Now these varying passages must mean that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are simply different offiices, functions, phases, manifestations, of the One Divine Being, and not three distinct beings or persons. Any other conclusion leads to an absurdity.
Proceeding upon this assumption, the whole matter is at once cleared up. Jesus has already told them that if they prayed to him he would himself answer their prayers. And later he says, "And I say not unto you that I will pray the Father for you." In these cases he is speaking plainly and openly. When he says that he will pray the Father for them, is he not speaking according to the appearance in order that they may not cease to have the idea of the Divine back of him?
He is trying to tell them plainly that he is the Father. He has already told them so directly: but they cannot comprehend it. He keeps on trying to reveal himself as the Father; but still they cannot comprehend. He tells them that he will pray to the Father to send the Holy Spirit, but then shows that He is the Holy Spirit as well as the Father and the Son. In other words, he has shown them that these three
