Ghost almighty, and yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God, and yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewife the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghoft is Lord, and yet not three, Lords, but one Lord. For, as we are compelled by the chriftian verity to acknowledge every perion by himself to be God and Lord, fo are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to fay, there be three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghoft is of the Father, and of the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers, one Son, not three Sons, one Holy Ghoft, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other; none is greater or lefs than another; but the whole three perfons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as aforefaid, the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be faved, must thus think of the Trinity. Furthermore, it is neceffary to everlafting falvation, that he also believe the Incarnation of our Lord Jefus Chrift. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confefs, that our Lord Jefus Chrift, the Son of God, is God and man, God of the fubftance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of the fubitance of his Mother, born in the world; Perfect God, and per fect fect man, of reasonable foul, and human fleth fubfifting; equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead, and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood. Who, although he be God and man, yet he is not two, but one Chrift; one, not by the converfion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking the manhood into God: one altogether, not by confufion of fubftance, but by unity of perfon. For as the reasonable foul and flesh is one man; fo God and man is one Chrift, who fuffered for our falvation, defcended into hell, rofe again the third day from the dead. He afcended into heaven, he fitteth on the right-hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he fhall come to judge the living and the dead. At whofe coming all men fhail rife again with their bodies, and fhall give account for their works. They that have done good, fhall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith; which, except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be faved. Mofes. I confefs myself your debtor, and that to you only, by the grace of God, I owe myconverfion. Happy conference with your father and Calvin, when I called you in, to explain the chriftian tenets. I heartily acquiefce and fubmit to the expofition of the chriftian faith, and all things the church of Christ commands. I am ready to attend you to the altar of Chrift, there proftrate and implore affiftance from the priest. Proverbs Wifdom hath builded her houfe; The hath hewn out her feven pillars. Of who does does the wife Solomon speak but of Christ, the wisdom of the Father, as the chapter before expreffes. The Lord poffeffed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old. I was fet up from eternity. When there was no depths, I was brought forth. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills were, I brought forth. When he prepared the heavens I was there: when he fet a compafs upon the face of the depth: then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; and my delights were with the fons of men. Wisdom hath builded her house, the Chriftian Church. She hath hewn out her feven pillars, the feven Sacraments. She hath killed her beafts, the facrifices and worship of the Jewish or first covenant. She hath mingled her wine; fhe hath alfo furnished her table. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled, the worship or facrifice of the new or Chriftian Covenant. We will close this Conference, and repair to the altar of Christ. FINI S. |