The Institution of Christian Religion

But afterward he would readily slip away with saying that he had in no otherwise spoken than as if he had named God, a strong God, just God, and wise God: and so he song another song, that the Father is the Son, and the Holy ghost is the father, without any order, without any distinction. The good doctors which then had care of godliness, to subdue his wickedness, cried out on ⟨image 40⟩the other side that there ought to be acknowledged in one God three properties. And to the end to fence themselves against the crooked writhen subtleties with plain and simple truth, they affirmed, that there did truly subsist in one God, or (which came all to one effect) that there did subsist in the unity of God a Trinity of persons.

But afterwarde he would redely slippe away with sayeng that he hadde in no otherwise spoken than as if he had named God, a strong God, iust God, and wise God: and so he song another songe, that the Father is the Sonne, and the Holy ghost is the father, without any order, without any distinction. The good doctours which then had care of godlynesse, to subdewe his wickednesse, cried oute on ⟨image 40⟩the other side that there ought to be acknowleged in one God thre propreties. And to the ende to fense themselues againste the crooked writhen suttleties with plaine and simple truthe, they affirmed, that there did truely subsist in one God, or (which came all to one effect) that there did subsist in the vnitie of God a Trinitie of persons.

If then the names have not ben without cause invented, we ought to take heed, that in rejecting them we be not justly blamed of proud presumptuousness. I would to God they were buried in deed, so that this faith were agreed of all men, that the Father and the Son, and the Holy ghost be one God: and yet that the Father is not the Son, nor the Holy ghost the Son, but distinct by certain property. Yet am I not so precise, that I can find in my heart to strive for bare words. For I note, that the old fathers, which otherwise spake very religiously of such matters, did not every where agree one with an other, nor everyone with himself. For what forms of speech used by the councils doth Hilary excuse To how great liberty doth Augustine sometime break forth? Howe unlike are the Greeks to the Latins? But of this variance one example shall suffice for this time. When the Latins meant to express the word Omoousion, they called it Consubstantial, declaring the substance of the Father and the Son to be one, so using the word substance for essence. Whereupon Hierom to Damasus saith, it is sacrilege to say, that there are three substances in God: and yet above a hundred times you shall find in Hilary, that there are three substances in God. In the word Hypostasis, how is Hierome encumbered? For he suspecteth that there lurketh poison in naming three Hypostases in God. And if a man do use this word in a godly sense, yet he plainly saith that is an improper speech, if he spake unfeignedly, and did not rather wittingly and willingly seek to charge the bishops of the Eastlands whom he sought to charge with an unjust slander. Sure this one thing he speaketh not very truly, that in all profane schools. ousia,