could he have found out what is the essence and character of God?
Not his own reason, but the Spirit of God it is which tells him that:
tells him that God is Three in One--that these three are persons--
that these persons are, a Father, a Son, and a Holy Spirit.

This is what God has himself condescended to tell us; and therefore
this is what he specially wishes us to believe and remember when we
think of him. This is God's name for himself--Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost. Man may give God what name he chooses. God's own name, which
he has given himself, is likely surely to be the most correct: at
least, it is the one of which God means us to think; for it is the
one into which he commanded us to be baptized. Remember that,
whenever you hear discourse concerning God; and if any man, however
learned, says that God is absolute, answer--'It may be so: but I was
not baptized into the name of the absolute.' If he tell you, God is
infinite, answer--'It may be so: but I was not baptized into the
name of the infinite.' If he tell you, God is the first cause,
answer--'That I doubt not: but I was not baptized into the name of
the first cause. I was baptized into the name which God has given
himself--Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and I will give him no other
name, and think of him by no other name, lest I be committing an act
of irreverence toward God, by presuming to call him one thing, when
he has bid me call him another. Absolute, infinite, first cause, and
so forth, are deep words: but they are words of man's invention, and
words too which plain, hard-working, hard-sorrowing folks do not
understand; even if learned men do--which I doubt very much indeed:
and therefore I do not trust them, cannot find comfort for my soul in
them. But Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are words which plain, hard-
working, hard-sorrowing men can understand, and can trust, and can
find comfort in them; for they are God's own words, and, like all