the operations of the Holy Spirit upon the soul of man, with others, as to their manner, are, to us, quite incomprehensible. (John iii. 8.)

Q. 120. Are we then bound to believe what we cannot comprehend?

A. Yes, undoubtedly, if it be clearly revealed in the word of God.

Q. 121. Are there not mysteries in nature as well as in revelation?

A. Yes; all the works of nature are to us mysteries: we cannot comprehend the manner and the nature of that union which subsists between our bodies and our souls; and even the growth of a blade of grass surpasses all our comprehension. The same kind of reasoning, therefore, which leads an infidel to disbelieve the mysteries of divine revelation, would also lead him to dissent from any fact in nature above our comprehension, which is evinced by his bodily senses.— (Q. 59.)

per

Q. 122. You said, that God subsists in three sons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; are these three persons distinct from each other?

A. Yes; "there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost; and yet they are not three Gods, but one God." (St. Ath. Cr.)

Q. 123. But is not the Father greater in majesty and glory than the Son; and the Son than the Holy Ghost?

A. No; "Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost; none is afore, or after other; none is greater or less than another; but the whole three persons are co-equal and co-eternal." (St. Ath. Cr.)

Q. 124. Is it then the duty of mankind to worship this triune God?

A. Yes; those to whom this doctrine is made known, are bound in duty to worship "the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity."

Q. 125. Does not each of the three persons of the Godhead sustain different offices in the moral government of the world, and in the economy of redemption?

A. Yes; and by considering separately the nature of those offices which each person sustains, we may acquire, in the simplest way, the best knowledge of the doctrines of Christianity.*

As we are now considering the doctrines of Christianity, we shall adopt this method; and that we may keep in mind the plan and order we are to observe,† I would have you tell me summarily, first, what those

* It should carefully and constantly be kept in mind, that every operation of the Deity is the result of the combined wisdom, power, and will of the Trinity in Unity; and that we assign to each of the three persons in one God, distinct offices and operations only for the sake of order, and a clearer understanding, agreeably to the method of Scripture. Nothing is done without the necessary co-operation of the three Persons: for, as there is a unity of Godhead, so there must be a unity and concurrence of design and co-operation.

+ The Catechist, as he proceeds in the detail, should frequently

offices are which each of the divine Persons sustains, and then proceed to explain them in detail.

Q. 126. First; what are summarily the offices of the FATHER?

A. The offices of the Father may be considered as threefold; he is the Creator, (a) Preserver, (b) and Governor (c) of all things.

(a) Gen. i. 1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.-Ps. cxlvi. 5, 6. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God; which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is. (Ps. cxlviii. 1-5.)

(b) Ps. xxxvi. 6. O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.— Job vii. 20. I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, thou preserver of men?

(c) 2 Chron. xx. 6. Jehoshaphat said, O Lord God of our Fathers, art thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? (Acts xvii. 24-26.)—Prov. xvi. 33. The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.-Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

Q. 127. Secondly; what are summarily the offices of the SON?

A. The offices which the Son sustains are numerous; but they may all be comprehended under that of Mediator or Redeemer. (a)

(a) 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one Mediator bebetween God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

remind his pupils of this order, which will greatly assist both the memory and the comprehension.

Q. 128. Thirdly; what are summarily the offices of the HOLY GHOST?

A. They are threefold, viz. Teacher,(a) Sanctifier,(b) and Comforter. (c) (See Q. 279 to 286.)

(a) John xv. 26. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.John xvi. 8, 13, 14. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and show it unto you. (John xiv. 26.) (b) John iii. 5-8. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.-Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. (c) John xiv. 15—17. If ye love me, keep my commandments; and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John xv. . 26.)

OF THE FATHER.

1.- AS CREATOR.

Having now told me summarily the various offices of the "Trinity in Unity," let us proceed to inquire more fully, and in detail, into the nature and operatrons of those offices, and what they imply. You have told me that the Father is the CREATOR of all things :

Q. 129. Did not the Son and the Holy Ghost also create the universe ?

A. Yes, certainly; as being one with the Father, they were equally concerned in the creation of the universe. (Ps. cii. 25.)

Q. 130. You say that the Father created the universe: what then do you mean by the universe ?

A. I mean not only this world, and all things in it; but also all other worlds, and whatever is in them.

Q. 131. Are there then any other worlds besides that in which we live?

A. Yes; but whether they are inhabited or not, and of the nature of the beings who may inhabit them, we are not informed in Scripture. But we read of other worlds; (a) and it is very pro bable that the moon and stars are all inhabited worlds.

(a) Heb. i. 2. By whom also he made the worlds.-Heb.xi. 3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.

Q. 132. Are there any passages of Scripture which