A Treatise of Christian Religion, Chapter 4
CHAP. 4.
Of the Trinitie.
The Trinity is the
Father.
Sonne.
Holy Ghoſt.
1. IOH. 5. verſ. 7. For there are three, that beare witneſſe in heauen, the Father, the Word, and the holy Ghoſt: and theſe three are one.
Q. THE Eſſence and Attributes of God being already ſpoken of, what remaineth to be ſpoken of touching God?
A. The Trinitie of the Perſons, ſubſiſting in the vnitie of the God-head: which is a myſterie in it ſelfe moſt incomprehenſible.
Q. VVhat is a Perſon?
A. It is a diſtinct ſubſiſtence, hauing the whole Iohn 11. 22. & 14. 16.God-head in it.
Q. How is it diſtinguiſhed?
A. Into the Father, and of the Father.Iohn 14. 9. Coloſſ. 2. 3. 9.
Q. VVhat is the Father?
A. He is the firſt Perſon in the Trinitie, who hath Iohn 20. 17.by communication of his Eſſence, eternally begotten his only beloued Sonne, of himſelfe.
Q. VVhat is of the Father?
A. The Sonne, and Holy Ghoſt.
Q. VVhat is the Sonne?
A. The Perſon begotten by the Father, who is alſo called the Word.John 1. 1.
Q. VVhy is the Sonne and ſecond perſon called the VVord?
A. Firſt, becauſe hee is ſo often ſpoken of, and promiſed in the Scriptures, and is (in a manner) the whole ſubiect of the Scriptures. Secondly, becauſe as man doth make knowne his will to man by word, ſo doth God make knowne his will to man, onelyonly in and by his Sonne.
Q. VVhat is the holy Ghost?
A. The Perſon proceeding from the Father and the Sonne.
Q. VVhy is the third perſon called the holy Spirit, more then the Father and the Sonne, which are Spirits as well as he, and infinitely holy as he?
A. Becauſe he is (as it were) breathed both from the Father and the Sonne, that is to ſay, proceedeth from them both.
Q. VVhy is he called Holy, rather then the Father and the Sonne?
A. Becauſe hee ſanctifieth, and maketh holy the children of God.
Q. Why? doth not the Father and the Sonne ſanctifie alſo?
A. Yea verily: but they doe it by him mediately, and he from them immediately; and therfore he hath the title of Holy, peculiarly attributed vntounto him; otherwiſe the Father and the Sonne are equally holy with him, and not one more holy then another.
Q. Not to ſtand vponupon the old Teſtament: what teſtimonies are there for the proofe of the God-head of theſe three perſons, out of the New, ioyntly:
A. Where the Father from heauen witneſſeth of Matth. 28. 19.the Sonne, the holy Ghoſt appearing in the likenes of a Doue. And in that we are to bee baptized into the name of the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt. Alſo where wee are required to pray to the Father to ſend the holy Ghoſt: and this teſtimony we hauehave in hand.
Q. Hauing ſhewed the proofes of their God-head ioyntly; let vsus alſo heare the proofes of eueryevery one of them apart. What therefore are the proofes, that the Father is God?
A. Wee are aMatth. 6. 6. 9. & 11. 25. 27.directed to pray to him, and hee is ſaid to reueale myſteries, and to bMat. 5. 45.make his ſunne to ſhine on the euill, and on the good. The Apoſtle ſaith; cRom. 1. 7.Grace and peace from God the Father: and Chriſt himſelfe ſaith; dIohn 17. 3.This is life euerlaſting, to know thee to be the only true God, and Ieſus Chriſt whom thou haſt ſent.
Q. What proofes are there that the Sonne is God?
A. That he is called Iehouah, and that the eſſentiall Eſay 25. 9. Zach. 2. 10. 11. Prou. 8. 22. Iohn 1. 1. Heb. 1. 10.properties, workes and actions of God, are giuen to him.
Q. How proue you that the holy Ghost is God?
A. For that the Name, Properties, and actions of Act. 3. 4. Gen. 1. 2. Eſay 61. 1.God are giuen to him alſo, as to the Father and the Sonne.
Q. How are theſe (being three,) ſaid to be but one?
A. They are one in Being, and Eſſence: but three Perſons in ſubſiſtence.Act. 20. 28. 1. Cor. 12. 4. 5. Deut. 6. 4. Mark. 12. 32. 1. Cor. 8. 4. 5. 6.
Q. What learne you from this, that the Apoſtle ſaith, That they are three?
A. That the word Trinity, although it be not expreſſely ſet downe in the word, yet hath it a ſufficient ground from thence.
Q. What learne you from this, that they are ſaid to bee three Witneſſes?
A. A Great aſſurance of the truth of al things, that God ſpeaketh, whether they be promiſes or threats; ſeeing all is confirmed by three witneſſes, againſt whom no exception lieth.
Q. What doe they witneſſe?
A. That God hath giuen eternall life vntounto vsus, and that this life is in that his Sonne.
And thus much of the firſt part of Diuinity, which is of the Nature of God. It followeth to ſpeake of his kingdome, which is the ſecond Part.