The Foundling; or, The Child of ProvidenceChurch, J. (John)
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The Foundling; or, The Child of Providence
Church, J. (John)
Church, J. (John), approximately 1780-approximately 1825; Clergy -- England -- Biography
There is a difference to be observed between our sinful nature and such
temptations; the former is always with us, but the others are only
visitors, and unwelcome ones, indeed—yet they have an awful tendency to
distress the soul; and, perhaps, in such an intricate manner, as is
impossible to relate. Hence the old question, invented by the devil, and
started by men of infidel principles—“How can three be one, or one
three?” Why, as it respects things in common, it is impossible—but, as
it respects the adorable Trinity, I am taught to believe that there are
three divine persons in one divine essence. How this can be, neither
angers nor men can define; but that it is so, the Scriptures are clear.
I am bound to believe it, because God hath said it, and it is at man’s
peril to refuse him that speaketh from heaven. The way this temptation
sometimes operated, was this:—satan made up, or drew three figures of
persons on my imagination, and then asked me how these three could be
one? Impossible. And so say I. Such figures, images, dolls, idols,
drawn by that artful limner, cannot be one, nor one three. This
temptation was aided and assisted by the popish pictures of the Trinity,
an engraving of which is put as a frontispiece to Dr. Samuel Clarke’s
Bible, and which I consider to be the most abominable blasphemy; one of
the characters is represented as a very aged man, with a long beard;
another, rather younger, receiving a sceptre; and a third, the figure of
a dove: and these are called the persons in the Trinity. This is truly
awful; satan himself is the author of it, and man the dupe of his satanic
deceptions.
I believe but very few of God’s children escape temptation upon this
subject; and I make no apology in saying, that pictures drawn by man, or
painted upon our imaginations of either of the persons in the sacred
Trinity, is blasphemy. The Lord delivered me again and again from this
temptation, by leading my mind to what God has said of himself, who
certainly is the best judge of himself. Hence the question—“To whom,
then, will ye liken God, or shall I be equal, saith the Lord? To whom,
then, will ye liken God, or what likeness will ye compare unto him?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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