Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 4
THE FOVRTH SORT OF PRINCIPLES, CONCERNING THE HOLY GHOST.
HITHERTO CONCERNING, THE PERSONS of the Father, and the Sonne: it followeth now, that we ſpeake of the holie Spirit.
1 VVHereas the word SPIRIT, is diuerſly taken in the ſcriptures, we in this doctrine, do vnderſtand by the holie ſpirit, the third perſon in Trinitie.
2 The holie Spirit is that Eſſentiall, and working power, who is eſſentially ſubſiſting in the Father, and the Son, from whome (the whole Deity wherein alſo they doe ſubſiſt, being communicated vntounto him after an vnſpekable maner) though he procedeth, or (if we may ſo ſpeake) is as it were breathed, yet is he not at all ſeperated in reſpect of this his proceding, but is in regard of the maner of his being, diſtinguiſhed from the perſons of the Father, and the Sonne.
And therefore he is not without cauſe reckoned, the third perſon in nomber, ſeing in conſideration of his being, hee is referred vntounto the Father, and the ſonne, yet not as vntounto two beginnings, but as vntounto one.
3 The Deity thus communicated, by iſſuing and proceeding, is not multiplied in ſubſtance, ſeing he is moſt ſimple and ſingle: Whence it is that the holie Ghoſt in regard of his perſon, is, and euer hath bin coeſſentiall, and coaeternall with the Father, and the ſonne, and in regarde of his ſubſtance, is that one onelyonly true God in himſelfe: Wherevpon alſo, the name of God, is ſometimes perſonally attributed vntounto him.
The holy Ghoſt is therefore to be worſhipped, by the one and the ſame faith and inuocation, that the Father and Son are.
4 And although the works of the Trinnitie, which they cal outward, or external, are vnſeperable, yet in the effecting of them, wee are to obſerue a diſtinction, not onelye of the perſons, but alſo of the perſonall actions.
5 The proper, and the peculiar action of the holie Spirit, in all the workes of the Deity, bee they naturall and ordinary, or els extraordinary; was and is to effect in his time and maner, thoſe things which the father from all aeternitie hath decreed in his owne wiſdome, that is, in his Son, and the Son hath ordered and diſpoſed to come to paſſe.
6 Yet is not the holy ſpirit any inſtrumental cauſe, affording his helpe as a ſeruaunt vntounto the Father or the Son, but working together with them, without any inferioritie or inaequallitie.
7 But the power and working of the holy ſpirit, is eſpeciallie ſeene, in the planting and gouerning of the Church: In which particular reſpect, he is called the holie ſpirit: even becauſe, that he who is moſt holie, doth ſtirr vp and nouriſh, all the holie motions that are in the elect. For he it is, by whoſe inſpiration, all the holie prophets hauehave ſpoken; it is he, that giueth eares to heare, and a hart to beleeue, who appointeth Paſtors, and doth enable them with neceſſary gifts, who ſtirreth vp the ſlouthfull, and being the true comforter indeed, doth comfort the afflicted ſoule: By whome thoſe that are borne againe of him, do cry Abba father, he alſo formed the fleſhe of Chriſt in the wombe of the virgine, and did moſt aboundantlie anoint his humane nature: to conclude, it is he by whoſe ſtrength we ſtand vntill we overcome.
Wherefore, we doe abhor and renounce the SABELLIANS who confound the perſones with the ſubſtance of the Godhead, the ARRIANS and the MACEDONIANS, who deny the holie Ghoſt to bee coeſſentiall with the Father and the Son; the GRECIANS of later time, who affirme that hee doth onlie proceed from the father; and thoſe alſo, who by the holie Ghoſt, will hauehave nothing els to be ment, ſaue certaine motions and inſpirations onelyonly; together with thoſe, who deny that he is to be invocated, by the one and the ſelfeſame faith with the Father and the Sonne: and to be briefe; we deteſt all thoſe, that any waies oppugne the Deity of the holy Ghoſt, either in his ſubſtance or perſon.
Defended by IOHN IAMES COLER of Tygurine.