be the only true God, and the Son the true God? Can any two propositions be more contradictory? But the apostle has made no such contradiction. The latter passage is a beautiful illustration and confirmation of the first. John asserts that they knew that the Son of God had come; that he had given them an understanding, that they might know the true God; (the very thing which Christ said was necessary to eternal life;) that they were under the true God, by being under his Son Jesus Christ; and that this was the true God, and the eternal life, 1 John, v. 20, which God had promised to them who knew him, evidently alluding to the words of Christ.*

The passages which speak of Christ as being the first begotten, Heb. i. 6; the first born, the only begotten, John i, 18; the Son of God, the beginning of the creation of God, the image of God, Col. i. 15; the gift of God, John iv. 10; made Lord and Christ, Acts ii. 36; made like unto his brethren, exalted to be a prince and saviour, Acts v. 31; given to be head over all things to the church, possessing all fulness at the pleasure of the Father, Col. i. 19; appointed heir of all things, Heb. i. 2; ordained the Judge of the world, Acts xvii. 31; made for a little while less than the angels, Heb. ii. 9; made better than the angels, Heb. i. 4; given a name which is above every name, Phi. ii. 9; and even the name Christ, all shew derived existence and power; not less than those which speak of God, plainly distinguished from Christ, as the only Lord God, Jude 4; the only Potentate, 1 Tim. vi. 15; and who alone hath immortality. 1 Tim. vi. 16.

It is said by John, that "he is anti-christ that denieth the Father and the Son, and that whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father." 1 John ii 22, 23. How it can be said that the Son is equal with the Father; that he is co-eternal with the Father, and selfexistent, without denying both Father and Son, I cannot conceive. Nor can I conceive wherein the relationship of Father and Son, in any sense, can exist, or be supposed to exist, consistent with this hypothesis.

* See Macknight.

For my part, I dare not deny, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, nor maintain any proposition inconsistent with that truth.

Again, it is said that Christ is the God-man mediator, between God and men. But why mediate for that which himself can bestow? If he be omnipotent, capable of bestowing all blessings, and forgiving all sins, why mediate or intercede for the same forgiveness and the same blessings? Why direct us to pray to the Father, in his name? And if he be very God, with whom is he mediating but himself? And can God mediate with himself? Is not equality of the Son with the Father, each being very God, incompatible with the office of mediator? And does not such supposition involve a gross absurdity? To me, most certainly Neither are we warranted by the scriptures in believing that our mediator is of this character. On the contrary, we are expressly assured, in so many words, that the one mediator, between God and man, is the man Christ Jesus. 1 Tim. ii. 5.

Once more. It is said by trinitarians, that the Son, the word of the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the virgin, and that two whole and perfect natures, the Godhead and manhood, were joined in one person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God and very man, and that this is the Christ who was crucified for us. Yet we are expressly told by the scriptures, that Christ performed his miracles by the help of God; that the grace of God was with him. Luke ii. 40. He himself says that he cast out devils by the spirit of God, Math. xii. 28; by the finger of God, Luke xi. 20; that the Father that dwelt in him did the works. John xiv. 10. To him he prayed, again and again, for aid, and to none but him. I have yet heard no reason assigned why he should pray, Luke v. 16. if he were himself very God; nor why he needed the grace of God, Luke ii. 40; nor why the spirit of God should be given to him. Nor have I heard any reason assigned why he always prayed to the Father, and directed his disciples so to pray, Mat. vi. 6, 9. John xvi. 23. iv. 23, 24, if there was a person in the Godhead equal with the Father, called the holy spirit; nor do I expect to hear

any reason given, nor do I believe that any reason can be given.

These are a summary of the reasons which have induced me to reject, which I do with strong conviction of its falsity, the received doctrine of the trinity, and to hold the Father to be the only true God. But while I do this, I by no means reject Christ, the Son of God. That he spake as no other man spake; that he was, peculiarly, the Son of God; that God was in him, reconciling the world to himself; that he is a Prince and a Saviour; that he is head over all things to the church; that all judgment is committed into his hands; and that he is ordained of God the judge of quick and dead, and will finally judge the world, I fully believe. That the same mind may be in you and me that was in him; that we may be guided by the same spirit of charity and forbearance that was manifested in him; and that all our measures and motives may be such as to meet with his approbation, is my sincere prayer.

SAMUEL EDDY.