The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · covenant · Question 25 · Commentary · Subsection 5
5. Whether theſe names are to be uſed in the Church.
HEreticks of ancient carped at theſe termes, becauſe they occurre not in Scripture: But wee imitate aright the manner of ſpeech which was uſuall in the ancient and purer Church, and by their authority and example retain theſe names: 1. Becauſe, though they are not found extant in ſo many ſyllables, yet phraſes and ſpeeches of neer affinity and likelihood, yea, and ſometimes words and terms of the ſame ſignification which theſe are, are read in Scripture. For inſtance, that of the Lords own mouth, I am that I am. Again, I am hath ſent mee unto you. Again,Exod. 3.…. it cannot be denied but that the word Jehovah anſwereth to that wee call eſſence. So the word Hypoſtaſis is uſed to ſignifie a Perſon in the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes: Who being the engraved form of his perſon. Heb. 1.2.Neither doth the Church in any other ſenſe call the perſons the Trinity, then as John ſaith, that There are three which bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghost. 2. Becauſe the courſe of interpretation requireth, that the words of Scripture be expounded to the learned by ſuch words, as being more uſuall in other languages, or matters and doctrines, are more eaſie for them to underſtand, and paveth and maketh plain a way unto them for the underſtanding of the ſpeech and phraſe of Scripture. Otherwiſe, if no words were to be uſed but ſuch as are extant in the Scriptures, all interpretation ſhould be taken away. It is lawfull therefore that the Church invent and uſe words and phraſes of ſpeech, whereby they may ſignificantly expreſſe the ſenſe of Scripture, and their owne meaning. 3. Becauſe the ſleights and ſophiſms of Hereticks (which for the moſt part they go about to cloak and cover with the words of the holy Scripture) are more eaſily eſpyed and taken heed of, if the ſame things be expounded in divers words, and thoſe eſpecially ſhort, perſpicuous, and ſignificant. For it cometh to paſſe, that by reaſon of the pithineſſe and plainneſſe of theſe terms, Hereticks are diſmantled, and can no longer ſhroud their ſiniſter conſtructions and apparent corruptions.
Nevertheleſſe, if there were a conſent and agreement on the things, wee ſhould eaſily come to an agreement about the words; for we deteſt contention & brawling about words: Neither is the Church at controverſie with other Gentiles and Hereticks about bare terms, but of this main ſubſtantiall doctrine, That the eternall Father, and the Son, and the holy Ghoſt are one God; and yet neither is the Father the Son, or the holy Ghoſt; nor the holy Ghoſt the Father, or the Son, &c. Now, were it not that Hereticks cannot away with this doctrine, they would eaſily admit of the phraſes of ſpeech: But they therefore abandon the terms, becauſe they abhor the things and doctrine intimated and ſignified by them.
Hence we eaſily anſwer this their objection: Obj. Words not extant in Scripture are not to be uſed in the Church: But theſe names, namely, Eſſence, Perſon, and Trinity occurre not in Scripture: therefore they may not be uſed in the Church. Anſ. We expound the Major thus: That which is not in Scripture, neither concerning the bare words, nor concerning the ſenſe, is be omitted: But the names themſelves of Eſſence, Perſon, and Trinity, as concerning the things lively inſinuated by them, are extant in Scripture, as hath been proved. Again, Terms not extant in Scripture are to be omitted, if by ſparing them the ſubſtance of the things themſelves be not endangered: But the drift and purpoſe of hereticks is no other, but with the terms to aboliſh, or at leaſt deprave the doctrine of the Church: Therefore they are to be retained to prevent their attempts. Repl. But they breed contentions. Anſw. This happeneth by accident, by reaſon of contentious hereticks.