An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of AssentNewman, John Henry
Religion
An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent
Newman, John Henry
Faith; Theism
This being understood, I ask what chapter of St. John or St. Paul is
not full of the Three Divine Names, introduced in one or other of the
above nine propositions, expressed or implied, or in their parallels,
or in parts or equivalents of them? What lesson is there given us by
these two chief writers of the New Testament, which does not grow out
of Their Persons and Their Offices? At one time we read of the grace
of the Second Person, the love of the First, and the communication
of the Third; at another we are told by the Son, “I will pray the
Father, and He will send you another Paraclete;” and then, “All that
the Father hath are Mine; the Paraclete shall receive of Mine.” Then
again we read of “the foreknowledge of the Father, the sanctification
of the Spirit, the Blood of Jesus Christ;” and again we are to “pray
in the Holy Ghost, abide in the love of God, and look for the mercy of
Jesus.” And so, in like manner, to Each, in one passage or another, are
ascribed the same titles and works: Each is acknowledged as Lord; Each
is eternal; Each is Truth; Each is Holiness; Each is all in all; Each
is Creator; Each wills with a Supreme Will; Each is the Author of the
new birth; Each speaks in His ministers; Each is the Revealer; Each is
the Lawgiver; Each is the Teacher of the elect; in Each the elect have
fellowship; Each leads them on; Each raises them from the dead. What is
all this, but “the Father Eternal, the Son Eternal, and the Holy Ghost
Eternal; the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Omnipotent; the Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost God,” of the Athanasian Creed? And if the New Testament
be, as it confessedly is, so real in its teaching, so luminous, so
impressive, so constraining, so full of images, so sparing in mere
notions, whence is this but because, in its references to the Object
of our supreme worship, it is ever ringing the changes (so to say) on
the nine propositions which I have set down, and on the particular
statements into which they may be severally resolved?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account