VIII. Why is it Necessary that the Church Should Hold Fast to the Doctrine of the Trinity?

This doctrine of the Trinity should be taught and maintained in the Church: 1. On account of the glory of God, that he may thus be distinguished from idols, with whom he will not be confounded ; and that he may be known and worshipped as such an one as he has revealed himself to be. 2. On account of our comfort and salvation; for no one is saved without a knowledge of God the Father. But the Father is not known without the Son. “ No man hath seen God at any time ; the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” “ Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.” (John 1:18. 1 John 2: 23.) Again, no man is saved without faith in the Son of God, our Mediator. “This is the true God, and eternal life.” “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed, and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” (1 John 5 : 20. Rom. 10: 14.) Like wise, no man is sanctified and saved without a knowledge of the Holy Spirit ; for he who does not receive the Holy Spirit is not saved, according to the declaration of Scripture, “If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Rom. 8 : 9.) But no one receives the Holy Ghost who is ignorant of him, according as it is said, “ Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him.” (John 14: 17.) Wherefore, he who does not know the Holy Spirit cannot be saved. It is necessary, then, that all who will be saved, should have a knowledge of the one God, the eternal Father, the co-eternal Son, and the co-eternal Holy Ghost ; for unless he is known as such an one as he has revealed himself, he does not communicate himself unto us, neither can we expect. eternal life from him.