The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · covenant · Question 24 – Question 25
ON THE 8. SABBATH.Queſt. 24. Into how many parts is the Creed divided?
Anſw. Into three parts. The firſt is, of God the eternall Father, and our Creation. The ſecond, of God the Son, and our Redemption. The third, of God the holy Ghoſt, and our Sanctification.
The Explication.
THe principall parts of the Apoſtolick Creed are three:
1. Of God the Father, and our Creation.
2. Of God the Son, and our Redemption.
3. Of God the holy Ghoſt, and our Sanctification: that is, of the works of our Creation, Redemption, and Sanctification.
Ob. 1. Unto the Father is aſcribed the Creation of heaven and earth: unto the Son the Redemption of mankind: unto the holy Ghoſt Sanctification: Therefore the Son and the holy Ghoſt did not create heaven and earth; How our Creation, Redemption, Sanctification are each appropriated to ſome one perſon of the Trinity, and yet all three perſons have their joynt-working in them.neither did the Father and the holy Ghoſt redeem mankind; neither do the Father and the Son ſanctifie the faithfull. Anſ. It is a fallacie, grounding upon that which is affirmed but in reſpect, as if it were ſimply affirmed: For the Creation is given to the Father, Redemption to the Son, Sanctification to the holy Ghoſt, not as they are ſimply an operation or work (for ſo ſhould the other two perſons be excluded from it) but in reſpect of the order and manner of working, which is peculiar and proper to every of them in producing and bringing forth the ſame externall work. A more open declaration hereof may be this: The works of our creation, redemption, and ſanctification are the operations of the Godhead outwardly, that is, externall operations which God worketh on his creatures: and they are undivided, that is, common to the three perſons, which they by common will and power work in the creatures, by reaſon of that one and the ſame eſſence and nature of the Godhead which they have: For the Scripture attributeth the Creation not onelyonly to the Father, but to the Sonne alſo, and the holy Ghoſt: All things were made by it. John 1.3. Geneſ. 1.2. Matth. 1.20. Pſal. 33.6.The Spirit of the Lord moved upon the waters. That which is conceived in her is of the holy Ghoſt. By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the hoſts of them by the breath of his mouth. Likewiſe, our Redemption is attributed to the Father, and the holy Ghoſt:John 3.17. Titus 3.5, 6. God ſent his Sonne into the world, that the world might be ſaved by him. Hee ſaved us by the renewing of the holy Ghost, which hee ſhed on us abundantly. And Sanctification both to the Father and to the Son: God hath ſent the Spirit of his Sonne into our hearts, crying, Gal. 4.6. 1 Theſſ. 5.23. 1 Cor. 1.30. Epheſ. 5.26.Abba, Father. The very God of peace ſanctifie you throughout. Christ is made ſanctification unto us. Chriſt ſanctifieth the Church. All the perſons therefore create, redeem, and ſanctifie.
Why diſtinct operations or workings are attributed to the three perſons.Nevertheleſſe, yet in reſpect of that order of working which is between them, Creation is aſcribed unto the Father, not excluding the other perſons; but becauſe hee is the fountain, as of the Divinity of the Son and the holy Ghoſt, ſo alſo of thoſe divine operations which hee worketh and performeth by the Sonne and the holy Ghoſt. Redemption is aſcribed unto the Sonne, not excluding the other two perſons; but becauſe he is that perſon which executeth the Fathers will concerning the redeeming of mankind, and doth immediatly perform the work of our redemption: for the Son only was ſent into the fleſh, and hath paid the ranſome or price for our ſins; not the Father, nor the Spirit. To the holy Ghoſt is aſcribed Sanctification, not excluding the other two perſons from this action; but becauſe it doth immediatly ſanctifie us.
Object. 2. The externall workes of the Godhead (that is, ſuch as the whole three perſons exerciſe not mutually one towards another, but execute in the creatures) are indiviſible, or cannot be divided, (that is, they are not appropriated unto any one of the three perſons without reſpect unto the other:) But Creation, Redemption, and Sanctification are externall workes of the Godhead: Therefore they are indiviſible, and by force of good conſequent there needeth no ſuch distinction of them as is propoſed. Anſwer to the Major; The works of the Trinitie are indiviſible, but with retaining to each perſon his proper and peculiar manner of working. All three perſons therefore work on the creatures, but yet that order ſtill is inviolably kept; as that the Father ſtill is the fountaine of the operations of the Sonne and the holy Ghoſt, and doth all things not of any other, but of himſelfe, by the Sonne and the holy Ghoſt: the Sonne doth all things of the Father, by the holy Ghoſt: the holy Ghoſt doth all things of the Father and the Sonne, by himſelfe. For, The Father createth, but mediately by the Sonne and the holy Ghoſt; the Sonne from the Father; and the holy Ghoſt from the Father and the Sonne. The Father and the holy Ghoſt redeeme us, but mediately by the Sonne; but the Sonne immediately from the Father, by the holy Ghoſt. The Father and the Sonne ſanctifie us, but mediately by the holy Ghoſt; but the holy Ghoſt immediately from the Father and the Sonne. But as concerning the works of the Trinitie, which are called outward and inward works, it ſhall be more fully enlarged when wee come to handle the laſt Queſtion ſave one of the doctrine touching GOD.
aDeut. 6.4. Iſa. 44.6. & 45.5. 1 Cor. 8.4, 6. Epheſ. 4.6.Queſt. 25. Seeing there is but one only ſubſtance of God, why nameſt thou theſe three, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghoſt?
Anſw. Becauſe God hath ſo manifeſted himſelf in his wordbGen. 1.2, 3. Pſalm 33.6. Iſa. 6.1, 3. & 48.16. & 61.1. Mat. 3.16, 17. & 28.19. John 12.40. & 14.26. & 15.26. 2 Cor. 13.13. Gal. 4.6. Epheſ. 2.18. Tit. 3.5, 6. 1 John 5.7., that theſe three diſtinct perſons are that one true and everlaſting God.
The Explication.
IN this Queſtion is contained the doctrine of the Church concerning one God,Queſtions concerning God. and the three perſons of the Godhead. The principall queſtions therein are:
1. Whence it may appeare that there is a God.
2. What hee is, or what manner of God the God of the Church is whom wee worſhip; and in what hee differeth from idols.
3. Whether he be One only, and in what ſenſe there are ſaid to be many gods.
4. What the name of Eſſence, Perſon, and Trinity ſignifie, and how they differ.
5. Whether theſe names are to be uſed in the Church, and whether they are had in the Scripture.
6. How many perſons there be of the God-head.
7. How they differ, and are to be diſtinguiſhed one from another.
8. For what cauſe it is neceſſary that the Doctrine of the Trinity bee held in the Church.