How may this relation be claimed by us?* Rom. 8:14-15.

4. With what is the name "Son of God" associated?

What seems to be the design in this intimate association ?*

What three indispensable things meet in this being?

5. To what distinctions, în God's manifestations, are the different family names given?

To how many classes are all these reduced? What are they called?

6. To which class are the manifestations in nature applied?

By the light of the gospel, in what sense may the term father be used by all?

7. Where are the manifestations of grace classed?

Explain the appropriateness of the figure? Does this answer Christ's questions to the Scribes? Lu, 30: 44.

*

8. What is the spirit, giving the living presence of all God's revelations, called?

What relation does it hold to the world? John 16: 8-11.

What relation to Christians? John 15: 26. Is it evident to you all, that, however revealed, God is one?

What does the Holy Spirit offer to become to each of us? Rev. 22: 16.

THE STUDY OF GOD AS REVEALED

IN PERSONALITIES.

LESSON XXIX.

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. John 14: 16. "

The only place in which it
God in the common trans-

1. The accepted meaning of the term person is
a living intelligence.
is used, as applied to
lation, is in Hebrews. Here it might be rendered
him, or himself, showing that it is not used here
differently from its common meaning.

2. The form of our word person, is from the Latin persona; but the common meaning of the word is derived from the French. A theological meaning has been given to the word person, which might better be expressed by the word personality.

3. Personality, means the marked characteristics, distinguishing one person from another. Hence, when the same person possesses several sets of distinguishing characteristics, he may be said to possess several personalities in one person.

4. Such would be a judge, called to give extreme sentence against his own child. He has one personality of father, identified with his child, and naturally seeking to exculpate him from all blame. He has another personality of judge, an officer, sworn to execute the law, on the platform of impartial justice. If he brings his personality of father to the bench, and uses his official position to shield his own son from merited punishment, which he would award to other men's sons, then, the people cry out "unjust judge."

5. Paul regards every man as possessing two personalities. The one, under the leadership of reason and conscience, sides with the law of God. The other, under the leadership of self and passion, sides with transgression. To these opposing personalities, he alternately applies the pronoun I.

6. "For that which I do, I allow not; for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."

7. In connection with this thought, one personality is said to be dead, while the other is alive. The sinful personality is called the "old man." When this leads, the other is "dead in trespasses and in sins." The "resurrecting" of the dead personality, is called regeneration, because it kills the "old man" with his deeds; while it quickens the conscience under the law of God, which is now called the "new man, created in Christ Jesus."

8. We are not inclined to question the fact, that the doctrine of the Trinity, in the Godhead, has been fairly established, in the great battle fought by the Latin Fathers; and judiciously settled, by the declaration of three personas in God.

9. Certain relations in Deity are expressed, making it proper and necessary for Christ, in speaking of these relations in distinction, to use the personal pronouns I, thou, he.

10. But as Bishop Whately has well remarked, in his treaties on logic, speaking of ambiguous terms, the Latin persona has a meaning somewhat different from the English word person. 11. "The meaning of the latter is of French origin, signifying a distinct being." "Persona," says Whately, "is Englished in our dictionaries by the state, quality or condition, whereby one man differs from another; and so, as the condition alters, the person " (personality) "alters, though the man be the same."

12. "The same man, if considered in other circumstances, (considerably different) is reputed another person" (personality).

13. "Thus the same man may at once sustain the person," (personality)" of a king and a father, if he be invested, both with royal and paternal authority." With this explanation, it will not be so difficult to ascertain the meaning, which the Fathers gave to the term personas, when applied to the Godhead, since they used it in the Latin sense.

QUESTIONS.

1. What is the general meaning of the term person?

Where in Scripture is it applied to God?
What other rendering might we give it?

Is there any peculiarity in its meaning here? 2. From what is the form of our word person derived?

What meaning attaches to it?

What peculiar meaning has been given to it?

What would be a better term, by which to express this meaning?

3. What is the meaning of this word?

Does a plurality of personalities necessarily imply a plurality of persons?

4. What illustration is given?