existing." This name is older than all human literature. Josephus calls it the Tetragram- maton — the four-lettered name. Sanchoniathon, the oldest Pagan writer known to the literary world, names it, or writes it. Jkiu;. or Jkv(..

Hindooism, or Brahminism, in its various forms, is professed by more than half the human race: Its essential doctrines are found in the Veda, comprehending its four sacred books, all of which are sometimes called the Vedas. These four are denominated the Rig, the Yajust, the Saman, and the Atharvan. They contain the alledged revelation of the God Brahma, the presiding divinity of the Indian nations. Indeed, the Divinity Brahma is regarded as the first person in the Trinity; Vishnoo, or Vishnu, the second person, regarded as the preserver and redeemer of man; and Siva the destroyer of man. But besides this chief divinity in three personalities, they also acknowledge a host of angel gods and subordinate divinities.

Hindooism and Brahminism, are but two names for the same idolatrous superstition, and under this name, and some other corruptions of it, is the prevailing superstition of more than half the human race. It has in it, however, evident traces of a corruption of a true religion, and is of a common origin with Lamaism, or Fohiism. In Hindoo, Brahme, the Great Being, is the supreme, eternal, and uncreated God; Brama is the first created being, by whom he made and governed the world, and is prince of beneficent spirits. He is assisted by Veeshnu, the great preserver of men, who nine times appeared on earth, and in a human form, for the most beneficent purposes. Veeshnu is often called Creeshna, the Indian Apollo, and, in his character, greatly resembles the Mithra of Persia. This is the prince of the benevolent Dewlas, or Demons, and has for a co- [125]

adjutor Mahadeo, or Seeva, the destroying power of God. This three-fold divinity, armed with the terrors of almighty power, pursue, through the whole extent of creation, the rebellious Dewlas, or Demons, headed by Mahasoor, the great malignant spirit, (or Satan,) who seduced them, and darts upon their flying bands the fiery shafts of divine vengeance.

According to Sir William Jones, the supreme God Brahme, in his triple form, is the only self-existent divinity acknowledged by the philosophical Hindoos. In different attitudes or characters, they give him different names--as creator, he is Brahme; as destroyer or changer of forms, he is called Mahadeo, or Seeva; as the preserver of created things, he is Veeshnu, or Vishnoo.

Following the leading idea of Sir William Jones, Mr. Maurice asserts that there is a perpetual recurrence of the Triad in Asiatic mythology, and the doctrine of a Trinity was promulgated in India, in the Geeta, fifteen hundred years before the birth of Plato; for of that remote date are the Elephanta Cavern, in which a triad of deity, or the union of three, is alluded to and designated. Now, as Plato was born 426 years before Christ, this would show that the idea of triad was bodied forth in the East, in the lifetime of Abraham-- about the time of his calling out of Ur of the Chaldees.

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In noticing a gratuitous and unfounded report concerning Professor Shannon, of Missouri, whom he stigmatizes as a Campbellite, he says: "As the Campbellites reject the doctrine of the Trinity, and advocate baptismal regeneration, these views, of course, will tinge the NEW VERSION." "Of course" lie knew this assertion to be false, without mitigation, or he is too contemptibly ignorant for a public instructor. Ha KNOWS, if he knows any thing as he should, that the Christians .whom he maliciously calls "Campbellites," do, as a body, hold the doctrine of God's word concerning Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, most firmly and tenaciously. This charge is too stale, and has been too often exploded to he revived by a tyro, with any hope of success. The veterans of an exclusive orthodoxy have long since ceased to believe it, and the young ones may as well let it alone.
THE MILLENNIAL HARBINGER ABRIDGED. 99 

TO BROTHER HENRY GREW. 
Dear Sir: 
My principal objection to the popular doctrine of "the Trinity" is not that it is either irrational, or unscriptural, to infer that there are three Divine persons in one Divine nature. That these three equally have one thought, purpose, will, and operation, and so one God; — or, to use the words of the Westminster Confession, "In the Unity of the Godhead there be three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity;"

I say I object not to this doctrine because it is contrary to reason, or revelation, but because of the metaphysical technicalities, the unintelligible jargon, the unmeaning language of the orthodox creeds on this subject, and the interminable war of words without ideas to which the word Trinity has given birth. For example, in the same section from which I have quoted the above words is found the following jargon: "The Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding from the Father and the Son."

Were any one to ask me. Can there be three distinct persons, or even beings, in one God? I would say, Reason informs me not. and revelation does not assert it.

But if asked, Can there be one, and [99] one three in the same sense?
I reply, Both reason and revelation say No.

But then no Trinitarian or Calvinist affirms that the three are one, and the one three, in the same sense.

Language fails and thought can not reach the relation in which the Father and Son have existed, now exist, and shall forever exist.

But that there is, and was, and evermore will be, society in God himself, a plurality as well as unity in the Divine nature, are inferences which do obtrude themselves on my mind in reflecting upon the divine communications to our race. I will add, that common sense, reason, and revelation, give one and the same testimony, in my ear, upon this subject.

