The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · creed · Question 33 · Conclusion 2 – Conclusion 3
THE SECOND CONCLUSION.
Chriſt the Son of God, is a perſon really diſtinct from the Father and the holy Ghoſt.
WEe are to hold, that the Word is a perſon diſtinct from the Father, againſt Noetus and Sabellius, and their Sectaries, who would have the ſame to be the perſon of the Father, and the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt, which in reſpect of diverſe functions and actions, is now called the Father, now the Sonne, now the holy Ghoſt: And therefore were they called Patripaſſians. Alſo againſt Servetus, who confounded the Sonne and the holy Ghoſt.
That the Word, or Sonne of God, is diverſe and diſtinct from the Father and the holy Ghost, not in office onelyonly, but alſo in ſubſistence and perſon; is proved by foure arguments: No one perſon can be both Father & Son in reſpect of himſelfe.None is the ſame perſon with him, whoſe ſonne he is, nor with him who proceedeth or floweth from him: (otherwiſe, the ſame thing, in one reſpect, ſhould be relative and correlative.) But the Word is the Son of the Father, and from the Word the holy Ghoſt proceedeth, and is given: Therefore the Word is neither the Father nor the holy Ghoſt. Chriſt another from the Father. John 5.32, 37. & 9.16. & 5.19. & 14.16.Chriſt expreſly calleth himſelfe another from the Father and the holy Ghoſt: There is another that beareth witneſſe of mee, namely, the Father, in the ſame Chapter. My doctrine is not mine, but his that ſent mee. The Son can doe nothing of himſelfe, ſave that hee ſeeth the Father doe. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall give you another Comforter. Three perſons expreſſed in Scripture. 1 John 5.7. Gen. 1.26. Joh. 10.30. & 14.26. & 15.26.The Scripture doth plainly affirme, that the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt are three: There are three which beare witneſſe in the heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit, and theſe three are one. Let us make man in our image: he doth not ſay, I will make; but, Let us make. I and my Father are one: he doth not ſay, am, but are. The Comforter, which is the holy Ghost, whom the Father will ſend in my Name, hee ſhall teach you all things. When the Comforter ſhall come, whom I will ſend unto you from the Father, even the ſpirit of truth, which proceedeth of the Father, hee ſhall testifie of mee. Teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost. The holy Ghoſt deſcended in the ſhape of a Dove, the Son was baptiſed in Jordan, and the Fathers voice was heard from heaven:Mat. 28.19. Mat. 3.17. This is my beloved Sonne in whom I am well pleaſed. The properties of the perſons are di…tinct & diverſe.The attributes of properties of the perſons, namely, ſending, revealing, and their offices are diverſe. The argument is this: Whoſe properties are distinct, they are in themſelves distinct. But the properties of the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghoſt are distinct: Therefore the Sonne is neither the Father, nor the holy Ghost. The Minor is proved: becauſe the Son onelyonly, and not the Father, or the holy Ghoſt, was begotten of the Father; conceived by the holy Ghoſt; made fleſh; ſent into fleſh; manifeſted in the fleſh; made Mediatour; baptiſed; did ſuffer, and died. The Father of himſelf worketh by the Son. Mat. 11.…9.The Son not of himſelfe, but of the Father by the holy Ghost; the holy Ghoſt of the Father, and of the Sonne. No man knoweth the Sonne but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father, but the Sonne. Theſe wordes cannot be expounded after this ſort; No man knoweth me, but I, and no man knoweth me, but I, As the Father knoweth me, … 14.13.ſo know I the Father. The ſenſe of theſe wordes cannot be this: As I know me, ſo I know me: The Son of God therefore, Chriſt, is another from the Father and the holy Ghoſt.
THE THIRD CONCLUSION.
The Word is equall with the Father.
THat the Word, or the Son of God, Chriſt, is no made God, or inferiour to the Father, or created of the Father before other things, as Arius, Eunomius, Samoſatenus, Servetus, and others the like Heretickes imagined; but is by nature true and eternall God, and equall unto the Father in God-head, and in all eſſentiall perfections of the God-head, is confirmed, … 16.…. C… 2.9.By teſtimonies of Scripture: We are in him that is true, that is, in his Son Jeſus Christ. The ſame is very God, and eternall life. All things that the Father hath are mine. In him dwelleth all the fulneſſe of the God-head bodily As the Father hath life in himſelf, ſo hath he given unto the Son alſo to have life in himſelfe. Jo… …3 …. Ph…. …Who being in the forme of God, thought it no robbery to be equall with God. whatſoever things the Father doth, the ſame things doth the Son alſo: that all men ſhould honour the Son, …as they honour the Father. But the Father is to be honoured as God: Therefore Chriſt is God equall in honour with the Father.
Chriſt … God ….He that hath the whole eſſence of the God-head, is neceſsarily equall with the Father: But the Son of God hath the whole eſſence of the God-head communicated unto him: (for this, becauſe it is infinite, is indiviſible: therefore the whole muſt needs be communicated unto whomſoever it is communicated:) Therefore the Word, or Son of God, is equall in all things, with the eternall Father in the God-head. The Minor is proved. Generation or begetting is a communicating of the eſſence: the Word was generated or begotten of the eſſence of the eternall Father… becauſe he is his Son, proper, naturall, and only begotten: Therefore the whole Deity was communicated unto the Word.
