CHAPTER VI.

THE GODHEAD; OR, THE SILENCED INFIDEL.

QUESTION VI. _How many persons are there in the Godhead?_

ANSWER. There are three persons in the Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

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"I DON'T believe this lesson will be as interesting as the last," whispered Helen to her cousin Anna, as they sat together an hour or two before the exercise commenced.

"I'm sure I can never understand about the Godhead. I hope mother will tell us a good, long story."

"O, I dare say we shall understand it," replied Anna, promptly. "Aunty makes it so clear and plain; and then uncle will be here too. What a dreadful thing it is to worship idols, as he saw the poor heathen in India!"

"Children, are you ready for the lesson," called out Mr. Dermott, taking a seat near the fire.

The mother smiled as she saw how eagerly her young audience arranged themselves in order, and, having listened to a correct answer of the question in course, asked, "Anna, what name do we commonly give to the Son of God?"

"Jesus Christ."

"Can you think of no other?"

"Yes, ma'am; Saviour and Redeemer."

"And what name do we generally apply to the Holy Ghost?"

"The Spirit—the Holy Spirit," responded Walter.

"That is right; and the Bible teaches us that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, are three persons, not separate, but united in one God, and that they are equal in substance or nature, in power and glory. What is the union of these three persons called?"

The children not being able to reply, Mr. Dermott answered, "The Godhead."

"We cannot understand how these three distinct persons can be one God," continued the lady; "but neither can we understand a thousandth part of what we see every day, and believe to be true. For instance, we do not know, when an acorn is put into the ground, how a little sapling springs up, which, in due time, becomes a tall, giant oak; nor why, on the same stalk, a green leaf and a red rose should grow; neither can we fully understand the framework of our bodies, the curious mechanism of the arteries, and veins, and nerves; nor the structure of our minds; how we can think, and weep, and rejoice; how we can call to mind events long passed. Still less can we understand the silken cord which unites the body and soul. But we do not hesitate to believe that these things are so.

"Now, in the word of God we are expressly taught that 'the Lord our God is one God;' and we are also taught that Jesus Christ is God.

"'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."