Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 3
1. IOH. 5. verſ. 7.
7 For there are three, which beare record in heauen, the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghoſt: and theſe three are one.
THE vnitie of the eſſentiall properties of God and his eſſence being already ſpoken of, what remaineth to be ſpoken of touching him?
The Trinitie of the perſons, ſubſiſting in the vnitie of the Godhead.
What is a perſon in Trinitie?
It is a diſtinct ſubſiſtence hauing the whole Godhead in it.Ioh. 11.22. & 14.16.
How is it diſtinguiſhed?
Into the Father, and of the Father.Ioh. 14.9. Colloſ. 2.3.9.
What is the Father?
He is the firſt perſon in the Trinitie,Ioh. 20.17. who hath by communication of his eſſence eternally begotten his only beloued ſonne of himſelfe.
How is it ſhewed that he begat him of himſelfe?
In that he is called the brightnes of his glorie,Heb. 1.4. and the ingrauen forme of his perſon. And in that this generation being from eternitie, there was no creature of whom he might beget him.
Hitherto of the Father: what is of the Father?
The
Sonne.
Holy Ghoſt.
What is the Sonne?
The ſecond perſon in Trinitie, from all eternitie begotten of the Father by communication of his Eſſence, who is alſo called the Word.
Why is the Sonne and ſecond perſon called the Word?
Becauſe he is ſo often ſpoken of and promiſed in the Scriptures, and is in a manner the whole Subiect of the Scriptures: though other reaſons alſo might be giuen hereof.
What is the manner of his eternall generation?
Pſal. 139.14.It is not reuealed touching the manner, and therefore our ignorance herein is better then all their curioſitie, that hauehave enterpriſed arrogantly the ſearch hereof. For ſeeing our owne generation and frame in our mothers wombe is aboue our capacitie, it is no maruell if the myſterie hereof cannot be comprehended.
What is the holy Ghoſt?
He is the third perſon in Trinitie, which by communication of eſſence proceedeth eternally from the Father and from the Sonne.
Why is the third perſon called the holie Spirit more then the Father and the Sonne, which are ſpirits as well as he, and infinitely holy as he?
Becauſe he is ſpired and as it were breathed both from the Father and the Sonne, that is to ſay, proceedeth from them both.
Why is he called holy rather then the Father and the Sonne?
Becauſe he ſanctifieth the children of God.
Why? doth not the Father and the Sonne ſanctifie alſo?
Yes verily: but they doe it by him, and becauſe he doth immediatly ſanctifie, therefore he hath the title of holy.
What is the manner of the proceeding of the holie Ghoſt from the Father and the Sonne?
The anſwere hereunto is as vntounto the queſtion of the manner of the generation of the Sonne, namely, that it is not to bee ſearched becauſe it is not reuealed. For if the winde, which is but a creature, be ſo hard to know, that a man knoweth not from whence it commeth and whither it goeth; it is no maruell if the proceeding of the holy Ghoſt be vnſearchable.
What teſtimonies are there of the ioynt proofe of the Godhead of theſe three perſons?
Out of the old Teſtament,Gen. 1.12. Eſay 6.3. & 42.1 Agge 2.5. where the Father is ſaid by his Word to hauehave made the worlds, the holie Ghoſt working and maintaining them, and as it were ſitting vponupon them as the hen doth the egges ſhe will hatch: alſo where the Angels in reſpect of the three perſons doe crie thrice, Holy, holy, holy. Further, in that it is ſaid, Behold my elect vponupon whom I hauehave put my ſpirit. Alſo where the Father with the Word and his Spirit make a couenant.
What are the teſtimonies out of the new Teſtament?
As all other doctrines, ſo this is there more cleere,Matth. 3.16. as when the Father from heauen witneſſeth of the Sonne, the holy Ghoſt appearing in the likenes of a Doue.Matth. 28.19. As that wee are baptiſed into the name of duplicate page duplicate page the Father, the Son and the holy Ghoſt. Alſo where the Father and Son promiſe to ſend the holie Ghoſt,Ioh. 14.16. and this teſtimonie we hauehave in hand.
Hauing ſhewed the ioynt proofes of their Godhead, let vsus alſo heare the proofes of eueryevery one of them apart. What therefore are the proofes that the Father is God?
Of all the three the Godhead of his perſon hath been leaſt called in queſtion, and therefore few reaſons and teſtimonies will ſerue.
What are thoſe?
Reaſ.That we areaMatth. 6.6.9. & 11.25.27. bidden to pray to him, that he reuealeth the myſteries,bMatth. 5.45. ſuffereth his ſunne to ſhine, &c. Teſtimonies:cRom. 1.7. Grace and peace from God the Father:dIoh. 17.3. This is life euerlaſting to know thee to be the only God, &c.
What proofes are there to proue that the Son is God?
Eſay. 25.9. Zach. 2.10.11. Prou. 8.22. Ioh. 1.1. Heb. 1.10.That he is called Iehouah, that the eſſentiall properties, the works and actions of God are giuen to him.
How proue you that the holy Ghoſt is God?
For that the name, properties, and actions of God are giuen to him,Acts 3.4. Gen. 1.2. Eſay 61.1. as to the Father and the Sonne.
How are theſe being three ſaid to be but one?
Acts 20.28. 1. Cor. 12.4.5. Deut. 6.4. Mark. 12.32. 1. Cor. 8.4.5.6.They are one in being, and eſſence: but three perſons in ſubſiſtence.
If three perſons among men be propounded, whereof eueryevery one is a man; can it be ſaid that theſe three are but one man?
Ioh. 14.16. & 15.26. & 10.1.No: but wee muſt not meaſure Gods matters by the meaſure of reaſon, much leſſe this, which of all others is a myſterie of myſteries.
What learne you of that the Scriptures, 1. Ioh. 5. ſaith they are three? &c.
We learne, that the word Trinitie, although it be not expreſſely ſet downe in the word, yet hath it certaine ground from thence.
What learne you of that they are ſaid to be three witneſſes?
The ſingular fruit that is in the Trinitie of perſons, in one vnitie of the Godhead: whereby great aſſurance is brought vntounto vsus of all things that God ſpeaketh in promiſe or threat; ſeeing it is all confirmed by three witneſſes, againſt whom no exception lieth.
What doe they witneſſe?
That God hath giuen eternall life vntounto vsus, and that this life is in that his Sonne.