He hath the ſame properties of the God-head.The Scripture giveth the ſame properties and perfections of divine nature unto the Son, which it doth unto the Father: as namely, eternity, omnipotency, immenſity, omniſcience, the ſearching of the heart and reines. He is eternall:Prov. 8.25. John 1.1. John 3.13. Eph 3.17. For, Before the mountaines were ſettled, and before the hils, was I begotten. In the beginning was the Word. He is immenſe or unmeaſurable: No man aſcendeth up to heaven, but he that hath deſcended from heaven, the Son of man which is in heaven. That Chriſt may dwell in your hearts by faith. He is omnipotent: Whatſoever things the Father doth, John 5.19. Phil. 3.21. Heb. 1.3.the ſame things doth the Son alſo. According to the working, whereby he is able to ſubdue all things unto himſelfe. Bearing up all things by his mighty word. He is omniſcient, or of infinite wiſedome, knowing all things: His name ſhall be called Counſellor. Eſay 9.6. Mat. 11.27.No man knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither knoweth any man the Father, but the Son, &c. He is the ſearcher of hearts: But Jeſus did not commit himſelf unto them, John 2.24, 25.becauſe he knew them all. And had no need that any ſhould teſtifie of man: for he knew what was in man. Now we know that thou knowest all things. He is the ſanctifier of his Church:John 16.30. Eph. 5.25, 26. Chriſt loved the Church, and gave himſelfe for it; That he might ſanctifie it, and cleanſe it by the waſhing of water through the word. He is unchangeable: Heaven and earth ſhall paſſe, but my word ſhall not paſſe. He is truth it ſelfe, and the fountaine of truth:Mat. 24.38. John 0781 0 8.14. John 14.6. Eph. 5.2. Though I beare record of my ſelfe, yet my record is true. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is of unſpeakable mercy: Even as Chriſt hath loved us, and hath given himſelf for us to be an offering and a ſacrifice of a ſweet ſmelling ſavour to God. He is angry againſt ſin,John 3.16. Rev. 6.16, 17. and taketh vengeance thereof; yea of hidden ſins: He that beleeveth not the Son, ſhall not ſee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Fall on us, and hide us from the preſence of him that ſitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lambe: For the great day of his wrath is come, and who can ſtand? The Son therefore is God by nature, and equall to the Father.
4 The Scripture in like ſort attributeth all Divine operations to the Son, as it doth unto the Father: And it communicateth unto him, 1. All generall effects and works common to the whole three perſons; as that he is Creatour:John 1.3. Heb. 1.3. By him were all things made. Likewiſe, that he is the preſerver and governour of all things: Bearing up all things by his mighty word. 2. It appropriateth unto him certain ſpeciall offices and functions, appertaining to the ſafety of his Church; as that he ſendeth Prophets, Apoſtles, and other Miniſters of the Church: As the Father ſent mee, ſo ſend I you. John 20 21. Epheſ. 4.11.He therefore gave ſome to be Apoſtles, ſome Prophets, ſome Evangeliſts, and ſome Paſtours and Teachers. That he furniſheth his Miniſters with neceſſary gifts and graces: I will give you a mouth and wiſdome, where against all your adverſaries ſhall not be able to ſpeak, John 1.18.nor reſiſt. That he revealeth unto us his ſpirituall doctrine: The only begotten Sonne, which is in the boſome of the Father, he hath declared him unto us. That he confirmeth this doctrine by miracles: And they went forth, and preached every where: Marke 16.20. 1 Cor. 11.23. Mat. 28.19. Rev. 22.16. John 16.14. John 10.14, 16.And the Lord wrought with them, and confirmed the word with ſignes that followed. That he inſtituted Sacraments: I have recived of the Lord that which I alſo have delivered unto you. Baptiſe them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghoſt. That he revealeth things to come. I Jeſus have ſent mine Angel to teſtifie unto you theſe things in the Church. He ſhall receive of mine, and ſhall ſhew it unto you. That he gathereth the Church: I am the good Shepheard, and know mine, and am known of mine. Other ſheep I have alſo, which are not of this fold: them alſo muſt I bring, and they ſhall heare my voice, and there ſhall be one ſheep-fold, and one Shepheard. That he inlightneth the underſtanding and hearts of men: No man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveale him. Mat. 11.27. Luke 24.45. John 1.33. Titus 2.14. John 15.5. Gal. 2.20. Mat. 11.28. John 14.27.Then opened he their underſtanding, that they might understand the Scriptures. That he governeth the actions and lives of the godly: Without me ye can doe nothing. Thus I live, yet not I now, but Chriſt liveth in me. That he miniſtreth comfort in temptations: Come unto mee all ye that are weary and laden, and I will eaſe you. Peace I leave with you: my peace I give unto you. That he ſtrengthneth and defendeth us againſt the temptations of Sathan, and preſerveth thoſe that turne unto him by a true faith,John 16.33. John 10.28. John 14.14. 2 Cor. 12.8. even unto the end: Be of good cheere, I have overcome the world. My ſheep ſhall not periſh for ever, and no man ſhall take them out of mine hand. That he heareth thoſe that pray unto him: If ye ſhall aske any thing in my name, I will doe it. I beſought the Lord thrice, and he anſwered mee; My grace is ſufficient for thee. That he forgiveth ſins, juſtifieth, and adopteth unto us to be the ſons of God:Eſay 53.11. Mat. 9.6. By his knowledge my righteous ſervant ſhall juſtifie many. That ye may know that the Son of man hath power to remit ſins on the earth. As many as received him, John 1.12. John 10.28. 1 John 5.20. Acts 10.42. Acts 17.31.to them he gave power to be the ſons of God. That he giveth life everlaſting: I give unto them eternall life. This ſame is very God, and eternall life. That he judgeth the world: It is hee that is ordained of God a Judge of quicke and dead. Becauſe he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteouſneſſe, by that man whom he hath appointed. Theſe divine works attributed unto the Son, differ ſo from the divine properties which are attributed unto him, as effects from their cauſes: ſo that then his properties worke them.
