Page:A Cloud of Independent Witnesses.djvu/43

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TESTIMONY OF REV. JOHN CLOWES. 37

and offices? Is not your idea of God become thus altogether confused and perplexed, so that you know not to what or to whom to direct your worship, sometimes addressing yourselves to the Father, sometimes to the Son, and sometimes to the Holy Ghost; but never to Jesus Christ alone as the one only God, in whose divine person the sacred Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is contained? And is not this confusion and perplexity in your ideas of Jesus Christ manifested by want of power in your public preaching and ministry? ....

THEIR NEGLECT TO EXAMINE INEXCUSABLE.

" I repeat it, therefore, again; be these writings true or false; be their authority well or ill-founded; be they from the Father of Lights, or from the father of lies, it is your office and duty, as ministers of the truth, to examine well into the nature of their evidence, and the degree of credibility which is due to them. You cannot possibly excuse yourselves from the dis- charge of this duty. A regard to truth and the interests of religion demands it of you; and you are bound to greater caution herein, inasmuch as the judgment you form will not affect yourselves only, but will affect also the people committed to your care; so that the salvation of thousands may possibly depend

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