OF GOD AND THE HOLY TRINITY

1.  The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of Himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, in every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; who works all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will for His own glory; who is most loving, gracious, merciful, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; who is the rewarder of those that diligently seek Him; and who, at the same time, is most just and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.[1]

2.  God, having all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of Himself, is unique in being all-sufficient, both in Himself and to Himself, not standing in need of any creature which He has made, nor deriving any glory from them; but on the contrary, it is God who manifests His own glory in them, to them, and upon them.  He is the only fountain of all being; of whom, through whom, and to whom all things exist and move.  He has complete sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do through them, for them, or to them whatever He pleases.  In His sight all things are open and manifest; His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and not dependent upon the creature.  Therefore, nothing is for Him contingent or uncertain.  He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works, and in all His commands; to Him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship, service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever He is further pleased to require of them.[2]

3.  In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit, of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided: the Father was not derived from any being; neither was He begotten nor did He issue from any other being; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son.  All three are infinite, without beginning, and is therefore only one God, who is not divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations.  This doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on Him.[3]