Sequence 22. Trinity. I

WE, the Unity confessing,
Must the Trinity be blessing
In our worship equally ;
In three Persons thus believing ;
Difference 'tvvixt them each perceiving
In their Personality.

Relatively of these speak we,
Substantively but one make we.

Nor three Persons in them see;
Call them three or threefold, never
But one substance are they ever.

Neither in their essence three.
One in being, One in power,
One in will and wisdom's dower,
One in all respects they be :
Of all these three Persons, either
One, or two, or all together.

Are Almighty equally.
Father, Son, and Spirit Holy,
Are one God, but each hath truly
Some peculiar property :
One their goodness, one their might, is ;
One their glor}', one their light, is ;
One are they entirely.

Equal are the Son and Father,
But from this we may not gather
That their Persons are the same :
One with Son and Father either,
Not from one, but both together.

The connecting Spirit came.
These three Persons that we mention
Are beyond man's comprehension,
As the difference each one shows :
Time and place alike unbounded
Are for them, and unsurrounded
By the limits nature knows.

Naught but God God's self compriseth,
Nor from other cause ariseth,
Cause of all causality :
Though the cause, all things respecting,
Formal, final, and effecting,
Immaterial is He.

To describe these Persons duly
Far transcends man's reason truly,
And exceeds his wit as well :
What that birth is, that procession,
Though faith doubts not, my confession
Must be that I cannot tell.

Who believes this, nought dismayeth 3
He ne'er ignorantly strayeth
From this creed's right royal road ;
Keeps the faith, his life makes purer,
Not declining into error
Censured by the Church of God.

In this faith then let us glory,
And in one consistent story
Hold it in its verity :
Praise be to the Triune Godhead ;
To the Three in One included
Co-eternal glory be ! Amen.