The Institution of Christian Religion

And where as it shall by proof appear that the Church of great necessity was enforced to use the names of Trinity, and Persons, if any shall then find fault with the newness of words, shall he not be justly thought to be grieved at the light of the truth, as he that blameth only this that the truth is made so plain and clear to discern?

And where as it shall by profe appere that the Churche of great necessitie was enforced to vse the names of Trinitie, and Persones, if any shall then fynde faulte with the newenesse of woordes, shall he not be iustly thought to be greeued at the lyght of the truthe, as he that blameth onely this that the truthe is made so playne and cleare to discerne?

Such newness of words, if it be so to be called, cometh then §4chiefly in use, when the truth is to be defended against wranglers that do mock it out with cavillations. Which thing we have at this day to much in experience, who have great business in vanquishing the enemies of true and sound doctrine. With such folding and crooked winding these slippery snakes do slide away, unless they be strongly griped and holden hard when they be taken. So the old fathers being troubled with contending against false doctrines, were compelled to show their meanings in exquisite plainness, least they should leave any crooked byways to the wicked, to whom the doubtful constructions of words were hiding holes of errors. Arrius confessed Christ to be God, and the son of God, because he could not agaynsay the evident words of God, and as if he had ben so sufficiently discharged did feign a certain consent with the rest. But in the mean while he ceased not to scatter abroad that Christ was create, and had a beginning as other creatures. But to the end they might draw forth his winding subtlety out of his den, the ancient fathers went further, pronouncing Christ to be the eternal son of the father and consubstantial with the father. Hereat wickedness began to boil, when the Arians began to hate and detest the name Omoousion, consubstantial. But if in the beginning they had sincerely and with plain meaning confessed Christ to be God, they would not now have denied him to be consubstantial with the father. Who dare now blame these good men as brawlers and contentious, because for one little words sake, they were so hot in disputation, and troubled the quiet of the church? But that little word showed the difference between the true believing Christians, and the Arians that were robbers of God. Afterward rose up Sabellius which accounted in a manner for nothing the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy ghost, saying in disputation that they were not made to show any manner of distinction, but only were several additions of God, of which sort there are many. If he came to disputation, he confessed, that he believed the father God, the son God, the Holy ghost God.