A Golden Chain

And therefore we must still maintain, that these three persons are distinguished and not divided, as three men are divided in being and substance: for this division can not be in them; because all three have one drain nature and one godhead. This is the mystery of all mysteries to be received of us all, namely, the trinity of the persons in the unity of the godhead. This form of doctrine must be retained and holden for these causes: I. because by it we are able to distinguish this true God from all false gods and idols. II. because among all other points of religion this is one of the chiefest, being the very foundation thereof. For it is not sufficient for us to know God as we can conceive of him in our own imagination: but we must know him as he hath revealed himself in his word. And it is not sufficient to salvation to believe in God confusedly, but we must believe in one God distinct into three persons, the Father, the Son, the holy Ghost: yea and more then this, we must hold and believe that God the father is our father, the Son our redeemer, the holy Ghost our sanctifier and comforter. Well then, if we must in this manner believe in God, then we must also know him: for we can have no faith in the thing which is utterly unknown. Wherefore if we would believe in the father, son, or holy Ghost, we must know them in part, Joh. 17. This is life eternal to know thee the only God, and whom thou hast sent Jesus Christ. Joh. 14. 17. The world can not receive the spirit of truth because it hath neither seen him nor known him. 1. Joh. 2.23. Whosoever denieth the son hath not the father. Thirdly, this doctrine directs us in worshipping God aright: for unity in trinity, and trinity in unity is to be worshipped: one God must be worshipped in the Father, in the Son, and in the holy Ghost: and if we worship God the father without the Son and the holy Ghost: or if we worship the Son without the father and the holy Ghost: and the holy Ghost without the father and the Son, we worship nothing but an Idol. Again, if we worship the three persons not as one God, but as three Gods, then likewise we make three Idols.

And therefore we must still m•intaine, that these three persons are distinguished and not deuided, as three men are deuided in beeing and substance: for this diuision can not be in them; because all three haue one drine nature and one godhead. This is the mysterie of all mysteries to be receiued of vs all, namely, the trinitie of the persons in the vnitie of the godhead. This forme of doctrine must be retained and holden for these causes: I. because by it we are able to distinguish this true God from all false gods and idols. II. because among all other points of religion this is one of the chiefest, beeing the very foundation thereof. For it is not sufficient for vs to know God as we can conceiue of him in our owne imagination: but we must know him as he hath reuealed himselfe in his word. And it is not sufficient to saluation to beleeue in God confusedly, but we must beleeue in one God distinct into three persons, the Father, the Sonne, the holy Ghost: yea and more then this, we must hold and beleeue that God the father is our father, the Sonne our redeemer, the holy Ghost our sanctifier and comforter. Well then, if we must in this manner beleeue in God, then we must also know him: for we can haue no faith in the thing which is vtterly vnknowne. Wherefore if we would beleeue in the father, sonne, or holy Ghost, we must know them in part,