The Sum of Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 2 · creed · Question 33 · Conclusion 4
THE FOURTH CONCLUSION.
The Word is conſubſtantiall with the Father.
THeſe three former Concluſions being declared and ſet down, namely, That the Son is ſubſisting, or a perſon; That hee is diſtinct from the Father; That hee is equall with the Father; the fourth is eaſily gotten and obtained againſt the New Arrians, to wit, That he is conſubstantiall with the Father, which is alſo in like maner to be underſtood concerning the holy Ghoſt: For either this muſt be granted, or of neceſſity there are made three Gods, which they, though in words they deny it, yet in very deed affirme, when they frame and feigne three eſſences and ſpirits. They grant that the Son is like-ſubſtantiall, that is, of like eſſence and nature with the Father, which …deed true; but this is not enough: For the words Conſubſtantiall, and Like-ſubſtantiall, differ: For, like-ſubſtantiall ſignifieth moe perſons, and like eſſences; as, three men are like-ſubſtantiall: For they are both three perſons, and three eſſences of like nature; that is, agree in humane nature. But conſubſtantiall ſignifieth one eſſence and moe perſons. Thus in the God-head is not like-ſubſtantiall, foreignbecauſe there are not three Gods; but conſubſtantiall, becauſe there are three perſons of one and the ſame divine eſſence: For there is but one Jehovah, that is, one divine eſſence, which is the ſame, and is wholly in every of the three perſons, and therefore every of them are that one God: beſides which eſſence, whatſoever is, it is a creature, not God. The Father indeed is one perſon, and the Son another perſon, but the Father is not one God and the Son another. John ſaith, There are three which bear record in heaven: but they are three perſons, not three Gods, which bear this record. We therefore hold againſt Arrius, that Chriſt was not only like-ſubstantiall, but alſo conſubstantiall with the Father; that is, hath the ſame individuall divine eſſence with the Father. The Latine Church turneth the Greek word foreign, conſubſtantiall, taking ſubſtance for eſſence: It is therfore the ſame that co-eſſentiall, that is, of one and the ſame eſſence. The arguments which ſhew the Father and the Son to be of one & the ſame eſſence, are theſe: 1 Jehovah *Deut. 6.4. The Engliſh tranſlations retain not the word Iehovah; but uſe The Lord inſtead thereof, which is the ſignification of Jehovah: and therefore in effect all one. Jerem. 23.6. Eſay 25.9. Hag. 2.9. Zach. 2.8. Malac. 3.1.is but one eſſence, or one God: But the eternall Father, and the Son co-eternall with the Father, are that Jehovah: Therefore theſe two are one eſſence, and one God. The Minor is proved, 1. By thoſe places of Scripture, which call the Son Jehovah; This is the name, whereby they ſhall call him, Jehovah, (or the Lord) our righteouſneſs. The expected God and Saviour is called Jehovah: But the Meſſias is the expected God and Saviour, who in the ſame ſenſe is called, The Deſire of all Nations: Therefore the Meſſias is that Jehovah, whereof the Prophet ſpeaketh. The Deliverer of the Church ſent from Jehovah, which is the Meſſias only, is called Jehovah. He is called Jehovah, whoſe fore-runner was John Baptiſt: But John Baptiſt was the fore-runner of the Meſſias, or the Son of God, Chriſt: He therefore is called Jehovah. Hitherto belong all the places, in which are given to the Angel or Meſſenger of Jehovah, both the name of Jehovah, and the divine properties and honours: But that Angel was the Son of God, not the Father: Therefore the Son is Jehovah. Again, the Minor is alſo hereof manifeſt,Joel 2.31. Pſal. 68.18. & Eph. 4.8. Pſal. 95.9. & 1 Cor. 10.9. Pſal. 97.7. & Heb. 1.6. & Pſal. 102.6. & Heb. 1.10. Eſay 8.14 & 28.16. & Luke 2.34. & Rom. 9.33. Eſay 41.4. & Rev. 1.17. & 21.6. for that, what things in the Old Teſtament are ſpoken of Jehovah, thoſe in the New are referred unto Chriſt: as, He that aſcended on High, and gave gifts, is Jehovah: and the ſame is Chriſt. Jehovah was tempted in the deſart, and the ſame is Chriſt. He that is to be worſhipped, and is Creator of all things, is Jehovah: and the ſame is Chriſt. The ſtone of offence, The first and the last is Jehovah: and the ſame is Chriſt. Laſtly, the ſame is proved by thoſe teſtimonies, which attribute things that are proper to Jehovah, unto Chriſt alſo, as authour and effecter, or worker of them.
2. The true God is but one, The Son is the true God, equall with the eternall Father in God-head, properties, works, and honour, as hath bin before declared. This ſame is very God and eternall life. Christ which is God over all, bleſſed for ever: Therefore the Son is that one and the ſame God, or that ſelfe-ſame divine eſſence which is God.
3. Whoſe eſſence is diſtinct, their ſpirit is not one in eſſence, which proceedeth of both, and is proper unto both, but is either of a diverſe eſſence, or compound: whether he be of a part, or of the whole eſſence of them, of whom he proceedeth. But one and the ſame is the Spirit of the Father and the Son, proceeding of both, proper unto both, and by him both work effectually.Gal. 46. God hath ſent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts: Therefore the Father and the Son are one eſſence, and the ſame God: Otherwiſe each eſſence ſhould have his proper ſpirit, and diverſe.
4. Ʋnto whom the eternall Father communicateth the ſame eſſence which himſelfe hath, and that whole, hee is of the ſame eſſence with him. Ʋnto the eternall Son, the eternall Father communicateth his eſſence, the ſame, and whole: Therefore the Sonne is of the ſame eſſence with the Father. The Minor is proved, becauſe Chriſt is the onelyonly begotten and proper Sonne of the Father, begotten therefore of the eſſence of the Father. But the divine Eſſence or God-head, by reaſon of the immenſity and great ſimpleneſſe thereof, can neither be multiplied, nor divided: Therefore the Father communicateth the ſame, and that whole, unto the Son. Wherefore, as in reſpect that it is the whole eſſence of the God-head which is commmunicated unto him of the Father, hee is co-equall with the Father: ſo in reſpect that it is the ſame which the Father hath and retaineth, hee is co-eſſentiall and conſubstantiall with the Father.