5. The equality of honour and worſhip dependeth of the equality of eſſence, properties,Eſay 42.8. He hath equall honour given him. and workes. I will not give my glory to any other. But the Scripture giveth equall honour and worſhip to the Father and the Son: Therefore they are truely equall in God-head, and in all the perfections thereof. The Minor is confirmed, 1. By testimonies, Pſal. 97. Heb. 1.6. Rev 5.13. John 5.23. John 14.1. Pſal. 45.7. He…. 1.8. Acts 30 28. 1 Tim. 16.proving that he is worſhipped of Angels, and the whole Church. Let all the Angels of God worſhip him. That all ſhould honour the Son, as they honour the Father: Faith and hope are due unto him: Yee beleeve in God, beleeve alſo in mee. 2. He is called God abſolutely and ſimply, as is the Father. 3. The Epithetes or titles of divine honour, which are every where in the Scriptures attributed unto the Son: as, God bleſſed for ever: The great God, and Saviour: The Lord himſelf from heaven, The Lord of glory: The Lord of lords, and King of kings: power and eternall Kingdom: Sitting at the right hand of the Father: The Bridegroom, Husband: Head of the Church: God of the Temple, which are all the Elect: Truſt, and beliefe in him: Invocation: for he is worſhipped of the Church of God, and Bridegroome of the Church, at all times, and in all places: Thankſgiving for his divine benefits. Furthermore, albeit the name of God (eſpecially being put abſolutely and without reſtraint) doth evidently prove the Sons equality with the Father, as it hath been ſaid: yet ſeeing that ſignifieth moe things, and is alſo applyed to others, who are not by nature God, we are diligently to collect, and to have in a readineſs thoſe teſtimonies, in which, things proper to the true God only, are attributed to the Son, which agree to none elſe, who are called gods, and whereby God himſelf diſcerneth himſelf from other creatures, and forged gods: For unto whom the eſſentiall properties of any nature or eſſence doe truly and really agree, unto him the eſſence it ſelfe muſt needs be given. Object. 1. Hee that hath all things of another, is inferiour to him, of whom hee hath them. The Son hath all things of the Father: Therefore he is inferiour unto the Father. The Son hath all thing, from the Father, not by grace, but by nature.Anſ. The Major holdeth, and is true of ſuch an one, as hath any thing by the grace and favour of the giver: for he might not have it; and therefore is by nature inferiour: but it is falſe of him, who hath all thoſe things by his owne nature, which he himſelfe hath, of whom he receiveth them: For ſeeing he cannot but have them, it cannot be, that he ſhould be inferiour, or ſhould have leſſe than he, of whom he receiveth them. But the Son hath all things of the Father, which the Father hath, and that by nature and abſolute neceſſity; that is, in ſuch ſort, as that the Father cannot but communicate unto him all things which himſelfe hath belonging to his divine Majeſty.John 5.26. John 17.…0. As the Father hath life in himſelf, ſo likewiſe hath he given to the Son to have life in himſelf. All mine are thine, and thine are mine. Therefore he is equall unto the Father in all things. Obj. 2. Hee that doth whatſoever he doth by the will of another interpoſed and going before, is inferiour unto him. The Son willeth and doth all things by the will of his Father going before: Therefore he is not equall unto the Father in vertue, The Son doth all things with the content of the Father, in like manner, as the Father.dignity, and eſſence, Anſ. The Son doth all things▪ his Fathers will going before, not in time and nature, but in order of perſons; ſo that he willeth or doth nothing, which the Father alſo willeth not and doth: and whatſoever the Father willeth and doth, the ſame alſo the Son willeth and doth likewiſe, that is, with equall authority and power: Wherefore, the ſociety and order of the divine operations doth not take away, but doth moſt of all ſettle and eſtabliſh the equality of the Father and the Son, as alſo of the holy Ghoſt.