"'Unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.' "Then, in the sad story of Ananias and Sapphira, Peter said to the former,— "'Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost. Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.' "The Bible abounds in passages teaching this doctrine, such as these: Christ says,— "'I and my Father are one.' "Paul writes to the Philippians,— "'Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus; who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.' "'God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.'" "And it is equally explicit with reference to the Holy Ghost," added Mr. Dermott. "John says,— "'There are three that bear record in heaven,—the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost,—and these three are one.' "He is called 'the Comforter, who will teach all things,' knowing 'the mind of God,' preserving and governing the world." After a moment's pause, the gentleman added, "I remember to have heard an account of an infidel which well illustrates the point your mother has explained, that though we cannot understand, we must believe spiritual and experimental truths. This infidel was sitting with many others in a public room belonging to a hotel. At length he began to talk upon the absurdities of the Christian religion, quoting these expressions—,'I and my Father are one;' 'I in them and thou in me;' and 'three persons,' 'in one God.' Finding his auditors were not disposed to applaud his blasphemy, he turned to one gentleman and said, with an oath, 'Do you believe such nonsense?' "'Tell me,' asked the gentleman, in reply, 'how that candle burns.' "'Why,' answered he, 'the tallow, the cotton, and the atmospheric air produce the light.' "'Then they make one light, do they not?' "'Yes.' "'Will you tell me how they are one in the other, how the three unite and form but one light?' "'No, I cannot.' "'But you believe it?' "He could not say he did not. "The company all smiled at the man's inconsistency and folly; and the conversation was changed. So, my dear children, if you believe only what you can understand, and can explain, you may as well part with your senses, as you are surrounded by the wonderful works of God, whose ways are past finding out." "Jehovah!—Father, Spirit, Son! Eternal Godhead! Three in One! Before Thy throne we sinners bend; Grace, pardon, life, to us extend." CHAPTER VII. THE PURPOSE OF GOD; OR, THE NEW HOUSE. QUESTION VII. _What are the decrees of God?_ ANSWER. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. ——————