Thus having, by variety of proofs, demonstrated the fecundity of the Godhead, in that all spiritualities, of whatever gradation, have originated essentially and substantially from it, like streams from their fountain; I avail myself of this as another sound argument, that in the sameness of the divine essence subsists a plurality of Persons.

A plurality with a vengeance!  Why, this is the very scoff of a late Unitarian writer,—­only that he inverts the order.  Mr. Oxlee proves ten trillions of trillions in the Deity, in order to deduce ‘a fortiori’ the rationality of three:  the Unitarian from the Three pretends to deduce the equal rationality of as many thousands.

Ib. p. 66.

So, if without detriment to piety great things may be compared with small, I would contend, that every intelligency, descending by way of emanation or impartition from the Godhead, must needs be a personality of that Godhead, from which it has descended, only so vastly unequal to it in personal perfection, that it can form no part of its proper existency.

Is not this to all intents and purposes ascribing partibility to God?  Indeed it is the necessary consequence of the emanation scheme?—­Unequal!—­Aye, various ‘wicked’ personalities of the Godhead?—­How does this rhyme?—­Even as a metaphor, emanation is an ill-chosen term; for it applies only to fluids.  ‘Ramenta’, unravellings, threads, would be more germane.

[Footnote 1:  The Christian Doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation considered and maintained on the principles of Judaism.  By the Rev. John Oxlee.  London, 1815.]

[Footnote 2:  That is, Intelligence or the Crown, Knowledge, Wisdom.  Ed.]

* * * * *

NOTES ON A BARRISTER’S HINTS ON EVANGELICAL PREACHING. 1810. [1]

  For only that man understands in deed
    Who well remembers what he well can do;
  The faith lives only where the faith doth breed
    Obedience to the works it binds us to. 
  And as the Life of Wisdom hath exprest—­
  ‘If this ye know, then do it and be blest’.

  LORD BROOK.

‘In initio’.

There is one misconception running through the whole of this Pamphlet, the rock on which, and the quarry out of which, the whole reasoning, is built;—­an error therefore which will not indeed destroy its efficacy as a [Greek:  misaetron] or anti-philtre to inflame the scorn of the enemies of Methodism, but which must utterly incapacitate it for the better purpose of convincing the consciences or allaying the fanaticism of the Methodists themselves; this is the uniform and gross mis-statement of the one great point in dispute, by which the Methodists are represented as holding the compatibility of an impure life with a saving faith:  whereas they only assert that the works of righteousness are the consequence, not the price, of Redemption, a gift included in the great gift of salvation;—­and therefore not of merit but of imputation through the free love of the Saviour.