If you ask how this can be, I will ask you, How can there be one self-existent, independent, unoriginated, eternal God? You will say, I believe, but can not comprehend. So say I. But while our faith has in its first effort to encounter a truth so incomprehensible, and to receive it; a truth so mysterious, supernatural, unsearchable, transcendent; a truth which, in its stupendous dimensions, encompasses infinite space, an eternity past--the universe, natural, intellectual, moral; a truth which leaves out no existence, past, present, or future; which overwhelms every intellect, and sets at defiance the combined efforts of all created intelligence--I repeat it, since this must be the Alpha of our faith, where shall we place our Omega, on the mode of the Divine existence? He that comes to God, must first believe THAT HE IS.

But I am not more confounded than delighted with the idea of the One, Self-existent, and Eternal God. To me, its incomprehensibility is a source of joy. With exultation I ask, "Who by searching can find out God, or know the Almighty to perfection?" My child says, Who made God? and, methinks, I am no wiser in the estimation of my superiors.

John Mark Hicks: He is infinitely Divine and perfectly human, possessing all Divinity and all humanity in one personality. A perfect God man, “the only begotten of the father full of grace and Truth.” His sacrifice “expiated” and took out of God’s way and out man’s way “the sin of the world.” “By offering up of himself” on the cross on Mount Calvery [sic], “he made an end of all sin offerings,” introduced “an everlasting justification” or righteousness for fallen humanity; and “perfected forever all them that are sanctified through the faith” in his person, offices, and work.

We have frequently contemplated and represented man somewhat as a Microcosm — indeed, as an epitome of the universe. In plain Eng-
486 THE MILLENNIAL HARBINGER ABRIDGED.
lish, a miniature universe. We know nothing in tlie universe that lias not its representative in man, in some manner or degree. He Has a body in which is represented the consecrated four — fire air, earth and water. But philosophers affirm that in these are found some forty elements. Grant it! But has not man these for If so, he has ali the elements of which they are composed! Body, soul and spirit comprehended these forty elements. And no man can, with any palpable degree of self-respect, question the trinity or triunity of body, soul and spirit, in one human personality! No more rationally or religiously, that he can deny that fire, air, earth and sea engross the forty elements of our present canonized philosophy!

John Mark Hicks: The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God in another personality, equally Divine, and equally cooperant with the Father and the word incarnate, who illuminates, sanctifies, and perfects every sinner in whose heart he becomes the Holy Guest; sometimes improperly called, in our common vernacular, “Holy Ghost.”

The Son of God from all eternity is the WORD or words of God which He breathed (spirit) as His creative force. Historic trinitarians therefore say that the SON of God is the WORD of God. The Word IS God which is made audible in Jesus the Christ. Alexander affirms that Jesus began to be when he was born of the seed of Abraham.

Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
        that God
        hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,
        both Lord and Christ.

Jesus is also God's Grace, Spirit, Righteousness and all of the qualities God wants His Children to manifest:

John 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world:
he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
John 9:2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents:
but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Behold,' says Jesus, "I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will enter and sup with him and ne with me." "Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

But besides this indirect and figurative reception of the Spirit of Cod, the Holy Spirit, by the gospel; these gracious influences, suggestions, illuminations, consolations and invigorating impulses of the good Spirit of God, by and through the gospel in the heart, making the heart a cistern, a fountain whence living waters constantly flow; is there not a substantive, a real and unfigurative reception of the Holy Spirit himself, in the sense of the question Paul asked the Galatians (iii. 2), "Did you receive the Spirit by works of law, or by obedience of faith?"

Such a reception of the Spirit there certainly was; and of this "gift of the Holy Spirit," this "demonstration of the Spirit," this "manifestation of the Spirit," these "spiritual gifts," we have already spoken as conferred upon the firstfruits in the last days of the Jewish age — in the setting up of the kingdom of the Messiah;
        but of such a reception of the Spirit since the last days of the Jewish age, since the creation of one new man of believing Jews and Gentiles, and the breathing into him the holy spirit of this new life,
        there has been no substaniive, abstract and literal communication of the Holy Spirit to any man. Such is the experience of all the catholic congregation of Christ.
        There has arisen no prophet, no originator of new ideas, no worker of miracles, no controller of nature's laws, no person having any manifestation of the Spirit, or showing any divine power among me".

Now these manifestations of the Spirit were for the benefit of the community;
         but the Holy Spirit as now promised and received through the gospel, is for the benefit of the subject himself. There are, how- ever, other phrases and terms found in the Christian Scriptures which require our attention, and when correctly appreciated farther illus- trate and confirm the preceding.

Although with respect to various misconceptions of what is written on this subject, we have enlarged our remarks beyond the limits of literary investigation, still we aimed at no more in this essay than a fair and full examination of the phrases •'ministration of the Spirit," one acceptation of the word "Spirit," the "fruit of the Spirit," and "receiving of the Spirit." If we have ascertained these, it is all the merit we claim for the present essay.