Propositions and Principles of Divinity Disputed, Section 49
PRINCIPLES VPONUPON THE ARTICLE OF THE BELIEFE CONCERNING THE FAITH IN THE HOLY GHOST. XLIX.
1 VVE doe in this Article confeſſe, that the holy Ghoſt as being the third perſon in the Trinitie, is to bee adored and worſhipped by the ſame faith and inuocation, whereby, in the former Articles wee hauehave confeſſed, that the Father and the Son, beeing in order the firſt perſons of the Trinitie, ar diſtinctly to be acknowledged and worſhipped.
2 The holy Ghoſt in this place doth ſignifie, that eſſentiall power, who is eſſentially ſubſiſting in the Father and the Son, proceeding and diſtinguiſhed equally from them both, in regard of the manner of his being: but in reſpect of his eſſence, abſolutely conſidered, hee is GOD, hauing that Deitie which is not deriued by propagation from an other Godhead, but is one, moſt ſingle, and of himſelfe.
3 Now, ſeing the Father neither can be ſeparated from his Co-aeternall and Co-eſſentiall wiſedome, neither co-eſſentiall power, who is the holy Ghoſt, can be ſeuered from that wiſedome, but doth depend of the Father, and of his wiſedome: there is no queſtion to bee made, but that hee doth proceed from the Father and the Sonne, as from one cauſe.
4 Where the Sonne is ſaide to bee begotten of the Father, and the holy Ghoſt affirmed, to proceede from the Father and the Sonne; it ſheweth a difference between the wiſdome that remaineth in the Deitie, and the power, that doth outwardlie ſhew it ſelfe by the effects.
5 That which both the Schoole-men, and alſo the ancienteſt Diuines amongeſt the Latines, hauehave written concerning the holy Ghoſt, as being a kinde of eſſentiall louelove, knitting the Father; the Sonne togeather, hath brought in to religion, many intricate, ſtrange, and dangerous queſtions.
6 Although the works of the Trinitie, which they call outward or externall, are inſeparable: yet in the effecting of them, there is a diſtinction to bee obſerued, not onelyonly of the perſons, but alſo of the perſonall actions.
7 The proper operation of the holie Ghoſt, is to effect in deed in his time and manner, thoſe things which the father hath determined to diſpoſe by his Sonne, that is his aeternall wiſedome, and to execute by the power of them both, that is, by the holie Ghoſt.
8 Yet are we not to thinke that the holie Ghoſt dooth worke anie thing with the Father and the Sonne, as an inſtrumentall or a miniſteriall cauſe, but without anie inaequalitie, and immediatlie in reſpect of them both, worketh all things together with them.
9 The power thereof did then ſhew it ſelfe, when as the world was to be created of nothing, and afterward in his prouidence, whereby he hath vntounto this day, and euer ſhall as long as the world ſtandeth, preſerue the ſame, both by ordinary and extraordinarie meanes.
10 The effect thereof furthermore, is to woorke in the harts of men, which is done manie wayes: for ſome he maketh apt and readie to practiſe morall vertues, not by chā ging, but by repreſsing their naturall corruption: & others by his eſpeciall power hee doth make meete to vnderſtand and bring to paſſe, great matters, all which doe properlie ſerue for the conſeruation of mans ſocietie, although that the effects of theſe guiftes are otherwhiles alſo behoofull vntounto the Church.
11 Sometimes alſo he goeth farther, in beſtowing vponupon ſome the knowledge of his heauenlie truth, with other ſupernaturall guifts, as of Propheſie and healing: to be brief he doth after a ſort, ſometimes enlighten not the vnderſtanding onlie, but euen the will of ſome, who yet are ſo in the Church, as it will one day appeare, that they were neuer true members thereof.
12 Now his ſauing power, doth onelie manifeſt it ſelfe, both in the congregation of his elect, and alſo in euerye particular member of his myſticall bodie: whence it commeth to paſſe, that the Church alone is holie, and the beleeuers onlie, properlie called Saints.
13 Hee dooth therefore in part beſtowe the very ſame guifts vponupon his elect, whereof ſome of the reprobates are partakers: but adioyning thereunto the grace of a good conſcience, and of perſeuerance. So the holie Prophetes and Apoſtles in times paſt, hauehave left vntounto vsus by the inſpiration of the holie Ghoſt, the ſcriptures, contained in the bookes of the olde and new Teſtament. After this manner alſo, manie hauehave beene indued with the guift of woorking miracles, and all faithfull Paſtors and Teachers, hauehave bene in all ages, beſtowed vponupon the Church, and indued with neceſſarie guifts.
14 Now the guifts, whereby the holy Ghoſt doth properlie diſtinguiſh the church from the world; are thoſe vnrepentant guifts which hee beſtoweth onlie vponupon his elect: namelie, the effectuall enlightning of their minde, and the guift of perſeuerance: the effect whereof is true faith, applying Chriſt with all his benefites, vntounto the ſaluation of euerie one that beleeueth ſeuerallie: whereunto is vnſeparablie joined ſanctification, whereby wee are drawne ſincearlie to louelove God, and our neighbour.
15 That worke which was the moſt excellēt of al other: namelie, both the creation of the fleſhe of Chriſt in the wombe of the Virgine, and alſo his moſt perfect ſanctification, whereby his humanitie was annointed with all kinde of gifts, that were meet to performe the office of the Mediatour, proceeded from the ſame power.
Wee deteſt therefore all thoſe, who denie that the holie Ghoſt is to bee worſhipped by one and the ſelfe ſame faith and inuocation with the Father and the Sonne: & thoſe, who hold that hee proceedeth onlie from the Father: together with ſuch as denie him to be coaeternall and coeſſentiall with the Father, as the Macedonians & the Arrians: thoſe, who diſtinguiſh him from the Father onlie in name, and not in perſon, as the Sabellians: & thoſe alſo who affirme him to bee but ſome created motion and power: to be breif, we deteſt al thoſe that do anie wiſe withſtand, either the true coeſſentiall and coaeternal Deitie of the holie Ghoſt, or his proceeding from the Father and the Sonne.
Defended by IOHN NISSOLIVS Semenenſis Occitanus.