Subsequently the apostles, more fully instructed in "the mystery of _God_, and of the _Father_, and of _the Christ_," Col. ii., more clearly distinguished the Persons of the Trinity in all that concerned their relations to the work of redemption; though, conformably to the Hebrew usage, they often, as the context shows, designated the Mediator under the name of _God_, while they also by that name referred to the Father and to the one invisible Deity. Thus, speaking of the Christ, Paul says, "Who is over all, God blessed for ever." Rom. ix. 5. Again: "There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." 1 Tim. ii. 5. And, treating of the economy of grace, and the gifts bestowed on the Church by the Redeemer, he says: "There is one Spirit, one Lord, one God and Father of all." Eph. iv. 4-6. See also the doxologies, and the formulas of grace and peace introductory to the Epistles. These observations and references may, perhaps, sufficiently show the occasion there was for the reiterated statements, at the opening of the New Dispensation, _that no man had seen the Father_, and that he was declared and made known only by the Son. The Jews, to whom these things were said, were familiar with the Scriptures which record the visible appearances of Jehovah, the Elohe of Abraham. The first thing, as has been observed, that was necessary, on his appearance in human nature, was to convince those who had seen and heard him that he was the same personally and officially as He who appeared to and conversed and covenanted with the patriarchs, and dwelt with the Church in the wilderness and in the first temple. He was accordingly from the first, by inspired direction, designated by names of the same import as the Jehovah and Immanuel of the earlier dispensation; and he himself appealed to the ancient Scriptures, as testifying of him. The apostles referred to him as the Jehovah of the Old Testament; and Stephen says, that Moses "was in the Church in the wilderness, with _The Messenger_ who spoke to him in mount Sinai." Acts vii.