wherein all the reason and philosophy of atheism is confuted, and

£^8 The Pagans Trinity^ derived Book I.there be nothing in ic (if rightly underftood) that is repugnant to reafon :and fince there are in the ancient writings of the Old Tcftament certain fignificationsof a plurality in the Deity, or of more than one hypoftafis, we mayreafonably conclude that, which Proclus afTerteth of this trinity, as it wascontained in the Chaldaick Oracles, to be true, that it was at firft 3£07ra^*Jb-TOf S-foAoj/ia, a theology of iivbis tradition or revelation^ or a divine cabala,wz. amongfl: the Hebrews firft, and from them afterwards communicated tothe Egypdans and other nations. Neither ought it to be thought any confiderableobjedion to the contrary, becaufe the Platonifts, Pythagoreans, andother Pagan theologers, did not expreis this their trinity, in the very wordsof the Athanafian Creed, nor according to the form of the Nicene council.Forafmuch as this myftery was gradually imparted to the world, and thatfirft but fparingly to the Hebrews themfelves, either in their written or oralcabala •, but afterwards more fully under Chriftianity, the whole frame whereofwas built thereupon. Neverthelefs was it not fo diftinctly and precifelydetermined, nor fo pundlually and fcrupuloully ftated among the Chriftiansneither, till after the rifing up of herefies concerning it- Nor when all wasdone, did the orthodox themfelves at firft univerfally agree, in the fignificationof the word 'O/xosirjor, co-ejentlal or confubjlantial. Nor laftly, is it a thingat all to be wondredv at, that in fuch a difficult and myfterious point as this,there fliould be fome diverfity of apprehenfions amongft the reputed orthodoxChriftians themfelves , and much lefs therefore amongft Pagans and Philofophers.However, we freely acknowledge, that as this divine cabala wasbut little underftood by many of thofe, who entertained it among the Pagans,fo was it by divers of them much depraved and adulterated alio.For firft, the Pagans univerfally called this their trinity, a trinity of gods,-tov rif uTov, Tou AiUTSfov, and Tov TpiVou 5-£ov, tljc firft ^ the fecond, and the thirdgod; as the more philofophical amongft them called it alio a trinity ofcaufes,and a trinity of principles, and fomenmes a trinity of opificers. Thus isEnn. s- 5-s. 3 [i).522.]j^jy^^p^y this cabala of the trinity ftyled \n Proclus, n' rZ'j Tfja-j ^im-uTa^a-Sotjn;, thetrap.93. dition of the three gods. And accordingly is it faid oi Numenius by him,^'